A requiem for Saturday night in bullet form...
1. The offense played well for the most part. Kentucky had 352 yards of total offense which is nearly their season average of 363 yards. Only two teams (Georgia with Nick Chubb being one) have reached their season average against Vandy's defense.
2. The defense locked up Vandy's terrible offense to the tune of 8 yards/possession. What was missing was forcing a turnover or two, but even after the defense sold out against the run, and ran man coverage on the outside, they never got beat save a trick play.
4. I don't mind calling timeout on the punt. You still got two more timeouts. I also don't mind NOT calling timeout during the FG and taking the delay of game. Austin has proved himself and 5 more yards HISTORICALLY wouldn't have made the difference. Besides, you gotta save those two timeouts to get back into FG position. Not sure why the SEC Network analyst was having a conniption. Presumably it's because he's not as familiar with Austin as we are.
5. I do have a problem on the 4th down attempts (Stoops has admitted his failings on those calls, I believe). The advanced stats have made clear that UK is one of the worst teams in the country on standard downs in the country this season (of which 4th-and-short applies) facing a good defense.
First, take the FG at the goal-line, and make it 6-0 early. Trust your defense! I mean, Vandy has to score a TD which their offense can't do. Second, punt at midfield and play field position. Again, trust your defense!
I get that hindsight is 20/20 but damn.
1. The offense played well for the most part. Kentucky had 352 yards of total offense which is nearly their season average of 363 yards. Only two teams (Georgia with Nick Chubb being one) have reached their season average against Vandy's defense.
a. The offensive line played fairly well considering their season and their competition. Clean pocket for a lot of the game. Too many tackles for loss, but adjust expectations for this unit etc etc
b. Towles and Barker should play against Charlotte. I want Towles to get back some confidence, and I want Barker to get experience. Their playing time will require balance because you don't want it to disrupt the flow of the team. It'll be a somewhat of a high-wire act, but the game *shouldn't* ever be in doubt.
c. Jojo Kemp has averaged 5.1 yds/carry the last two games. Kemp, Horton, and Boom are all good. Just gotta get Boom to move North-South more, and less Barry Sanders East-West
d. Speaking of which, Dorian Baker on those tunnel screens needs to turn it North. He's trying to do too much and make the big play. Head East-West for the first defender, but then you gotta move North-South. It's fine to try and create here-and-there, but that puts players in bad habits for 3rd-and-7 when one or two yards actually really matter.
e. Too many WR drops again. You could feel Towles' confidence drop as the game progressed. Money throws on the first two drives dissipated as the game went on.
b. Towles and Barker should play against Charlotte. I want Towles to get back some confidence, and I want Barker to get experience. Their playing time will require balance because you don't want it to disrupt the flow of the team. It'll be a somewhat of a high-wire act, but the game *shouldn't* ever be in doubt.
c. Jojo Kemp has averaged 5.1 yds/carry the last two games. Kemp, Horton, and Boom are all good. Just gotta get Boom to move North-South more, and less Barry Sanders East-West
d. Speaking of which, Dorian Baker on those tunnel screens needs to turn it North. He's trying to do too much and make the big play. Head East-West for the first defender, but then you gotta move North-South. It's fine to try and create here-and-there, but that puts players in bad habits for 3rd-and-7 when one or two yards actually really matter.
e. Too many WR drops again. You could feel Towles' confidence drop as the game progressed. Money throws on the first two drives dissipated as the game went on.
2. The defense locked up Vandy's terrible offense to the tune of 8 yards/possession. What was missing was forcing a turnover or two, but even after the defense sold out against the run, and ran man coverage on the outside, they never got beat save a trick play.
a. AJ Stamps has had two good games in a row. Responding the right way to Mike Edwards getting playing time.
b. CJ Johnson is the only player on the DL (I'm including OLB) who creates havoc in the backfield (hurries, sacks, TFL).
c. Khalid Henderson is also playing well, and I'm still confused why he lost playing time to Flannigan after he came off injury. It wouldn't have matter for game outcomes but I would have stayed with the hot hand as the starter.
d. We're already seeing the back-ups start to seize more playing time. It's a pattern the last two years, but typically this hasn't happened until the last game of the season. Stoops has started early at most positions.
3. What if I told you before the game that: UK would be in the red zone on three occasions (for the season UK scores in RZ on 82% this season - 56% TD and 26% FG) in first half alone, would limit Vandy to 8.1 yards/possession, and be -1 in TO margin? What if I went even further and said Vandy's only true offensive touchdown would be on trick play? If you are anything like me, then you would have figured UK won by 7-17 points, and not that 3 RZ trips in first half resulted in only 3 points, regardless of a trick play.b. CJ Johnson is the only player on the DL (I'm including OLB) who creates havoc in the backfield (hurries, sacks, TFL).
c. Khalid Henderson is also playing well, and I'm still confused why he lost playing time to Flannigan after he came off injury. It wouldn't have matter for game outcomes but I would have stayed with the hot hand as the starter.
d. We're already seeing the back-ups start to seize more playing time. It's a pattern the last two years, but typically this hasn't happened until the last game of the season. Stoops has started early at most positions.
4. I don't mind calling timeout on the punt. You still got two more timeouts. I also don't mind NOT calling timeout during the FG and taking the delay of game. Austin has proved himself and 5 more yards HISTORICALLY wouldn't have made the difference. Besides, you gotta save those two timeouts to get back into FG position. Not sure why the SEC Network analyst was having a conniption. Presumably it's because he's not as familiar with Austin as we are.
5. I do have a problem on the 4th down attempts (Stoops has admitted his failings on those calls, I believe). The advanced stats have made clear that UK is one of the worst teams in the country on standard downs in the country this season (of which 4th-and-short applies) facing a good defense.
First, take the FG at the goal-line, and make it 6-0 early. Trust your defense! I mean, Vandy has to score a TD which their offense can't do. Second, punt at midfield and play field position. Again, trust your defense!
I get that hindsight is 20/20 but damn.
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