Sounds like he might be the shot in the arm we've been needing.
Bush Hamdan introductory press conference
Coach Hamdan has his first meeting with Kentucky media.www.aseaofblue.com
Excited About Hamdan
- Thread starter Random UK Fan
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Good start!! You can see why he is liked. I would think he and Marrow would work well together on the cruit’n trail. Seems like he has given a lot of thought to teaching his offense to a new team. So, let’s hope Spring is exciting for the players.
I hope he has unimpeded control over the offense and pace of play.
I may be misinterpreting his comments, but it appears to me that we'll most likely go back to inside zone blocking concepts where we've had the most success. Am I understanding correctly?
Really like that we should have both NFL and college offense concepts. Thought the McVay system was really good except too complicated, too much NFL (limited QB run) at times. Like that we'll should expect some tempo but still be physical enough to pick up short yardage when needed.
This could turn out to be just what the doctor ordered.
Really like that we should have both NFL and college offense concepts. Thought the McVay system was really good except too complicated, too much NFL (limited QB run) at times. Like that we'll should expect some tempo but still be physical enough to pick up short yardage when needed.
This could turn out to be just what the doctor ordered.
Bush Hamdan prefers to call plays from the booth (for the unlimited coffee)
Kentucky's new offensive coordinator said he likes to call plays from the booth for the view and because it's closer to the coffee.www.on3.com
Why would he leave as an alum where he was set to call plays for a high 5* transfer if he weren't
Agree, I think the same. Some of the Boise film his scheme looks like the very very best of Eddie Gran with Stephen Johnson, Snell, Conrad, & Badet. Lots of pistol, few huddling, snap with 15-20 seconds left on playclock, carving D up with inside zone. Trying to get positive yardage in the middle rather than high risk of tackle for loss run plays trying for explosives outside.
Yeah, the occasional 50 yd run by Ray Davis was awesome. But trying to set those up put us in FAR too many 2nd & 13. And leading to painfully few O snaps per game.
Watched some of the BSU 2023 highlights. Jeanty is a beast.
I am very happy with this hire.
From a far, Hamden looks youthful enough that players can identify with him and visa-versa.
This hire strikes me as an elevation of a Coach who will be making serious noise in his career.
Yes, with our resources we could have dipped into Big Ten or SEC or NFL country (again), but we have seen that is a fifty/fifty proposition, at best. Hamden looks and sounds like a Coach eager to prove himself at an elite level, instead of a Coach that internally views college ball as a step-down, even in the SEC.
I just had a gut feeling with Scan that he thought he was right in all respects until the last incompletion of the 2022 season.
Coen (if the truth were known) was probably whispering with advisors/suitors throughout the seasons he was here, looking for a return to the NFL, while cashing SEC checks. Coastal guys have grown up viewing Kentucky and Idaho as “flyover states,” and likely can never fully shed an internal disdain for being more than 100 miles of a beach.
Let them have the Coasts!!
They miss a lot when they flyover.
Including the best college football in existence!!
From a far, Hamden looks youthful enough that players can identify with him and visa-versa.
This hire strikes me as an elevation of a Coach who will be making serious noise in his career.
Yes, with our resources we could have dipped into Big Ten or SEC or NFL country (again), but we have seen that is a fifty/fifty proposition, at best. Hamden looks and sounds like a Coach eager to prove himself at an elite level, instead of a Coach that internally views college ball as a step-down, even in the SEC.
I just had a gut feeling with Scan that he thought he was right in all respects until the last incompletion of the 2022 season.
Coen (if the truth were known) was probably whispering with advisors/suitors throughout the seasons he was here, looking for a return to the NFL, while cashing SEC checks. Coastal guys have grown up viewing Kentucky and Idaho as “flyover states,” and likely can never fully shed an internal disdain for being more than 100 miles of a beach.
Let them have the Coasts!!
They miss a lot when they flyover.
Including the best college football in existence!!
That first part still surprises me. Maybe I underestimate the level of job it is here and to be in the SEC but to leave your alma mater with the big recruiting wins he just had and seemingly all the pieces in place is still a big jump.
Remove, “Maybe.”
We tend to poor-mouth ourselves and sell ourselves short, but those Nationally televised SEC games air everywhere, and folks pay attention.
And a lot of people watch Citrus and Gator Bowls.
Given that we are 6th in total wins in the SEC since 2018, our national perception is likely far different from just a decade ago.
Combine a competitive half-decade with some good bowl wins, with SEC money and the longest tenured Head Coach in the SEC, and we are easily in the top 20 programs in FBS for about any objective measurement.
Frankly, any Coordinator at a Boise State/UNLV/Bringham Young level who has an opportunity to triple his salary and jump into the SEC would need his head examined if he turned the offer down.
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I expect signing a 3 year contract that pays him 3 times his current salary with guaranteed raises the next 2 years might have a little to do with him leaving his Alma Mater.
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Hope it works out because it was obvious Coen just didn't have it the last 2 seasons in LA and Lexington. The Rams were incredible this past year on offense so I have no idea what the Buccaneers were watching.
He got a huge jump in pay like more than double, plus the lore of the SEC
Watched interview with Keith Farmer and was impressed. Proofs always in the pudding.
Jr said before he was hired that would impress in the interviews and before the press. He said he was a great communicator. Something we desperately needed. Scang sucked at that and they say Leary had a hard communicating the plays is why they were so slow last year. Coen’s plays were difficult for some of them to grasp. JR also said he was not a guy that would go out and recruit an area but when the staff had a list that he was great at communicating with the players and families.
