When Kentucky snatched Will Stein away from Oregon, I think everyone in Big Blue Nation realized the program was getting one of the premier offensive minds in the sport.
Stein built a reputation on getting the best out of quarterbacks, no matter where he went. But as he steps into his overarching role in Lexington, there is a unique dynamic at play: Will Stein won’t actually be calling the plays on Saturdays. That responsibility is being handed to Joe Sloan.
Make no mistake, though, this is entirely
Will Stein’s system. And according to one college football analyst, having that system installed in Lexington gives the Wildcats one of the most dangerous weapons in the country.
The No. 2 offensive mind in college football
Football analyst Dan Casey recently broke down the top offensive minds in the sport, and he didn’t hold back his praise for what Kentucky has roaming its sideline. Casey ranked Stein as the No. 2 playcaller in all of college football, specifically highlighting his unmatched ability to turn quarterbacks into superstars.
“I just think in terms of quarterback development, I don’t know if many people are doing it better than Will Stein right now,” Casey explained, looking back at Stein’s recent track record. “In terms of the guys that he’s had through his system the past few years at Oregon… Obviously, it started with Frank Harris at UTSA, and then you go to Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel, and Dante Moore.”
For a Kentucky program that is actively recruiting the absolute best signal-callers in the nation, that track record is the ultimate recruiting pitch.
Evolving the offense
What makes Stein’s system so lethal isn’t just the play calls; it is how the entire offense constantly adapts.
“It just seems like every year that system takes a step forward, the quarterbacks play extremely well, but I thought they took a huge step forward in the run game this past year at Oregon,” Casey noted.
That balanced, constantly evolving attack is exactly what Kentucky needs.
While it might seem strange to have the No. 2 playcaller in the country hand the headset over to someone else, I actually think this setup is probably for the best.
Letting Joe Sloan handle the down-to-down play-calling frees Stein to manage the game, handle the clock, and even oversee the defense. He can touch every aspect of the program, and that’s what you want from your head coach. It is Stein’s playbook; his fingerprints will be all over every single drive. You had better believe that if Stein sees something from the sideline, he is getting in Sloan’s ear and dialing up a shot to expose it.
Having that kind of collaborative, elite offensive brain trust on the sideline is a luxury that Kentucky has not had since Hal Mumme was bombing deep balls all over Commonwealth Stadium. The offense has a clear identity, the quarterbacks have a proven developer, and Kentucky football is officially geared up to put points on the board.
