I sure understand you bud, but honestly, I’ll take a 7-6 win all day and jump for joy. lol I too would 1000% like to see us running 20 or so more plays average than the last few years and would hope with our offensive players we can make it happen this season. I think he’s had to play that way for a number of reasons, including our defensive players were our best group and we were dropping so many balls last season early. We’re about as even this year on both sides as I can remember being and should let us take a few more chances and get those big 3td downs. Thanks bud. I’m really high on this group and even though the schedule is pretty tough, I think we’re going to surprise everyone and have an unbelievable year. Let’s go.Grumpy said one thing that sticks out. If Stoops opens the offense. It has not mattered the QB so far (besides Levis first year), we just have not opened the offense. I do not expect it to change this year. We are defense heavy up front. Stoops will want ball control so he can control the line of scrimmage from the defense. I look for BV to open it up on lesser competition and against the SEC 8 of our games, we will be conservative. Hope Stoops proves me wrong. But doubt it.
Legend has it Levis broke his toe kicking something in frustration of the ole Miss loss. And hampered him the rest of the yr.
Not sure how you are defining "opening the offense" but last year under Coen the Cats were 52/48 pass to run, the only year during the Stoops era where I would call us being balanced. Scang was 42/58, Coen in 2021 was 42/58, then in the Gran years we were almost exactly 2:1 run to pass every year.Grumpy said one thing that sticks out. If Stoops opens the offense. It has not mattered the QB so far (besides Levis first year), we just have not opened the offense. I do not expect it to change this year. We are defense heavy up front. Stoops will want ball control so he can control the line of scrimmage from the defense. I look for BV to open it up on lesser competition and against the SEC 8 of our games, we will be conservative. Hope Stoops proves me wrong. But doubt it.
Not sure how you are defining "opening the offense" but last year under Coen the Cats were 52/48 pass to run, the only year during the Stoops era where I would call us being balanced. Scang was 42/58, Coen in 2021 was 42/58, then in the Gran years we were almost exactly 2:1 run to pass every year.
IMO Stoops is attempting to move us towards a more modern college offense that requires balance. Stoops will never be a Mike Leach or a Lane Kiffin but the offenses we feature should show more balance and be more along the lines of the best teams like Georgia and Bama.
I don't think there is any evidence to support Stoops having his thumb on the scales pushing OCs to run more. He does have a general liking for the ability to control games at the end with a combination of running and short passing.
Maybe speeding up the offense would have been less confusing.
Coen in 2021 was 42/58,
I use Team Rankings and the categories are just pass play and run play, no further specifics given. What you say sounds logical so maybe Coen's play calling was a bit closer to balanced then the stats show.Is that by the play that was called, or how it resulted?
Levis is as so prone to take off and lower a shoulder in ‘21, that that may skew the numbers. He had a lot of runs, most successful, that were obviously called passing plays.
Blue I understand your statements about Stoops. HOWEVER - this may be the season you see a totally new approach under Stoops. Why do I say that? TEXAS A & M! Stoops had that job but for one reason - his offense! Whether he will retire at Kentucky, be fired from Kentucky or accept another head coaching position - his legacy has been established - unless he changes it. I believe he fully understands that now - and one last thing - WHAT does Stoops have to lose at Kentucky now? No matter what his record is - he is set for life financially. He can do anything and retire anytime very, very comfortably. So, why not go out on top - how can he do that - by opening up the offense and playing to score on every down! I was very down on Stoops after the Texas A & M deal - but now I am very high for the reasons I have mentioned!Grumpy said one thing that sticks out. If Stoops opens the offense. It has not mattered the QB so far (besides Levis first year), we just have not opened the offense. I do not expect it to change this year. We are defense heavy up front. Stoops will want ball control so he can control the line of scrimmage from the defense. I look for BV to open it up on lesser competition and against the SEC 8 of our games, we will be conservative. Hope Stoops proves me wrong. But doubt it.
Blue I understand your statements about Stoops. HOWEVER - this may be the season you see a totally new approach under Stoops. Why do I say that? TEXAS A & M! Stoops had that job but for one reason - his offense! Whether he will retire at Kentucky, be fired from Kentucky or accept another head coaching position - his legacy has been established - unless he changes it. I believe he fully understands that now - and one last thing - WHAT does Stoops have to lose at Kentucky now? No matter what his record is - he is set for life financially. He can do anything and retire anytime very, very comfortably. So, why not go out on top - how can he do that - by opening up the offense and playing to score on every down! I was very down on Stoops after the Texas A & M deal - but now I am very high for the reasons I have mentioned!
Go Big Blue!
I am not sure ATM had full control of that
Which happened first?
There were three or four narratives in the six hour time period the aTm job was being discussed.
I do not know the accuracy of any of them, but will make a serious effort at the QB Club to corner an assistant coach or two (not White or Marrow), to see if what I believe is true.
So, what do I “think” happened??
I “think” the deciding conversation that turned Stoops away from aTm occurred with Coach Marrow. Either he bluntly told Stoops he was not going to aTm and/or talked some plain sense to him.
