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Some Ranting After an Embarrassing Loss to Missouri

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After two straight wins that gave this season some life and made us fans excited, the Cats took five huge steps back today and ended a five-game win streak as they got completely embarrassed by Missouri, 20-10.

Now, 20-10 doesn’t seems like an embarrassing margin, but it was on paper. The Tigers out-gained Kentucky by 276 yards offensively, got 18 more first-downs than the Cats, and possessed the ball for 43:10 compared to Kentucky’s 16:50. That’s flat out embarrassing. Especially when it’s against a team you have beaten five straight years.

In the past three years, Kentucky has played three games where nothing worked. This one, two years ago against Texas A&M, and two years ago against Missouri. Both games the offense looked horrible and you somehow won one of them.

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Before I really get going, let me point one thing out. Kentucky came into this season with a ton of preseason hype and threw up a clunker to Auburn. After two straight big wins, Kentucky started to earn some more hype and then failed to show up against Missouri.

Keep in mind, this same thing has happened before in the Stoops era. Going all the way back to 2014, Kentucky gained some national hype after starting the season 5-1, with the only loss being an OT thriller in Gainesville. The Cats went to Baton Rouge for a prime-time showdown with LSU, and got their teeth kicked in. Same thing against Texas A&M two years ago. started 5-0, earned some national attention, and then Kentucky looked lost on the field in College Station.

Just thought I’d point that out. Anyway, today’s game was a complete embarrassment all the way around.

It was pretty obvious early on that the offense wasn’t in-sync and wasn’t having any success. Terry Wilson and Joey Gatewood only completed four passes in 13 attempts for 47 yards. However the passing game did produce the only touchdown for the Cats today.

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The running game started to work, especially in the second half with Chris Rodriguez. The offense had been stagnant the whole game, but the Cats started moving the ball when Eddie Gran called Rodriguez’s numbers. After the Cats scored, Kentucky had a chance to tie it up. The biggest possession of the game and Chris Rodriguez didn’t see the field. How does that happen?

It was pretty clear to all of us that Chris Rodriguez was the only thing working today and he only got nine carries. ONLY NINE. Larry Roundtree was killing Kentucky all game and got 37 CARRIES. I honestly have no idea what Eddie Gran is thinking on the sideline. Why does he refuse to play Chris Rodriguez? Especially on the most important possession of the game?

When asked about who the QB will be next week, Stoops said he didn’t know. It’s not rocket science. Just hand the ball to Chris Rodriguez until the other team shows the ability to stop him, because guess what, the only guy that has shown the ability to consistently stop Rodriguez is Eddie Gran.

Benny Snell and Lynn Bowden covered up a lot of the offensive issues the past couple of years and now they are showing. Big time. They have the answer sitting on the sideline in Rodriguez, but refuse to play him.

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It may not be this easy, but if Eddie Gran will just hand the ball off consistently, I swear it will open up the offense and make it easier on Terry Wilson or whoever is back there. It’s called mixing things up. Something Eddie Gran doesn’t know how to do.

If Eddie Gran keeps running this offense into the ground, I don’t know what WR will want to play here.

We are Bubble-screen, QB-draw, and an AJ Rose run for two yards university right now.

Now let’s go get pounded by Georgia.

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REPORT: Liam Coen Leaving Kentucky for NFL Offensive Coordinator Position

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UK Athletics

On the eve of a huge recruiting weekend for Kentucky football, the program has received some bad news. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen is leaving for the NFL again, this time taking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator position.

When Coen returned to Kentucky last offseason from the Los Angeles Rams, for his second stint as offensive coordinator, he talked about Lexington being a place that he and his wife had missed. In his return press conference, on January 12, 2023, he went as far as saying he wanted to be somewhere for a “few years”, at least.

“I want to go somewhere, make a real impact. Plant some roots for a little bit. Be somewhere for a few years — at least — that you feel really good about. I’m excited about being back in Lexington… I’m not in a rush to go anywhere.”

