LA Rams Provide a Blueprint for Kentucky Offense

When Liam Coen left Los Angeles for Lexington, we knew the Rams would serve as inspiration for the Kentucky Wildcats’ playbook. The NFL tape was used periodically throughout the spring. That practice has not been abandoned during the Kentucky football season.

Kentucky’s offensive coordinator has remained in constant contact with Rams’ head coach Sean McVay. Coen said the two speak after each of their games. The Rams illustrate what Kentucky’s offense is supposed to look like.

“Each week we watch all of their stuff. We show their film to our players every Friday,” Coen said. “It’s not about just them. These are similar concepts. Here’s how we can find the details and get everything sharp of plays that we run on game day. It’s been really nice to see them have success and for us to have the ability to watch that tape.”

Lessons Learned from the Rams

When the Wildcats watch cut-ups from the Rams, they are seeing their offense executed at the highest level.

“It shows us the speed everything is supposed to be ran. It shows us the timing of everybody’s routes, the blocking schemes and stuff like that.” Wide receiver Josh Ali said, “It shows us the perfect execution of our playbook.”

The Rams have been operating like a finely tuned machine through the first three weeks of the season. A perfect 3-0 with Matt Stafford under center, he’s averaging 10 yards per attempt, the second-highest mark in the NFL.

“As a quarterback, just watching Matt Stafford and how his footwork, how he throws the ball, the timing, decision, accuracy he has, it’s always good to try to emulate that and pursue that perfection they’re able to achieve,” said UK quarterback Will Levis.

Some of the Wildcats’ best plays have come from concepts that are working in the NFL. Isaiah Epps’ touchdown against Chattanooga was not so different than the consecutive wheel routes that led to a Cooper Kupp touchdown against Tampa Bay.

When you do the little things right, it leads to big plays. When a route is not run correctly, like Josh Ali’s in-route against South Carolina, it can lead to an interception. Kentucky’s players may not be putting the perfect details on tape in practice, but they can still see them when they watch the Rams on Sundays.

“You do see improvement in details. They see those guys run the same plays and they want to do it,” said Coen. “We’re striving — the standard is that. I don’t care that they’re in the NFL. That’s the standard and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish. The guys that really do care and see the things the way that they’re supposed to be seen take those details and put those into the game.”