Film confirms Kentucky's offensive line did some good things in latest spring scrimmage

The Kentucky offensive line enters the 2023 season as the biggest question mark on the team. After years of solid play, this group fell off a cliff in 2022 with the offense slipping to No. 101 in yards per play (5.2). In the first public setting since the Music City Bowl, things did not look great on Saturday.

As the ones on both sides of the football faced each other at Kentucky’s open spring practice, Brad White’s defense appeared to have the upper hand. The Big Blue Wall had some issues in pass protection and struggled to get anything going on the ground.

However, the film told a different story according to the coaching staff. The offensive line needed some help from the skill talent positions to avoid bad situations in the 11-on-11 scrimmage.

“It wasn’t a lot of o-line issues on Saturday although everybody might think it is because you see a run get tackled you think it’s the o-line,” Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen told KSR on Tuesday. “We had about three or four run-pass options that we made the wrong decision on some at quarterback where we either handed it when we should’ve thrown it or threw it where there were some gashes. When you really go back and watch the film, it wasn’t all on the line in terms of some of the negatives and things like that occurred. Were some of them? Absolutely. But it was less than you really think when you’re just watching it live.

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Coen mentioned that there were a few times that Kentucky ran into a bad box and that led to some inefficient plays that got the offense behind the chains on standard downs. Add in the heavy winds and the offense was put in some unfortunate situations. However, the coaching staff is pleased with the offensive line to this point.

“I felt better about it. I did,” Kentucky offensive line coach Zach Yenser told KSR about his feelings after watching the tape of Saturday’s scrimmage. “It wasn’t like we weren’t physical. We played on the other side of the line of scrimmage for most of the time. We gotta continue to clean up pass protection one on ones but being on the same page and calling calls and everything we’ve been working on I felt like we did a pretty good job.”

“I didn’t feel like we just got physically manhandled upfront. I didn’t feel that way at all and I’d be the first to say if we did,” said Coen.

As the spring progresses, more props are coming Jager Burton‘s way as the redshirt sophomore and former blue-chip recruit has taken control at center. Out at left tackle, Northern Illinois transfer Marques Cox has filled a huge hole. Kentucky’s coaching staff is putting off a vibe that the offensive line is improved and things are coming together. Now the offense just needs to find a long-term plan at right tackle.

Right tackle battle remains wide open

One of the biggest positional battles for the team heading into spring camp is what would happen at right tackle. So far, no one one has separated from the pack.

Deondre Buford, Jeremy Flax, and David Wohlabaugh Jr. are each competing for the available starting spot with Flax getting most of the reps with the ones during the two open practice settings that KSR had access to. All signs point to this battle lingering into the summer.

“We want somebody to win that job. It’s all consistency,” Yenser said. “All three of those guys whether it’s Flax, whether it’s Deone, whether it’s David Wohlabaugh, they’ve all had good days. We’re looking for that consistent back-to-back-to-back. That’s what we’re looking for right now.”

As the right tackle battle looms, Kentucky can take solace in the fact that the other four positions in the lineup appear to be locked up. The program also added Alabama transfer Tanner Bowles and has whoever doesn’t win the starting tackle spot available to provide depth. That alone puts the Big Blue Wall ahead of where this group was last year.

“There’s more competition in the room. Guys can’t relax and guys know that they gotta bring it every day,” Yenser said. “We’re still trying to figure out the right tackle spot right now whether it’s somebody in our room, whether we gotta go get someone, we’re going to do whatever we have to do to feel confident to be able to win games this fall.”

Expect Kentucky to look long and hard at offensive tackle prospects in the transfer portal next month.