It's time to earn your money. New stadium, fans support great, great cat walks, better recruiting, & on & on. It is time to make some changes. Smart people, make changes when something isn't working. I know coach Stoops is smart, so just do a few things different. I am all for coach Stoops & hope he is here for many years. Now for me as a non football coach, just some common knowledge, I have always believed Ky has to Pass to set up the run, when we play the SEC Teams, because we do not have the big dominating players up front. The defense has been a big improvement, Nice Job There Coach. Now U & Dawson make a few tweaks on our offensive side of the ball, PLEASE. Think we can beat Missouri, I sure do.
Ok Coach Stoops
- Thread starter frost-1
- Start date
I agree. What we see Saturday will say a lot about Stoops' leadership of this team. I think passing to set up the run sounds great but you'd better be on point on early downs. Makes a long night getting in 3rd and 10 over and over.
For the first time since Coach Stoops was hired, I'm worried. After hearing his post-game comments, I have the same sinking feeling that my Buffalo Bills former head coaches have given me so many times before. I wouldn't want, nor did I expect CMS to throw any player under the bus; but I believe his words were more than coach-speak, I think he believed what he was saying.
What I mean about the former Bills coaches is they all made similar statements about the team's poor offensive outings while starting the likes of Rob Johnson, Alex Van Pelt, JP Losman, Kelly Holcomb and Trent Edwards. Just like with UK now, there wasn't just one player who was the sole issue, but also just like us now, the coaches failed to take into account just how much poor play from the quarterback was affecting everyone else.
The QB sets the rhythm of the offense, and when he can't get them into a rhythm, everyone starts making inexplicable mistakes. A coach getting fixated on correcting the mistakes of the supporting cast is like a doctor treating symptoms instead of the underlying cause of the symptoms. When the quarterback isn't playing well enough to win, and ours isn't, a different quarterback can not do worse. Their stats might be worse, but the worst you can do is lose, and we're already doing that.
What I mean about the former Bills coaches is they all made similar statements about the team's poor offensive outings while starting the likes of Rob Johnson, Alex Van Pelt, JP Losman, Kelly Holcomb and Trent Edwards. Just like with UK now, there wasn't just one player who was the sole issue, but also just like us now, the coaches failed to take into account just how much poor play from the quarterback was affecting everyone else.
The QB sets the rhythm of the offense, and when he can't get them into a rhythm, everyone starts making inexplicable mistakes. A coach getting fixated on correcting the mistakes of the supporting cast is like a doctor treating symptoms instead of the underlying cause of the symptoms. When the quarterback isn't playing well enough to win, and ours isn't, a different quarterback can not do worse. Their stats might be worse, but the worst you can do is lose, and we're already doing that.
-blocking and catching touchdown passes that hit you in the hands/go through your hands are important too.
-im all for giving barker a shot...but blaming pt for the loss is ignoring the 6 sacks and 14 points left on the field.
-im all for giving barker a shot...but blaming pt for the loss is ignoring the 6 sacks and 14 points left on the field.
I agree with what you're saying, but don't forget; several of those sacks are EASILY avoided by other quarterbacks. I'm not saying the O-line isn't a big problem, but PT makes it so easy for the defense. His decision-making is so slow.
Isn't that what you pay a coach for? To get the right people to be successful and get them to execute. If you are making the kind of money he is making, then he is fing responsible.
I believe Louisville has three better qbs than UK. I have now seen three years of pathetic quarterbacking. This is ridiculous. An embarrassment for sure.
For those of you always want to blame the players, wth do coaches get paid so much. It's called accountability. And it's looking like CMS. may have gotten this job based on his brothers success.
He hires Offensive coordinator that run a high octane offense and we get them and they run a high school offense
One thing I will have to give it to Petino, he will make a qb change. Hell If Barker isn't any better than this, then our great recruiting is a joke.
I believe Louisville has three better qbs than UK. I have now seen three years of pathetic quarterbacking. This is ridiculous. An embarrassment for sure.
For those of you always want to blame the players, wth do coaches get paid so much. It's called accountability. And it's looking like CMS. may have gotten this job based on his brothers success.
He hires Offensive coordinator that run a high octane offense and we get them and they run a high school offense
One thing I will have to give it to Petino, he will make a qb change. Hell If Barker isn't any better than this, then our great recruiting is a joke.
