Concerns

[UkMccurdy]

I’m happy where the program is, but I have been less optimistic about this upcoming season. The CROD issue along with depth issues on the O Line gives me pause about this season. I think our front on defense will be good enough, but wonder a bit about secondary.

The other day my buddy said I was being too much of a Debbie downer when I said 8-4. I think we win 8… at least… so playing it conservative.

Potential losses in my mind:
UGA
UT
Ole Miss
Miss st

Georgia is just more talented.

UT, Ole Miss and Miss st all play a style that Stoops struggles with much of the time. The hurry up, no huddle approach gives us issues each year. I feel pretty confident about the other 8, but these make me a little sheepish when a big season is being discussed.

I can’t be the only one feeling and thinking this…

Thoughts?

Go Big Blue

 

[maysvilleky]

I’m happy where the program is, but I have been less optimistic about this upcoming season. The CROD issue along with depth issues on the O Line gives me pause about this season. I think our front on defense will be good enough, but wonder a bit about secondary.

The other day my buddy said I was being too much of a Debbie downer when I said 8-4. I think we win 8… at least… so playing it conservative.

Potential losses in my mind:
UGA
UT
Ole Miss
Miss st

Georgia is just more talented.

UT, Ole Miss and Miss st all play a style that Stoops struggles with much of the time. The hurry up, no huddle approach gives us issues each year. I feel pretty confident about the other 8, but these make me a little sheepish when a big season is being discussed.

I can’t be the only one feeling and thinking this…

Thoughts?

Go Big Blue

I tend to agree. A lot of unknowns with this team.

 

[YaketySax]

I think 8-4 is pretty reasonable for the reasons you point out. Vegas set the over/under at 8 wins.

 

[CB3UK]

My concerns are having enough beer, bourbon, and meat on hand to feed the crew! LFG!

 

[Fadhi]

Im thinking Scag and the offense are going to determine if Kentucky takes a step forward this year. They have a QB with a live arm for one more year so hopefully they can make it count.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

I’m happy where the program is, but I have been less optimistic about this upcoming season. The CROD issue along with depth issues on the O Line gives me pause about this season. I think our front on defense will be good enough, but wonder a bit about secondary.

The other day my buddy said I was being too much of a Debbie downer when I said 8-4. I think we win 8… at least… so playing it conservative.

Potential losses in my mind:
UGA
UT
Ole Miss
Miss st

Georgia is just more talented.

UT, Ole Miss and Miss st all play a style that Stoops struggles with much of the time. The hurry up, no huddle approach gives us issues each year. I feel pretty confident about the other 8, but these make me a little sheepish when a big season is being discussed.

I can’t be the only one feeling and thinking this…

Thoughts?

Go Big Blue

Flip Mississippi state and Florida, the swamp is always hard no matter how good Florida is. Miss st and Kentucky the home team always wins

 

[wildcat_bigd]

Wuss

 

[gamecockcat]

If both Scan and Yenser seem to be happy with the OL (and the way I read reports they are), I think we'll be fine on the OL. As to depth, at least Yenser is cross training and it feels like 8+ guys are gonna get a lot of snaps. Sounds like depth to me. Buford was being complimented a lot coming out of spring so I don't think it's necessarily a bad omen that someone outperformed him.

Secondary has gotten a lot of kudos this fall. Think they'll be OK and better than last year.

8 wins is the floor, imo, and 10 is the ceiling in the regular season. I can live with either.

 

[rye48]

If both Scan and Yenser seem to be happy with the OL (and the way I read reports they are), I think we'll be fine on the OL. As to depth, at least Yenser is cross training and it feels like 8+ guys are gonna get a lot of snaps. Sounds like depth to me. Buford was being complimented a lot coming out of spring so I don't think it's necessarily a bad omen that someone outperformed him.

Secondary has gotten a lot of kudos this fall. Think they'll be OK and better than last year.

8 wins is the floor, imo, and 10 is the ceiling in the regular season. I can live with either.

