Didn't see it posted yet, sorry if it already was- http://kentuckysportsradio.com/football-2/me-and-the-state-of-the-program/
Good read by Freddie Maggard.
Good read by Freddie Maggard.
State of the Football Program
- Thread starter RR30
- Start date
I would think that Stoops would be thrilled to have an actual football guy covering them. Freddie would be fair and honest.
Freddie is great. Have immense respect for him. Always take his thoughts very seriously and often defer to what he has to say about things.
I think his optimism is well-justified.
I agree wholeheartedly with his assessments of the quarterback and cornerback positions. We will know very early how much improvement there has been. I think it's more likely that Towles makes a big leap under Dawson than it is that the cornerback play dramatically improves. I think there are questions at the corner spot.
I'm not sure I'm ready to yet call the linebacker position a strength. I do think Forrest has shown glimpses and Flannigan should improve, but in the SEC those players are but serviceable and not what I'd term big-time ballers, as of yet at least. He makes a great point about the insane depth that you have to go into the season with at the position. Helps explain why they would take another 'Jack' like Carnifax even with Bannerman already on board.
I think his optimism is well-justified.
I agree wholeheartedly with his assessments of the quarterback and cornerback positions. We will know very early how much improvement there has been. I think it's more likely that Towles makes a big leap under Dawson than it is that the cornerback play dramatically improves. I think there are questions at the corner spot.
I'm not sure I'm ready to yet call the linebacker position a strength. I do think Forrest has shown glimpses and Flannigan should improve, but in the SEC those players are but serviceable and not what I'd term big-time ballers, as of yet at least. He makes a great point about the insane depth that you have to go into the season with at the position. Helps explain why they would take another 'Jack' like Carnifax even with Bannerman already on board.
I agree with the article about QB position, but not sure about LB being a strength. I just don't know if Towles has the mental part of being a big time college QB. We all know he has the athletic skills, but I want someone who doesn't make dumb mistakes and someone who can make good decisions and lead a team. The jury is out on that.....
As others have mentioned, I think the coaching changes on defense should at least help improve the defense some.
I agree with Freddie that UK is still young and not a legit SEC team yet. I think it will take two more years of recruiting, especially on defense.
Saying that, I think Stoops has got to get 6 wins this season and he should.
As others have mentioned, I think the coaching changes on defense should at least help improve the defense some.
I agree with Freddie that UK is still young and not a legit SEC team yet. I think it will take two more years of recruiting, especially on defense.
Saying that, I think Stoops has got to get 6 wins this season and he should.
I think most real football fans and minds agree with Freddie that this program is another season away from arriving. I have felt 2017 was really the season KY could make a legit run to Atlanta if things fell into the right place. Stoops will have all of his guys in place with several years of development under them along with quality depth across the roster.
That said, as I have said time and time again (fair or not) rival recruiters will tear this staff apart if they do not make a bowl game this season which is the main reason they have to win 6 games. There will be a portion of the fanbase that will jump off the bandwagon, but we have to keep the recruits we have and get a few more quality guys to come on board to keep this bus moving.
QB is always the most important position and KY is in a good spot compared to most teams in the SEC. Pat is not perfect but he is good enough to win a lot of games. Barker is a quality backup if needed. Secondary is easily the biggest ? on this team and has to show substantial improvement this season.
That said, as I have said time and time again (fair or not) rival recruiters will tear this staff apart if they do not make a bowl game this season which is the main reason they have to win 6 games. There will be a portion of the fanbase that will jump off the bandwagon, but we have to keep the recruits we have and get a few more quality guys to come on board to keep this bus moving.
QB is always the most important position and KY is in a good spot compared to most teams in the SEC. Pat is not perfect but he is good enough to win a lot of games. Barker is a quality backup if needed. Secondary is easily the biggest ? on this team and has to show substantial improvement this season.
Not a big KSR fan but, based on that article, I like Maggard's humble and honest style and look forward to more of his commentary and analysis. I find his self-description a breath of fresh air compared to most football pundits. His candor reminds me a bit of my all time favorite UK "talking head", Jeff Van Note, a guy who always called it like he saw it. All in all, I think that was a good take on the 2016 season (i.e., the QB play and DB play likely making the difference between a 5-7 year and a 7-5 year). But, like JRowland, I'm not yet ready to call LB a "position of strength".
