Zach Yenser says Kentucky's offensive approach is here to stay, regardless of play-caller

The baby elephant in the room is now a full-sized adult. After weeks of speculation, Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen has emerged as the Los Angeles Rams’ top candidate for the same position under Sean McVay. After just one season in Lexington, Coen has been officially offered the job, and all signs are pointing to him making the jump to the NFL.

Until pen hits paper on a deal, though, Coen is moving forward with a “business as usual” approach in Lexington.

“I mean, obviously, people know with Liam and everything (being in talks with the Rams), we’re just business as usual (in Lexington),” new Kentucky offensive line coach Zach Yenser told KSR on Sunday Morning Sports Talk yesterday. “Liam’s here, we’re installing for spring ball, meet with the guys as much as we’re allowed to. That’s kind of how we’re approaching it right now as a staff.”

In other words, he’s Kentucky’s offensive coordinator until he’s not, and he’s made that clear behind the scenes. With spring football set to begin March 1, he’s pushing to have the Wildcats prepared regardless of where he may be coaching in the fall.

“When I got here, his name first started circulating after the Super Bowl or whatever and ultimately that’s just part of the business with it all,” Yenser said. “As a staff right now, we’re full speed ahead. He’s here, he’s our offensive coordinator installing for spring ball, getting ready for March 1 to rock and roll.”

Coen’s recruiting efforts have continued through the interview process with the Rams, as well, speaking with potential prospects as late as Saturday. On the field, he’s installing the offense just as he would any other spring.

“Business as usual. I talked to him (Saturday),” Yenser said. “We got on the phone with some O-linemen with recruiting and everything like that. So, you know, business as usual, and I think that’s kind of how he’s doing it with Coach Stoops. That’s the way we’re preparing right now. Heck, we’re about, what, 12 days out from spring ball? That’s supposed to be starting March 1. So this week that I’ve been here, it’s been normal. He’s installing with the skill, I’m installing with the O-line. It’s good. I’m excited to work with him.”

The way things look now may not be how they look by the end of the day, let alone by the start of spring. Things are clearly moving quickly between Coen and the Rams, and there’s a very strong possibility Kentucky will be on the hunt for a new offensive coordinator sooner rather than later.

That’s not to say, though, that Kentucky won’t have a high-octane, pro-style offense in the fall. That’s what drew Yenser to Lexington in the first place, as it’s a style of play the new offensive line coach firmly believes in. It’s one similar to the system he was a part of in San Francisco with the 49ers.

“Obviously this offense is very intriguing,” Yenser said. “It’s very similar to what we were running at the Niners. This pro-style offense I think puts guys in great (opportunities) for success. I believe in this offense, and Liam obviously has done a great job running it. So I’m excited about that.”

Yenser says in his conversations with Mark Stoops, the Kentucky head coach has made it clear that he’s “dedicated” to this pro-style offense, and it’s why he recruited the former 49ers assistant to coach the Big Blue Wall.

“We obviously had a lot of success in running the football (in San Francisco),” Yenser told KSR. “One thing that I learned about from the Niners, and really from Kyle Shanahan, was it’s not just the system that you have, it’s the mentality that you have every time that you step foot on the field. It’s a great scheme and you can scheme up guys. With Kyle, there’s probably nobody better with game planning, him and (former 49ers offensive coordinator) Mike McDaniel. It was just phenomenal. But the mentality that our guys stepped on the field with for those three years I was with them, it was unbelievable.”

Regardless of who the play-caller is in Lexington this fall, Yenser is confident there will be a modern offense in place, one capable of scheming skill players open as you see in the NFL. It will also be one that brings physicality and toughness, something that starts up front with his offensive line.

“We knew every time that we stepped foot in a field, we were the most physical football team, and it showed,” Yenser said of his time in San Francisco. “There’s a bunch of people that run that system in the NFL, I just felt like we did it the best because of our mentality, and that started from the top. That’s what I love about here, talking to Coach Stoops and being dedicated to this scheme of offense where you’re able to put guys in good situations. I think that’s what I’m gonna bring to the team. We’re gonna try to continue to be the most physical offensive line every day that we step on the field.

“The plays that are called, whoever (calls them), that’s fine. It’s a mentality of how you run those plays, and I think that’s what’s going to stick out. It’s going to be different, how we do it up front, running off the ball and being the most physical team week in and week out when we step on that field.”