If there is a schedule to make some noise with, this is it. I have looked at multiple way-too-early top 25s and we play 2 or 3 ranked teams in most. And considering most of our games are at home, i think this may be one of the easist schedules we could ask for. If it werent for UGA i would be using the SEC championship talk. But they look like they are going to reload next season, and UT seems to be ahead of us in rebuilding. But just like every year, teams shock us so who knows. Just my opinions.
i think we can make some noise in the SEC this coming season...
- Thread starter TTU/UK fan
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I agree man.
I dont think we'll be in SEC East championship talks, but we are gonna make noise.
Should be in the battle for 4th place, which is crazy when you think about how bad we were 2 years ago. I don't think we will beat Georgia or South Carolina.
But we should actually be better than Missouri this year. They lose a lot.
And we should be catching up enough with UT to compete.
Vandy should put together a good team this year. The RS Soph/Junior class there was the best class Franklin put together while he was there. They are expected to be really good. But still no reason we can't beat them again.
Florida is the real question in the East. They actually have the team together now to flat out win the East. But it all hangs on how well the coaching change goes.
MSU drops back down some this year. Will be a hard game on the road but one where the talent comes back down to an even level.
Auburn will be way too good.
I think the main change you are gonna see this year is UK WILL be competitive in every game. I know it makes some posters mad, but we simply didn't have the horses to run with Georgia or UT or a lot of teams this year. We should have probably been blown out more than we were.
This year, I don't see it. Every game should see a good competitive close.
I dont think we'll be in SEC East championship talks, but we are gonna make noise.
Should be in the battle for 4th place, which is crazy when you think about how bad we were 2 years ago. I don't think we will beat Georgia or South Carolina.
But we should actually be better than Missouri this year. They lose a lot.
And we should be catching up enough with UT to compete.
Vandy should put together a good team this year. The RS Soph/Junior class there was the best class Franklin put together while he was there. They are expected to be really good. But still no reason we can't beat them again.
Florida is the real question in the East. They actually have the team together now to flat out win the East. But it all hangs on how well the coaching change goes.
MSU drops back down some this year. Will be a hard game on the road but one where the talent comes back down to an even level.
Auburn will be way too good.
I think the main change you are gonna see this year is UK WILL be competitive in every game. I know it makes some posters mad, but we simply didn't have the horses to run with Georgia or UT or a lot of teams this year. We should have probably been blown out more than we were.
This year, I don't see it. Every game should see a good competitive close.
I think we should expect to be competitive. I think we should expect to be ahead of Vandy.
Otherwise, it's hard to say. UT is recruiting at an absolutely top-notch level. They have a good young QB and are coming off of a demolition of Iowa in the bowl game. If we beat them, it will be an upset. I agree that beating UGA or South Carolina on the road is a longshot.
Florida and Mizzou are wildcards and could be the swing games next year. If we fail to beat either of those teams at home in September, it could be a long year.
Otherwise, it's hard to say. UT is recruiting at an absolutely top-notch level. They have a good young QB and are coming off of a demolition of Iowa in the bowl game. If we beat them, it will be an upset. I agree that beating UGA or South Carolina on the road is a longshot.
Florida and Mizzou are wildcards and could be the swing games next year. If we fail to beat either of those teams at home in September, it could be a long year.
I don't think I would use the word easy when describing an SEC football schedule w/ one of the ACC's best teams as your OOC rival, but I think we will win 8 games this following year if we improve like I think we will. We were a couple of plays away from 7 wins this year, and IMO, if we see the improvement between this year and next that we saw between this year and last, I have no doubt that we'll make a whole lot of noise in the SEC. I think we'll win 8 games next year.
The 4 most important factors will be:
1. Quarterback play (which will be improved quite a bit IMO)
2. offensive line play (which should be improved--hopefully dramatically)
3. overall defensive improvement (especially along the front 7--which I think we'll see with another year in the S&C program and added depth
4. Special teams play (special teams get overlooked by many, but they play a huge role--they HAVE to improve this season if we want to beat SEC teams--they were some of the worst I've ever seen from a Kentucky team last season)
The 4 most important factors will be:
1. Quarterback play (which will be improved quite a bit IMO)
2. offensive line play (which should be improved--hopefully dramatically)
3. overall defensive improvement (especially along the front 7--which I think we'll see with another year in the S&C program and added depth
4. Special teams play (special teams get overlooked by many, but they play a huge role--they HAVE to improve this season if we want to beat SEC teams--they were some of the worst I've ever seen from a Kentucky team last season)
The whole thing is going to come down to 2 factors:
1- The offensive line. If Towles gets pressure with 3 down linemen like last year, then it's going to be tough to win football games. Also, we have a nice stable of backs and it'd be nice to see them get some holes to run through. As we've seen this year, they don't need much space. If the o-line makes the strides that most believe they'll make......watch out!
