Kentucky coach Mark Stoops knew what he was getting into when he hired Eddie Gran.
“What you see with Eddie right now is you see the talent that he has and the experience that he has,” Stoops said Monday. “He’s an experienced coach. We want to play with balance. If we can play fast, we’ll play fast. If we need to spread people out, we will.”
When Stoops lured Gran and quarterbacks coach Darrin Hinshaw from the University of Cincinnati, the Kentucky coach envisioned a fast-paced and passing attack, similar to the one the Bearcats displayed last season.
“They were super-fast and they were throwing the heck out of the football,” Stoops said.
Kentucky running back Benny Snell has thrived in Eddie Gran’s offensive system (Bill Thiry Photo)
Because of a back injury to starting quarterback Drew Barker three games into the season and inexperience on the offensive line, Stoops and the Wildcats were forced to tweak the offensive scheme to fit the team’s personnel. It all began with Gran.
Instead of centering Kentucky’s offense around the passing game, Gran engineered a running attack that has thrived and survived under backup quarterback Stephen Johnson. The unexpected emergence of freshman running back Benny Snell also has given the Wildcats a boost in the backfield.
Stoops said Gran’s ability to make the right adjustments is a big reason behind the team’s recent turnaround that has the Wildcats in second place in the Southeastern Conference Eastern division standings.
“That’s the sign of any good coach,” Stoops said. “You have to find the ways (to be successful) and he understands (making adjustments). He gets it. “
Because of Gran’s leadership, Stoops said the entire offense, especially the backfield, has bought into Gran’s system without questioning changes in personnel.
“You have a really seasoned, veteran coach in there with that group,” Stoops said. “I think that group has really come along because it can be difficult to manage. There’s a lot of competitive guys in there and some talented guys (and the) receivers (and) the offensive line has been very selfless.”
Not only has Gran’s experience proved to be a beneficial asset this season, simply winning games has also made it easier for the coaching staff and players to adapt to a change in style.
“Players need to see some fruit from all the labor they put in to get the payoff,” Stoops said. “That’s always the challenge as a coach, and you’ve heard me talk about it and you always see. You know you’re making progress. But the players need, and the fans, everybody needs to see the payoff.”
Even in times of success, Stoops knows there’s plenty of room for improvement, especially when it comes to protecting the football. Stoops said the Wildcats can’t afford to keep making mistakes, some of which have been almost costly.
“There’s mistakes that we can’t make, in particular, a late fumble (against Mississippi State) when you’re icing the game, that cannot happen,” he said. “That (is what) we have to get fixed. You take that out of it and even with the ups and downs, our team really is playing some pretty good football.”
As for letdowns similar to a 44-35 loss to Southern Mississippi in the season opener and late-season disappointments during the past two years, Stoops is confident his squad has turned the corner.
“I feel like that we’re over the hump there,” he said. “That takes a long time because when you don’t have the success, and they constantly hear that and hear that and hear that, the minute you hit adversity, the minute you hear coaches riding and pushing them to the brink, if they don’t respond the right way then it’s not gonna work. It’s never gonna work until they respond the right way.”
In moving forward, Stoops hopes his team doesn’t revert to their old habits starting with Saturday’s contest at struggling Missouri. The Tigers have lost three straight and four of their last five games under first-year coach Barry Odom.
“That will be a challenge right now,” Stoops said.
MacGinnis, Snell honored
Kentucky kicker Austin MacGinnis, who made the game-winning 51-yard field goal in a 40-38 win over Mississippi State last week, was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week while running back Benny Snell was named the league’s Freshman of the Week.
It marked just the second time in school history two UK players were honored by the league on the same week.
Game tracker: Kentucky at Missouri, noon, Saturday. TV/Radio: SEC Network, 98.1 FM WBUL.
