Hard look and reality projection

[billoliver40]

Love the excitement around this team. Fantastic projections on an 11 win season. Wow.
Hope its true.
Reality is this crew has a bunch of question Marks. 2 new OTs. New receivers. Will Levis spread the rock around or focus on one guy?
Will we have a pass rush? Will our secondary not be a sieve? Will Crod play and when he does value the football? Will we quit shooting ourselves in the foot with crazy penalties and turnovers?

Oh, yeah....new Oline coach. New OC that we really dont know yet what they bring.

Maybe it clicks. Love to see 11 wins, or more.

The bettor inside me says 8, chance at 9.
Maybe 10 with a bowl win.

Hoping for 11 myself.

 

[*CatinIL*]

I would dance in the streets with 11 regular season wins (I can't dance worth a lick BTW). As a UK fan, I'm keeping my expectations to 9 W's for the regular season. That's just me and my years as a CAT fan. I'll be crazy excited for a 10 W regular season.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

The opponents and the home games say….
HELLO!!!!

 

[RoosterBooster1]

The schedule sets up nicely for a good record. Way too much to replace however for 11 wins IMO.

 

[ACT ONE]

Not to overlook Miami but the trip to the swamp will give us a pretty good indication how this season will go in my opinion. Not the typical Florida team but there’s still talent there.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Not to overlook Miami but the trip to the swamp will give us a pretty good indication how this season will go in my opinion. Not the typical Florida team but there’s still talent there.

Yes and its in the Swamp and they have the revenge factor and we wont have CRod.
We will be lucky to win.

 

[billoliver40]

Yes and its in the Swamp and they have the revenge factor and we wont have CRod.
We will be lucky to win.

We are playing in the Swamp against a swiss army knife quarterback and Florida level talent
Winning would be a feat even with Crod.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

We are playing in the Swamp against a swiss army knife quarterback and Florida level talent
Winning would be a feat even with Crod.

Ive been preaching this for weeks now bill.
After UGA its our toughest test; not UT or Ole Miss….the Gators.

 

[satcheluk]

We are playing in the Swamp against a swiss army knife quarterback and Florida level talent
Winning would be a feat even with Crod.

Florida's talent is down this year. They lost a bunch when the new coach took over. They have two walk ons and a converted Olineman that are likely to be in their Dline rotation. Skill position starters are fine, but they lack depth. They will be lucky to make it to a bowl game. Most of their reasonable/knowledgeable fans down here do not have high hopes for this season, but they love this new coach and think the future looks bright.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Florida's talent is down this year. They lost a bunch when the new coach took over. They have two walk ons and a converted Olineman that are likely to be in their Dline rotation. Skill position starters are fine, but they lack depth. They will be lucky to make it to a bowl game. Most of their reasonable/knowledgeable fans down here do not have high hopes for this season, but they love this new coach and think the future looks bright.

All that said, the last 2 UF HC’s to lose to UK hit the road shortly there after.

 

[satcheluk]

All that said, the last 2 UF HC’s to lose to UK hit the road shortly there after.

Indeed, but they are pretty hyped for Napier. It'll be interesting to see what happens if they fail to make a bowl, but he and their AD, Stricklin who came from UK under Mitch, have publicly stated they are willing to take some bumps in the road in order to rebuild the program properly. The fans down here may have other opinions.

 

[WyleECoyote]

Florida's talent is down this year. They lost a bunch when the new coach took over. They have two walk ons and a converted Olineman that are likely to be in their Dline rotation. Skill position starters are fine, but they lack depth. They will be lucky to make it to a bowl game. Most of their reasonable/knowledgeable fans down here do not have high hopes for this season, but they love this new coach and think the future looks bright.

UK HAS to beat Florida this year, if we don't it may be awhile before we do again.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Ive been preaching this for weeks now bill.
After UGA its our toughest test; not UT or Ole Miss….the Gators.

I know Billy Napier, I have followed his career from the start. I hated seeing him take the UF job and was hoping he would go Big12 or ACC. Don't let that accent fool you, he is very smart. Maybe not this year, but giving him time UF will be a problem. They are talented this year, but I think lack of depth hurts them. But they are recruiting well. With that said I think UT is going to be good. If you can't run with those WR you are in trouble.

 

[Colonial Farm 80]

Not to overlook Miami but the trip to the swamp will give us a pretty good indication how this season will go in my opinion. Not the typical Florida team but there’s still talent there.

Coming off the opening game against Utah, Florida might be a little tender. Utah is good. Florida always has talent because their home recruiting territory is the best in the league. But they are not ranked to begin the season, and they are adjusting to a new coach. Kentucky should win in Gainesville this year. It is about controlllng the quarterback formerly known as AR-15. If we don't win but come close, people will be disappointed but our players would have something to build on. If we get beaten decisively, then we have no better than a 7-8 win team at best. But if we win in Gainesville, look out.

 

[satcheluk]

UK HAS to beat Florida this year, if we don't it may be awhile before we do again.

Next year we have them at home and we will likely have our most talented team ever, with only a question mark at QB and they will still be rebuilding. Barring any dramatic roster turnover, we will be favored. The following year at UF will be the year they most likely catch up to us in talent.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Next year we have them at home and we will likely have our most talented team ever, with only a question mark at QB and they will still be rebuilding. Barring any dramatic roster turnover, we will be favored. The following year at UF will be the year they most likely catch up to us in talent.