The friend you’ve shared sports and meals with since grade school is the one who can look you in the eye and tell you that you are being an idiot. And Coach Marrow does have that human gift of getting what he wants with effective communication.
“Hershel just put a hobnail boot in their chest!”
“Oh, you Hershel Walker, you . . . .”
I really like these talking points and hope you are correct...but back of my mind is the whole (old dog new tricks). Stoops is for sure an old dog personality, hope this old dog learns how to mewow on offense.Blue I understand your statements about Stoops. HOWEVER - this may be the season you see a totally new approach under Stoops. Why do I say that? TEXAS A & M! Stoops had that job but for one reason - his offense! Whether he will retire at Kentucky, be fired from Kentucky or accept another head coaching position - his legacy has been established - unless he changes it. I believe he fully understands that now - and one last thing - WHAT does Stoops have to lose at Kentucky now? No matter what his record is - he is set for life financially. He can do anything and retire anytime very, very comfortably. So, why not go out on top - how can he do that - by opening up the offense and playing to score on every down! I was very down on Stoops after the Texas A & M deal - but now I am very high for the reasons I have mentioned!
Go Big Blue!
It's mindset. Boise scored on everyone they played with inferior talent. You need a good scheme and need to rep it to perfection and trust in the players to make plays. I feel like Stoops problem is the trust and reps.Grumpy said one thing that sticks out. If Stoops opens the offense. It has not mattered the QB so far (besides Levis first year), we just have not opened the offense. I do not expect it to change this year. We are defense heavy up front. Stoops will want ball control so he can control the line of scrimmage from the defense. I look for BV to open it up on lesser competition and against the SEC 8 of our games, we will be conservative. Hope Stoops proves me wrong. But doubt it.
Stoops cannot let go of the rope mostly. If he does this year we will see it as our OC will do some good things with these guys on offense.It's mindset. Boise scored on everyone they played with inferior talent. You need a good scheme and need to rep it to perfection and trust in the players to make plays. I feel like Stoops problem is the trust and reps.
Bluegrass Conspiracy 2.0A good synopsis of the currents being reported that Saturday night/Sunday morning.
I make no secret that I want Stoops and Marrow to retire in Lexington. Marrow has uttered an unusual desire to the QB Club: upon retirement, he wants to visit all 120 Kentucky Counties by Harley, and personally thank the state for the opportunities he has had, here. Yes, that statement was tailor-made to impress small town folk like me and many others in the QB Club, but that is Marrow’s great communication ability: he puts himself on your level immediately. But I think he feels at home, here.
And I’m not too certain that Brad White is itching to climb the ladder, given his generous compensation package, security and family affinity for Lexington.
And I credit Barnhart: he quickly scheduled interviews with all key subordinates for Sunday (and also Coach Jon Sumrall) and this helped quell any rapid desire by assistants to pack for College Station. Looking at his moves, I think Barnhart had to feel a tad betrayed given his support of Stoops, and he acted effectively to help derail the early momentum of Stoops bailing to aTm.
Someone needs to write a tell-all book in ten years, and let us know what really went on behind closed doors.
A good synopsis of the currents being reported that Saturday night/Sunday morning.
I make no secret that I want Stoops and Marrow to retire in Lexington. Marrow has uttered an unusual desire to the QB Club: upon retirement, he wants to visit all 120 Kentucky Counties by Harley, and personally thank the state for the opportunities he has had, here. Yes, that statement was tailor-made to impress small town folk like me and many others in the QB Club, but that is Marrow’s great communication ability: he puts himself on your level immediately. But I think he feels at home, here.
And I’m not too certain that Brad White is itching to climb the ladder, given his generous compensation package, security and family affinity for Lexington.
And I credit Barnhart: he quickly scheduled interviews with all key subordinates for Sunday (and also Coach Jon Sumrall) and this helped quell any rapid desire by assistants to pack for College Station. Looking at his moves, I think Barnhart had to feel a tad betrayed given his support of Stoops, and he acted effectively to help derail the early momentum of Stoops bailing to aTm.
Someone needs to write a tell-all book in ten years, and let us know what really went on behind closed doors.
No good HC is going to stay away from one side of the ball. I agree with you that defense is his strength, and he needs to trust his OC. There’s a huge difference between trusting his OC and staying out of the offense.Stoops cannot let go of the rope mostly. If he does this year we will see it as our OC will do some good things with these guys on offense.
Really hoping he just stays off that side of the ball in practice, film and everything. Just run the defense with DC.
TBH, I don’t give a shit what offense we run, as long as we win. The only time I care about passing more is if we aren’t winning while running.Grumpy said one thing that sticks out. If Stoops opens the offense. It has not mattered the QB so far (besides Levis first year), we just have not opened the offense. I do not expect it to change this year. We are defense heavy up front. Stoops will want ball control so he can control the line of scrimmage from the defense. I look for BV to open it up on lesser competition and against the SEC 8 of our games, we will be conservative. Hope Stoops proves me wrong. But doubt it.
^ ThisTBH, I don’t give a shit what offense we run, as long as we win. The only time I care about passing more is if we aren’t winning while running.