The hire made sense. To coordinate Kentucky’s offense, Mark Stoops replaced one former NFL assistant coach with another former NFL assistant coach. Liam Coen came from the Kyle Shanahan/Mike Shanahan coaching tree. Rich Scangarello came from the Kyle Shanahan/Mike Shanahan coaching tree. On paper, the transition from Coen to Scangarello seemed seamless.
It hasn’t worked out that way. Ten games into its 2022-23 season, Kentucky ranks 107th out of 131 FBS teams in total offense. It ranks 94th in scoring offense; 88th in yards per play; 115th in yards per rush; 99th in red zone offense; 70th in third-down offense and 126th in sacks allowed.
It ranks 14th out of 14 SEC teams in total offense and 11th out of 14 in points per game. Worse, Kentucky lost 24-21 to Vanderbilt on Saturday at Kroger Field in a game in which Vandy snapped its 26-game conference losing streak by outgaining the Wildcats 448-322.
