Kentucky football: OC Eddie Gran says he was ‘too stubborn’ with wildcat formation

[Matt Dillon]

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Kentucky’s offense revolves around running the ball, but it struggled to do so in a 24-17 win Saturday at Southern Miss.
Sophomore running back Benny Snell, known for his straight-ahead, tackle-breaking runs, was stopped over and over again at the line of scrimmage. Offensive coordinator Eddie Gran continued to dial up snaps to Snell in the wildcat without much progress.
“I probably got a little bit too stubborn, probably could’ve opened it up a little bit,” Gran admitted after the game. “Defense had it hand. They were really getting after their tail and part of me wishes probably that I had opened it up a little bit, but at the same time, we’ve got to be tough, we’ve got to run the ball.”

https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/kentucky-football-eddie-gran-benny-snell-stubborn-wildcat-formation?utm_campaign=SF_SECCountryUK&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social

The understatement of the young season.

[teamchemistry15]

The thing that was frustrating me is there was no action involved. Last year we had Badet sweeping across so we at least had the threat of being able to toss it and run it outside. Every single time it was a clear run up the middle. I think one reason they kept going back to it was to try and get Snell going a little to build momentum for the season but it was clear that it wasn't going to work.

[boomdaddy]

Good news: They won and are undefeated, so far. Bad news: The O was not what I expected from the 2nd year OC in his opening game. I sure hope Gran and the staff get it figured out quick, they have one breather game, before mistakes and not making the right in game adjustments start to cost them wins.

[teamchemistry15]

I think we see the same thing next week. We shouldn't need much more to win so I doubt we really see them open up the playbook much before going to USC.

[boomdaddy]

The Cats weren't exactly blowing the other team out of the water, on the field or on the score board. I call BS on the " keep the great plays a secret until the tougher games come up" theory. The game was in doubt, until the end. I didn't expect them to throw out trick plays, but hell fire, I am flashing back to some coaches of the past who would not adjust and seemed content to punt after 3 plays that did not work.

UK does not have a Boom Williams to switch things up. I think they should play the Rose kid and see what he has to offer. EKU would be the perfect game to do just that. The should get those freshmen WRs all the action they can, against that team as well.

I expected a lot more production and execution from this offense against a team that did not return that many players. I am not giving up on the season, But, I am worried.

[Matt Dillon]

I think we see the same thing next week. We shouldn't need much more to win so I doubt we really see them open up the playbook much before going to USC.

I really don't think they were intentionally being conservative yesterday. In the fourth qtr., with backs to the wall and fighting for their collective lives, if they were holding back that was a dangerous move, in my opinion.

[Katmendo]

I have no problem with a game plan, but, as we have often lamented, when that isn't working, or when the other team is prepared and capable of handling that, then you've got to make some changes.

The way we stuck with what we were doing, the lack of movement, the lack of play variation, etc, didn't give me the impression that we were concealing anything. It gave me the impression that what we saw WAS the foundation for our offensive sets and philosophy, and it never worked.

I think we stuck with it because it's what we've drilled on over and over, and is likely what we intended to build off of all year. That was just my impression, and perhaps I'm wrong.

If so, maybe next week we'll see some double tight sets, some out routes, some roll outs, floods, and more.

BUT, my gut tells me that what we saw was the culmination of several weeks of planned implementation, determined personnel involvement (with adjustments for injury) and positioning, that was intended for more than just one game, and it failed.

It will get better. There will be changes. But here's the rub, no matter what we do, we don't have two thousand yards of rushing on this team. Better plan for that, right now. We will have to throw to set up the run, this year, IMO.

[lilproUK98]

I'm much more comfortable with Gran than any off coordinator in the last 10 yrs...and maybe longer than that. Corrections will be made....we saw that last yr. Yesterday was just odd. Stoops said "everything was just inches away"...and that's true. A couple runs by Benny were almost broken for long ones, and Conrad should have scored on his early long play.

[SBCatMan]

boomdaddy just about nails it. i find this game to be VERY concerning. I am trying to remember if we have EVER played worse and still won the game.

I realize this is the first game of the year, and I'm not giving up on anything yet. But, right now, I am very, very concerned. The offense was just terrible. If USM doesn't urn the ball over the way they did, the mood around here would be even worse this morning.

[johnkyblue]

The refs gave them 3 points, took 7 away from us, and run ANY play and we score 7 more.. I said the score didn't reflect the difference. Won by 7, add 17, that's 24.... which is pretty badass.

[George]

It's past time to shift dependence away from the Wildcat. It's been little more than a gimmick since the first time it was used. MAYBE things would be different if we varied the plays that we run out of that formation, but we tend to call the same thing over and over again. Seems obvious that opposing D's would figure that out pretty quickly.

[WIZARD]

Our O line got owned. Hayes was man handled on some of the plays. I know it is ALL SEC preseason, but preseason awards don't win games. I think it may be time to move on from him. Why are we sending in S. Johnson on first down when we are running the wildcat on it. Keep him on the sidelines, and send in an extra TE or linemen to help block. we are not trying to fool them, so why not just line up and overpower them. and if King wants to dance, let him do it on the sidelines. HIT THE HOLE!!!!

[Blue Heaven]

My observations:
Scrap the wildcat
Thank goodness for our defense. Looked fast and aggressive.
Passes to the Backs
2 TE sets. If you aren't gonna throw it deep, then at least throw Hart in there.
Let's see another back other than King. Can't be much worse.
Special Teams looked good for a change.
If we continue the wildcat, maybe throw Bowden in there. Running up the gut fools nobody.

[Blue Heaven]

BTW I totally agree with Katmendo. We are gonna have to pass to set up the run this year unless something changes. But we are 1-0 and got revenge against the team that RAN ALL OVER US last year so there was improvement.

[teamchemistry15]

I really don't think they were intentionally being conservative yesterday. In the fourth qtr., with backs to the wall and fighting for their collective lives, if they were holding back that was a dangerous move, in my opinion.

I didn't mean to imply they were concealing things yesterday. I just meant I would expect to see a similar game next week. When Gran said he should've opened it up more I don't think we should expect it to be opened up next week. I think Gran expected our offensive line to handle their d line but it just didn't happen. I think he was just expecting our depth to wear them down but they didn't.