There is not one team on their schedule they can not beat including UGA ,,now everything would have to go right for that win but it is possible baring Injuries and that is the first time i could say that without smiling for decades

 

[uksam21]

I tend to agree. A lot of unknowns with this team.

a lot of unknowns with the most talented roster in school history, I will take that.

 

[BluegrassSportsNet]

I’m happy where the program is, but I have been less optimistic about this upcoming season. The CROD issue along with depth issues on the O Line gives me pause about this season. I think our front on defense will be good enough, but wonder a bit about secondary.

The other day my buddy said I was being too much of a Debbie downer when I said 8-4. I think we win 8… at least… so playing it conservative.

Potential losses in my mind:
UGA
UT
Ole Miss
Miss st

Georgia is just more talented.

UT, Ole Miss and Miss st all play a style that Stoops struggles with much of the time. The hurry up, no huddle approach gives us issues each year. I feel pretty confident about the other 8, but these make me a little sheepish when a big season is being discussed.

I can’t be the only one feeling and thinking this…

Thoughts?

Go Big Blue

8-4 would be a major dissapointment IMO, given the talent on the team.

 

[K_TIME]

Concerns for me:
1. Can we pass protect at the tackle spots? (The bowl game was a fiasco on left side)
2. Can we rush the passer on the edges of D. I believe in Weaver..>Chris Wright has never shown a good pass rush
3. The secondary...especially the CB spot opposite of Valentine. Is Keidron Smith a safety of a CB?
4. How will the new coaches mesh...new OL coach, new OC/QB coach, new LB coach, etc...lot of staff turnover isn't always a smooth transition from the year prior.

But we have a whole more answers than concerns
- QB...stud
- RB...top notch room
- Interior OL...experienced and talented group
- TE...all kinds of weapons to blocking, pass catching
- WR...They are mostly new...but I feel very solid in Robinson, Dane Key and a bevy of newcomers can fill that 3rd WR spot
- DL...eons of depth. Ox looks to be another special and NFL caliber talent
- LB...have we ever had a 2 deep this experienced and talented
- Weaver....proven edge rusher


This is going to be a fun year.

 

[RMP82]

This team could go 11-1 or 7-5 and both records be completely reasonable and understandable. I think 8 or 9 regular season wins are the most likely. We always lose one or two we shouldn't and win one or two we shouldn't. It's all about getting the breaks in the SEC. At the end of the day, we are breaking in a lot of new linemen, relying on a new rb for at least a few games, replacing one of the most productive receivers in school history, and adjusting to a new O Line coach and OC. A lot could go wrong with that, but on the flip, a lot could go right. I'm going to wait until the first game before setting my expectations but on paper, I'm pretty damn excited.

 

[JHB4UK]

Who else besides Bama & Ohio doesn't right now have concerns & unknowns!?!? Hell even them, Bama still worried about O line & Ohio about learning Knowles new D scheme.

It is what makes CFB so damn fun, the unknowns, the unexpected. UK has fewer unknowns and concerns than a lot of our competition IMO.

 

[K_TIME]

Who else besides Bama & Ohio doesn't right now have concerns & unknowns!?!? Hell even them, Bama still worried about O line & Ohio about learning Knowles new D scheme.

It is what makes CFB so damn fun, the unknowns, the unexpected. UK has fewer unknowns and concerns than a lot of our competition IMO.

Exactly....who doesn't have concerns.

Does UGA really going to act like they don't have a ton of holes to fill with 15 NFL draft picks? And if your main experience coming back is Stetson Bennett at QB...who I've never really seen him win games as much as he's messed up in big games and leaned on an incredible D to keep the game close until he can get going. Great TE room and I know they've got great recruiting classes that will fill some voids....but that is a ton of spots to fill in 1 year...and they're rated 3rd in nation

So we all have questions...but UK has a ton less questions than most teams in the East IMO.

 

[cathouse]

Who else besides Bama & Ohio doesn't right now have concerns & unknowns!?!? Hell even them, Bama still worried about O line & Ohio about learning Knowles new D scheme.

It is what makes CFB so damn fun, the unknowns, the unexpected. UK has fewer unknowns and concerns than a lot of our competition IMO.