Basing it all on the coaches decision, if PT beat out Barker do we really want him in there. I have said all year if PT is better than Barker we are one injury away from the cellar. I have never watched Barker play, I have a really hard time believing he is as slow a foot and in decision making as PT seems to be. Just my 2 cents.
I've got concerns as well. No doubt the offensive line was dominated last night, but PT missed open receivers several times. That's been a common theme for the past 9 games. He locks on receivers, is not accurate, has poor pocket awareness, and the coaching staff is forced to install a scaled-down vanilla offense to accommodate. The most worrisome part, though, is that Barker has obviously not even come close to separating himself from PT in practice. That doesn't bode well for the short term future.
-pt was effective running the ball last year. Coaches have told him not to run at the first sign of pressure...i think he has over corrected.
And don't forget an ECU coach who could see they weren't going to run all over Florida. They knew the only chance they would have is through the air. Ton of short passes and not give the DL time for penetrstion. Did they not watch any of that film? The plan they had to score on UF last night might have been the worst offensive game plan I've ever seen. And even though they kept with the 3 and 5 step drops they got away from the diamond formation or using any TE to block for that matter. I'm not sold on Stoops. He can recruit. But hasn't shown me one thing that he can coach in 27 games so far.
This. So far Stoops is Ron Zook. Heck of a recruiter but teams are poorly coached. Sometimes you have just enough talent to beat someone you shouldn't (USCe last year and this year).
I think he beat out Barker based solely on experience. I've heard that Barker is a more accurate passer.
Towles seems to be in a slump right now. I think it's time for Barker to get some snaps.
If you can't see radical improvement in our defense, you are blind. Stoops may well struggle on the offensive side of the ball. PT is still playing in his head. That's why his reactions are slow and why he locks on receivers. They have to find a way to get him to simply play. He is capable but not if he keeps thinking so much. As I've said before, PT may be brilliant in practice. You can play loose there. It may be that PT is the better practice player while Barker may end up being the better game player. I don't know, but I am confident that PT is thinking way too much.
I'm not throwing in the towel yet, but offensively we just haven't show a very open and diverse playbook. We stick with whatever scheme we are using that game about 3 or 4 series too long before we decide it's not working and the opponent has adjusted to it. We did it against ULL In game one resulting in a putrid second half. Same goes for the USC game where we thought we would just abandon the pass altogether for about a quarter and a half. And we did that very thing again last night. We kept going back to plays that didn't work and abandoned places that did. That little swing pass to Horton that got about 9 yards? Where were those? We had plenty of room to run those all night but didn't. If we had run that a few more times it might have opened up the middle of the field. Just a lot of stubbornness in our play calling it seems.
I honestly think Joker left his play book and the OC is using it. I am not a football guru but any arm chair qb can see what is coming. Honestly it is comical to watch. Hit the middle over and over again when you line is outmatched pound for pound. Never using the tight end and a qb that has issues hitting people under the coverage. Hard to watch
Offense looked terrible, but even with all that if Dorian Baker catches the pass in the end zone early we win the game.
The last drive was pathetic . To watch a team keep shooting it's self in the foot is hard to do.
The last drive was pathetic . To watch a team keep shooting it's self in the foot is hard to do.
I was never comfortable with the Florida game, which was always a difficult matchup because of Hargreaves, Neal, and their outstanding speed rushers. I have always liked the matchup with Missouri better, and I still expect us to beat Missouri. Another thing, if you think Stoops isn't earning his money, then I strongly disagree.
Really I defense is better? Hell how would you know? We have not played a good team yet and the defense looked like crap against our first opponent.
People see what they want. We have been horrible to watch on offense for the last three seasons and if Barker isn't better than PT it's not looking good for the future. PT looks like he is stepping in quicksand in the pocket.
People see what they want. We have been horrible to watch on offense for the last three seasons and if Barker isn't better than PT it's not looking good for the future. PT looks like he is stepping in quicksand in the pocket.
I don't mean to be a smart ass in any way. Good post IMO but your comment 'Towles seems to be in a slump right now' is true but made me think: When has he NOT been in a slump. He hasn't been accurate since he got here. I hope he improves but I don't see it at this point.
