JuTahn McClain (Vicky Graff Photo)
Maybe Kentucky’s offense won’t be quite as wide open this year as many have speculated even with the return of offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
Or at least that’s the impression coach Mark Stoops certainly gave after Saturday’s practice/scrimmage.
Since Kentucky does not have a running back like Benny Snell or Chris Rodriguez going into the season, Stoops was asked if there might be more play-action in the UK offense this season.
“I mean, we are who we are, and I don’t want to give away our whole game plan,” Stoops said. “There weren’t many explosive runs (in the scrimmage). But we’re definitely trying to get that mentality back. Being able to run the ball when everybody knows you’re going to run it. That’s going to set up our play action.”
We are who we are. For Stoops, that means a tough, physical style of football with the Cats able to run the ball to close out games.
Vanderbilt transfer Ray Davis, a 1,000-yard rusher last season, is expected to be UK’s No. 1 back this season.
“They all got a bunch of reps. Ray was in there quite a bit. He’s played a lot of snaps, so we were able to get some other guys in. It’s gonna be by committee and we have some guys with some versatility,” Stoops said after Saturday’s scrimmage.
Kentucky starting quarterback Devin Leary, a North Carolina State transfer, thanks Kentucky has a “very competitive” group of running backs he can use.
“Each one of them brings their own aspect to the game, which is really cool to see,” Leary said. “Obviously, Ray, having great success in his past, he’s coming in with his head down, ready to work.
“A guy like JuTahn (McClain) has a ton of snaps under his belt, being able to play in h (Liam) Coen’s offense in ’21. La’Vell (Wright) did really good things today. He keeps getting better, more of a power back.
“Even seeing guys like Ramon Jefferson, battling through some injuries and now he looks as good as new, which is really cool to see. Then you’ve got Demi Sumo (Karngbaye) coming in, kind of bringing that versatile attack in the passing game.
“I think it’s cool to see how they all collaborate with each other and make each other better. They definitely each have their own aspects of the game that are going to help us.”
3 Responses
Coach Stoops is who he is, and that’s all that he is, an old fashioned, smash mouth football coach.
I like his approach because you win in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Any guesses on the rush pass ratio for 2023? I say it will be closer to 50-50 than most fans want.
Maybe Professor, but Say what he will, Stoops didn’t bring Coen back as his OC to run the football the same amount as they throw it. Especially with the QB he has under center, and the receivers he has ready to roll. I think he turns Coen loose when the time comes, and after a full fall camp is under their belts. UK has no back like Snell or C-Rod in the stable now, ouch!. I hope UK can run the football effectively, it will help them when they do call a pass play, but I will have to see that first to believe it with the backs they have now running up in there with a crowded box, and a revamped OL trying to open holes. We are about to find out. Run it if you can in order too back off a defense, but throw the football down the field using the gunslinger they have. I hope that is what we see.
YEAR PASS ATT % PASS RUN PLAY % RUN TOT PLAY
2022 349 42.9% 464 57.1% 813
2021 366 42.5% 496 57.5% 862
2020 243 35.8% 436 64.2% 679
2019 257 31.0% 573 69.0% 830
2018 296 35.6% 536 64.4% 832
2017 330 40.3% 488 59.7% 818
2016 312 35.8% 560 64.2% 872
Average 308 37.7% 508 62.3% 815
Here is the data. The average has been 3/8 passing to 5/8 rushing over the last 7 years. The Coen year, it was 42.5% passing/57.5% rushing.
I conceded that the ratio will be more heavily pass than this average, and probably more heavily pass than the last 2 seasons by suggesting a ratio approaching 50-50 this year, but even 50-50 will not make most fans happy.
Mark Stoops is an old fashioned coach, and Coen is a smart football man who understands that to win in the SEC, a team must be able to run the ball.