Liam Coen discusses quarterback announcement, offensive improvements

With a starting quarterback now confirmed, Liam Coen has now turned his attention toward getting his offense ready to roll for Kentucky’s season-opener on September 4.

Following practice on Tuesday, UK’s new offensive coordinator discussed his side of the football with the media in-depth, including the program’s decision to name Will Levis QB1, Darian Kinnard’s move back to right tackle, and young standouts at skill positions, among other highlights.

Check out the complete transcript, followed by KSR’s video replay below:

On Will Levis being named starter…

I think just Will’s work ethic and the way he came in and ran the show. I think that his personality is one guys kind of naturally follow. I think that obviously — you guys can see some of the arm strength talent and some of the things that he can do throwing the football. Now he’s got to clean up some of the plays that he hasn’t repped as much and he hasn’t gotten a ton of reps at. But I do think that right now he gives us the best chance to win.

On what he saw from Levis’ film at Penn State…

Yeah, I just kind of went back and watched some of his film from the year before when he did get the opportunities to throw the ball and not be worried about getting pulled or things like that. I really kind of referenced that Nebraska game. In the second half, he led those guys back from a couple-point deficit and gave them a chance to win. He made some plays in those situations that I thought could translate to this level and to our offense. Figured we should give it a chance.

On Levis’ accuracy and ball placement…

I think that’s the big one, the ball placement down the field. And in the intermediate game, I think that’s something that he’s shown some ability to be accurate, especially being a guy that has a stronger arm. You would think maybe there would be more inaccuracies than there are. I think still, the quick game, some of the intermediate and shorter things we need to work on. Some accuracy (fixes), but that’s just him getting more reps and reps at this offense. He’s going to work his tail off to get it done.

On Darian Kinnard’s move back to right tackle…

Yeah, I think that it’s just putting guys in a position to be the most successful they can be. Obviously, he’s more successful and comfortable being on the right side, and we want to be able to run the ball that way a lot. I mean, that’s our guy that we need to run behind, and I think that gives us the ability to do so. He’s more comfortable there and he’s a team player. He’s the type of kid that just wants to do anything to win and that’s what he did.

On right tackle being a money position in the NFL…

There’s no doubt, that’s absolutely true. We had Rob Havenstein in Los Angeles, he got paid a lot of money to play right tackle. It’s so important because they’re gonna try — obviously the left tackle is the money man, right? But you’re going to try to put matchups on the right tackle to get those one-on-one, so that guy’s got to be very strong and elite. I think that Darian recognizes that, and he knows he can play at a high level and play fast playing at right.

On which newcomers are standing out at wide receiver…

I think Chauncey Magwood’s done a nice job. I mean, he’s the type of kid that can play all three positions. He’s a smart kid, and he works at it. it’s a testament to him being able to come in as a freshman and really function at all three spots of the receiver corps. Rahsaan Lewis continues to make some plays, as well. Christian Lewis has made some plays in the scrimmage and continues to get better every day.

On if the team has hit a wall at fall camp…

I don’t think so, no. I didn’t feel that today at all. Obviously, when you’re getting some short-yardage situations, you’re trying to get physical and do some different things, but we’re still in a controlled setting. You can’t really unleash. I believe our guys are working at it, they’re trying to give what they can. We’re trying to do what we can to help their legs and things like that. Coach Stoops does such a nice job with the guys and being smart with them. I don’t believe we hit a wall because we have continued to push the install and we’re not holding back. Formations, motions, everything, we’re really trying to push these guys mentally right now.

On what stood out on film from Kentucky’s scrimmage on Saturday…

I thought we were a little bit more efficient than maybe the spring game. We were probably a little bit more efficient than we were the last time we went out in an actual scrimmage situation. We stalled on the first drive, a couple things we could have done differently. We saw some guys make some plays that flashed, that was nice to see. And then we hit some explosives, we hit some explosives in the passing game and a couple in the run game. It was a good mix, I feel like. I just felt like it was a good day, it was very simple. The game plan, calls sheet, just trying to let guys – similar to a preseason game – let them go out and play.

