THE Problems...

[sluggercatfan]

We have given up 25 sacks on the season.
I think we are last in the country in plays per game.
In conference so far we are averaging 16.5 ppg!
We have a qb some are saying that could be the #1 player drafted along with possibly the best TEs and wrs that have ever played at UK.
We have one of the 2/3 backs in the conference and one of best ever to wear the B/W. So what gives?
I sat in the stadium on Saturday night with UK having scored SEVEN pts in 2 and a half quarters with the ball and less than 9 minutes to go in the 3rd qtr down 10. What are we doing? We are taking 30 seconds off the play clock to run a play that has ZERO sense of urgency to it! You would have thought we were the team up 10.
Folks this team has serious problems with the coaches that run this team, not the players.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Good lord

 

[Kybluedude]

We have given up 25 sacks on the season.
I think we are last in the country in plays per game.
In conference so far we are averaging 16.5 ppg!
We have a qb some are saying that could be the #1 player drafted along with possibly the best TEs and wrs that have ever played at UK.
We have one of the 2/3 backs in the conference and one of best ever to wear the B/W. So what gives?
I sat in the stadium on Saturday night with UK having scored SEVEN pts in 2 and a half quarters with the ball with less than 9 minutes to in the 3rd qtr down 10. What are we doing? We are taking 30 seconds of the play clock to run a play that has ZERO sense of urgency to it! You would have thought we were the team up 10.
Folks this team has serious problems with the coaches that run this team, not the players.

You can’t judge the offense off last Sat. Fr qb taking his first snaps. I know you know that right?

 

[catben]

We have given up 25 sacks on the season.
I think we are last in the country in plays per game.
In conference so far we are averaging 16.5 ppg!
We have a qb some are saying that could be the #1 player drafted along with possibly the best TEs and wrs that have ever played at UK.
We have one of the 2/3 backs in the conference and one of best ever to wear the B/W. So what gives?
I sat in the stadium on Saturday night with UK having scored SEVEN pts in 2 and a half quarters with the ball and less than 9 minutes to go in the 3rd qtr down 10. What are we doing? We are taking 30 seconds off the play clock to run a play that has ZERO sense of urgency to it! You would have thought we were the team up 10.
Folks this team has serious problems with the coaches that run this team, not the players.

AMEN!!!

The OC and O-Line philosophy has been a real disappointment. To have the talent we do, it shouldn’t be this difficult to score. It KILLS me seeing Will breaking the huddle with 12 seconds or less on the play clock then the opposing defense shows a different look and we have NO TIME to adjust. Many of the sacks have come from not changing the play or Will not checking down to his outlet quick enough or even taking off running like last year.

What are we trying to accomplish???!!!!!

 

[ala_kat2]

It seems like the OC and O-line coaches are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Adjustments need to be made.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

We have given up 25 sacks on the season.
I think we are last in the country in plays per game.
In conference so far we are averaging 16.5 ppg!
We have a qb some are saying that could be the #1 player drafted along with possibly the best TEs and wrs that have ever played at UK.
We have one of the 2/3 backs in the conference and one of best ever to wear the B/W. So what gives?
I sat in the stadium on Saturday night with UK having scored SEVEN pts in 2 and a half quarters with the ball and less than 9 minutes to go in the 3rd qtr down 10. What are we doing? We are taking 30 seconds off the play clock to run a play that has ZERO sense of urgency to it! You would have thought we were the team up 10.
Folks this team has serious problems with the coaches that run this team, not the players.

You're partially right. Our OL coach is an absolute failure. We need to move on. Everything is predicated on line play and we're bad at it but it isn't the players.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

With a QB, RB and receivers like we have I would want all the snaps I could get. Still holding back the passing game because of 'philosophy.'

 

[WyleECoyote]

With a QB, RB and receivers like we have I would want all the snaps I could get. Still holding back the passing game because of 'philosophy.'

I'm sure Stoops would love the offense to get more snaps, but because the sustain drives and stop having the 3 and outs, not because they play a hurry up.

 

[Bilrus61]

Hallelujah!

 

[entropy13]

We have given up 25 sacks on the season.
I think we are last in the country in plays per game.
In conference so far we are averaging 16.5 ppg!
We have a qb some are saying that could be the #1 player drafted along with possibly the best TEs and wrs that have ever played at UK.
We have one of the 2/3 backs in the conference and one of best ever to wear the B/W. So what gives?
I sat in the stadium on Saturday night with UK having scored SEVEN pts in 2 and a half quarters with the ball and less than 9 minutes to go in the 3rd qtr down 10. What are we doing? We are taking 30 seconds off the play clock to run a play that has ZERO sense of urgency to it! You would have thought we were the team up 10.
Folks this team has serious problems with the coaches that run this team, not the players.