You say only a ? at QB like that's no big deal.
Stoops better have a transfer already in mind or we are screwed, well, blue.

 

[Deeeefense]

All that said, the last 2 UF HC’s to lose to UK hit the road shortly there after.

I think maybe the stigma of losing to Kentucky is starting to wane with teams like Florida as they realize we are no joke, so maybe coaches won't be at as much risk as they have been

 

[JHB4UK]

Heart says we are fighting Georgia in late Nov, tied at the end of the 3rd, winner goes to ATL as SEC East champs

Head says 3 new O line starters, whole new set of WRs, missing star RB 25-33% of season....so 8-4, in Outback, to whoop an overrated B1g t3n team

Gonna be exciting to find out what we get!!!!

 

[Deeeefense]

Heart says we are fighting Georgia in late Nov, tied at the end of the 3rd, winner goes to ATL as SEC East champs

“Follow your heart, and listen when it speaks to you.” Susanna Tamaro

 

[satcheluk]

You say only a ? at QB like that's no big deal.
Stoops better have a transfer already in mind or we are screwed, well, blue.

Screwed? That seems a bit much. I'm not overly concerned, but will be watching second team snaps closely. I hope we get a transfer, but Hogan was a highly rated recruit and most of the whispers are that he is much better than anyone expected. Just ask Beau Allen.

 

[weused2luvhim]

I like Belle House in Shelbyville and Doc Crowes downtown Louisville...

We are playing in the Swamp against a swiss army knife quarterback and Florida level talent
Winning would be a feat even with Crod.

We have a Swiss Army knife qb also.

 

[WyleECoyote]

We have a Swiss Army knife qb also.

And some of the fastest WRs in the country. If they just have hands to go with that speed, and the OL can give Levis time, we're lethal.

 

[SECCountry75]

We are playing in the Swamp against a swiss army knife quarterback and Florida level talent
Winning would be a feat even with Crod.

To add some perspective, any road win in the SEC is a good win.

Maybe we have not completely gotten over the intimidation factor of the long losing streak. But this is a different Kentucky football program, and a different Florida program too. Florida is obviously not a pushover. I respect Richardson. But this is not our toughest road game. OM and UT will probably be more challenging.

Catching Florida early in the season while they are adjusting to a new coach and a new Qback is good for us. Catching them the week after Utah is even better. It will take a strong performance, but we can win this game even without CRod if our lines and special teams play well.

 

[vhcat70]

The schedule sets up nicely for a good record. Way too much to replace however for 11 wins IMO.

How could it not set up easy with that set of opponents? I mean we miss AL & A&M.

 

[SECCountry75]

How could it not set up easy with that set of opponents? I mean we miss AL & A&M.

It could be easier. It could be tougher. UGA is the preseason #3 team in the country. OM is also ranked, and we have to visit their place. While UGA and Kentucky are the only teams from the east ranked in the preseason poll, that will not last into the 2nd half of the season. Playing OM, UT, and Florida on the road will be a handful. I like the fact that we have 8 home games. That helps. We have had harder schedules. We have had easier ones. What has changed is that other teams have to worry about playing us now, even in their own stadiums. Kentucky is a very tough out.

 

[vhcat70]

It could be easier. It could be tougher. UGA is the preseason #3 team in the country. OM is also ranked, and we have to visit their place. While UGA and Kentucky are the only teams from the east ranked in the preseason poll, that will not last into the 2nd half of the season. Playing OM, UT, and Florida on the road will be a handful. I like the fact that we have 8 home games. That helps. We have had harder schedules. We have had easier ones. What has changed is that other teams have to worry about playing us now, even in their own stadiums. Kentucky is a very tough out.

How could it be easier?

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

We are an 8 to 11 win team.

That's what ppl on here will lose their mind over. Bc its possible we win 11...that possibility is like 5%, its not a failure if they dont get 11...but it is a possibility. It's just where we are as a program now. We can beat the teams on the schedule, but some of those teams even tho we are better on paper, COULD win.

A couple years after Stoops started it was 4-6 wins possibility

Then around 2018, 19, 20 it was 7-10

21 - now its 8-11

We arent a 10-12 yet.

 

[backinky2018]

We are an 8 to 11 win team.

That's what ppl on here will lose their mind over. Bc its possible we win 11...that possibility is like 5%, its not a failure if they dont get 11...but it is a possibility. It's just where we are as a program now. We can beat the teams on the schedule, but some of those teams even tho we are better on paper, COULD win.

A couple years after Stoops started it was 4-6 wins possibility

Then around 2018, 19, 20 it was 7-10

21 - now its 8-11

We arent a 10-12 yet.

Very reasonable, i agree. 8-4 is likely not a failure, just as 11-1 will not require a miracle.

 

[CB3UK]

One game at a time boys. Gotta give yall the coach speak answer.

 

[east_ky_cat_fan]

Performance in the swamp will dictate the rest of the season. Could be a big momentum booster or soul crushing defeat. I will reserve my judgement on the possibility of the season until the end of that game.

 

[backinky2018]

Performance in the swamp will dictate the rest of the season. Could be a big momentum booster or soul crushing defeat. I will reserve my judgement on the possibility of the season until the end of that game.

Completely agree. This is THE game that will determine how good our season can be.

 

[JHB4UK]

How could it be easier?

If our rotation West opponent was Auburn. Only way possible to make it easier. And not by much, they still have more talent than Ole Miss.