2- The defense. In short, we have to be able to get stops. I think UK was weak at linebacker, and our DT's didnt give us much. If UK can tackle and force punts...I like our chance to go bowling.
Without improvement in those two areas, I dont see UK going to a bowl. However, if UK makes the jump, we could be in for a hell of a ride. I don't UK is ready to challenge for the East, but I think we can scare some folks if we've improved. And if I'm being completely honest about UT....I think they're setting up to be the team in the SEC East. They are recruiting lights out, and you guys have to keep in mind that Butch Jones walked into a program that was recruiting top 20 anyway. Stoops walked into an OVC level locker room whereas Jones walked into a locker room that had some 4 star guys. Big difference. Lots of people are saying we should be competing with UT, and I think we will. I just don't think we can beat them right now. I think UT wins the East, Georgia 2nd, Florida 3rd, and UK 4th
1- The offensive line. If Towles gets pressure with 3 down linemen like last year, then it's going to be tough to win football games. Also, we have a nice stable of backs and it'd be nice to see them get some holes to run through. As we've seen this year, they don't need much space. If the o-line makes the strides that most believe they'll make......watch out!
2- The defense. In short, we have to be able to get stops. I think UK was weak at linebacker, and our DT's didnt give us much. If UK can tackle and force punts...I like our chance to go bowling.
Without improvement in those two areas, I dont see UK going to a bowl. However, if UK makes the jump, we could be in for a hell of a ride. I don't UK is ready to challenge for the East, but I think we can scare some folks if we've improved. And if I'm being completely honest about UT....I think they're setting up to be the team in the SEC East. They are recruiting lights out, and you guys have to keep in mind that Butch Jones walked into a program that was recruiting top 20 anyway. Stoops walked into an OVC level locker room whereas Jones walked into a locker room that had some 4 star guys. Big difference. Lots of people are saying we should be competing with UT, and I think we will. I just don't think we can beat them right now. I think UT wins the East, Georgia 2nd, Florida 3rd, and UK 4th
I think we will almost certainly get 7-8 done this coming season. I wanted to believe it this year, against reason. Mostly, I have a very good feeling about Coach Dawson and his meeting of the minds with Coach Stoop regarding offensive physicality. It is past time for this offensive line to get nasty. All of the aerial fireworks will work a lot better after we demonstrate a willingness and ability to throw a hard cross to the jaw.
Let hope we have some players develop some mean streaks because that is the attitude it takes to win in the big boy conference in which UK plays.
I give MLB Forrest as an example. He has some talent but doesn't have the mean streak it takes to be a MLB in the SEC. Give me a player at that position that wants to destroy runners not gently help them to the ground. That is not a position for nice guys. Our defenders need to move up the nastiness scale to compete in the SEC. Coach Stoops is politically correct and calls it being more physical. I call it getting mean and nasty. Make the offensive players a little afraid when they come into your area of responsibility. Help them down hard and don't help them up and hope they need help to get up.
I give MLB Forrest as an example. He has some talent but doesn't have the mean streak it takes to be a MLB in the SEC. Give me a player at that position that wants to destroy runners not gently help them to the ground. That is not a position for nice guys. Our defenders need to move up the nastiness scale to compete in the SEC. Coach Stoops is politically correct and calls it being more physical. I call it getting mean and nasty. Make the offensive players a little afraid when they come into your area of responsibility. Help them down hard and don't help them up and hope they need help to get up.
I think UK is never going to have a greater opportunity...
The best team in the east is a middle-lower tier Big 12 team...if Franklin was still at Vandy they may be in the top 2 or 3 and competing for an SEC title appearance, or perhaps have gotten there...think about that for a minute...
No Urban Meyer...Spurrier in the twilight of his career...UGA down and uncertain with Richt...No more James Franklin...
Not a lot of huge play makers that can dominate a game...no first round or Heisman QBs...no Stafford and AJ Green...no Tebow and Percy Harvin...no Marcus Lattimore and Jadeveon Clowney...
All the top coaches, coordinators, recruiters, and assistants seem to be in the west...
I mean it is absolutely unprecedented how below the usual standard the SEC east is right now...
