I’m Gonna Say It.
LEXINGTON- Okay, I was busting at the seam with the Week 1 Kool Aid and convinced myself Kentucky was beating Alabama in the sport of football. I was as wrong as wrong could be, lambasted for it on social media (deservedly so), and had to take it on the chin.
But, I did develop my first real on-field take of the Will Stein era.
Now, putting the nail in the coffin on Will Stein would be like getting fired on your first day. Only reserved for the worst of actions, of which losing to Alabama in football does not fall into that category. However, it doesn’t mean that I am going to let Stein off without giving a few thoughts either.
And boy, do I have a thought.
I think Will Stein should be calling plays.
There. I said it. This isn’t saying that Joe Sloan is a bad Offensive Coordinator or that I’m throwing the towel in on this unit being good. But right now Kentucky does not have the identity of an Oregon Offense and that is a completely fair take to make.
Kentucky hired Will Stein for one reason in the first place, and that reason is Offense. The administration in-charge heard the Big Blue Nation loud and clear that they were tired of defensive, ground-and-pound football — they wanted excitement. His background and the creative offenses at Oregon were the appeal, it just pulled at our heart strings that he was also one of us. A proud fan of the Blue and White. But, Offensive play calling was supposed to be a collaborative venture at the very least. So far, it’s has been all on Slone. Stein has even said it — before the season, Stein said he would remain involved in the Offense process while handling his Head Coach responsibilities. He did not say that he would be calling plays in the game. I’m not calling for a dramatic demotion of Sloan, I am just wanting to see more Stein fingerprints on the offense.
The Youngstown State game showed the vision but Alabama was the stress-test. Kentucky didn’t handle the stress well. “But we were up for 40 minutes!” You’ll hear a lot of BBN bragging about. Yes, yes you were. But did you win the game?
I also couldn’t help but notice that the pre-season swagger and self-assurances were dialed back a bit after that trouncing from the ‘Tide.
I am as big as a fan as any, and blabber on internet in my free time. I analyze every play from my recliner and yell at Will Stein what he needs to be doing like I am qualified because I’ve played Madden a few times.
I get it.
Kentucky finished the game with a 3rd Down conversation rate of 1-for-14. Read that slowly, one…for….fourteen…..on…….Third Down.
Yikes.
What that tells me is that Alabama adjusted throughout the game and Kentucky didn’t. That’s a sign of a rookie coach. You don’t know what you don’t know. I still think Stein can do great things here. But going 1-for-14 isn’t acceptable. Try something different after failed time number six for crying out loud. Enough with the endless pin-pull concepts, just advance the dang ball.
Being a Head Coach doesn’t require that you abandon what got you there in the first place. What it means is that you need to take that philosophy and apply it. There are plenty of offensive-minded Head Coaches at all levels that remain deeply involved in their team’s offensive strategy and play calling. Stein obviously has responsibilities now that he did not have as a coordinator, I’m not diminishing that, but Kentucky can’t neutralize one of its biggest coaching advantages only because his title changed.
Now part of this is on the players as well. Guys weren’t open. It didn’t matter if Kentucky
had Tom Brady taking snaps, the receivers still need to get open. Could there be different concepts to get them open? I’d have to think so, but the desire needs to be there as well. The Running game is mediocre at best and there still really isn’t a proven answer there to take over a bigger responsibility. If the opposing Defense is selling out to put a choke hold on the run game, build in more RPO’s to make those second-level defenders guessing wrong no matter which they choose to defend. It’s just simple stuff. (Again, I am not qualified because I played Madden a few times.)
I guess what I’m boiling down to is this, attack mode shouldn’t stop. I felt like Kentucky shot out of the cannon in that game on the defensive side of the ball and that physical momentum couldn’t be contained throughout the entire game because they looked exhausted.
It’s a small sample size, but it’s already a reasonable ask. Don’t change your game completely because of the name across from you on the scoreboard, adapt with what got you here in this first place and be yourself. Against Alabama it changed, but going forward Stein needs to make sure it doesn’t.
Next test is on Saturday at Kyle Field.
Comments