Mark Stoops (SEC Photo)
Kentucky not only is last in the Southeastern Conference in passing statistics, but it is WAY LAST. The Cats are averaging 115.8 passing yards per game. Tennessee is 13th at 184.2 yards per game. Texas A&M is 12th with 233 yards per game — that’s twice as many as UK in 14th place. Nationally Kentucky ranks 117th out of 126 teams.
Now when it comes to rushing yards Kentucky is second with 175.8 yards per game. Only Ole Miss at 206.5 rushes for more yards per game than UK.
That puts UK 14th in total offense in the SEC at 291 yards per game — and 116th nationally— and 12th in scoring at 19.5 points per game ahead of only Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.
Those numbers are a big reason UK is 3-6 going into Saturday’s game with South Carolina and no one understands that more than Kentucky coach Mark Stoops. He knows fans are upset with the Cats’ lack of offense — in four of the last five games UK scored 10 points per less.
“There is no denying that we need to improve,” Stoops said.
No kidding!
Stoops knows UK’s receivers have not had many catches but Monday said he had a “lot of respect” for the way they are working to improve and appreciates what they have been trying to do.
Still, the numbers don’t lie. Kentucky’s offense has struggled.
“We do need to get better. There is no denying that. Some of the football that we have put out there is unacceptable and that is my job as the head coach to look at that, address it and improve,” Stoops said.
Address it? What does that mean?
“I don’t want to get into specifics. There is no time for pointing fingers and doing all of that right now,” Stoops said.
Fans are doing plenty of finger pointing at offensive coordinator Eddie Gran — the same Eddie Gran most fans praised last year for coming up with a plan featuring receiver Lynn Bowden at quarterback that helped UK win eight games.
“I have to continue to move the program forward and there is no doubt in my mind that I have to continue to look at all things and improve and get better and I will certainly do that after this week,” Stoops said.
Does that mean personnel changes? Maybe. But it could also mean a change in recruiting strategy or maybe a change in philosophy.
Bottom line, though, is that it certainly seems clear changes not only are needed but are coming based on what Stoops said this week.
