WILDCATS

Pressure on UK offense after disappointing season

Jon Hale
Louisville Courier Journal

LEXINGTON, Ky. – When Mark Stoops hired Shannon Dawson as his new offensive coordinator, the UK head coach applauded Dawson’s dedication to adding a power-run element to the traditional “Air Raid” offense.

After a brilliant start, UK quarterback Drew Barker was ineffective in the second half while being pressured by U of L's DeVonte Fields (92) and company. Nov. 28, 2015.

After one season on the job at UK, Dawson found much of the running success he hoped for, but the “air” part of “Air Raid” was surprisingly lacking.

“As far as our offense goes, if we throw the ball halfway decent this year, we have a decent offense,” Dawson said after a 38-24 loss to Louisville in the regular-season finale. “Really, throwing the ball is where we failed, which I’ve never had that. It was usually the complete opposite.”

Under Dawson’s leadership, Kentucky totaled 1,952 rushing yards in 12 games, its highest total since 2010. The offense threw for 2,512 yards, 262 fewer yards than the 2014 total.

Kentucky quarterbacks threw 16 interceptions with just 10 touchdowns. The 16 interceptions were most by a Kentucky team since 2000, and the 10 touchdowns were UK’s lowest total since 2005. The performance marked the first time the Wildcats had thrown more interceptions than touchdowns since 2000 and the worst touchdown-to-interception ratio (.625) since 1994.

“I don’t think at any (point) this year, we threw the ball like I’m used to throwing it,” Dawson said. “There’s just an unsettledness into our pass game right now that has to resolve itself for us to be good on offense. You gotta be able to throw and catch. If you can’t throw and catch, especially in our offense, it limits you.”

Stoops: 'We need to get a lot tougher'

Dawson declined to breakdown his quarterback plan heading into the offseason until he reviewed the film of the Louisville loss, but junior quarterback Patrick Towles' announcement Sunday that he plans to transfer from UK decreases the competition on campus.

Towles entered the season as the starter for the second consecutive year but completed just 56.1 percent of his passes for 2,148 yards, nine touchdowns and 14 interceptions and was benched for the final two games of the season.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Barker replaced Towles as the starter but fared little better, completing 50 percent of his passes for 364 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in five games, including two starts.

With Barker completing just 1 of 13 passes for minus-1 yard in the second half against Louisville, Stoops and Dawson handed the reins of the offense back to Towles for Kentucky’s final drive. With the outcome already all but certain, Towles completed his first three passes for 71 yards before throwing an interception at the Louisville 2-yard line to end any chance at a comeback.

“We felt like there were some plays that were there that (Barker) was making some good decisions,” Stoops said before acknowledging he could have gone to Towles earlier in the game. “Felt like he was a fraction off.”

Patrick Towles to transfer from UK

Towles and Barker received little help from their fellow offensive teammates for much of the season.

Drops continued to plague the Kentucky receivers throughout the 1-6 finish to the season, and Kentucky ranked 95th nationally in sacks allowed (30).

“I think both of them are capable,” Dawson said. “Like I’ve said since Day 1, too: We’ve gotta have a lot of people playing around them. If you look at any good quarterback that’s out there, in any level, typically they’ve got some guys out there making plays around them.”

Dawson pointed to Barker’s inexperience as a key factor in his struggles against Louisville.

“You also know that when you make the switch and you play Drew, you’re going to take some growing pains,” Dawson said. “I’ve said that all week. The kid doesn’t have a lot of experience playing, so there’s trial and error.”

Whether another offseason of work gives Barker the experience needed to thrive as Kentucky’s starting quarterback remains to be seen.

After Towles' departure, UK is left with Barker and sophomore Reese Phillips (who played only as the holder on field goals and extra points this fall after a spring Achilles’ tendon injury) as the only scholarship quarterback set to return for the 2016 season. Three-star quarterback recruit Gunnar Hoak is also scheduled to join the team for the spring semester.

Whoever starts at quarterback for Kentucky in 2016, Dawson appears almost certain to be the leading the position again.

Asked about growing fan discontent surrounding the offense, Stoops issued a vote of confidence for Dawson after the Louisville loss.

“He's a very good coach, very knowledgeable,” Stoops said. “It gets frustrating for him, believe me. It's the same way as a defensive play-caller when things aren't going well. You know, it gets difficult. Let me put it to you that way. It gets hard and it gets frustrating, and guys need to step up and make plays.

Stoops listed increasing toughness as the No. 1 goal for his team during the offseason. He thinks improvement from players will ease the burden on Dawson.

“Whether you're an offensive coordinator or defensive coordinator, there's only so many good play calls at some point,” he said. “You have to win some one-on-one battles. I have a lot of confidence in Shannon. He'll get the ship corrected and straightened out and get the guys competing at a higher level and we need to play better across the board.”

Email Jon Hale atjahale@courier-journal.com. Follow him on Twitter@JonHale_CJ.