4-6 years from now will be a different story...UT will be back and sooner than we may have originally thought...McElwain will get florida back on track or they will get a home run type of guy who will (Chip Kelly, Lane Kiffin, Bob Stoops, Charlie Strong) or somebody else who is big time...UGA will get their act together or find a top tier guy much like Florida...SC will make a solid hire post ball coach...
The time is now...
The best team in the east is a middle-lower tier Big 12 team...if Franklin was still at Vandy they may be in the top 2 or 3 and competing for an SEC title appearance, or perhaps have gotten there...think about that for a minute...
No Urban Meyer...Spurrier in the twilight of his career...UGA down and uncertain with Richt...No more James Franklin...
Not a lot of huge play makers that can dominate a game...no first round or Heisman QBs...no Stafford and AJ Green...no Tebow and Percy Harvin...no Marcus Lattimore and Jadeveon Clowney...
All the top coaches, coordinators, recruiters, and assistants seem to be in the west...
I mean it is absolutely unprecedented how below the usual standard the SEC east is right now...
4-6 years from now will be a different story...UT will be back and sooner than we may have originally thought...McElwain will get florida back on track or they will get a home run type of guy who will (Chip Kelly, Lane Kiffin, Bob Stoops, Charlie Strong) or somebody else who is big time...UGA will get their act together or find a top tier guy much like Florida...SC will make a solid hire post ball coach...
The time is now...
I just can't agree with this, the entire SEC was down last year, West was just as down as the East. Who exactly did they beat to make everyone think they were so good? UGA drilled both our west opponents, Missouri beat both of theirs, UK came close to State and they were ranked number 1 in the country. Here is they beat, LSU had to come from 2 scores back to beat a Wisconsin team who lost their conference championship 59-0, that was one of the West's big wins, Auburn beat a Kansas State team who was middle of the pack big 12 team and Bama beat a 7-6 WVU team, thats their big wins of the season, the rest were against directional Louisanna, Mississippi and Alabama schools. Then they got credit for beating each other. The bowl season showed everyone how overrated the west was when they go 2-5 and the 2 bottom teams got the wins. If not for the East going 5-0 in their bowl games it would have been a totally embarassing bowl season for the SEC.
I know UGA isn't likely to get in the playoffs because Richt teams have 1-2 games a year when it looks like we forgot gametime USC and UF, then we have 3-4 games a year we look as good as anyone, Missouri, AU and Arkansas. But it is expected, he isn't on the hot seat, just signed an extension with a raise last week. So next year, breaking in a new OC and OL coach alone with a new qb plus a tougher crossover game, we are probably looking at 7-8 wins. Won't surprise me to see UT win the East and if the West drops any more for them to win the SEC. But it was an illusion that the West was a dominant division, Bama was a little better than the rest, the rest of the division was no better than the East.
I think you are being a bit pessimistic about Georgia, Grumpy, they looked pretty awesome in several games, including against UK. I thought that "average" QB made some very impressive throws, but then we seem to bring out the best in everyone. With your RBs next year he shouldn't have to do nearly as much as most QBs.
I think Chub and Michel should make your QBs job a whole lot easier, lose a few OL though, is Theus going pro, IIRC he was a five star. And Michel wasn't listed on your depth chart, was he still injured, I would hate to think you have someone else better besides maybe Chub.
I think you should be favored in the east, but you play TU on the road, really hope you can slow down their momentum.
I think Chub and Michel should make your QBs job a whole lot easier, lose a few OL though, is Theus going pro, IIRC he was a five star. And Michel wasn't listed on your depth chart, was he still injured, I would hate to think you have someone else better besides maybe Chub.
I think you should be favored in the east, but you play TU on the road, really hope you can slow down their momentum.
-fair schedule
-maturation of the starters
-serious injection of depth throughout the roster
-likely improved QB play for various reasons
I see us between 6-8 regular season wins. We will still get blown out 1, maybe 2, times. But we will be mostly be close in our losses. Really good in-state recruiting class available. I see us pulling in a top 25 class in 2016. All of this sets us up nicely for the 2016 season where things start to blossom.
-maturation of the starters
-serious injection of depth throughout the roster
-likely improved QB play for various reasons
I see us between 6-8 regular season wins. We will still get blown out 1, maybe 2, times. But we will be mostly be close in our losses. Really good in-state recruiting class available. I see us pulling in a top 25 class in 2016. All of this sets us up nicely for the 2016 season where things start to blossom.
--Do we have a proven O-Line yet? No
--Do we have a proven WR corps yet? No
--We just lost quality depth at RB
--We lost 1 NFL-bound DE/LB and another very good DE
We will have good talent AND experience at QB though....but without the first question being answered, we might not make much headway this year
5-6 wins again.....Hope it's 7-8 though!!
