J T Sports Picks the CATS. . .

[Deeeefense]

. . . to finish 2nd in the East and give Georgia a run for their money:



He makes a great point that Kentucky has given UGA a tough battle the last couple of years but this year they have the offense to possibly finish the deal.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

. . . to finish 2nd in the East and give Georgia a run for their money:

View embedded media

He makes a great point that Kentucky has given UGA a tough battle the last couple of years but this year they have the offense to possibly finish the deal.

Imo, UK has a much better shot at UGA than UT. It's about matchups. UGA and UK are basically the same team, physical at LOS, run the ball set play action. UGA has just had a little more depth and a little more athletic. But UT has been a matchup issue for UK and slow starts got UK out of comfort it's comfort zone having to play from behind.

 

[postmodernprimate]

Imo, UK has a much better shot at UGA than UT. It's about matchups. UGA and UK are basically the same team, physical at LOS, run the ball set play action. UGA has just had a little more depth and a little more athletic. But UT has been a matchup issue for UK and slow starts got UK out of comfort it's comfort zone having to play from behind.

100% this. Hopefully with Coen back we don't suffer from the slow starts that take us completely out of our game plan from square one against teams like UT. If Leary and the o-line (with Coen's help putting them in positions to succeed scheme-wise and playcalling-wise) perform adequately, we have a defense that should keep us competitive in pretty much every game on our schedule, theoretically. Of course theory does not always = practice. But I'm ready to find out. 😉

 

[bluecoon1]

Got to beat UT, the only way we do that is getting it in the D’s head that they have to get set after every play even if they have to sprint to get lined up. The Vols will light us up if we’re lollygagging after making a play.

 

[Fast3ddy]

Would second place in the East put us in the playoffs? It’s 12 teams this year isn’t it?

 

[Dead Cat Bounce]

Got to beat UT, the only way we do that is getting it in the D’s head that they have to get set after every play even if they have to sprint to get lined up. The Vols will light us up if we’re lollygagging after making a play.

Lollygaggers

 

[CGblue]

Would second place in the East put us in the playoffs? It’s 12 teams this year isn’t it?

It likely would, but that doesn't start until next season 2024-25.

 

[Deeeefense]

Would second place in the East put us in the playoffs? It’s 12 teams this year isn’t it?

No it's only 4 but going 11-1 with the one lose to Georgia, then Georgia beats Bama in the championship game (a team we hypothetically beat). You could make a strong case IMO.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Would second place in the East put us in the playoffs? It’s 12 teams this year isn’t it?

Depends on the record. 9 and 3 2nd place no way in hell IMO. Have to learn to finish strong and go 10 and 2 or better to make a 12 team playoff. Now if it was 16 teams 9 and 3 in the SEC probably gets in.

This is the last year with 4 and 12 starts next season though.

 

[EliteBlue]

Got to beat UT, the only way we do that is getting it in the D’s head that they have to get set after every play even if they have to sprint to get lined up. The Vols will light us up if we’re lollygagging after making a play.

Don’t disagree….but I think UT is going to miss Hooker more than a lot of ppl realize. Sure, he was athletic and a threat w his legs but what made that offense great was Hookers ability to be insanely consistent and accurate; On Time-On Target. The guy saw the field at an extremely high level and could put it in a window.

He gave us fits it the VT bowl game as well in a much less dynamic offensive scheme. But our D is built on sitting back and making the other teams offense execute consistently and then capitalizing on mistakes. But if the opposing QB is seeing the whole field and extremely accurate then you’re in for a long day of you aren’t able to force the issue w front 4 pressure. Same as the Will Rogers record setting day against us a couple years ago where he only missed like 3 passes total

 

[Rembrandt90]

Imo, UK has a much better shot at UGA than UT. It's about matchups. UGA and UK are basically the same team, physical at LOS, run the ball set play action. UGA has just had a little more depth and a little more athletic. But UT has been a matchup issue for UK and slow starts got UK out of comfort it's comfort zone having to play from behind.

Interesting. UK gave GA a much tougher game than any other opponent gave the Bulldogs in 2022. Part of that was due to playing the game here in Lexington, which unfortunately won't be the case this fall. But each season is different.

The matchup issue for UK (against TN) was not so much a matter of talent as it was a matter of schemes. We probably made them look a lot better than they were, and that isn't what we have learned to expect from a Brad White defense. Our hope will be that we bring a better coverage plan and a more physical secondary into this year's game. Our secondary played GA much tougher than we played TN. Since then, TN has lost a couple of really good WRs. So we will see.

