Liam Coen named the Big Blue Wall his top priority in Lexington

Kentucky Football‘s offense took a significant dip in 2022, so Mark Stoops brought Liam Coen back to increase production up to 2021 levels or better. Now that Liam Coen is back, he hopes to have the Big Blue Wall back with him.

Part of the problem last season, Kentucky’s offensive line didn’t play up to the Big Blue Wall’s standards. Losing three starters (including NFL draft picks Luke Fortner and Darian Kinnard) was a big hit, but the line still underachieved with experienced pieces under first-year position coach Zach Yenser. By season’s end, Kentucky ranked 127th out of 131 FBS programs in sacks allowed per game (3.62) and 112th in tackles for loss allowed (7.15).

The year before, Kentucky’s offensive line was one of the four Joe Moore Award award finalists for its protection of Coen’s first offense in Lexington. The Joe Moore Award is given to the best offensive line in the country. (Michigan’s won the trophy.)

In Coen’s first comments since he was re-hired, he said rebuilding the Wall is at the top of his list before his second run as Kentucky’s playcaller.

“That’s the number one priority when we get there,” Coen told 247’s Aaron Gershon during Coen’s re-introductory press conference from Los Angeles. “Both personnel-wise, schematically, fundamentally, technique, attitude, demeanor; all of that, it needs to get doven into really quickly when we get there because I do remember the first time that I came (to Kentucky), that was kind of the unit that I never really worried about.

“I never really worried about if they were going to come to play. I never worried about 3rd-and-1, not getting a first down. It was never something that crossed my mind when I got there–and we had experience, now is different. We had three players on that offensive line that went on to play in the National Football League.”

Looking ahead, Coen will have new players to meet for the first time, but he will recognize some veterans still around the offensive line room from his one year in Lexington.

“There’s a different set of experience, different personalities in that room,” Coen explained. “Jager (Burton) was starting to come on I remember at the time. We were excited about his development. (Kenneth) Horsey with the flexibility that he’s been able to show, playing multiple different positions and having a ton of game experience.

“But it’s a unit that we need to address and address quickly when we get there because, you know, really the offensive line, if you think about it, that’s more than a third of your unit on a play-to-play basis, and if those five aren’t on the same page, don’t have the right mentality, or aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do, it’s really hard to have success as an offense, no matter who’s around them.”

In addition to Burton and Horsey, Coen will recognize starting center Eli Cox and starting tackle Jeremy Flax. Marques Cox (Northern Illinois) and Tanner Bowles (Alabama) are expected to provide help out of the transfer portal.

Coen excited to work with Zach Yenser

Before Coen meets Kentucky’s offense line to begin its spring rebuild, he will need to catch up with Kentucky’s offensive line coach, Zach Yenser. Yenser was hired with Rich Scangarello off the San Francisco 49ers’ payroll when Scangarello replaced Coen as Kentucky’s OC last year. Now Coen is back in his old office as Yenser begins Year 2 in his, and they have work to do.

When asked about his relationship with Yenser, Coen replied, “We definitely know each other a little bit from the previous time and I have been able to speak to him a little bit over the last few weeks. But I really like Yens as a dude. I think he’s the type of person that we’ll work well together.”

Coen noted Yenser’s coaching style and demeanor are different than what Coen saw from Eric Wolford, Kentucky’s former offensive line coach. But he expects he and Yenser will mesh well when they get to work in a few weeks.

“Yens and I, I think we’ll blend pretty well together,” said Coen. “I’m excited about learning from him, listening to him in terms of how he’s teaching some things, and then for us to get on the same page about how ultimately we’d like it to be done.

“All the guys on staff said he’s a really good dude. My conversations and dialogue with him have been nothing but the same. So I’m excited. I think he’s the type of guy that’s going to put his head down and work. He knows that there needs to be improvements made and I’m excited about doing that with him.”

So what improvements are up first?

“I think we’d all agree that we need to be able to run the football better and protect the quarterback better. So those are the two things that we’re going to get together and talk about and be able to figure this thing out.”