For many, they help anchor RPO designs and allow mobile QBs opportunities to steal yards on the ground. Every offense in America runs Inside Zone Reads. Nothing against the play, but it’s as basic as it comes. While the Snell years saw more straight split zones or slams without read elements, the look still received the lion share of the Cats’ offensive calls. It’s not a major secret UK’s favorite concept is the Inside Zone Read. Perhaps nothing hammers that notion home quite like the following. With less reliable options on where to go with the ball, Gran opted to not get too cute with play calling. Each passing year saw the offense become more run-oriented with the passing game failing to deliver much value. But that style predominately telegraphed this offense’s intentions. Gran’s best offenses maximized its play makers. Forced to funnel targets into contested chances so often further stagnated the pass game. Still, it’s long been apparent UK had to force things into tight window because of a general inability to stretch the field at any level. UK’s receivers have only been able to haul in 25.9% of these attempts (To be fair about 20% of these targets were charted as uncatchable). The last two years alone have seen the Cats post a 27% Contested Target Rate - one of three highest in the conference in that span. But the bottom line was, those dudes aren’t a quality collection of pass catchers. A revolving door of WR coaches certainly comes into play in that position groups lack of growth. While it certainly came to a head in 2020, UK’s receivers have increasingly become less keen at creating separation. While the graph below is looking at NFL numbers, it still holds true in college. Other than having a sure-fire star at quarterback, the biggest element to aid a passing game’s success is providing it with quality outlets at least, that’s how Expected Points Added views it. Sure the Cats landed a few top tier talents, but Kentucky’s firepower was considerably less than its conference contemporaries. Kentucky’s Passing Offense by volume has finished in the bottom10 nationally in that span as well.įailure to lure game-changers and develop incumbents ultimately did in the Gran/Hinshaw duo. Versus SEC defenses, UK’s passing Success Rate had worsened the last three years. After putting up highs in 2016, UK’s yards/pass has dropped each subsequent season. Even during his first fall in Lexington, Nick Saban wasn’t shy of showering Gran and his rush game with compliments.ĭespite Gran’s ability to turn the Cats into a competent rush offense, he and his partner in crime were less apt at progressing UK’s pass game. He oversaw the most prolific rusher in Kentucky history and made a makeshift scheme rooted around a receiver playing quarterback the talk of coaching circles. Gran’s play calling begat five 1,000 yard rushers - a feat UK had failed to accomplish since 2008. Over his five years, the Cats’ averaged over 207 rush yards/game and 5.0 yards/carry. I mean if the best you can do is average, that’s not exactly a ringing endorsement.īrought in to beef up UK’s rushing attack, Gran did exactly that. Aiming to run less plays and play small allowed UK to keep it close with superior teams, but UK had noticeable limitations under Gran. None of Gran’s offenses finished better than 52nd in ESPN’s SP+ Ratings, 56th in Total Offense, or 60th in Scoring. Kentucky’s offense over the last five years at its best has been relatively average. Still, before we glance over each offensive campaign under Gran’s direction, we should address some obvious talking points. I’ll have another piece that specifically examines the 2020 offense in detail. Five-year Trends Gran’s offense at a Glance The ending was far from ideal, but Gran’s tenure at the helm of UK’s offense helped inch the program forward. Former UK offensive coordinator Eddie Gran certainly heard the boo birds more than once during his half-decade in Lexington.Īfter fielding one of the worst offenses in the Mark Stoops Era, Gran and his running mate/ Co-OC/QB coach Darin Hinshaw mutually agreed to part ways with Kentucky this past weekend. Play calling is inherently a divisive endeavor and naturally comes with bountiful criticism. The debate on ‘what is hot and what is not’ will never lose its fire nor dissenting fans upset with disappointing coordinators. Everybody has their own personal preferences and value certain aspects over others. Much like beauty, the perfect play call is often in the eye of the beholder.
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