The common denominator in a decade of offensive stagnation
After the Ole Miss loss, Mark Stoops was emphatic. "Everybody thinks I control the offense or call plays, which I, zero-zero percent," he told the media. It’s a defense he has used for years. But after nearly a dozen seasons, the evidence points to a different conclusion for Kentucky football.
While Stoops may not be calling specific plays, his overarching philosophy of risk-averse, slow-paced football is imprinted on every offense that takes the field. The goal is to shorten the game, rely on the defense, and prevent blowouts. This strategy has raised the floor of the program, but it has also established a very low ceiling.
Mark Stoops when he has to tell his QB what play to run (he has 40 seconds to do it) pic.twitter.com/geWAYScIEN
— WT - MOTIVATED (@WildcatsTongue) September 6, 2025
Fans have watched coordinator after coordinator arrive, only to run a sluggish, predictable scheme. The common denominator isn't the play-caller; it's the head coach who oversees the entire operation. The only two times Kentucky had a halfway functioning offense was under Eddie Gran in 2016 (30 ppg) and Liam Coen in 2021 (32 PPG). Everyone else struggled.
Mark Stoops is a $9 million head coach who is fundamentally afraid to take the risks necessary to win big. Until that conservative mindset changes, it doesn't matter who is calling the plays for Kentucky football. The program is stuck with a handbrake on its offense, and the man with his hand on the lever is the one who claims "zero-zero percent" involvement.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premier League soccer. Psalm 121:7-8. #UpTheAlbion