Kentucky Practice Report: Liam Coen discusses position battles, depth, and QB1

Training camp is over at the University of Kentucky. Mark Stoops‘ team has moved to the normal practice schedule with classes beginning this week. Game prep for Ball State will begin soon. The season is so close that we can almost taste it.

On Tuesday, offensive coordinator Liam Coen met with members of the media to discuss where things stand on offense. One specific position battle is going to leak into the season while the offense is looking for more consistency at wide receiver.

Let’s dig in.

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Right tackle battle is not over

On Monday, Kentucky will release its first depth chart at Mark Stoops’ weekly luncheon press conference. We should expect a big “or” to appear at right tackle. The position battle between incumbent Jeremy Flax and USC transfer Courtland Ford is not over yet.

Liam Coen believes this battle could leak into the season.

“We may not know that for a little while here. Those guys are in competition,” Coen told reporters when asked about right tackle. “That competition I could see playing out through maybe even the first few games. We want to have more depth, play more guys, get more guys involved.”

Flax is “improved from the spring” and Ford is getting a long look at the position. West Virginia transfer Dylan Ray is also getting some reps at right tackle. Coen wants to have 8-9 players that can play productive snaps. But for now, no winner will be declared.

“I don’t think that will fully sort itself out for a couple weeks,” Coen said about right tackle.

Devin Leary has ‘a natural stroke’

The expectations are high for Devin Leary at Kentucky. However, the NC State transfer has hit every important checkpoint in the offseason and the program appears to be very optimistic about the offense with No. 13 taking the snaps.

Leary is a natural at the position, and that has stood out in practice settings.

“Your stroke is your stroke. It’s like a golf swing. If you’ve got a natural stroke, a lot of those guys are typically pretty accurate. It’s not a lot of wasted motions. It’s smooth,” Liam Coen said about Leary’s throwing motion. “He’s been throwing the football the same way for a long time. He hasn’t had a ton of mechanical tweaks throughout his career. He’s just got a natural stroke.”

Leary has a lot of fans within the Joe Craft Football Training Facility as many believe the super senior is primed for a big season. In the short-to-intermediate passing game, Kentucky could specifically be highly productive due to how the new QB1 delivers the football.

“Throws the ball firm. That’s what a lot of guys miss on especially in the short to intermediate throws when they don’t drive it. You lose accuracy,” Coen said. “He drives it. Which definitely makes that ball more catchable.”

Liam Coen feels good about the backup QB situation

Everyone wants to know who is the backup quarterback at Kentucky. Many are worried about what will happen if Devin Leary has to miss time. The coaches seem unwilling to go on record definitively about QB2. However, Liam Coen likes where things stand.

“Feel pretty good. I think those guys have competed at a high level and gotten a ton of really good work in and a ton of reps. All have had ups and downs but there’s been a couple guys that have been consistent and have improved throughout this training camp,” Coen told reporters. “Definitely feel better about it than we did about a year ago or two years ago or even this spring.”

Kaiya Sheron is one of those in that group. The Somerset (Ky.) High product has taken positive steps in his development after getting one career start under his belt last season.

“He’s played at a high level, and he’s improved tremendously since I first met Kaiya,” Coen said.

We likely will not learn who the official backup is until the first depth chart is released next week.

Kentucky wants more consistency at wide receiver

Barion Brown and Dane Key are the top two guys in Kentucky’s wideout room. There is no denying that. But depth is needed. Dekel Crowdus and Tayvion Robinson were the next two players up in that room.

Despite the emergence of true freshman Anthony Brown, Kentucky needs both Crowdus and Robinson to play a big role. Coen wants to see consistency from both players.

“Trying to get more consistent. Consistency day in and day out. Catching the football consistently. Being accountable, being at the right route depth, all that kind of stuff. It’s a work in progress. He’s definitely improved,” Coen said about Crowdus. “I’ve liked his demeanor over the last week. You’re seeing kind of a tough demeanor. A guy that’s serious about his work and what he’s trying to get accomplished.”

With Robinson, Kentucky has seen an improvement from last season and this past spring. Now the super senior needs to make plays and do it consistently.

“Much-improved camp than I’d say from spring football. We need Tayvion Robinson to step up and be a playmaker for us. We need Tayvion Robinson to step up and be consistent, tough, physical, and be a leader. I think he has some of those capabilities,” Coen told KSR. “I know he can catch the football in traffic. I know he can make people miss. We need to get him involved in our own way but also him playing for his teammates, playing with his teammates, and having a lot of fun doing it.”

Depth at wide receiver is a concern. Kentucky will need productive snaps and big catches from Crowdus and Robinson this season.