Kentucky Offense Focused on Explosive Plays and Finishing Drives

The Kentucky offense has been able to move the ball in just about every game this season. The Cats are able to pile up the yardage and make first downs. But the end of drives has been tough for the 2024 Cats.

On Tuesday, UK offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan said that his team is focused on a number of things, but one word kept coming up – finish.

“I think the message is consistent for us. Process is the process here,” Hamdan said. “We’ve certainly got to address, from our standpoint, what those issues are, how do we fix them. Consistency, you’ve heard that from us over and over again. We’ve got to finish drives, that’s the frustrating part of it. I think you look at every game we’ve played this year from yardage, first downs, moving the ball and on and on and on. From the standpoint of finishing, it just hasn’t occurred.”

The Cats have been able to move the ball between the 30 yard lines, but when arriving in the red zone, drives have stalled. Hamdan wants his unit to have the focus they need to finish those drives.

“I think it’s been pretty consistent, defensively what we’ve (seen). Teams are going to keep things in front of them and make us go eight to 10 to 12 to 14 play drives,” Hamdan said. “And in those situations, it’s critical for us to be at our best when we get tired. For me, from the play calling standpoint, consistency has got to show up.”

One thing that could help the Cats finish those drives is explosive plays. Kentucky has struggled with consistently getting those big plays this season, something that Hamdan is emphasizing in practice this week.

“We know where we’re at. We know where the explosive plays have got to come from. We’ve got to make some of those so on every drive that goes 12 to 15 plays,” Hamdan said. “Certainly, the frustration of not finishing in (the Vanderbilt) game. Twice, getting the ball in the red zone, turning it over, penalties and not finishing on the one yard line is one that hurts. We feel we’ve been able to move the ball, get first downs. But at some point, you’ve got to create some big ones, you’ve got to create some explosive plays.”

One player who seems to have that big play ability is redshirt freshman running back Jamarion Wilcox. He has carried 29 times for 191 yards (6.6 yards per carry). Hamdan likes Wilcox’s burst and ability to make those explosive plays.

“Who is creating those runs? I think the thing everyone is excited about with Wilcox is that, with less carries, he’s been able to create about the same number of 20-plus runs as anyone in the room,” Hamdan said. “We’ve had five runs over 20 yards this year. We’ve got to get that number up. That’s basically less than once a game that we’re able to create that kind of play.”

The Cats are focused on finishing drives and adding explosive plays, and they hope that emphasis pays off on Saturday at Florida.