On his expectations for Beau Allen…

The last two days — obviously the last play there was tough in the two-minute drill, but that’s a tough situation. He’s taking his deal to the next level now because he knows that it’s one step closer to going out there and playing. You’ve got to be able to prepare and practice and do all the little things when you’re not the starter to be that guy because you’re always one play away. That’s his mentality anyway, that’s who that kid is. He’s come out here the last two days and been better than he was since I’ve been here. He’s going to continue to push forward. He’s got a great attitude, love the kid.

On young running backs getting opportunities with injuries at the position…

La’Vell (Wright) is a kid that just does everything right and he got a lot of (opportunities) in the scrimmage. So did Mike Drennen, he got some (opportunities) to see what he can do. Sticking his foot in the ground and playing faster, getting reps at running back, which is obviously foreign to him for a few years now. It’s given more opportunity to those guys, which is fine. Obviously, we want to get those guys back as soon as we can, but we don’t play for a little while. Give those guys a rest and let’s see what some of these young guys can do. They’ve done a nice job.

On seeing Chris Rodriguez in a live setting for the first time…

Funny you say that. I hadn’t been able to see him live because we didn’t have him in any of the scrimmages in the spring. That was my first time seeing Chris Rodriguez live, and it’s nice to see. It’s nice to see. You can’t do it out here, you just can’t simulate what he brings to the table in a controlled setting. When he gets into those settings where you actually have to tackle him, it’s not easy. That’s nice to see.

On Luke Fortner taking over at center…

Absolutely. I mean I think it’s more of a tradition of what Coach Schlarman started here, and Drake Jackson, and all those kind of guys that came before. The leadership, the control, the command, knowing all the calls, running the show. That’s exactly what we expect from Luke and that’s what he’s taking on.

On Izayah Cummings moving over to tight end…

It’s just another weapon, right? It’s just another guy that you can throw the football to and try to create matchups with. Just like we’ve tried to do with every other skill position, moving the running backs, doing some different things, we’re just trying to put the guys in their best position where they can be successful as a player. He’s a better player when he’s going against linebackers and safeties, that’s just the reality. But that’s a matchup for us and we can take advantage of that down the road.

On if there was an individual moment where he knew Will Levis was the starter…

No, I think it was a culmination. If you look at his reps within the first five or six practices before the scrimmage, he was running with the threes. He was of the threes and twos. He’s getting a lot of reps on the three side, a ton of reps in seven-on and blitz with the threes, so it wasn’t like he was running with the ones, and it just kind of happened. He had to earn it. He had to earn it, he did it every single day. I think we saw probably what some of you guys see when he throws the football, he gives you a chance.

On how Tuesday’s open practice differed from other practices..

I liked our energy today. I liked our energy. I thought that the two-minute was obviously — we finished with a pick on the last one. But the first one with the ones, that was good operation. We got some good clean work. We started out probably a little slow in the short yardage, we got probably a few of them. Missed a few throws in that situation, as well. But we made some contested throws today that made me happy, that we were actually able to fit some balls into some tighter windows and anticipate the game reality situations that I thought stood out today for us.

On Eli Cox’s growth…

Eli is pound-for-pound one of the strongest guys upfront. He’s a strong kid, he gets his hands on you, he’s strong, he’s smart, he does all the right things, and he loves to play the game. He’s an easy guy to like and you love being around the kids. He’s quiet, but he’s got confidence and he’s playing at a solid level right now for us. The more snaps he gets, the better off he’s gonna be.

On hearing good news regarding Dekel Crowdus’ injury…

It was big. For a kid like that to just get on campus and then have an injury like that, you obviously hope that it’s nothing serious. When you get news like that, you just see the kid smile when he was really down right after the injury. So it’s great news for him is great news for the offense and for our program. Hopefully we can get him back as soon as we can.