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That “few years” was just a year, but to be honest, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. After many games last season, Coen talked to the media with frustration about fundamental things such as lack of discipline and dropped passes. Even then, it always felt he was holding his words back. With his name circulating around multiple NFL jobs, it was clear this was the direction it was heading.

Now for Kentucky, it’s about getting the next hire right. In a time where offense is becoming the premium in college football, going through five offensive coordinators in ten seasons is not ideal. Paying $1.8 million to Coen, they have shown they will pay amongst the top in the country. Now, go get someone who keeps this core of offensive talent, can recruit, and brings much-needed consistency.

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A Piece of Will Levis’ Historic NFL Debut Displayed in NFL Hall of Fame

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Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis after his NFL debut.
© Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

During last year’s NFL Draft, Will Levis was one of the last players left in the green room after dropping to the second round. That moment fueled Levis, and he’s since earned the starting quarterback spot with the Tennessee Titans, appearing to have a bright future with the team.

Entering the season with no shortage of motivation, Levis entered the franchise as QB3 and wasn’t even on the active roster for the first six weeks of the season, being deemed the “emergency quarterback.” However, following an ankle injury to Ryan Tannehill in Week 6, the Titans gave their rookie quarterback an opportunity.

Levis certainly capitalized and had one of the best debuts in NFL History, throwing for 238 yards (19/29 passing) and four touchdowns. From the game, Levis has been put in the Hall of Fame. Well, at least his Houston Oiler throwback helmet from the performance has been placed on display in the Hall of Fame’s “Pro Football Today Gallery.”

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Levis started his career with a bang and had his moments. The former Kentucky Wildcat will look to build on his rookie campaign, going into a year where he should be the starter under new head coach Brian Callahan.

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

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Cutter Boley Opens up on Playing for Kentucky, “This Is Where My Heart’s Always Been”

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Four-star quarterback prospect Cutter Boley signing with Kentucky football.
© Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

With the early National Signing Day for the class of 2024 being over, Kentucky’s newest signed quarterback Cutter Boley discusses why he committed to play at Kentucky.

“Just growing up in the state, you know, I’ve grown up a fan I feel like this is where my heart’s always been, and just the offense that Liam Coen runs and the job coach (Mark) Stoops does as head coach is phenomenal and I wouldn’t want to play for anybody else,” Boley tells Kentucky Insider.

Kentucky needed to get some quarterbacks after three players either graduated or transferred with Devin Leary graduating, Destin Wade transferring to Colorado, and Kaiya Sheron electing to transfer as well.

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Kentucky was able to load up in the quarterback room by landing the Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff, Georgia Southern transfer Beau Allen, and then signing Boley in the class of 2024. Boley is ready to compete against them and he recognizes their talent.

“I couldn’t be any more excited to learn from them. They’re two really good quarterbacks, like I said, and they’ll have countless things to teach me from the places they’ve been and the offense that they’ve been in,” Boley tells us. “I just can’t wait to learn the things they know and just be able to work and get to work with them.”

One of the reasons why Boley committed to Kentucky is due to him having a connection since he has lived here his whole life.

“Just growing up in the state, you know, I’ve grown up a fan I feel like this is where my heart’s always been, and just the offense that Liam Coen runs and the job coach (Mark) Stoops does as head coach is phenomenal and I wouldn’t want to play for anybody else,” said Boley.

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As for finally signing his National Letter of Intent, Boley feels relieved to have it finished.

“It’s definitely a relief to finally put the pen to paper and make it official,” said Boley. “It’s been a long time coming so I couldn’t be any more excited about my decision and where I’m going to be for the next four years.”

What Boley is most focused on is how the offense is run, as at this time he feels like his play style is made to play professionally.

“I’m really hoping to develop into that pro-style quarterback, but I feel like I’m definitely a pro-style quarterback right now, but really develop into just being able to play in that offense at a very high level and get really comfortable in the offense, and I just want to develop all parts of my game and really be a quarterback that the NFL looks for and that type of quarterback they want to have,” Boley tells us.

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With Kentucky having a chance to develop within instead of the transfer route, fans will have a chance to see a quarterback finally develop into potentially starting in the future.

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