The mantra of Kentucky’s offensive evolution under Liam Coen is effectively marrying the run with the pass. The Wildcats have done that for the most part in 2021, creating much-needed balance (56-44 run-pass ratio), but it’s been accomplished in an unexpected way. Instead of leaning all the way into the outside zone, the Wildcats have kept it tight and by using inside zone runs between the tackles.
Outside Zone Basics
Not all running plays are created equally. Under Eddie Gran Kentucky primarily used a north-south attack, running it right down opponents’ throats with the inside zone. The blocking scheme opens up holes for running backs quickly, limiting the effectiveness of play-action pass.