Hello HOB. Good Wednesday afternoon to yinz. Hope it’s going well. Beauty of an almost fall-like day here in LEX as the Cats practice today for a Week 3 matchup with Akron. I’m running some errands before going over, and I might be pushing it close, so I’m going to go ahead and get this thread started. We should have either OC Liam Coen or some other representatives of the offense speaking to us today at approx 5:30 ET. Stay tuned for the latest news and notes…
LIAM COEN Q&A:
* Thanks the medical/training staff at UK for helping him get thru his health scare. Everyone acted quickly. Says he really doesn’t remember much of it. A good wake-up call, he says. “Probably need to eat better, sleep better.” Will try to chill out a bit, too, although he says he’s almost always pretty calm on game day. It’s the other days of the week he needs to work on. On Saturday, he sees himself more as a caddy to help his player perform.
* Woke up Monday morning pretty good. Felt like he was ready to go. Returned Tuesday with clearance from the docs. He appreciates all the care and concern, “But I’m here and I’m good.”
* Came back to be at a community and school that cares, and feels like this shows it was the right decision.
* So was the EKU film that bad? Yeah, he says with a laugh. Way too many drive-wrecking mistakes. An offsides on a 3rd and 1 QB sneak. Makes it 3rd and 6 and a tougher convert. They looked like an operation once they got that first score. “How do we get to that point earlier in the game is the key.” With teams coming up on the schedule, you cannot afford to start slow and dig a hole.
* A couple of protection/communication issues that can’t happen. A couple of situations where the QB has to totally own the play. And, admits he can get better with his calls. Maybe a little less volume, let them just go play free and have fun.
* Leary does things really well when he doesn’t forcibly put his body into some throws. Compared it to a pitcher trying to overthrow. Those are causing a trend of missing high and away on throws. Theme they’re working on is staying nice and calm in the drop thru the throw.
* Says he hasn’t had an episode like he had before in his life. Getting wisdom teeth out is about the worst he’s experienced.
* On addressing drops… It’s focus, concentration, detail. Things they are preaching right now.
* Thinks they can do some things to help out with tempo. First, stop the self-inflicted mistakes that naturally slow things down. Second, maybe not change perineal groups as much as they have, play a little bit longer with the guys they have on the field.
* Thinks the team will be prepared with SEC play just around the corner, but there is a bit more of a sense of urgency now. Can’t always read much into these scores. There have been previous seasons where they’ve had games similar to the EKU game, and they’ve played quite well in the SEC games. You never know. It’s a week-to-week deal. But you gotta start being more consistent. They have the right kind of kids in the locker room who aren’t going to allow the little mistakes to become a habit.
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LIAM COEN Q&A:
* Thanks the medical/training staff at UK for helping him get thru his health scare. Everyone acted quickly. Says he really doesn’t remember much of it. A good wake-up call, he says. “Probably need to eat better, sleep better.” Will try to chill out a bit, too, although he says he’s almost always pretty calm on game day. It’s the other days of the week he needs to work on. On Saturday, he sees himself more as a caddy to help his player perform.
* Woke up Monday morning pretty good. Felt like he was ready to go. Returned Tuesday with clearance from the docs. He appreciates all the care and concern, “But I’m here and I’m good.”
* Came back to be at a community and school that cares, and feels like this shows it was the right decision.
* So was the EKU film that bad? Yeah, he says with a laugh. Way too many drive-wrecking mistakes. An offsides on a 3rd and 1 QB sneak. Makes it 3rd and 6 and a tougher convert. They looked like an operation once they got that first score. “How do we get to that point earlier in the game is the key.” With teams coming up on the schedule, you cannot afford to start slow and dig a hole.
* A couple of protection/communication issues that can’t happen. A couple of situations where the QB has to totally own the play. And, admits he can get better with his calls. Maybe a little less volume, let them just go play free and have fun.
* Leary does things really well when he doesn’t forcibly put his body into some throws. Compared it to a pitcher trying to overthrow. Those are causing a trend of missing high and away on throws. Theme they’re working on is staying nice and calm in the drop thru the throw.
* Says he hasn’t had an episode like he had before in his life. Getting wisdom teeth out is about the worst he’s experienced.
* On addressing drops… It’s focus, concentration, detail. Things they are preaching right now.
* Thinks they can do some things to help out with tempo. First, stop the self-inflicted mistakes that naturally slow things down. Second, maybe not change perineal groups as much as they have, play a little bit longer with the guys they have on the field.
* Thinks the team will be prepared with SEC play just around the corner, but there is a bit more of a sense of urgency now. Can’t always read much into these scores. There have been previous seasons where they’ve had games similar to the EKU game, and they’ve played quite well in the SEC games. You never know. It’s a week-to-week deal. But you gotta start being more consistent. They have the right kind of kids in the locker room who aren’t going to allow the little mistakes to become a habit.
*****
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