On Monday Night Football, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took the opening possession, marched down the field, and scored. It was that easy. This is when the NFL analysts and pundits began to talk about how great of a job Liam Coen is doing. Yes, the same Liam Coen who was the Kentucky offensive coordinator at two different points.
It's hard to watch Liam Coen take the NFL by storm when the Kentucky offense can't even put together consistent drives or score touchdowns. Fans took to X to express their frustration.
Liam Coen just shredded the Ravens defense for a TD on the opening drive. pic.twitter.com/Zfe7pfCT7B
— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) October 22, 2024
The NFL has noticed Coen's ability to draw up good plays and even make gunslinger Baker Mayfield look elite. During the broadcast, Troy Aikman describes a great play design from Coen and breaks it down for the viewers.
Liam Coen drawing up beautiful plays in Tampa Bay 🙂↕️pic.twitter.com/UUcR7AUyNC
— Barstool Kentucky (@BarstoolUK) October 22, 2024
On the Manningcast, they had Bill Belichick as their guest, and even he was raving about Liam Coen's ability as an Offensive Coordinator.
Liam Coen getting lots of praise praise from the Manning Brothers and Bill Belichick
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) October 22, 2024
This is hard to watch and stomach for Kentucky fans, as our offense hasn't been able to be good more than here and there. Not just this year, but really any year. There are some exceptions, but not many.
Kentucky is yet to score 21 points against an SEC opponent this season.
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) October 22, 2024
Meanwhile, former OC Liam Coen is being praised by three Hall of Famers and is receiving NFL head coach talk.
Part of this frustration comes from the fact that Kentucky's head coach, Mark Stoops, said today when talking about the offense, "I don't get involved in the play calling." However, fans were quick to point out that he has brought in a parade of offensive coordinators throughout his tenure. Most come highly touted and then are awesome once they leave, but while they are here, it's a frustrating offense. It can't be them that are dictating how the offense is run.
Eddie Gran ran a wide open offense before Kentucky. Didn't run one here. Shannon Dawson is the OC for one of the best offenses in the country, fired after a season. Liam Coen is the OC for a NFL offense that is second in the league in scoring at 29.7 ppg. Funny how all of these… https://t.co/AdKMd3Dv3U
— JayhazzeKY (Religiously Kentucky Sports) (@JayHazzeKY) October 21, 2024
It seems like in one form or another, the offense coordinators, when they serve under Mark Stoops, are handcuffed and can't have the success they had before they came. Coen is another example of this annoying phenomenon.
Liam Coen took a Buccaneers team from last in the NFL in rushing for two straight seasons, and now they lead the league. He took an offense that ranked among the bottom to now where they rank among the top. He's doing amazing in the NFL, and they are already talking about head coach opportunities coming his way. For Kentucky fans, this can only be listed as frustrating.