If you remember the comments from Stoops about Patrick winning the job it sounded like it was his experience. Maybe Barker's bone head off the field issues doomed him
He looked really good in a few games last season, then really bad in some others. He's just too streaky to be a starter IMO.
Agree with OP in that for us to move up the ladder our coaches have to be difference makers themselves in games and that is most important on the offensive side. I've said before I may have been Dawson's biggest promoter in the off season, but I've been real disappointed so far in what I've seen or not seen.
I thought above all else we would see a coordinator who would have no fear, play in you face tempo with confident play calling and imagination. Instead I've seen a tentativeness in play calling with little imagination and after last weeks second half and last night ....a lack of ability to adjust when your initial game plan is not working.
I'm not giving up on him and still believe he has it but he's in a slump of his own. After seeing UF hurry us last night I would have bet the farm Dawson would have picked them apart with the short quick game and make them chase Badet, Johnson, Timmons and Williams.
And I thought he was surprised he hasn't picked up on The fact that Patrick needs set patterns to throw to get him going. Timing routes so he knows where to throw and when. When he has to scan and read he's just not real comfortable right now and our OC should be the first guy to recognize that.
But like the OP it gets old hearing "we're going to get back to work and fix this". The time to fix it in the fight, that's where the coaches have a chance to determine the outcome as much ad the players
I thought above all else we would see a coordinator who would have no fear, play in you face tempo with confident play calling and imagination. Instead I've seen a tentativeness in play calling with little imagination and after last weeks second half and last night ....a lack of ability to adjust when your initial game plan is not working.
I'm not giving up on him and still believe he has it but he's in a slump of his own. After seeing UF hurry us last night I would have bet the farm Dawson would have picked them apart with the short quick game and make them chase Badet, Johnson, Timmons and Williams.
And I thought he was surprised he hasn't picked up on The fact that Patrick needs set patterns to throw to get him going. Timing routes so he knows where to throw and when. When he has to scan and read he's just not real comfortable right now and our OC should be the first guy to recognize that.
But like the OP it gets old hearing "we're going to get back to work and fix this". The time to fix it in the fight, that's where the coaches have a chance to determine the outcome as much ad the players
NO... I think your ONE WEEK LATE...
What we SAW LAST SATURDAY (last night) says a LOT about Stoops' leadership of this team.
You DON'T lose to a Florida team who is this young, and this bad
You DON'T put only NINE POINTS on the board in a BIG GAME LIKE THIS
You DON'T put ankle shackles on a QB who can pass...AND WHO CAN RUN
You DON'T call three straight RUNS UP THE GUT inside the two-yard line... and kick a field goal
Time to RE-EVALUATE who we hired at HC, OC, and DC...
We've got way too much invested in creating a competitive SEC FOOTBALL TEAM...and we have yet to see any "returns on that investment".
Confidence (or lack thereof) flows from the head coach on down to the players. If the head coach isn't confident in his players and their abilities then the OC/DC pick up on it. The position coaches pick up on. The players feel it. Once the players start to doubt themselves and their abilities then they're doomed from the get go. I think this is a huge problem with Towles. Stoops needs to stop planning a game and acting on the sideline like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Turn the players loose and let them win or lose the game. Gotta let the players play. Putting handcuffs on them because you're not sold on their abilities is BS.
Stoops is the last person I'm blaming for the situation at QB. If Barker isn't ready, he isn't. But he was recruited by multiple SEC schools and if he isn't practicing as well at Towles, Stoops's hands are tied. It was hard to produce any game plan when he first arrived since we had no one who could throw or catch a ball, and to that point our WRs have improved drastically. I'm willing to give Stoops many years to improve our talent level. Our program isn't exactly in a position historically to produce the entitlement some of us feel.
I agreed with you until you got to this point. All evaluations are done after the season, not after the first loss.
Understand your point. I agree with your point. Additionally it's been applied to the past two seasons, and what we are witnessing so far this year: like GROUND HOG DAY! LOL!
I'm referring more to what we have been told season after season after season by this Coaching Staff. Yet, similar mistakes keep occurring.
I suppose the BEST example I can provide of this are the similarities between events in last years FLA vs KY games.
a). 2014 Dropped pick six -which hit a UK defensive back square in the numbers.
a). 2015 Dropped six point touch down -when UK receiver let the pass hit him square in the numbers while standing in the end zone
b). 2014 ball hits UK receiver's hands and picked off -killing a pre half time drive.
b). 2015 ball hits UK receiver's hands and picked off -and returned back in to the red zone.
