Kentucky football: Mark Stoops and the offense's second half struggles

Safe to say this season hasn't gone according to plan for Mark Stoops and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan. Hamdan was brought in from Boise State to replace Liam Coen, who returned to the NFL after a second 1-year stint under Stoops. Hamdan promised a faster tempo, no-huddle, and a return to a more ground-heavy approach. Yet the results have been much the same under Stoops: a slow and uninspired offense.

So, it is not surprising to a Kentucky fan when you say the offense has been bad. What is surprising is just how bad the Kentucky offense has been in the second half. Stoops has frequently been criticized for his lack of halftime adjustments, and the stats this year back that up:

As shown above, Kentucky’s scoring offense ranks in the bottom third of teams in the first half. It gets even worse in the second, where Kentucky ranks last in the country. Only Kent State is even close to them. This indicates that Kentucky’s coaches aren’t adapting to opponents’ adjustments at all. They start with a game plan and stick with it throughout the entire game; when the opposing team adjusts, there’s no counterpunch from Stoops and Company, just the same thing over and over. We saw this clearly against Auburn; when two coaches went into half-time tied, one came out with adjustments, and one did not. Kentucky lost that game 24-10 AND 14-0 in the second half.

This is why it is not surprising when I say Kentucky currently sits 111th out of 134 teams in scoring offense, averaging just over 19 points per game. Last year’s team, which frustrated fans with Leary and co., still managed over 29 points per game. A ten-point drop with a supposed better line, an updated line coach, and a 5 star QB who has won a national title as a backup. So, is it the players?

Just to make you extra happy, Rich Scangarello’s offense averaged 19.5 points per game; this season, 19.1. While offensive struggles are clear in the second half, the defense has also seen a dip in a lot of games this year. Against South Carolina, trailing 10-6 at halftime, Kentucky ended up losing 31-6. After being tied with Auburn, they gave up 14 straight points to lose 24-10. Florida outscored them 21-7 in the second half.

Simply put, Kentucky has not been able to deliver in the second half. The offense struggles to score, the defense falters, and the coaching staff seems out of ideas. Just hit the repeat button, right, Mark?

Kentucky will travel to Neyland Stadium to face Tennessee, who will be wearing newly announced Venom-inspired black uniforms and a blackout in the stands, this Saturday at 7:45 on the SEC Network.