Just Watched Spring Game

[bigblueinsanity]

UK's D was the best of recent years in 2018 because of Josh Allen, position coached by Brad White. White hasn't been helped much by his boss's hires to replace Dean Hood & Clinksdale. Significant downgrades in every way. Likely the coach replacing Sumrall this yr is a downgrade as well

Agree. White is incredible but we can't just keep bleeding defensive coaching talent. Collins is still looking mediocre, buffano still looks majorly meh, and Mike stoops is a major drop from summrall imo (speaks more to how incredible summrall is)

 

[Tskware]

I too just watched the game this week on SEC TV

(A) Thought Allen looked good as a backup, had several bad drops, don't see playing him as a huge liability that some do

(B) OTOH, there is a huge dropoff after C Rod at RB. We have several pretty good backs, but they are much smaller and nowhere near the talent as our starter.

(C) was impressed with the offensive line as a whole, Buford and Flax looked better than I expected

(D) D line was OK, especially given that Wright did not play, thought the transfer from OSU (Henry) played well, at least a lot better than what I read on this site.

(E) We have talent and depth at LB and interior D line.

(F) Got some issues in the secondary, but that is not news.

Finally, a bit OT but this may be the last "real" college football season we see, for a long time or maybe ever. If something is not done quickly about NIL and transfer portal, there will be maybe 30 or 40 teams playing a version of professional football and the rest will play minor league ball amongst themselves.

 

[TBCat]

I have the same but it will no longer let me watch events that are designated ESPN+ only. I have been doing the same as you for the last several years, just login with cable provider. The Spring Game did not give me that option this year.

Agreed. These apps are in my opinion deliberately broken. They lead you to believe that you can get the game for free but they 'inadvertently' funnel you toward the pay wall. You can usually get around it and get it for free if you work at it long enough but the app is designed to not work in a way that encourages you to pay for it anyway.

 

[The-Hack]

Finally, a bit OT but this may be the last "real" college football season we see, for a long time or maybe ever. If something is not done quickly about NIL and transfer portal, there will be maybe 30 or 40 teams playing a version of professional football and the rest will play minor league ball amongst themselves.

Check out the average star rating in 2002 on Rivals beginning at either 30 or 40th, and then do the same for the 2023 Class in December-February. I doubt that the 30th or 40th ranked class in 2023 will be any less competitive against the top than in 2002.

But I have always believed “there [were] maybe 30 or 40 teams playing a version of professional football and the rest w[ere] play[ing] minor league ball amongst themselves.”

 

[Doodah859]

1. The first team D was in place for Levis/first team O for first 2 drives and both were easy TDs with not a bunch of 3rd down conversions needed to get to a TD. I agree the remaining 3 qtrs of Blue/White were 2nd and 3rd team all over the place.
2. I'm not stating White as a DC is like Gran as an OC...but Gran got offered the UGA job...so I'm not really bowled over with gigs from other big SEC jobs. I stand on what White has done at UK. And to be honest, the UK D was it's best in 2018 under House....and has been worse in 2019 and much poorer in 2020 and 2021 was not terrible but for all that we brought back....I'd call it a dissapointing result.
3. Now we lose Paschal....I see a drop off from what he was able to produce to Rybka.
- Bully McCall will be a dropoff to Rogers/Haynes as well IMO.
- W/o Vito...I'd argue now the safety production from Corker will be a fall off as well.
- I think Jones and Square a decent but not difference makers at the inside LB spots.
- I think Jordan Wright is a below average SEC outside LBer....and he's a shoe in at the SAM
- Ajian....he was simply really not good in 2021. He was a huge reason why we lost Tenn game, he was a problem vs. UGA and Miss St he was not able to tackle a thing on short stuff. I think he's our best safety in 2022 and that ain't a good thing.
- Outside of Oxendine looks like a bigtime SEC players and maybe JJ Weaver....but I am not sold he's going to be elite SEC outside LBer....but we'll see. Outside of 2 spots....I don't see a great D
4. Finally, White has fallen in love with dropping 8 a ton. I see him as bend but don't break mindset and I saw a D that played like that a ton last year. I hope I'm wrong....but I think this D will under perform in 2022.

Your defense is going to look better when you have Josh Allen, Mike Edwards, Derek Baity, Chris Westry, Lonnie Edwards, Kash Daniel, etc. You have to play to suit your personnel. Brad White is fine

 

[The-Hack]

Brad White has had us 4th in SEC defenses three seasons running.

Not bad.

 

[Tskware]

Brad White has had us 4th in SEC defenses three seasons running.

Not bad.

Truth. I too would like to see more sacks and TOs, but last year we held at least six P5 opponents to 21 points or less (UL, Iowa, Vandy, Florida, S Car, and LSU) so we must be doing something right.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

I too just watched the game this week on SEC TV

(A) Thought Allen looked good as a backup, had several bad drops, don't see playing him as a huge liability that some do

(B) OTOH, there is a huge dropoff after C Rod at RB. We have several pretty good backs, but they are much smaller and nowhere near the talent as our starter.

(C) was impressed with the offensive line as a whole, Buford and Flax looked better than I expected

(D) D line was OK, especially given that Wright did not play, thought the transfer from OSU (Henry) played well, at least a lot better than what I read on this site.

(E) We have talent and depth at LB and interior D line.

(F) Got some issues in the secondary, but that is not news.

Finally, a bit OT but this may be the last "real" college football season we see, for a long time or maybe ever. If something is not done quickly about NIL and transfer portal, there will be maybe 30 or 40 teams playing a version of professional football and the rest will play minor league ball amongst themselves.

That last paragraph really hits home. Coming off a 14-1 season, a NC and seeing what's going on just sickens me to the point of having a hard time getting excited about the season. Multiple teams are begging for NIL money to hire players, rumor is UF's group raised 5m in one day. No idea if true or not, Miami just gave 800k to get a transfer BB player from Kansas who has 2 years left.

 

[mrschwump]

That last paragraph really hits home. Coming off a 14-1 season, a NC and seeing what's going on just sickens me to the point of having a hard time getting excited about the season. Multiple teams are begging for NIL money to hire players, rumor is UF's group raised 5m in one day. No idea if true or not, Miami just gave 800k to get a transfer BB player from Kansas who has 2 years left.

Schools are moving quickly to take advantage of NIL because I think they know some type of regulatory plan will eventually occur. When even a malcontent like Phat expresses concern you know something's around the corner.