Peace
Peace
Last edited:
I'm so happy that Freddy Maggard has joined the KSR staff. Matt Jones is very entertaining but the football talk has been slim with the exception of Couch and Lorenzen making guest apperances. I agree with Freddy's assesment that the 2015 class will wind up being the best of the Stoops era so far. Of course 2016 could shatter that, but once you turn on the film the 2015 guys will surprise the heck outta you.
I agree that Towels has to improve, but his improvement will be dependent on how much the o-line improves. If the o-line can keep the heat off Towles, I look for the air raid offense under Shannon Dawson to put up some huge numbers. Keep in mind that Dawson is going to make teams honor the entire field, most notibly the deep ball. That was probably my biggest beef with Neil Brown was his tendency to have the QB's check down and take what the D gives you. I agree with that but in today's game you gotta throw the deep ball at least 8-10 times a game. Keep the box open for the running game and if the o-line improves as much as I think they have, Boom, Kemp, and Horton are gonna run for some yards. The entire 2016 offensive production will depend on UK's offensive line being serviceable in SEC play, which I think they will barring massive injuries.
On defense the corner situation is what it is. However don't write off some of those tall incoming freshmen to be able to contribute in spots. The thing I worry about with UK's defense is the abilty to stop the run and get a decent pass rush. In league play, the pass rush was non existent and teams ran the ball at will. That has to change in order for UK to make strides in SEC play. SEC teams seperate themselves with the ability to stop the run and put heat on opposing QB's. That is what Stoops wants UK to become, and thats the direction I think we're on. Watch some replays from last year. You'll notice many times that when UK get's beat it's often from a lack of talent. Time after time, Stoops and Elliot will have defenders in the position that they need to be in, only to see them miss tackles or have a reciever go up and catch a pass over them.
Talent changes things folks and Stoops and Marrow are filling the talent void. I'm not saying this is the year that UK makes a move to Atlanta (I think UThug is going to be unreal), but I feel very confident when I tell my fellow BBN to pack their bags cause we're going bowlin' this year.
I agree that Towels has to improve, but his improvement will be dependent on how much the o-line improves. If the o-line can keep the heat off Towles, I look for the air raid offense under Shannon Dawson to put up some huge numbers. Keep in mind that Dawson is going to make teams honor the entire field, most notibly the deep ball. That was probably my biggest beef with Neil Brown was his tendency to have the QB's check down and take what the D gives you. I agree with that but in today's game you gotta throw the deep ball at least 8-10 times a game. Keep the box open for the running game and if the o-line improves as much as I think they have, Boom, Kemp, and Horton are gonna run for some yards. The entire 2016 offensive production will depend on UK's offensive line being serviceable in SEC play, which I think they will barring massive injuries.
On defense the corner situation is what it is. However don't write off some of those tall incoming freshmen to be able to contribute in spots. The thing I worry about with UK's defense is the abilty to stop the run and get a decent pass rush. In league play, the pass rush was non existent and teams ran the ball at will. That has to change in order for UK to make strides in SEC play. SEC teams seperate themselves with the ability to stop the run and put heat on opposing QB's. That is what Stoops wants UK to become, and thats the direction I think we're on. Watch some replays from last year. You'll notice many times that when UK get's beat it's often from a lack of talent. Time after time, Stoops and Elliot will have defenders in the position that they need to be in, only to see them miss tackles or have a reciever go up and catch a pass over them.
Talent changes things folks and Stoops and Marrow are filling the talent void. I'm not saying this is the year that UK makes a move to Atlanta (I think UThug is going to be unreal), but I feel very confident when I tell my fellow BBN to pack their bags cause we're going bowlin' this year.
Don't forget, in between the questionable seniors and the tall talented freshmen we have some pretty good players, namely McClain & Randolph, but Tucker could be a good one too and Hytchye could contribute somewhere at least situationally. Maggard seem to skip over these guys.