--Do we have a proven WR corps yet? No
--We just lost quality depth at RB
--We lost 1 NFL-bound DE/LB and another very good DE
We will have good talent AND experience at QB though....but without the first question being answered, we might not make much headway this year
5-6 wins again.....Hope it's 7-8 though!!
I think there is a big difference between "making noise" and "contending". I would be VERY disappointed if we didn't win A) the 3 OOC non-UL games, and B) at least 3 of the following: Vandy, UL, UF, UT, MSU, USC, and Mizzou. I don't give us much of a chance to beat Auburn or UGA, but you never know.
I would also hope that we do not have many (or any) of the total clunkers like that which we had against UT and UGA.
THe goal for 2015 should be to get to a bowl. I think beating UL or UT or UF is also important, but at this point, you take 6 wins any way that you can get them.
I see UT and UGA competing for the east. UGA should win it, but they just have inexplicable losses each and every year. No reason why they should have lost to South Carolina or Florida this year, but they did anyway. They'll do the same in 2015 and finish 9-3 again.
UT is being given a lot of love, and i think it's mostly deserved. They still haven't won many big-time games under Butch jones so we will see how they do with expectations.
I think one thing we should pay attention to is placement of games on the schedule. Our game against Auburn is a week after they play San Jose - not an advantage. Our game against UT is one week after they play Alabama - BIG ADVANTAGE. Our game against UF is one week after before they play UT - ADVANTAGE if they are looking ahead. Our game against South Carolina is a week after they play on Thursday Night (against UNC) - ADVANTAGE FOR USC DUE TO EXTRA TIME. We did not have the luxury of good placement in 2014 (with the exception of UL, where we had a bye and they played ND the week before - you can see that that was a benefit to us).
I would also hope that we do not have many (or any) of the total clunkers like that which we had against UT and UGA.
THe goal for 2015 should be to get to a bowl. I think beating UL or UT or UF is also important, but at this point, you take 6 wins any way that you can get them.
I see UT and UGA competing for the east. UGA should win it, but they just have inexplicable losses each and every year. No reason why they should have lost to South Carolina or Florida this year, but they did anyway. They'll do the same in 2015 and finish 9-3 again.
UT is being given a lot of love, and i think it's mostly deserved. They still haven't won many big-time games under Butch jones so we will see how they do with expectations.
I think one thing we should pay attention to is placement of games on the schedule. Our game against Auburn is a week after they play San Jose - not an advantage. Our game against UT is one week after they play Alabama - BIG ADVANTAGE. Our game against UF is one week after before they play UT - ADVANTAGE if they are looking ahead. Our game against South Carolina is a week after they play on Thursday Night (against UNC) - ADVANTAGE FOR USC DUE TO EXTRA TIME. We did not have the luxury of good placement in 2014 (with the exception of UL, where we had a bye and they played ND the week before - you can see that that was a benefit to us).
Maybe so Jauk, we return quite a bit on offense, 8 starters from the bowl game, but will be breaking in a new QB and that usually doesn't bode well, return 6 on defense. But we pick up Bama, UT scares me, and then there is the 1-2 games a year Richt teams just don't show up. GT will be tough as long as their qb stays healty, he is perfect for their offense, so thats 4-5 games. AU might be tough this year too, No idea how Schottenheimer is going to work out, new OL coach is suppose to be young and energetic, knows SEC football by playing at LSU. I guess we will see, that's why we play the games I guess.
Grumpy you also said we wouldn't show up for the bowl game. We had one really awful performance this year - so did practically everyone. We've won 10+ games three of last four years - how many can say that? Just finished second top ten in three years. If nothing else you've earned your nickname Grumpy, but a fan trashing his school on a rival site is weak - I guess you need friends or something.
Just going by our history, we didn't show up against Nebraska last year, didn't show up against MichSt 3 years ago, and didn't show up for 2 games during the regular season this year. No way an awful UF team should have beaten us or a bad Carolina team, we were bad, we looked like world beaters in other games, Missouri, AU and even Arkansas. It is what it is, we are inconsistent and there is no logical way you can argue we aren't.
The key to this is QB play IMO. SEC quarterback play the last few years (JFF aside) has just been abysmal. Blake Sims was the best QB in the SEC this year by a pretty healthy margin (if you go by QBR and QB rating) ... and he ain't all that great.
If we can manage to have somebody step up and deliver upper-level college play at the QB position (my kingdom for a Mike Hartline!), we've got a shot at noise making.