Bama, Ohio State, and Georgia are concerned about which of their 3 deep 5 stars will be able to step up and fill the gap left by their former 5 stars who were NFL draft picks this past spring.

Oh, the pressure of figuring out which All American to play. No wonder they have to pay those coaches $10M a year.

Wish we had THOSE concerns.

 

[gamecockcat]

Bama, Ohio State, and Georgia are concerned about which of their 3 deep 5 stars will be able to step up and fill the gap left by their former 5 stars who were NFL draft picks this past spring.

Oh, the pressure of figuring out which All American to play. No wonder they have to pay those coaches $10M a year.

Wish we had THOSE concerns.

True. But...even Georgia with their ridiculously good recruiting doesn't pick up guys like Jordan Davis and R. Smith every year. Those guys will start in the NFL and, barring injury, will be stars almost immediately. Only natural that the defense takes a step back, even if just a little bitty one. As K-Time stated, Bennett isn't probably going to lose any games for them but, if they need him to put 30+ points on the board because the D just isn't quite as overwhelming as it was last year, can he do it? The UGa, AL and OSUs of the CFB landscape have questions, for sure. They're probably easier to answer but, also, they're thinking national championship and they can't have many holes if they want to win it all. UK is looking at answers that could determine either 7 or maybe 10 wins this year. Those teams are looking for answers that may determine a 'disappointing season' with 2 losses or being in the CFP. Margin for error at that level is razor thin. Sort of like multi-millionaires have plenty of problems, just different ones from most people.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

I’m happy where the program is, but I have been less optimistic about this upcoming season. The CROD issue along with depth issues on the O Line gives me pause about this season. I think our front on defense will be good enough, but wonder a bit about secondary.

The other day my buddy said I was being too much of a Debbie downer when I said 8-4. I think we win 8… at least… so playing it conservative.

Potential losses in my mind:
UGA
UT
Ole Miss
Miss st

Georgia is just more talented.

UT, Ole Miss and Miss st all play a style that Stoops struggles with much of the time. The hurry up, no huddle approach gives us issues each year. I feel pretty confident about the other 8, but these make me a little sheepish when a big season is being discussed.

I can’t be the only one feeling and thinking this…

Thoughts?

Go Big Blue

I think every fan has that concern as the season gets closer. UGA has recruited pretty well since Kirby got there, but we just lost 15 players to the NFL, every replacement played alot of snaps, and did well, but still a little nervous when word from practice is the offense is working them.

But we find in 11 days.

 

[WyleECoyote]

Flip Mississippi state and Florida, the swamp is always hard no matter how good Florida is. Miss st and Kentucky the home team always wins

I'm pretty confident about Florida, since they are down, with a new coach and its the 2nd game, so Billy Napier won't have time to have coached them up enough to catch up to the Cats. Especially since we have Miami (Oh) to work on things, and the Gators have #7 Utah the week before, so Florida will have to show their cards, where the Cats can work through some things.

 

[WyleECoyote]

If both Scan and Yenser seem to be happy with the OL (and the way I read reports they are), I think we'll be fine on the OL. As to depth, at least Yenser is cross training and it feels like 8+ guys are gonna get a lot of snaps. Sounds like depth to me. Buford was being complimented a lot coming out of spring so I don't think it's necessarily a bad omen that someone outperformed him.

Secondary has gotten a lot of kudos this fall. Think they'll be OK and better than last year.

8 wins is the floor, imo, and 10 is the ceiling in the regular season. I can live with either.

12 is the ceiling. I doubt we reach the ceiling, but it IS the ceiling.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

8 and 4 is the best bet. Lose to UGA, UT, ole miss and one other one. If we beat Florida in week 2 and defend home field 9 and 3 is very doable. After last season I can't predict a 10 win or better regular season. 11 and 1 was there last year and it didn't happen.

I think with MSU at home this year uk wins that game. With ole miss on the road the record against the west on the road has been bad of late.

 

[Tskware]

Concerns: RB other than C Rod. If a transfer from DIAA is our 2nd best option, then I think our RBs are overrated. Have not been all that impressed with McLain and Drennen and Wright has barely played except at the end of blowouts in total mismatches.