 

[LordEggForgotHisPassword]

Lets just see how UTs QB does before we cash in early on that game. Yall may be right, but it is not a foregone conclusion.

 

[blue cincy]

I am taking this year the way the coaches talk to the media. One game at a time. I am super excited for the season and think we can have a very good to possible great season. We are also just a few bad bounces away from a horrible game or an injury to the wrong person away from losing more that we expect. Heck we are a few good bounces away from a great season (who knows).

I will take each game each week as they come and hope we start the year with a 60 point win against Ball State. I am sure it will be less but I want the offense to crank it up and our defense to lock them down.

 

[Rembrandt90]

Don’t disagree….but I think UT is going to miss Hooker more than a lot of ppl realize.

That may prove true. To my eye, Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman made TN's 2022 offense what it was, and that is not intended to discount Hooker. I watched Hooker play at VA Tech and TN, and I believe his receivers and the novelty of Heupel's skill at creating scheme mismatches made Hooker as successful as he was in 2022. I believe Hyatt and Tillman have graduated. This time around, I believe Coach White's defense will outplay TN's defense.

 

[JHB4UK]

Unfortunately the Briles/Heupel O scheme is the perfect way to attack and exploit the Stoops/White D. The UK D is effective against most offenses because of our mixing and matching personnel to down/distance to maximize our talent to what they do best. We put in packages of personnel for 1st down, passing downs, short yardage or goal line downs.

Facing warp speed hurry up O negates those advantages completely. Then we are left with a D end to cover a Biletnikoff award winning wide reciever 30 yds downfield down the sideline on a go route. Not ideal!!

Hopefully 3rd times the charm, we've worked extensively how to just put our best 11 defenders out in a base look who will hurry up and be set just like an O can. And put in strategic cramps to occur if they get a couple 1st downs in a row!!!

 

[bluecoon1]

Unfortunately the Briles/Heupel O scheme is the perfect way to attack and exploit the Stoops/White D. The UK D is effective against most offenses because of our mixing and matching personnel to down/distance to maximize our talent to what they do best. We put in packages of personnel for 1st down, passing downs, short yardage or goal line downs.

Facing warp speed hurry up O negates those advantages completely. Then we are left with a D end to cover a Biletnikoff award winning wide reciever 30 yds downfield down the sideline on a go route. Not ideal!!

Hopefully 3rd times the charm, we've worked extensively how to just put our best 11 defenders out in a base look who will hurry up and be set just like an O can. And put in strategic cramps to occur if they get a couple 1st downs in a row!!!

I can’t see us ever faking cramps under CMS 😂. There was talk about penalizing teams who faked an injury but the NCAA decided against in-game penalties though it may be enforced after the game once fully evaluated. Not sure if that means suspensions or whatever but I can’t see how that could be enforced.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

100% this. Hopefully with Coen back we don't suffer from the slow starts that take us completely out of our game plan from square one against teams like UT. If Leary and the o-line (with Coen's help putting them in positions to succeed scheme-wise and playcalling-wise) perform adequately, we have a defense that should keep us competitive in pretty much every game on our schedule, theoretically. Of course theory does not always = practice. But I'm ready to find out. 😉

Interesting. UK gave GA a much tougher game than any other opponent gave the Bulldogs in 2022. Part of that was due to playing the game here in Lexington, which unfortunately won't be the case this fall. But each season is different.

The matchup issue for UK (against TN) was not so much a matter of talent as it was a matter of schemes. We probably made them look a lot better than they were, and that isn't what we have learned to expect from a Brad White defense. Our hope will be that we bring a better coverage plan and a more physical secondary into this year's game. Our secondary played GA much tougher than we played TN. Since then, TN has lost a couple of really good WRs. So we will see.

UK was by far the most physical team we have played in the last 2 years, but I never thought we were losing the game. Honestly Missouri had us last year, trailed doubled digits in the 4th. OSU was on fire at start, jumped on us, and we trailed by double digits in the 4th. But those were not normal games, we weren't ready for Missouri and OSU played their best. UK-UGA is just 2 teams getting after each other and we just happened to get an extra stop or 2..

 

[EKCAT4YRS]

before the game starts I always think UK is gonna win, UT, UF, UGA, Bama doesn't matter but, by the mid 3rd q the only game I really thought the good guys had UGA was when Jeff Badet coughed up the ball while on the way to the td!

 

[Deeeefense]

I think the CATS have a ligit shot at winning the East. At 35:1 odds that bet was too juicy to pass up, so I laid $100 to win $3500 on FanDuel.