Stat from ULL game: UK didn't have possession over 3 minutes

[Rhavicc]

Until the final drive of the game. Not hard to see why the defense was exhausted in the 4th quarter. If any of you were wondering why the defensive stats wore down so much late in the game (aside from not having multiple starters) there you have it. Not a single offensive possession of Kentucky's in the game, up until UK's final drive, lasted longer than 3 minutes.
Good news. Took us less than 3 minutes to score points on 6 different possessions. On the one possession that we had that lasted longer, involved a more physical run game, we scored a TD.

I dunno about some of you, but this is important to me for a number of reasons. Explains why Dawson said he would take some of the blame for the clock management, and not allowing our defense to get fresh. Glad he recognized that, and will adjust accordingly.

 

[Aces Fan]

I get that this is an issue but if a team is willing to give you a wide open TD down the field I think you have to take it. ULL was giving us huge yardage down the field and if teams are going to continue to do that I think it would be in our best interest to live with a 50+ yard TD.

 

[brianpoe]

Until the final drive of the game. Not hard to see why the defense was exhausted in the 4th quarter. If any of you were wondering why the defensive stats wore down so much late in the game (aside from not having multiple starters) there you have it. Not a single offensive possession of Kentucky's in the game, up until UK's final drive, lasted longer than 3 minutes.
Good news. Took us less than 3 minutes to score points on 6 different possessions. On the one possession that we had that lasted longer, involved a more physical run game, we scored a TD.

I dunno about some of you, but this is important to me for a number of reasons. Explains why Dawson said he would take some of the blame for the clock management, and not allowing our defense to get fresh. Glad he recognized that, and will adjust accordingly.

Wow, I had no idea, interesting find.

BP

 

[DACats86]

Explains why Dawson said he would take some of the blame for the clock management, and not allowing our defense to get fresh. Glad he recognized that, and will adjust accordingly.

I bet it was pointed out to him. Clearly...

 

[Rhavicc]

Does make a difference. Even when you're scoring, you're taking up about as much time as you are on a 3 and out. It can definitely take a toll on your defensive energy. I felt like the defensive woes were overblown because I felt like it was due to tired legs (explains the change between the first half and the 2nd). This only supports that. That's a long, long time for your defense to be on the field.

 

[Gary4UK]

That's not nothing against the offense.. Their job is to score and that's what they did... Regardless of what Stoops says, and wants, it's the defenses job to get off the field and give the ball back to the offense.... Stoops wants the offense to hide the deficiencies of the defense... You have to score points, when and any time you can get them, no matter how long it takes.. It would be stupid not to take the points they were giving you.... That's why that I say, our offense, including our tight end, and our running game, wasn't shown to USC.... When we had to drive and make sure of points, we done just that... Still, it's the defenses job, to get off the field, and keep their defense on the field.... I guess we'll have to use longer drives in Stoops opinion, and pass up chances to score quick, in order to hide our defense... Unless, our ends and line backers can pick it up...... When we were scoring fast, Stoops didn't seem to mind.... BTW, this is nothing bad against Stoops, but he was a DC and it's hard to change....

 

[southindycat]

I understand feeling that the defense has ultimate responsibility for getting off the field, but the point is they cannot be expected to that all night on short rest. They did get off the field in good order in the first half. Keep pushing them out there on short rest, and it really does become an offense problem, not a defense problem. These short possessions aren't even consistent with the state offensive philosophy and goal of running 80+ plays. It simply will not happen in this manner, and it needs to happen against better competition. Proving incapable of managing the clock better against the likes of ULL (a good, but not great team) is troubling.

 

[Gary4UK]

I see your point too.. With a 33-10 lead at half time, our offense should have ran the ball more in the second half and take down the clock some... Dawson said, that he just couldn't resist what they were giving him... Regardless how many times we went long in the first half, they were still loading the box in the second half... They were wanting us to pass to make the game longer, that was the only chance they had... They were gambling that we would miss the long passes.... In their position, I would have done the same thing....Still, there is a responsibility for the defense to go three and out.... We were up so far, that our guys thought the game was won.. We are young, or whatever, but the defense wasn't playing like they should... We have three deep, and there are no excuses for being worn out... Not with new guys coming in.... Regardless we won, but I can see why we should have went to the running game in the second half and eat the clock.....

 

[Rhavicc]

That's not nothing against the offense.. Their job is to score and that's what they did... Regardless of what Stoops says, and wants, it's the defenses job to get off the field and give the ball back to the offense.... Stoops wants the offense to hide the deficiencies of the defense... You have to score points, when and any time you can get them, no matter how long it takes.. It would be stupid not to take the points they were giving you.... That's why that I say, our offense, including our tight end, and our running game, wasn't shown to USC.... When we had to drive and make sure of points, we done just that... Still, it's the defenses job, to get off the field, and keep their defense on the field.... I guess we'll have to use longer drives in Stoops opinion, and pass up chances to score quick, in order to hide our defense... Unless, our ends and line backers can pick it up...... When we were scoring fast, Stoops didn't seem to mind.... BTW, this is nothing bad against Stoops, but he was a DC and it's hard to change....

Not an excuse as much as logic. When you get more and more reps, you get more and more tired.

 

[2bunnies]

The main issue other than a little short handed on D, is that our offense doesn't get those multiple 4-8yd runs to move the chains. I don't recall seeing too many short passes either. We played a very limited playbook, perhaps on purpose. Towles must be more accurate and lead his receiver to ball.

 

[Gary4UK]

With a 33-10 lead at half time, on a long run by Boom, and long passes down field.... I think we did hide some of our play book... I think that last drive of the game, we used some of the play book to make sure we win... Our offense were licking their chops the whole game.. Who wouldn't, with our receivers open almost on every play down field, as they were determined to keep the box full on us....

 

[kb22stang]

I understand the stat and the thought process, but the first half score was deceiving. We got some turnovers that helped keep the score down, but you can't really count on that most games. Our defense needs work and quickly if we're going to get six wins.

 

[Gary4UK]

I agree, that we got some timely turnovers, but all good teams get those... They're part of the game and UK practices taking the ball away every practice.... We were really good at take overs last year, and it looks like it's still going... TO's are a part of the defense, no matter what it looks like... If we can hold them down on offense and get them on defense, that is a great stat.... If Alabama gets a turnover after a team drives pretty well, you'll never hear about it, because it's called, great defense... At Kentucky, where a lot of us are skeptical, we call it good luck.....

 

[kb22stang]

Gary I get that, it's just hard to trust. I remember NFL analyst saying the same thing.