Good read.
Glad to see FM joined KSR. Now if we could somehow get him on the "countdown to kickoff" show
Glad to see FM joined KSR. Now if we could somehow get him on the "countdown to kickoff" show
There is no way that is reality...the class 2 years ago with Bone, Dorian Baker, Barker, Elam, Denzil Ware, Garret Johnson, Boom Williams, Frios, Nick Richardson, Krok, Larubio, Stallings, West, Edwards, etc.. That class could generate our future QB, best RB today on the team, best 2 WR today are in that class, starting CB/Safety, best NT potentially, best pass rush DE and maybe 3-4 starting OL from that class.
This last class was a downer...Conrad looks likke a stud at TE we've missed for a while, there are probably some good LBer spots that will fill out our 3/4 scheme and the saving piece of it may be if the OL kids are truly under the radar and take 3-4 OL spots down the road....but the most of the class isn't likely at all to out perform the 2013 class on any level
How could Towles and Neil Brown have thrown more long balls last season when our O-Line couldn't block anything and give our receivers time to complete their routes?
You act as if Neil Brown and Towles were CHOOSING to make mostly short throws.
You can expect the same short field game this season if our O-Line still cannot block anything.
JR, what do you think the TE position will do this year? Its one position that in the past if we had success there we seem to have a successful season.
You forget gaa
i would tend to agree with you but that is maggards opinion and he does this stuff for a living. he has been pretty spot on about talent in the past and has a good eye for talent on tape. i've heard him say he thought '14 was slightly overrated and '15was slightly underrated. like i said, i agree with you with the caveat that if provitt and gosier make grades then this class is gonna surprise people. i think provitt and gosier were underrated because of the concern about grades.
we got 3 cb's in this class that the staff really likes. we had a shot at a 4* kid or the 3* we got and our coaches chose to take the 3* and all 3 of these cb's are gonna compete for snaps as freshmen. ga is the best olineman stoops has got since he's been here and logan stenberg was said to be the best olineman in an allstar game last fall. eli brown and jordan jones will probably grade out comparable to firios and hendrix. conrad as you said... stud. i love ware but i think kengera is gonna be a beast here... bama tried to get him to commit and not take anymore visits when they saw him in person. boom and horton are definitely studs but king is gonna surprise a lot of people. cj johnson was rated higher that miggins but i'ver heard a lot of people say they think miggins is the better "football" player. walker is probably the best safety stoops has recruited. wr height and speed and skill... could very well make that group better than '14
i would tend to agree with you but that is maggards opinion and he does this stuff for a living. he has been pretty spot on about talent in the past and has a good eye for talent on tape. i've heard him say he thought '14 was slightly overrated and '15was slightly underrated. like i said, i agree with you with the caveat that if provitt and gosier make grades then this class is gonna surprise people. i think provitt and gosier were underrated because of the concern about grades.
we got 3 cb's in this class that the staff really likes. we had a shot at a 4* kid or the 3* we got and our coaches chose to take the 3* and all 3 of these cb's are gonna compete for snaps as freshmen. ga is the best olineman stoops has got since he's been here and logan stenberg was said to be the best olineman in an allstar game last fall. eli brown and jordan jones will probably grade out comparable to firios and hendrix. conrad as you said... stud. i love ware but i think kengera is gonna be a beast here... bama tried to get him to commit and not take anymore visits when they saw him in person. boom and horton are definitely studs but king is gonna surprise a lot of people. cj johnson was rated higher that miggins but i'ver heard a lot of people say they think miggins is the better "football" player. walker is probably the best safety stoops has recruited. wr height and speed and skill... could very well make that group better than '14
I would temper expectations on the whole. I do think Conrad will be the best receiving threat Kentucky has had at tight end in the Mark Stoops era even as a true freshman. But what you get in pass catching you're probably going to give some in blocking and the details because he's still a true freshman in the SEC. I think there's a decent chance he really adds a new dimension to the pass game over the course of his true freshman year, but it's going to depend on the chemistry with Towles. And a lot of that has to do with Towles becoming comfortable going to someone other than option 1 or 2.