OT is a concern, and pass rush.

But . . . I think we will be VERY stout against the run, LBs are talented and deep, which should result in much better pass rush on paper at least. Which will help our DBs as well.

Finally, we picked up FIVE non offensive TDs last year, two of which directly led to wins (Pick 6 vs. UTC and of course the blocked FG vs. Florida). That is one way that teams like UK get to 10 wins. If we can pull off something similar this year, would be huge.

 

[WyleECoyote]

8 and 4 is the best bet. Lose to UGA, UT, ole miss and one other one. If we beat Florida in week 2 and defend home field 9 and 3 is very doable. After last season I can't predict a 10 win or better regular season. 11 and 1 was there last year and it didn't happen.

I think with MSU at home this year uk wins that game. With ole miss on the road the record against the west on the road has been bad of late.

The schedule is set up in our favor this year. Georgia has to go to Ms State the week before we play them, while we get Vandy that week. I have already mentioned the schedule with Florida. The schedule is set up for a special year. Now just gotta get the players to take care of business on the field.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

I'm pretty confident about Florida, since they are down, with a new coach and its the 2nd game, so Billy Napier won't have time to have coached them up enough to catch up to the Cats. Especially since we have Miami (Oh) to work on things, and the Gators have #7 Utah the week before, so Florida will have to show their cards, where the Cats can work through some things.

Probably but the swamp is hard to win at no matter how good Florida is.

 

[uksam21]

This team could go 11-1 or 7-5 and both records be completely reasonable and understandable. I think 8 or 9 regular season wins are the most likely. We always lose one or two we shouldn't and win one or two we shouldn't. It's all about getting the breaks in the SEC. At the end of the day, we are breaking in a lot of new linemen, relying on a new rb for at least a few games, replacing one of the most productive receivers in school history, and adjusting to a new O Line coach and OC. A lot could go wrong with that, but on the flip, a lot could go right. I'm going to wait until the first game before setting my expectations but on paper, I'm pretty damn excited.

last year we had a -10 turnover margin

Probably but the swamp is hard to win at no matter how good Florida is.

I honestly think Utah will beat them up the week before. Utah is going to be really, really good.

 

[docholiday51]

We are probably in a position to be as good as we have been in the Stoops era. The C Rod situation casts a small cloud over the early season. If we take care of business in the first 4 games and don't get too full of ourselves I think a big year is in store for us

I hope we get a chance late in the season to see how we handle the big time, big game situation. What will it take to get the college football world to sit up and take notice of little ole UK, maybe just maybe, we have the horses to force that issue

Sure we will need a few breaks to go our way but we have about 50 years of breaks going the other way so like the Stones said "Time is on our side"

I'm ready to get this show on the road GBB!!!

 

[ACT ONE]

I think every fan has that concern as the season gets closer. UGA has recruited pretty well since Kirby got there, but we just lost 15 players to the NFL, every replacement played alot of snaps, and did well, but still a little nervous when word from practice is the offense is working them.

But we find in 11 days.

This^

 

[WyleECoyote]

Probably but the swamp is hard to win at no matter how good Florida is.

Don't think the Swamp is gonna be "the Swamp" in Week 2, especially if they drop week 1 to Utah, and their fan base realizes ok, we've been picked at the bottom of the SEC East we've already lost a game.

 

[UkMccurdy]

This team could go 11-1 or 7-5 and both records be completely reasonable and understandable. I think 8 or 9 regular season wins are the most likely. We always lose one or two we shouldn't and win one or two we shouldn't. It's all about getting the breaks in the SEC. At the end of the day, we are breaking in a lot of new linemen, relying on a new rb for at least a few games, replacing one of the most productive receivers in school history, and adjusting to a new O Line coach and OC. A lot could go wrong with that, but on the flip, a lot could go right. I'm going to wait until the first game before setting my expectations but on paper, I'm pretty damn excited.

Very salient points my man!

 

[RMP82]

last year we had a -10 turnover margin

I honestly think Utah will beat them up the week before. Utah is going to be really, really good.

