Roughly 6 weeks until spring practice opens - top priorities?

[gamecockcat]

3rd week of March is what I've seen for spring ball.

1. Fix the OL - if we're as bad (or worse) than last 2 years, almost nothing else matters re: offensive production. Have to be at least decent and not require 6-7 guys blocking 4 defenders in order to pass the ball.
2. Be more aggressive on defense when necessary - our default has been, for several years, to almost always play to prevent big plays. Last year, we still gave up plenty of big plays and had a devil of a time getting off the field on 3rd down. I'd be all for playing a bit more 4 DL and coach them to disrupt rather than occupy blockers. But, regardless, being too passive allows QBs too much time to throw, easy pitch and catch for gimme first downs, significant yardage on 1st down, opening most games in vanilla base defense that either allows points or pins the offense deep in our own territory.
3. Find a rhythm on offense - too many games where the offense's plays looked like they were picked at random with no overarching strategy.
4. Eliminate the stupid and costly brain farts - both sides of the ball, but more so on the offense who continually shot themselves in the foot

 

[TuckyFB]

1. Offensive Line
2. Pass Rush
3. QB Play

I think all 3 will be improved. I like our *projected* starting OL (Pete, Farmer, Wibberley, Braun and Wollschlaeger) and our pass rush looks to be improved with the additions of Grace and Olds. Calzada should be a upgrade over BVG.

 

[billoliver40]

Get the offensive line fixed.

Adopt an aggressive defense and junk the bend don't break system until you find a way to quit breaking.

More discipline. More discipline. More discipline.

I guess that's 5 things.

 

[K_TIME]

Great post and agreed on all counts

I think the most not talked about but is a concern is the defense being more disruptive yet disciplined and your point about occupying blockers is so accurate

On passing downs…..we simply have to be way better at being in backfield and forcing our will. Unless these transfers are ass kickers….im struggling to see it

 

[BigTyrone]

1. Not sucking

 

[bigblueinsanity]

OL and DL. Thats an evergreen approach to winning and proves itself time and again.

On the DL that means getting a jack. Fearbry had every opportunity to be good just never followed through. In fact he missed a few sacks that ended breaking the back of our season.

That ties into our perceived lack of aggression. I say perceived because we are certainly aggressive. We blitz dbs more than anyone in the country and they get home. We play very aggressive run defense and complex zones.

The difference of late is the lack of DL pass rush. That makes it harder to pressure the qb and finish sacks. So us not getting there makes fans think we aren't aggressive. However not getting there isnt for lack of schematic effort, its just personnel.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Get all our new OL on the same page since they will be starting. This should be our biggest and most talented OL we have had in quite some time. Pass protecting and road grading should be the best we have seen in a long time. They all can do both well.

Get the new QB all the reps you can with all the new WR's. Now a lot of experience at these positions so getting them on the same page should come quicker than having to bring a lot of freshmen along the first year.

 

[K_TIME]

OL and DL. Thats an evergreen approach to winning and proves itself time and again.

On the DL that means getting a jack. Fearbry had every opportunity to be good just never followed through. In fact he missed a few sacks that ended breaking the back of our season.

That ties into our perceived lack of aggression. I say perceived because we are certainly aggressive. We blitz dbs more than anyone in the country and they get home. We play very aggressive run defense and complex zones.

The difference of late is the lack of DL pass rush. That makes it harder to pressure the qb and finish sacks. So us not getting there makes fans think we aren't aggressive. However not getting there isnt for lack of schematic effort, its just personnel.

This is a good debate and hard to get into details.

- I agree we tend to bring blitzes in our base 3-4 look
- But here is my major schematic issue with Stoops/White defense up front. Our DLine tend to stand up and hand fight quite bit vs. getting low, exploding/attacking gaps between Oline, our edge rushers tend to play high vs. low and bending the corner to get to QB, etc... Now maybe that is talent but just feels like we teach/coach not a very aggressive scheme from our front 7 IMO.

 

[gamecockcat]

^Exactly. Too many times I've watched our DL hold their position while the QB scans the field for open receivers. Or, hold their position while the ball carrier scoots into a crack and picks up 5+ yards. Every so often, a DL should shoot a gap or attempt to penetrate into the backfield instead of hand fighting to maintain their position along the LOS. On paper, we have had some pretty highly regarded DL the past few years but we look like we're teaching very passive techniques. Paschal was very disruptive. Deone, prior to his back issues, was disruptive at times. But not many others in a long line of DL. They seem satisfied to just keep their blocker occupied.

 

[K_TIME]

Go to the 4:32 mark....Deonne did this all year long....just stands up and chicken fights with Oline and if the QB is in his vicinity, he'd explode but otherwise he occupying a blocker/gap. And vs. scrambling QBs...I get lane integrity...but Quinn Ewers and guys like him are not a threat with their legs.

This kind of stuff goes on year after year at UK. Walker, Silver, Saunders, etc... Rybka was not as bad but those interior guys many snaps...they never get pad level low and exert to penetrate gaps and disrupt plays. This is what I argue is our non aggressive defensive nature.

 

[TuckyFB]

Go to the 4:32 mark....Deonne did this all year long....just stands up and chicken fights with Oline and if the QB is in his vicinity, he'd explode but otherwise he occupying a blocker/gap. And vs. scrambling QBs...I get lane integrity...but Quinn Ewers and guys like him are not a threat with their legs.

This kind of stuff goes on year after year at UK. Walker, Silver, Saunders, etc... Rybka was not as bad but those interior guys many snaps...they never get pad level low and exert to penetrate gaps and disrupt plays. This is what I argue is our non aggressive defensive nature.

View embedded media

Walker had a back injury this past season and played through it. Scouts were raving about him at the Senior Bowl a couple of weeks ago.