Will Stein admits he was conservative on offense in Alabama loss
· Yahoo Sports
Kentucky Football fans entered year one of the Will Stein era optimistic and eager to see a new, more exciting brand of football at Kroger Field.
This offseason, the BBN shared a collective sentiment centered heavily on the simple eye test. It’s fair to say most UK fans have approached this season with a focus that goes beyond simply tallying wins and losses.
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For all the good Mark Stoops did for the Kentucky football program, his offensive approach didn’t exactly make for must‑see TV. So the introduction of Will Stein’s playbook became one of, if not the, biggest reasons to bring him to Lexington.
The stage was set Saturday when Kentucky hosted Alabama, offering a true benchmark for where this team stood offensively. The results were tough to swallow.
Aside from a few first‑half flashes, Kenny Minchey struggled to generate much under center against the Crimson Tide. Explosive plays were nearly nonexistent, prompting head coach Will Stein to address the lack of offensive production fans are craving.
“We’ve got to be able to generate and create explosive plays. I think that’s obvious,” Stein stated during his Tuesday press conference.
Stein went on to explain that he wanted to stay conservative in key moments, but that isn’t something he and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan want to do.
“There were specific times in the game that I felt like we could have taken those punches,” said Stein about going for more aggressive plays. “And that’s not a Joe Sloan problem. That’s a me problem. So what can I do as a head coach in those moments to give our players and give our coaches that type of confidence to go out there and swing when we have a chance?”
It’s encouraging to see that, even after reflection, the goal remains to put it all on the line and try to win the football game — even against a powerhouse like Alabama.
Stein and his staff won’t have to wait long to put that mindset into practice. They’ll face one of the toughest challenges in college football this weekend when they travel to No. 9 Texas A&M. It’s unfair to make firm assertions with only eight quarters of game film to go on, but there’s no denying that another poor showing for the offense this weekend and things could begin to spiral.
Currently, Kentucky is a heavy 16.5-point underdog with only a 6.5% chance of pulling off the upset, according to ESPN.