photo by UK photographic services
Alfred Rawls averaged 4.7 yards per carry, tops among UK backs
Versatility key to Wildcat
offense in '89
By TCP Associate Editor Mike Estep
Statistically, Kentucky's 1988 offensive output was nothing to cheer about: scoring offense, 6th in the SEC; rushing offense, 7th; passing offense, 8th; total offense, 10th. All troubling numbers for UK football coach Jerry Claiborne. But this year the UK coach will have a few more options at his disposal.
Literally.
One of which will actually be the option. For the first time since he took over at Kentucky in 1982, Claiborne will dust off an option attacklong a nemesis for the Wildcat defensethat was so successful for him when he was at Maryland.
"We think the option is a tough running play, a very tough running play. It gives (our defense) problems," Claiborne said. "We have a tough time defending against it."
Lest you get the wrong idea, Claiborne, a staunch believer in basic, take-few-chances football if there ever was one, has no intentions of making dramatic changes on offense.
Kentucky won't become Oklahoma-Southeast, there will be no wishbone. Not even the old Wildcat veer made popular during Fran Curci's heyday at UK. Instead, the 'Cats will go primarily with their three bread-and-butter playsthe tailback isolation, the sprint draw and the power sweepbut they will also mix in the option, borrowed somewhat from Danny Ford's Clemson club, which will be run out of UK's familiar I-formation.
"It's a tough football play to defend against," Claiborne said. "We just felt like if we added the option it would give us a little more versatility in our offensive scheme.
"We felt like if we could get those three plays down, and put the option in there with it, it would make us a much stronger running football team. And also, if we can do a good job of throwing the pass off the option play, we think we can improve our passing game."
Claiborne tinkered with a two-quarterback system last seasonoften bringing on Chuck Broughton in relief of departed starter Glenn Fohrand, with the emergence of sophomore Freddie Maggard, may do so again in 1989.
Broughton, now a senior, was adequate in his backup role a year ago, though he completed just 45.2 percent of his passes (38-84). The strong-armed Ashland native helped engineer Kentucky rallies in the 16-10 upset of Georgia and in near misses against Indiana and Tennessee.
Although Broughton's performance this spring wasn't earth-shatteringa painful hip pointer that kept him out of action during a couple of scrimmages was partially to blamehe still left spring drills the same way he came in...atop the depth chart at quarterback.
Maggard, who saw only limited duty last season because of injuries, doesn't possess the drop-back passing skills of Broughton, but his tenacity and versatility make him a candidate for the starting job.
The three-sport star from Cumberland is like a linebacker trapped in a quarterback's body. He likes to hit and be hit. And although his passing game still needs work, he possesses an arm capable of throwing a baseball 90 mph, a talent that caused the Kansas City Royals to draft him out of high school.
The 'Cats appear to be set at the running back positions, as five of the top six rushers from last seasononly tailback Ivy Joe Hunter will be missingreturn.
(Continued on page 22)
0' is for Offem
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Defensive Setup
Safety-
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RDB
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LDB
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RLB
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LLB
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RDE
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RT     RG     LG LT
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LDE
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'88 Big Blue Review
^Points allowed: 208 (18.9 ppg)
^ Total yards: 3,467 (315.2)
s Yards per play: 4.5
^Net rushing yards: 1,932 (175.6)
s Yards per rush: 3.7
<^Net passing yards: 1,535 (139.6)
^Yards per completion: 11.5
"We want to intercept more passes, tackle better and we want to get a better four-man pass rush."
assistant Bill Glaser