I think you make several valid points. I'm very curious to see how the team looks this Saturday against a very good Mississippi State team. 16.5 ppg in the SEC isn't a recipe for success. The lack of urgency/slow tempo when two scores down at home to an inferior team was maddening.

To add to what you wrote, our placekicking and long-snapping are also serious concerns. We have what, three scholarship kickers (Ruffalo, Poore, and I think Smith (highly regarded freshman from in-state, I think that's his name)). Ruffalo has a terrible case of the yips, and while Poore does well on kickoffs, he didn't seem reliable when kicking FGs a few seasons ago. Is it time to give Poore another shot at FGs and XPs? Should Smith get a chance? Regarding the long snapper, not sure what can be done there.

I understand that while we don't have someone called a "Special Teams Coach," there is a designated person on the staff who handles that, probably an "analyst" position. My question is, does this person have the same level of authority overseeing special teams as an actual coach? Is the same amount of practice time dedicated to special teams as would be if there were a designated ST coach? Does this person have a comparable level of experience and expertise as would an actual ST coach?

 

[ManitouDan]

AMEN!!!

The OC and O-Line philosophy has been a real disappointment. To have the talent we do, it shouldn’t be this difficult to score. It KILLS me seeing Will breaking the huddle with 12 seconds or less on the play clock then the opposing defense shows a different look and we have NO TIME to adjust. Many of the sacks have come from not changing the play or Will not checking down to his outlet quick enough or even taking off running like last year.

What are we trying to accomplish???!!!!!

Yeah there was a play at Ole miss where Will was clapping his hands furiously for several seconds begging for the snap .. you know play like that is doomed before it ever starts , and sure enough it got stuffed for a 3-4 yard lose on a draw type play .

 

[Freetaxreturn]

AMEN!!!

The OC and O-Line philosophy has been a real disappointment. To have the talent we do, it shouldn’t be this difficult to score. It KILLS me seeing Will breaking the huddle with 12 seconds or less on the play clock then the opposing defense shows a different look and we have NO TIME to adjust. Many of the sacks have come from not changing the play or Will not checking down to his outlet quick enough or even taking off running like last year.

What are we trying to accomplish???!!!!!

It’s that big 10 style CB 🍺

 

[LukaszObrzut]

I do not recall too many times this year where the pass rush has been avoided by the QB?
Imagine if the QB could recognize the pass rush and move along with it? or perhaps just get back to the LOS

 

[sluggercatfan]

You can’t judge the offense off last Sat. Fr qb taking his first snaps. I know you know that right?

Yes...we are averaging 16.5 in first two conference games. This is not an over night thing

 

[UKat1]

I do not recall too many times this year where the pass rush has been avoided by the QB?
Imagine if the QB could recognize the pass rush and move along with it? or perhaps just get back to the LOS

Or just toss the ball into the stands........it's maddening

 

[sluggercatfan]

I'm sure Stoops would love the offense to get more snaps, but because the sustain drives and stop having the 3 and outs, not because they play a hurry up.

Then try running an offense that moves the chains...feed the studs. You don't have to play a hurry up, but there's no way you should be playing like you're 20 pts ahead all the time. Act like scoring points matters!!!

 

[Bluegrass79]

🛑NEWS FLASH:.
TOP 100 PLAYER and one of the very top offensive lineman's been standing on the sidelines all season long.
Offensive lineman Football player, Kiyaunta Goodwin.💪💪💪

I don't know about you but if I'm getting my ass kicked on the offensive line I'm putting that guy in there no matter what. 💯 Would have been playing on day one on my freaking team. 💯 Would have got him ready in the off-season and he would have been ready to go buddy.
🛑Indictmenton the coaching staff. indictment on the offensive lineman coach.🛑

✍️You're guilty of being an idiots. Play the best recruit that you had in the entire class. You Play the freaking receivers a freshman but you can't play the offensive lineman that we need?😮‍💨
Your stupid azzes better figure it out real quick before you find another job.✌️



PLAY KIYAUNTA GOODWIN.💯
😵‍💫azzhats , do you really think Alabama would be sitting on a five-star offensive lineman or Tennessee or Florida or any of the other SEC teams? If they were giving up sack after sack after that? Do you really think that???

