Coen's Complex Offense Poses Problems in Preseason for Kentucky Defense

Once Will Levis was named starting quarterback, there was one big question lingering from Kentucky football preseason practice: What will Liam Coen’s offense look like in Lexington? Receivers have raved about the playbook, media members left practice impressed, but no one truly understands its complexities quite like the Kentucky defense. Through two weeks of preseason practice, the Kentucky defense continues to be challenged daily.

“Day-to-day it’s something new,” said senior cornerback Cedrick Dort.

“It’s an NFL playbook. I feel like it benefits us in a good way because everything they run is condensed in the middle of the field and that’s mostly what the NFL is about. I feel like in the secondary the looks we’re getting everyday it really helps us out for the next level. It’s very complex. Most days they come out with something new. I’m really excited to see what they got coming up this season.”

Veterans Challenged

Dort has played a lot of football for the Wildcats, appearing in 31 games and starting in 13. He is one of eight seniors projected to start for the Wildcats’ defense on opening day. Brad White’s defense has seen a lot of football. At this point in training camp, they should be further ahead than normal, right?

“It’s a unique question because I would say yes and no,” White answered. “Yes, I do feel like I can make certain tweaks to certain things, almost gameplan-ish type adjustments to get us ready or to try to combat what we’re seeing in practice.

“The no piece being that, they’re facing a different style of offense and when they go through their install, it feels like there’s a lot of coaching that you have to do to combat that offense. Where as some of the tweaks in the past where if we were going against the same offense that we had the last several years, yeah I would feel probably more ahead against that offense. I feel less ahead against playing our offense, but more ahead from being able to gameplan, adjust and mid-flight adjust, if that makes sense.”

White probably did not expect to do a ton of coaching in the preseason for his starters. Coen’s offense is throwing so many different looks at the defense that everyday is a challenge. Even some of the most seasoned veterans are spinning their wheels.

“Going against our new offense, man, it’s a lot. It’s going to have you thinking,” said fifth-year senior outside linebacker Jordan Wright. “Just seeing them getting along with it and put it all together, man, it’s crazy how much they can do with just a few formations they have so far.”

It’s difficult to predict how many points the Wildcats will produce this fall. It is safe to say that thanks to Coen’s offense, the Kentucky defense will be better in the fall of 2021.