Exactly and the fact that we went 10-3 with that kind of turnover margin is nothing short of a miracle. As miraculous as it was, it speaks volumes of the heart and grit of our staff and team. There isn't a team in the nation that we couldn't beat on a given night. I'll grant you that the chances of some teams are slim vs some, but we aren''t old Kentucky. However, as last year showed, we needed a pick to beat Chattanooga. We needed a blocked kick to beat Florida. If we fall on the fumble against UGA, we likely don't win, but the confidence could've propelled us to pull an upset. UT came out and scored quick, got a pick six, and were blessed by a facemask call to win that shoot out. My point is, there is a lot of parity and those wins could very easily be losses but those losses could very easily be wins. Coaching and skill plays a big role but lady luck shines on every winning team too.

 

[Ripamaru]

I believe we have a QB ready to take a big step forward into the elite level.

In CFB that papers over a LOT of cracks.

If I'm right then we don't have much to worry about. Unless our defense takes a big step back we will be very good.

 

[Tskware]

Forgot we were -10 in TOs, I knew we had very few interceptions by our defense, those kind of stats tend to even out year in and year out, doubt we will be -10 in TOs this year

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Don't think the Swamp is gonna be "the Swamp" in Week 2, especially if they drop week 1 to Utah, and their fan base realizes ok, we've been picked at the bottom of the SEC East we've already lost a game.

Maybe if they beat Utah it will be a mad house, and if they lose to Utah my fear is they are going to play extremely desperate against Kentucky and leave everything on the line

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

last year we had a -10 turnover margin

I honestly think Utah will beat them up the week before. Utah is going to be really, really good.

If the Richardson kid plays to his potential than Florida can win, he is a lot like Levis last year, he has all the arm talent he just has to put it together and be consistent

 

[JHB4UK]

I don't think Richardson has a CRod in his backfield to hand it too, or a Wandale to throw it too

 

[K_TIME]

If the Richardson kid plays to his potential than Florida can win, he is a lot like Levis last year, he has all the arm talent he just has to put it together and be consistent

Well...Richardson could not beat out a very ho-hum QB Emery Jones last year. People compare him to a Cam Newton as he is 6-4 230-ish lbs can run a bit and a good arm. But unless Billy Napier can coach him up that Dan Mullen could not in his first year....I'm not so sure Richardson is all that. He was not able to deliver the ball accurately nor read a D to save his life last yera.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Well...Richardson could not beat out a very ho-hum QB Emery Jones last year. People compare him to a Cam Newton as he is 6-4 230-ish lbs can run a bit and a good arm. But unless Billy Napier can coach him up that Dan Mullen could not in his first year....I'm not so sure Richardson is all that. He was not able to deliver the ball accurately nor read a D to save his life last yera.

Cam couldn't either. Still can't. I don't understand the issue Mullen had with Richardson, big, fast, strong arm, everything Mullen wants. Maybe he just doesn't understand the concepts.

 

[Eccain01]

Cam couldn't either. Still can't. I don't understand the issue Mullen had with Richardson, big, fast, strong arm, everything Mullen wants. Maybe he just doesn't understand the concepts.

Eh you win the mvp and take you’re team to the super bowl if you can’t read defenses. But i don’t Richardson is anywhere near Cam Newton so it’s a moot point.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Maybe if they beat Utah it will be a sad house, and if they lose to Utah my fear is they are going to play extremely desperate against Kentucky and leave everything on the line

You can argue this both ways...it is purely subjective as it is a psychological viewpoint that you cannot base in fact as it is so open to interpretation/opinion. We can argue if FL wins game 1 they are confident and ready to beat UK's ass, or that they win game 1 and think they are hot stuff and ripe for the picking...we can also argue that if they lose game 1 they are demoralized or perhaps they come out fired up/desperate as you mentioned.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Eh you win the mvp and take you’re team to the super bowl if you can’t read defenses. But i don’t Richardson is anywhere near Cam Newton so it’s a moot point.

Would have won it too if cam was just average, or maybe just not awful.