 

[FanofUK]

I mean they did say there were things they were doing well in the offseason but a lot they struggled at.
And Scan said it would take some time.
I have a feeling it will click one game and we will see why we hired our OC. PLEASE Lord let it be against TN.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Stoops was asked about Goodwin the other night. Don't remember his exact words but basically said that he needs to get better on his assignments and get quicker off the ball. There is one SEC team I think that was starting two very high rated OL just out of high school. If they are good enough it can be done. Stoops pointed out some wrongs on the LG and LT the other night in the last game. So the right side seemed to be the biggest issue last game on the OL. All the good TE's we have and only a couple usually catches a pass or two per game, I would like to see the short passing game utilized a lot more to open up the deep throws and the running game. That is our strength in terms of having so many top TE and WR's on the team. We still seem to think that CR can do most of it himself and to me it is a case of trying not to lose instead of trying to win. Scared to open it up in fear of interceptions or getting behind the sticks. With the QB and receivers we have I wouldn't worry about it because you speed up your offense to run more plays that kind of talent will hit a lot more big plays.

 

[Bluegrass79]

Kentucky will get to throw that damn ball against Mississippi State. Last couple games we couldn't.

I expect the receivers to have big games.
There's going to be alot of throws made in that game Saturday. By both teams.


I love Mike leech. I hope he takes over for Stoops if he ever leaves. My favorite coach in football.
He's like the John Daly of golf. He does things his way and he don't give a crap what you think.. if you ask him to talk you're going to get something good. Lololol

 

[EliteBlue]

I do not recall too many times this year where the pass rush has been avoided by the QB?
Imagine if the QB could recognize the pass rush and move along with it? or perhaps just get back to the LOS

Yet the same QB didn’t have an issue with it last year. Wild…. What changed? The play calling and OLine Scheme.

You guys attempting to blame the atrocious sack number on a proven QB are mind blowing. Sure, he could have avoided a handful. Maybe 1.5 a game (around 7 total being v generous). Our OLine has five up 25 and is bottom 5 on the country….that isn’t on the veteran QB who has a year evidence that it wasn’t a previously existing problem. He was actually v good at avoiding the rush and extending the play last season.

1) Our o-line is bad whether that is new scheme or personal

2) we run less quick outs and RB pass plays this year and more 1st and 2nd read long developing plays looking for chunk yards

3) Will gained weight in the off season. They were hyping how crazy his gym numbers were and “he’s even stronger”, I personally think he has lost a step and isn’t as quick getting to the edge and beating the past rush as he was last year. We haven’t seen him outrun a DL all year

3b) the above could also be the new OC emphasizing staying in the pocket and eyes downfield for NFL development instead on quick to scramble and leave the pocket. Watch Kurt Warner - American Underdog; his college coach forced him to do the same before he ever got playing time and he initially took a ton of unnecessary hits bc it wasn’t natural to him

 

[jwphelps]

We have given up 25 sacks on the season.
I think we are last in the country in plays per game.
In conference so far we are averaging 16.5 ppg!
We have a qb some are saying that could be the #1 player drafted along with possibly the best TEs and wrs that have ever played at UK.
We have one of the 2/3 backs in the conference and one of best ever to wear the B/W. So what gives?
I sat in the stadium on Saturday night with UK having scored SEVEN pts in 2 and a half quarters with the ball and less than 9 minutes to go in the 3rd qtr down 10. What are we doing? We are taking 30 seconds off the play clock to run a play that has ZERO sense of urgency to it! You would have thought we were the team up 10.
Folks this team has serious problems with the coaches that run this team, not the players.

Well you answered part of your question, 25 sacks some of those to a MAC team, our O line is not that good.

 

[ukalum1988]

Kentucky will get to throw that damn ball against Mississippi State. Last couple games we couldn't.

I expect the receivers to have big games.
There's going to be alot of throws made in that game Saturday. By both teams.


I love Mike leech. I hope he takes over for Stoops if he ever leaves. My favorite coach in football.
He's like the John Daly of golf. He does things his way and he don't give a crap what you think.. if you ask him to talk you're going to get something good. Lololol

I just hope our OL can protect Levis. Also, I hope Levis will get better at throwing the ball away rather than playing hero ball and losing 12-15 yards on a needless sack.

I'm not a fan of Leach personally, but he's doing better than I thought he would at State.

 

[LukaszObrzut]

Yet the same QB didn’t have an issue with it last year. Wild…. What changed? The play calling and OLine Scheme.

