Continuity leads to more advanced offense as camp begins
LEXINGTON, Ky. — On the first day of fall camp, tight end C.J. Conrad said the UK offense had a meeting that already focused on ball security. It’s that type of “nitpicky stuff” the offense is working on earlier this year as opposed to last season.
“Last year this time we were still learning a new offense almost,” Conrad said. “We’re getting real nitpicky now. That’s what is going to lose and win us games. That’s what we’re really focusing on right now. We have an older group and expect to be very mature.”
Nine seniors are listed as starters on UK’s depth chart and several more upperclassmen are in the two-deep. The returning experience, plus entering the second season in offensive coordinator Eddie Gran’s offense, has led to a more advanced offense this fall camp.
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“We’re just — between the motions, movements — expanding the offense, we’re able to be further ahead,” Gran said. “Right now, for day three install for where we’re at, we could use these three installs right here and play a game. And that’s something we wouldn’t do and couldn’t do last year.”
UK’s offensive staff stayed consistent as well, with every coach from last season returning for another year.
“It’s not year after year we’re having to learn a new offense,” senior receiver Dorian Baker said. “We don’t have to get a relationship with the coaches. We already have a great relationship with the coaches so we’re just repeating the same thing. For us veterans it’s great because we’re coming back to the same offense and know everything that’s going on.”
Head coach Mark Stoops replaced several offensive staff positions prior to the 2016 season. Gran, quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw and wide receivers coach Lamar Thomas were all added to the coaching staff. The offensive line and tight ends were the only two positions that didn’t see change.
The offensive line, which returns nearly every contributor besides center Jon Toth and guard Ramsey Meyers, could be considered a more stable position since John Schlarman is entering his fifth season as offensive line coach.
“I don’t know if we’re more ahead,” Schlarman said. “I do think the stability of us and our calls and those things not changing over the last four to five years has helped us up front. I don’t know if that’s put us ahead or behind of any other positions, but I do think for our guys, especially our upperclassmen, not having to change a lot of calls and how they do things and the general operation of offensive line, it has helped.”
The advancement in the offense should be beneficial for every position, but one position in particular it should help is at quarterback. Stephen Johnson has a deep offensive line up front and several experience playmakers around him. He’s noticed a major difference in fall camp this season as opposed to last year.
“I think we’re a lot further along,” Johnson said. “With everyone knowing the plays and lining up and doing everything correctly. We’re not perfect yet, but we’re pretty close to it.”