What Would you Say Is The Bedrock Problem With Our Program?

[Random UK Fan]

If you had to point at the most fundamental reason our fb program is unable to launch, where would you say “start here” with change?

Do we not appear dedicated to having a successful fb program to outsiders? And if so, what is it? Our crowds are great, good facilities. Our fanbase is highly-passionate, at least until it goes unrequited by the team. What would prevent another, higher-echelon coach from coming here? Just wondering if it’s the entire aura here, the combination of ALL things, or just one simple, seemingly insignificant point of focus?

 

[K_TIME]

At this point....how can you argue it is not Stoops at this point?

- Year 11
- He's re-tooled the offensive staff save Marrow for like the third year in a row (So we can't say fix the offense)
- Defensive side....White's been here for a while but this is Stoops 3-4 scheme

It's basically him is it not?

 

[billoliver40]

Stoops hung his hat on 4-3 multiple. When it became obvious good D tackles were as rare as dinosaur eggs he switched to a 3 man base with multiple looks. Gotta have some prime edge gus for that to be really effective, or a couple horses that can dominate the line.

Not been happening.

 

[etowncatfan]

Lacking a Coach and lacking Team Discipline.

 

[mg0721]

While I generally believe that CMS has done a great job at UK There actually a few problems that are foundational and will prevent UK from taking the step up the ladder; 1. The turnover at OC under CMS has prevented us from real consistancy Neal Brown, Shannon Dawson, Eddie Gran, Liam Coen, Scangarell, Coen again. Thats 6 in 11 years. 2. the inability to develop a QB. Name 1 QB that was recruited, developed and has been successful here. 3. Conservative play/slow play. 4. the lack of discipline and it has been that way for most of the Stoops era. Our penalty problems this year have cost us any chance at winning a few of our games that we have lost.

 

[BIG BLUE GURU]

Problem is Kentucky is not serious about winning. Barney is happy with simply making a bowl game. Anybody that has been watching Stoops for the last several years knows that he can only take you so far. I appreciate what Stoops has done in his tenure here but it is time to move on. He is paid way to much money for these results. If you want to attract a big name hire, add about 3 million or so to Stoops current annual salary and go poach a quality coach from the NFL or from one of these other conferences that do not match up with the SEC or BIG 10. Those are the only 2 conferences that matter right now and everyone wants to be a part of what they are building so now is the time to pony up.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Problem is the touches we promised due to nil/portal concerns. That's literally it. It killed so many drives and causes so much division it ruined our season and probably last year too.

They're so scared other players will leave they're never held accountable. Drops, penalties, lazy and selfish play were all tolerated and co-signed all year.

Then look back at last year. All the whispers of the OC not being a player coach, scang himself saying he wasn't going to make things easier just because players didn't like it, talk of player expectations, some guys got benched, tayvion quit, and ultimately guys weren't coming back unless an OC change was made.

Now contrast all that with the Mizzou RB who refused to let his coach try to find him 20 more yards to break a school record. That's the kind of player we used to recruit. The guy who sacrificed a year of wr development to save our season as QB. Rbs who wouldn't be denied. Players with pride, toughness, selflessness, and never beating ourselves

 

[Mark80]

The offensive line recruiting and coaching has to change drastically since JS everything has went downhill fast.

 

[ManitouDan]

Problem is the touches we promised due to nil/portal concerns. That's literally it. It killed so many drives and causes so much division it ruined our season and probably last year too.

They're so scared other players will leave they're never held accountable. Drops, penalties, lazy and selfish play were all tolerated and co-signed all year.

Then look back at last year. All the whispers of the OC not being a player coach, scang himself saying he wasn't going to make things easier just because players didn't like it, talk of player expectations, some guys got benched, tayvion quit, and ultimately guys weren't coming back unless an OC change was made.

Now contrast all that with the Mizzou RB who refused to let his coach try to find him 20 more yards to break a school record. That's the kind of player we used to recruit. The guy who sacrificed a year of wr development to save our season as QB. Rbs who wouldn't be denied. Players with pride, toughness, selflessness, and never beating ourselves

very good post

 

[dallasg23]

If you had to point at the most fundamental reason our fb program is unable to launch, where would you say “start here” with change?

Do we not appear dedicated to having a successful fb program to outsiders? And if so, what is it? Our crowds are great, good facilities. Our fanbase is highly-passionate, at least until it goes unrequited by the team. What would prevent another, higher-echelon coach from coming here? Just wondering if it’s the entire aura here, the combination of ALL things, or just one simple, seemingly insignificant point of focus?

Failure to adapt. With both Levis and Leary for 3 straight years so many coaches would have these teams at 9 wins. The lack of discipline is also ****ing ridiculous. Losing to Missouri, Tennessee and SC in the same year and being the 7th highest paid coach is absolutely unacceptable.

 

[dallasg23]

Problem is the touches we promised due to nil/portal concerns. That's literally it. It killed so many drives and causes so much division it ruined our season and probably last year too.

They're so scared other players will leave they're never held accountable. Drops, penalties, lazy and selfish play were all tolerated and co-signed all year.