You guys attempting to blame the atrocious sack number on a proven QB are mind blowing. Sure, he could have avoided a handful. Maybe 1.5 a game (around 7 total being v generous). Our OLine has five up 25 and is bottom 5 on the country….that isn’t on the veteran QB who has a year evidence that it wasn’t a previously existing problem. He was actually v good at avoiding the rush and extending the play last season.

1) Our o-line is bad whether that is new scheme or personal

2) we run less quick outs and RB pass plays this year and more 1st and 2nd read long developing plays looking for chunk yards

3) Will gained weight in the off season. They were hyping how crazy his gym numbers were and “he’s even stronger”, I personally think he has lost a step and isn’t as quick getting to the edge and beating the past rush as he was last year. We haven’t seen him outrun a DL all year

3b) the above could also be the new OC emphasizing staying in the pocket and eyes downfield for NFL development instead on quick to scramble and leave the pocket. Watch Kurt Warner - American Underdog; his college coach forced him to do the same before he ever got playing time and he initially took a ton of unnecessary hits bc it wasn’t natural to him

Eh sure- the eye test tells me he's had several plays this year where the read may not be there and he's waiting too long to run with it or get outside the pocket

I think the Ole Miss fumble was a great example.

Levis has a big arm but rarely has he got outside the rush to make a play- call it a scheme all you want- yea the OL isn't as good- but is he only effective if he has a top line in the country? If so, what makes his play special? IDK- id like to think his athletic ability could've got him out of more trouble than it has/

 

[LukaszObrzut]

Levis has had one game with a rush of over 7 yards this year.
in 2021 he averaged 6 on every attempt and ALL but one game (Ms St) he was able to have at least one attempt over 7 yards and in many cases a rush that netted over 10-20

It seemed a majority of those were game changing plays as well/

 

[sluggercatfan]

🛑NEWS FLASH:.
TOP 100 PLAYER and one of the very top offensive lineman's been standing on the sidelines all season long.
Offensive lineman Football player, Kiyaunta Goodwin.💪💪💪

I don't know about you but if I'm getting my ass kicked on the offensive line I'm putting that guy in there no matter what. 💯 Would have been playing on day one on my freaking team. 💯 Would have got him ready in the off-season and he would have been ready to go buddy.
🛑Indictmenton the coaching staff. indictment on the offensive lineman coach.🛑

✍️You're guilty of being an idiots. Play the best recruit that you had in the entire class. You Play the freaking receivers a freshman but you can't play the offensive lineman that we need?😮‍💨
Your stupid azzes better figure it out real quick before you find another job.✌️



PLAY KIYAUNTA GOODWIN.💯
😵‍💫azzhats , do you really think Alabama would be sitting on a five-star offensive lineman or Tennessee or Florida or any of the other SEC teams? If they were giving up sack after sack after that? Do you really think that???

Giving this topic the benefit of the doubt. I think if Goodwin was ready he'd be getting a lot of PT. An article on ksr yesterday talked about him playing if and when he's ready. In HS being the biggest on the field means something vs college with guys 2-3 years in the weight room. Points well taken though as guys like Jackson, Young and others played and played well.

 

[AGEE11]

Kentucky will get to throw that damn ball against Mississippi State. Last couple games we couldn't.

I expect the receivers to have big games.
There's going to be alot of throws made in that game Saturday. By both teams.


I love Mike leech. I hope he takes over for Stoops if he ever leaves. My favorite coach in football.
He's like the John Daly of golf. He does things his way and he don't give a crap what you think.. if you ask him to talk you're going to get something good. Lololol

I would like to see Leach's offensive system with our skill players and a better line

 

[BBNFORLIFE]

We have given up 25 sacks on the season.
I think we are last in the country in plays per game.
In conference so far we are averaging 16.5 ppg!
We have a qb some are saying that could be the #1 player drafted along with possibly the best TEs and wrs that have ever played at UK.
We have one of the 2/3 backs in the conference and one of best ever to wear the B/W. So what gives?
I sat in the stadium on Saturday night with UK having scored SEVEN pts in 2 and a half quarters with the ball and less than 9 minutes to go in the 3rd qtr down 10. What are we doing? We are taking 30 seconds off the play clock to run a play that has ZERO sense of urgency to it! You would have thought we were the team up 10.
Folks this team has serious problems with the coaches that run this team, not the players.

I could see milking the clock against Ole Miss, keeping the ball away from that offense. But against SC it was stoopid.