If we go back to inside zone and run some slants and quick hitters I think we have the personnel to make this offense really good. Very excited about this hire to say the least and also about Wolford coming back if it’s just for his recruiting.
Glad we got him hey he wants to be here that's always a plus has some great offensive athletes too
I thought both of their running backs did very well- transfer opp?
I loved it when he said if QB isn't getting at least two first downs per game with his legs, then he isn't going to be able to run his offense.
Not allowing QB run game in college football is the most idiotic mistake a coach can make.
Especially a defensive HC who KNOWS how difficult it is to defend a Q Run game.
We need to stop the BS allowing players/agents to dictate what plays they will or will not run, and play aggressive football in an effort to win more of these 50/50 games we have been losing the past 2 years.
Not allowing QB run game in college football is the most idiotic mistake a coach can make.
Especially a defensive HC who KNOWS how difficult it is to defend a Q Run game.
We need to stop the BS allowing players/agents to dictate what plays they will or will not run, and play aggressive football in an effort to win more of these 50/50 games we have been losing the past 2 years.
Houlani is in the draft. AJ apparently turned down some big NIL from P5 programs to stay put. He reminds me a lot of RD. Have to see who BSU hires as their OC so you never know.
Hack, as expected, a very sensible post. The old Kentucky has gone by by, thank goodness.
Something new, a coach that speaks without using coach-speak. 😁
Got a crazy buyout, if he leaves before his 2nd season. Great hire. I wanted Hamdan or Duke's coordinator.
After reading every article I could find about him here is what has been reported: Shanahan tree pro style base with some spread elements. Flexibility to adapt to personnel and mixes both inside/outside zone run schemes with a bit more emphasis on the QB run game than the typical pro style offense.
I haven't watched any BSU film, so can't comment objectively, but those comments make it seem like he's not married to a rigid system and has his offense as multiple as possible.
It really is not difficult to understand. He made $400k last year. He's going to double or triple his salary. Now add the prestige of being an SEC coordinator which, if successful, will allow you to take a college HC or NFL OC role.
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I am not a Coen apologist, but that comment shows ignorance of his situation in LA. He was not calling the plays, as McVay is a play calling HC(a big reason why Coen came back), plus that year LA's offensive roster was devastated by numerous injuries,
No inside info here, but from his comments, I get the sense he is proud how he left their program in great shape and probably will not be encouraging/accepting? any transfers wishing to follow him here.
I'm not overly excited, but I will sit back and see what he can do before criticizing the hire. I wasn't really happy about Coen coming back and we saw how that went. Hopefully this hire works out much better.
I tend to see it this way too. I think the sample size is too small to judge Coen at this point.
In 2022 and 2023 he had personnel that weren’t on same level as 2021 (Levis, Wandale, CRod, and top 5-7 SEC OL). What will he look like with 2024’s personnel in Tampa will do a lot for his perception with me.
Do knew it was a bump but didn’t know it was that much. Still to leave your alma mater when you just got the first 5 star QB ever with nothing but good vibes going is tough.
Will have to see how things shake out after Spring practice and the next portal window opens. I wouldn't think he'd turn away those guys if they decided after spring ball that they wanted to move on.
I'm excited about getting a simplified offense that snaps the ball reasonably quick without a bunch of coach porn useless shifting. Excited about a hopeful return to inside zone and physical run. Hopeful he will be able to keep the guys we got and not have any bad late portal losses.
I'm optimistic he will turn out to be a good hire but he definitely has something yet to prove heading up the operation and play calling in the sec.
I'm optimistic he will turn out to be a good hire but he definitely has something yet to prove heading up the operation and play calling in the sec.
I somewhat agree, though, he was asked specifically about leaving his team so late and he mentioned it was due to Coen leaving so late and that he put a highly rated offense in place, so he's proud at how he left his alma mater, hinting that he would not be recruiting any of them. Maybe if one of them begged or had a compelling reason to come, he would listen, but I got the sense he would not proactively poach.
Hamdan specifically said pre snap motion pro style details are a big part of his offense, so don't expect that to diminish. Those shifts and motions are there to get the defense to show their hand, so the OC can audible out of a play. What should be different is they won't be huddling 60% of the time, think Gran's offense lining up and looking at the sideline for the call, and significantly less verbiage which causes less confusion pre snap, so everyone can get lined up quicker. He also mentioned that he would run tempo occasionally and incorporate more QB run schemes.
Shift and snap is fine. Motion and snap is fine. Shift then motion is a waste. Defenses are well versed now in dealing with shifts such that it's just a waste of time and increases opportunity for mistake imo
It's fine to have that opinion, but when you listen to DC's in the press conferences they always talk about how difficult it is to prepare for teams that incorporate so much motion. If it didn't work, then the Shanahan tree would be dead, but it is the opposite.
OTOH, your point about making mistakes is valid, so the OC needs to measure confusion caused towards the defense vs confusion caused towards his own guys which may result in pre snap penalties or missed assignments. That's why Scan failed. He didn't even attempt to dumb it down for his college players, so he got canned. Hamadan made it clear in the press conference, that he's still going to do those things, but he is acutely aware that he must also keep it just simple enough to limit offensive mistakes. So he said all the right things, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out.
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