Preseason thoughts/hopes (based on coaches comments):
1. Leary is great, very accurate, high FB IQ. Nope. He has flashes of being very good. He gets way too many passes batted down. He does not see the field much/any better than Levis. Has stretches of horrible inaccuracy on even the short passes. Hasn't been the upgrade we were told about.
2. OL much improved. It is improved. But MO ran for >250 yards on UT and we couldn't pick up 1 yard in two tries. Better on pass pro but that bar was really low last year. Still get confused by stunts, jump the snap, whiff on blocks, dumb penalties. Improved but not MUCH improved.
3. DL is deep and very talented. Nope. Get gashed a lot. Put no pressure on the QB and rarely make TFL. Get pushed around way too often.
4. Receiving corps best ever at UK. Nope. BB is a net negative on this team - runs poor routes, runs his mouth too much, doesn't win many 50/50 balls, drops, fumbles. DK had a bad stretch but seems like he's about where he was last year which means little improvement. TR is underused - again. TEs are way underused - still. Best play was quick pass to Bates and we never ran it again. Kattus made nice catch but is also a holding call waiting to happen. Dingle is either targeted quite a bit or not at all.
5. Coaching staff better. Nope. Still undisciplined team. Way too many guys mouthing off instead of playing. Safeties biting on PA 10 games into the season. WRs blocking on running plays sporadically. Head scratching play calls at times from both coordinators (see no pressure on 3rd and 17 today). Overall passive approach to every situation and every game. OL still seems confused too often. Team does not look like they're prepared, especially early in games. Rare adjustments throughout the game.
Many of us thought the schedule set up for a 9+ win season if all the above were true. Instead a 6 or 7 win season looks more likely. Obviously regressed in comparison to elite SEC teams but also in comparison to teams we need to beat to take the next step: UT, MO. Very disappointing and utterly baffling how we play week in, week out and none of the problems seem to be getting solved.
1. Leary is great, very accurate, high FB IQ. Nope. He has flashes of being very good. He gets way too many passes batted down. He does not see the field much/any better than Levis. Has stretches of horrible inaccuracy on even the short passes. Hasn't been the upgrade we were told about.
2. OL much improved. It is improved. But MO ran for >250 yards on UT and we couldn't pick up 1 yard in two tries. Better on pass pro but that bar was really low last year. Still get confused by stunts, jump the snap, whiff on blocks, dumb penalties. Improved but not MUCH improved.
3. DL is deep and very talented. Nope. Get gashed a lot. Put no pressure on the QB and rarely make TFL. Get pushed around way too often.
4. Receiving corps best ever at UK. Nope. BB is a net negative on this team - runs poor routes, runs his mouth too much, doesn't win many 50/50 balls, drops, fumbles. DK had a bad stretch but seems like he's about where he was last year which means little improvement. TR is underused - again. TEs are way underused - still. Best play was quick pass to Bates and we never ran it again. Kattus made nice catch but is also a holding call waiting to happen. Dingle is either targeted quite a bit or not at all.
5. Coaching staff better. Nope. Still undisciplined team. Way too many guys mouthing off instead of playing. Safeties biting on PA 10 games into the season. WRs blocking on running plays sporadically. Head scratching play calls at times from both coordinators (see no pressure on 3rd and 17 today). Overall passive approach to every situation and every game. OL still seems confused too often. Team does not look like they're prepared, especially early in games. Rare adjustments throughout the game.
Many of us thought the schedule set up for a 9+ win season if all the above were true. Instead a 6 or 7 win season looks more likely. Obviously regressed in comparison to elite SEC teams but also in comparison to teams we need to beat to take the next step: UT, MO. Very disappointing and utterly baffling how we play week in, week out and none of the problems seem to be getting solved.