 

[Deeeefense]

Honestly in year 10 of Stoops I expected that this team would play good clean football for the most part. I thought the mistakes, brake downs in execution, mental errors etc. were for the most part in the rear view mirror. I did not expect the team to be prefect, there will always be an occasionally turnover, penalty, even a sack, but this is suppose to be a ranked team right now, and honestly they are just now playing like it on offense. Defense has been for the most part pretty good, not great at time but good enough to keep us in every game. Got to see some serious improvement on O and ST this week to stand a chance.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

I do not recall too many times this year where the pass rush has been avoided by the QB?
Imagine if the QB could recognize the pass rush and move along with it? or perhaps just get back to the LOS

Stepping up in the pocket would've prevented probably 25% of the sacks this season, if not more.

Will is working on it. He's much better at this year than last. Last year he rarely did it. This year he does it some.

Fans need to remember will has really only played QB this season. Last season it was wandale and if he wasn't open it was take off. No progression. No pocket presence. No internal clock. He's literally learning it all this year and making improvements. He just has a long way to go. Unfortunately his best football is a few years away

 

[sluggercatfan]

I could see milking the clock against Ole Miss, keeping the ball away from that offense. But against SC it was stoopid.

We didn't with OM. 5 st points and 2 trips at/inside the 10 with zero points =disaster.

 

[BBNFORLIFE]

We didn't with OM. 5 st points and 2 trips at/inside the 10 with zero points =disaster.

I was simply pointing out that Stoops struggles with changing the game plan when another strategy is called for during a game. When we were down by 10 against SC, we needed to change to a faster paste offense.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I was simply pointing out that Stoops struggles with changing the game plan when another strategy is called for during a game. When we were down by 10 against SC, we needed to change to a faster paste offense.

Agree totally.

 

[lazydave841]

do you really think Alabama would be sitting on a five-star offensive lineman or Tennessee or Florida or any of the other SEC teams? If they were giving up sack after sack after that? Do you really think that??

Yes, if the kid isn't ready to contribute, they sit. Bama has more 5*s transfer out than 95% of teams get committed.

25 sounds bad, but it could be 30.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Lok at their

Yes, if the kid isn't ready to contribute, they sit. Bama has more 5*s transfer out than 95% of teams get committed.

25 sounds bad, but it could be 30.

Look at their qb situation a few years ago that is now an NFL starting qb along with the Mac Jones situation.

 

[WildCard]

With a QB, RB and receivers like we have I would want all the snaps I could get. Still holding back the passing game because of 'philosophy.'

"Philosophy" is as good word as any to describe what I call a "problem". And that philosophy pretty much requires an overwhelming talent edge OR a "mistake free game" to come out on top.

Right now UK is definitely not where fans "expected". Pre-season OOC was so easy it may well have covered some things up.

FWIW, Cats are #20 in OPP Y/G. allowing just 330 YPG. Unfortunately, Cats are #101 in Total Offense gaining only 339 Y/G. (FCS Youngstown State stats NOT included in rankings.)

One thing for sure - Levis needs to be at 100%.

Peace

 

[entropy13]

When we were down by 10 against SC, we needed to change to a faster paste offense.

 

[BBNFORLIFE]

I posted this to see if anyone on the football board would catch it. Well done. lol

 

[sluggercatfan]

I posted this to see if anyone on the football board would catch it. Well done. lol

Noticed it, but heck I'm too vulnerable to critique anyone. Besides , it's not like we're writing term papers here. Carry on😎

 

[yoshukai]

Yet the same QB didn’t have an issue with it last year. Wild…. What changed? The play calling and OLine Scheme.

You guys attempting to blame the atrocious sack number on a proven QB are mind blowing. Sure, he could have avoided a handful. Maybe 1.5 a game (around 7 total being v generous). Our OLine has five up 25 and is bottom 5 on the country….that isn’t on the veteran QB who has a year evidence that it wasn’t a previously existing problem. He was actually v good at avoiding the rush and extending the play last season.

1) Our o-line is bad whether that is new scheme or personal

2) we run less quick outs and RB pass plays this year and more 1st and 2nd read long developing plays looking for chunk yards

3) Will gained weight in the off season. They were hyping how crazy his gym numbers were and “he’s even stronger”, I personally think he has lost a step and isn’t as quick getting to the edge and beating the past rush as he was last year. We haven’t seen him outrun a DL all year

3b) the above could also be the new OC emphasizing staying in the pocket and eyes downfield for NFL development instead on quick to scramble and leave the pocket. Watch Kurt Warner - American Underdog; his college coach forced him to do the same before he ever got playing time and he initially took a ton of unnecessary hits bc it wasn’t natural to him

Our o-line is bad and I have questions about our OC and oline coach but , Will was TERRIBLE at stepping up in the pocket last year and it was pointed out multiple times.