As we all know, last season was a bit of a dumpster fire for Kentucky football. Despite finishing with a winning record of 7-6 and making an appearance in the Music City Bowl, things just never felt right with the 2022 team.
Perhaps the biggest downfall for Kentucky was their inability to get anything going on offense. After Liam Coen left UK for the Los Angeles Rams Assistant Coach position, Mark Stoops had to find his new Offensive Coordinator.
Who did Stoops hire as Coen’s replacement? The answer is Rich Scangarello, who was previously the Quarterbacks Coach for the San Francisco 49ers. At the time, this seemed like such a good hire, as he was heralded for his football knowledge.
Mark Stoops had just replaced one well-established offensive playmaking genius with another. What a steal… right? The difference between Liam Coen and Rich Scangarello, however, is that Coen is a better communicator and was able to better translate his knowledge into a college football offense.
Confusion on the Offensive Line
Liam Coen, who Kentucky just re-hired as their Offensive Coordinator, said that Scangarello’s over-complicated offensive scheming severely hurt the offensive line.
“A little too much sometimes. Too much scheme,” Coen said about Scangarello’s complex blocking scheme, “As coaches, we try to fix things with schemes, when simplifying can actually be better.”
Wide Receivers “Running Around Like Chickens With Their Heads Cut Off”
Even Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key had something to say about his former coach’s offensive strategy.
Key even went as far as to say that Coen and the coaching staff have actually been “teaching us how to be receivers, rather than just trying to get open, running around like chickens with their heads cut off.”
It’s unfair to make Rich Scangarello the scapegoat for all of last season’s issues. With Will Levis’ injuries, Chris Rodriguez’s suspension, and one of the worst offensive lines in the country, it would have been difficult for any Offensive Coordinator to have success.
Heralded for his football IQ, it is likely the case that Scangarello tried to overcompensate those issues with more schemes. However, at the end of the day, the stats speak for themselves. When Mark Stoops had the opportunity to bring back Coen, he took it.
With Coen back as Offensive Coordinator and a lot of talent at the skill positions, the Wildcats will look to pick up where they left off in 2021.
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