Will Stein is Changing Kentucky QB Development Plan at Kentucky

[Matt Dillon]

The Kentucky football fans who grew up in Will Stein‘s generation learned to love the game of football through the quarterback position. Homegrown passers — Tim Couch, Jared Lorenzen, and Andre’ Woodson — were stars who lit up scoreboards and made the Wildcats competitive in the SEC. In the almost 20 years since Woodson’s departure, the quarterback position has not looked the same.

Mark Stoops used the transfer portal before the transfer portal became a thing to field a quarterback. Stephen Johnson and Terry Wilson were JUCO products who led the Wildcats to winning seasons. Kentucky cashed in when Liam Coen recruited Will Levis from Penn State, leading to a 10-win season. The Wildcats subsequently took big swings in the portal with Devin Leary and Brock Vandagriff, but neither mirrored the results of their predecessor.

Will Stein is Changing Kentucky QB Development Plan at Kentucky - On3

[Pete Hogwallop]

Good. QB is a position that UK has struggled with for several years now.

[Jaxcat]

I really like the GoPro on the QB helmet. The coaches and the player can see exactly what was looked at. Great teaching tool. With several of the recent QBs unable to get through their progressions and/or not seeing open receivers, it's surprising every team doesn't use one.

[CB3UK]

I particularly love Stein's focus on the OL. Who we land at QB isn't going to make a pick of difference if we don't have that line up to the level it needs to be.

[Jaxcat]

I particularly love Stein's focus on the OL. Who we land at QB isn't going to make a pick of difference if we don't have that line up to the level it needs to be.

Agree totally. And, with an above average or better OL, even decent QBs and RBs can look good. Josh Allen wouldn't be any good running for his life and getting hit in the mouth every pass play.

[Trueblujr]

I really like the GoPro on the QB helmet. The coaches and the player can see exactly what was looked at. Great teaching tool. With several of the recent QBs unable to get through their progressions and/or not seeing open receivers, it's surprising every team doesn't use one.

It is a great help, but doesn’t account for eye movement. Good QB’s use eye movement to throw off defenders or run through their progressions. But yeah the cameras do help them record what the field looks like to them.

[Jaxcat]

It is a great help, but doesn’t account for eye movement. Good QB’s use eye movement to throw off defenders or run through their progressions. But yeah the cameras do help them record what the field looks like to them.

I understand. But, for example, with Levis, especially his 2nd yr, I would think a GoPro could have easily shown him that he only looked at one side of the field for a majority of the passing plays. Just never seemed to grow into a QB who would know where to go pre-snap but would also recognize that things aren't what he expected and then adjust to find another option, depending on what he saw post-snap. He was a first read/tuck it and go type of QB (when he wasn't holding the ball too long and taking hits, of course).

It's not perfect. But, I would think it's a valuable tool to school QBs and give them concrete evidence of how they're reading plays as they develop to, hopefully, instill better habits.