Cats Still Looking to Ignite Offense
Kentucky is off to a 5-0 start this season after an exciting, emotional win over Florida on Saturday night. While an unblemished record near the season’s halfway point is something of which Kentucky is proud, the Cats know they have not yet played their best game.
UK has been carried by its defense this season while the offense has struggled, at times, to gain traction. Kentucky is ninth in the SEC in scoring, 10th in total offense and 11th in passing yards.
Offensive coordinator Liam Coen has seen bits and pieces of what he wants to see. And he’s confident that his team can get where they need to go.
“The one thing, after five games, you evaluate where you’re at and where you’re going,” Coen said. “I couldn’t be more happy and proud of how these guys have played. And it’s going to click. It’s clicked at times. We’ve shown flashes in multiple different games , in different situations, whether it be red zone or third down. We’ve been very good and we also haven’t been very good. But when it clicks, it’s going to be special.”
The thing Coen likes about where his team is right now is the fact that the best is certainly yet to come.
“When you’re 5-0, it is tough but it’s actually better for us because we’re not sitting there 5-0 like we’re all good,” Coen said. “We’re sitting there 5-0 and hungry to get it right.”
Kentucky has leaned heavily on its top two playmakers this season. Chris Rodriguez Jr. leads the SEC, and ranks fifth in the country, in rushing with 612 yards. He’s more than 100 yards ahead of any other player in the league this season.
Wan’Dale Robinson leads the SEC, and is 17th in the nation, in receiving yards with 467. He made yet another big play on Saturday night, taking a screen pass and racing 41 yards for UK’s first score of the game.
Despite having these playmakers, Coen is trying to cultivate some others who can help propel the UK attack forward when the defense keys on Rodriguez and/or Robinson.
“That happened a few times on Saturday night. It’s definitely going to be an emphasis (for opponents),” Coen said. “We need to make sure we have other playmakers involved in the game plan that can step up and make plays, whether it be from the tight end position, the running back position or another wide receiver stepping up.”
While the offense is not where anyone in blue wants it to be, Coen can see that is team is on the right path. And when the offense gets in sync with the UK defense, the Cats will become that much more dangerous.