Hope this clarifies my point.
You kinda proved my point. When he first got here I could understand the conservative planning. We were underdogs most games and as a dog you just wanna play mistake free, limit the other teams possessions and hang around just long enough to steal the game at the end. But our talent level has improved dramatically and we have a solid two deep on both sides of the ball. At what point do they let their players play and not play the role of the underdog? Line up and see who the best team is without having to run the clock down, play for field position, three runs and a punt just to keep the clock moving. When do we play like we think we're the better team and try to prove it on the field and not just sneak one out?
LOL, back away from the ledge.
"Yet to see any returns on investment?" C'mon, man.
I am not saying Mike Stoops is or isn't a good coach and the right man for the job. But last year people on this board were complaining about not going deep enough and the qb running too much. This year, the fans are complaining about not throwing enough short and medium passes and the qb not running enough qb draws. . The WR has gotten a little heat for the drop, but most of it has been on Towles. I have no idea what kind of student of the game Barker is, but he could be like Ramsey at UGA who would have been our starter this year, except for the fact he wouldn't or couldn't learn the playbook, he was too busy enjoying the college experience if you get my drift. That might not be the case with Barker, but he has had some fun in college. No doubt Towles could have played better, but without Towles and his ability to throw a good deep pass UK would be 0-3, if his WR didn't let him down UK would be 3-0
Towles may not have been the sole reason for the struggles on offense but he had a huge part in it because he continues to hold onto the ball when a sack is eminent instead of throwing it away. I get that he can't do that every time as sometimes the pocket collapses quickly and there's nothing you can do but hug the ball and take the hit. But there were many times that he just held onto the ball and went down instead of throwing it away. Then there's the fact that his accuracy is terrible on most plays. Lots of balls either behind, too high or too far out in front of the receiver. He's great when he's on point but most times he's not.
Lots of things have to happen for this offense to be good. Receivers have to catch the ball when it hits them in the numbers. OL has to protect better. Swindle in particular was eaten alive by Florida. Towles needs to make an effort to get rid of the ball when a sack is coming. He also needs to get rid of the ball quicker in general as i could tell a huge difference in Florida's QB getting the ball out of his hands quickly vs Towles.
Last but not least, Dawson needs to call a better game. We looked like UK of old out there except for the Defense. Running the ball on 3rd and long isn't going to cut. That's old UK football right there. Playing scared and behind all game long. If this continues, the defense will wear out in a couple of games and we'll have a result much like last year. This offense has no identity.
Lots of things have to happen for this offense to be good. Receivers have to catch the ball when it hits them in the numbers. OL has to protect better. Swindle in particular was eaten alive by Florida. Towles needs to make an effort to get rid of the ball when a sack is coming. He also needs to get rid of the ball quicker in general as i could tell a huge difference in Florida's QB getting the ball out of his hands quickly vs Towles.
Last but not least, Dawson needs to call a better game. We looked like UK of old out there except for the Defense. Running the ball on 3rd and long isn't going to cut. That's old UK football right there. Playing scared and behind all game long. If this continues, the defense will wear out in a couple of games and we'll have a result much like last year. This offense has no identity.
Because tipped balls and dropped passes are the coach's fault, right? This team is leaps and bounds better than it was when Joker was here. If you can't see improvement, then I don't know what to tell you. All experts have repeatedly said that next year was the year when everything should align for the football team. Last year and this year, we have one of the toughest schedules in the country. Last year we were a missed delay of game at Florida from making a bowl when virtually everyone thought we would win 2 maybe 3 games. This year we are 2 and 1 with a road win against Spurrier. SC is down but Spurrier has always been kryptonite to UK.
You can doom and gloom all you want. I personally see a lot to be excited about. You would too if you were just a bit more reasonable.
Florida was missing starters vs ECU....throwing the ball becomes a lot tougher with VH on the field.
2-1 to start the season and yet some are questioning Stoops and saying it's time to earn your money? Is this fan base truly this ignorant? The train is on the right tracks, don't hold Stoops accountable for your ridiculous expectations. 2-1 is right where people should have hoped we'd be after looking at the schedule.
