Vince Marrow
Almost everyone is figuring that recruiting coordinator/tight ends coach Vince Marrow is going to make sure the tight ends have plenty of passes throw there way in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Saturday since he will be calling plays against North Caroina State. However, Marrow said Tuesday his responsibility is a bit more complicated than what is best for his position group
“It’s like being a Governor of a state and then you become President,” Marrow said. “You’re all about your state and then now you gotta worry about the whole country. That’s how it is with the offense now.
“I want to throw to the tight ends, but we also gotta look at the bigger picture. What’s good? What’s going to make the offense go?”
So what should Kentucky fans expect from a Vince Marrow offense?
“Big Dog mentality. We’re going to be physical,” Marrow said. “We’re going to throw the ball but we’re still going to run the ball, try to eliminate penalties and play sound, efficient football. I think when you look at, not just my offense but what we are at Kentucky, we’re always going to be physical. That’s never going to be something that people will question.
“But we will add more to the passing game to get guys like Josh Ali, Keaton Upshaw, Justin (Rigg); I can go down the line with them guys. We got some pretty good skill guys and we’re going to utilize their talents in this game.”
Utilizing talents of “good skill guys” at receiver is something UK’s offense has not done this season. Some blamed quarterback Terry Wilson. Some blamed former offensive coordinator Eddie Gran. Now Marrow gets his chance to add some sizzle to the UK passing game against an unorthodox 3-3-5 North Carolina State defense. However, N.C. State did give up 418 yards per game, including 163 rushing.
“I actually went back and watched the Mississippi State game (from their year because State used a 3-3-5 defense),” Marrow said. “(NC State) don’t move as much as Mississippi State, but it’s a 3-3-5 stack. I think (assistant coaches) did a really good job helping me as we broke down these guys. I think we’re going to have a great plan.”
Marrow said a plus for him and UK is having a veteran offensive line that has seen plenty of defenses, including the 3-3-5.
“It really helps when you have experienced guys like Drake and Landon (Young) and Luke (Fortner) and those guys, Darian (Kinnard), Justin (Rigg), who have played a lot of football up front. It makes my job easier,” Marrow said.
“But I definitely do not like a 3-3-5. It reminded me of when I was in high school and I was a head coach and we would play the Wing-T. I hated seeing that and preparing for that stuff. But hey, that’s why they pay us money. We’ll go out and execute and try to do what we need to do.”