If we can manage to have somebody step up and deliver upper-level college play at the QB position (my kingdom for a Mike Hartline!), we've got a shot at noise making.
Realism is understanding all the fact then weighing them to get he best gauge possible. If we would take a look at the quality of the player that are currently at the competition and the quality of the incoming recruits we might look at it a little differently. The big difference is the quality of the 2nd and 3rd string players and what grade they're currently in. When you play 18 and 19 year old players against quality 20 to 22 year old quality players there's a mismatch, especially late in the games. Kentucky has competed with many of the upper echelon teams over the years but get beat in the 2nd half because we didn't have the same quality depth.
Coach Stoops and his staff have made great strides recruiting better players but it just takes more than 2 years. I do believe that we will be much improved in 2015 but still a ways behind the upper tier of teams in the SEC. The SEC East is improving and on the rise at several schools IMHO. UT is on the move and FL won't be down long and GA is always there with plenty of talent. When we can compete and beat UT and FL then we will be in the hunt for an SEC East championship. I've stated before that I think it will take a good 5 years before we can consistently compete in the SEC. Sure hope I'm wrong though.
I would be doing cart wheel if we could win 8 or 9 games next year but I see 7 as our ceiling.
Coach Stoops and his staff have made great strides recruiting better players but it just takes more than 2 years. I do believe that we will be much improved in 2015 but still a ways behind the upper tier of teams in the SEC. The SEC East is improving and on the rise at several schools IMHO. UT is on the move and FL won't be down long and GA is always there with plenty of talent. When we can compete and beat UT and FL then we will be in the hunt for an SEC East championship. I've stated before that I think it will take a good 5 years before we can consistently compete in the SEC. Sure hope I'm wrong though.
I would be doing cart wheel if we could win 8 or 9 games next year but I see 7 as our ceiling.
Don't be picking on Grumpy, he does have friends on here, we appreciate his inputs, especially about teams outside of Kentucky. Besides, I think he is just trying to get us overconfident when we play Georgia, LOL.
I do think he and others that know about the cars in the parking lot at Bama etc should be telling the NCAA about them, hell, he can even use my name. Cheaters shouldn't prosper, and UL and a few other teams have made it an art form.
Not that reporting anything to the joke of the NCAA would do any good.
Well AD I think he makes a fair case for his positions.
I too was surprised to see UGA show up to win their bowl game this year. Relieved and grateful they did but I did not expect them to play as well as they did. It's perfectly reasonable to look at two SEC teams--- one UF that we should have beaten in the swamp and SC who we did beat. How both those teams could beat UGA this year brings into question the focus of this UGA team. This is especially true when you look at the drubbing UGA handed us. It is as if they shrink from the prospect of greatness when the opportunity presents itself.
This from somebody that respects the UGA program immensely.
Impossible to make any predictions at this stage, but if we don't win at least 7 games including one signature type game next season, then I look for recruiting to take a nose dive in the 2016 class.
Maybe, maybe not. But there is nothing wrong with excitement, hope and optimism in the middle of January and three weeks before NSD. Much rather have that than the gloom and doomers who do nothing but try to depress you 24/7.
Been called bunches of names in my life, but I think that's a first for that particular one. Maybe I know too much football, if I were ignorant on the subject I could st back and say everything is great and we have no issues. Nothing I said was incorrect. We played like champs in several of our games this year and played like chumps in a couple of others, We were beaten by 2 6-6 teams. Can you explain why other than not being focused to play? Personally I laid the blame on Bobo for getting away from the running game at UF, and it all goes on him at SC, I still can't believe 1st and goal at the 4 and we run a naked bootleg. Took the ball out of our best players hands and put it in our weakest players hands. But it should have never come down to that.
But I could sit back and be delusional as say we play every game to our max potential too I guess. I don't think beating Bama or UT is out of the question, but it will depend on how well our qb plays, I really don't see how the new OC could make any bigger blunders than Bobo did calling plays. His strenght was his recruiting, not play calling.
Of course! 6 wins is the max! (I mean, even though we won 6 games this year with that blown call at Florida)..but there's no way we can win more than 6 next year
goodness..we have some geniuses on here If some of you honestly believe that we will only win 4 games next year, I'll promise you one thing: Stoops won't be back if we win 4 games, I promise you that..
Can some of you explain to me the mindset that we will only win 4 or 5 games next year? I'd honestly be disappointed if we don't win at least 7 considering the fact that in my mind we won 6 games this year (with the Florida win) and I think the team will improve noticeably between this year and next...we would have to not only not improve between this year and next to end up with 4 wins, but we would have to get worse, which I see absolutely no scenario of that happening