Then look back at last year. All the whispers of the OC not being a player coach, scang himself saying he wasn't going to make things easier just because players didn't like it, talk of player expectations, some guys got benched, tayvion quit, and ultimately guys weren't coming back unless an OC change was made.

Now contrast all that with the Mizzou RB who refused to let his coach try to find him 20 more yards to break a school record. That's the kind of player we used to recruit. The guy who sacrificed a year of wr development to save our season as QB. Rbs who wouldn't be denied. Players with pride, toughness, selflessness, and never beating ourselves

I could watch Barion hit the portal tomorrow and would go Lexington to help him pack. He runs shit routes, is lazy, has average hands which is putting it nicely and yet we try and force feed him in double/triple coverage because he is kinda fast. He isn’t a deep threat. He is not aggressive enough for deep balls. He is quite literally a cancer. Not in the sense of being a locker issue but he drains the life out of the offense.

 

[YaketySax]

If you had to point at the most fundamental reason our fb program is unable to launch, where would you say “start here” with change?

Recruit better.

I don’t know why Marrow gets the pass he does. Maybe he’ll start to catch more heat. UK gets the results that reflect its recruiting most years. He makes more than all the other RCs that sign borderline Top 25 classes. People excited for a three star OL yesterday….and those same people think UK should expect 9-10 win seasons lol

It’s because UK has to pay a premium to keep Marrow just like with Stoops. But people give Vince a pass and I’ve never understood why

 

[YaketySax]

I could watch Barion hit the portal tomorrow and would go Lexington to help him pack. He runs shit routes, is lazy, has average hands which is putting it nicely and yet we try and force feed him in double/triple coverage because he is kinda fast. He isn’t a deep threat. He is not aggressive enough for deep balls. He is quite literally a cancer. Not in the sense of being a locker issue but he drains the life out of the offense.

I agree with a lot of that but because Coen tries to get him the ball so many different ways that suggests to me they view him as important.

…but yeah I would t be sad either if he transferred. I assume his NIL fee is lower this year than last so maybe resign at a bargain.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

I could watch Barion hit the portal tomorrow and would go Lexington to help him pack. He runs shit routes, is lazy, has average hands which is putting it nicely and yet we try and force feed him in double/triple coverage because he is kinda fast. He isn’t a deep threat. He is not aggressive enough for deep balls. He is quite literally a cancer. Not in the sense of being a locker issue but he drains the life out of the offense.

11 targets for 30 yards. That's insanely low production.

Can't remember if it's Rodgers or Palmer on the call, but they obviously don't really watch film. Otherwise they'd know the qb has to throw him long. Can't afford to be short at all because brown literally doesn't leave his feat or battle for any ball. He usually weirdly starts backpedaling.

Every single deep shot play should've gone to dane

 

[ManitouDan]

I think we need to clean house , the HC , the OC's and Dc's .. start over . Marrow and Stoops appear bonded at the hip .. both need to go .

 

[wildcatglenn]

The "afraid to lose " mentality.
Down 3 with 7 to go and milking the clock. That was the last straw for me.
The team exemplifies its coach, we see this chicken 💩 strategy waaaay to much

 

[megablue]

It is over-hyped by coaches and media every season.

 

[MrHotDice]

If you had to point at the most fundamental reason our fb program is unable to launch, where would you say “start here” with change?

Do we not appear dedicated to having a successful fb program to outsiders? And if so, what is it? Our crowds are great, good facilities. Our fanbase is highly-passionate, at least until it goes unrequited by the team. What would prevent another, higher-echelon coach from coming here? Just wondering if it’s the entire aura here, the combination of ALL things, or just one simple, seemingly insignificant point of focus?

Excuses from a weak fan base that sees an inferior coach in Stoops and thinks he’s great. A fan base that has no concept of SEC football and what these teams will do to win.

 

[rolaid]

I could watch Barion hit the portal tomorrow and would go Lexington to help him pack. He runs shit routes, is lazy, has average hands which is putting it nicely and yet we try and force feed him in double/triple coverage because he is kinda fast. He isn’t a deep threat. He is not aggressive enough for deep balls. He is quite literally a cancer. Not in the sense of being a locker issue but he drains the life out of the offense.

Most unlikeable player for me in UK history

 

[seccats04]

We don't seem to develop depth at any position anymore.

QB- nope and never have under Stoops
RB- nope unless you can say Jefferson has been a pleasant surprise the last 2 games
WR- nope, ABS is your 4th WR and he's dropped as many as he's caught this year, Crowdus is a no show again
OL- nope, Dylan Ray is your backup at every position it seems and he is a walkon that got here in the summer and could'nt get on the field at WVU
TE- the one position we have depth but we rarely target these guys
DL- we have decent depth and talent but rarely get a pass rush
LB- very little depth and next to no production outside of Wallace, who is probably gone after this year
DB- zero depth at CB, Geiger and Bryant are good reserves at S but Childress has been terrible

 

[R.O.T.Muckinfush]

Playing not to lose instead of playing to win

 

[rick64]

His inability or unwillingness to adapt. That’s the key issue.

 

[truebluewildcat]

Offense overall has been his Achilles heel.

No program, franchise, 3-4 year starting QB...he and his staffs haven't seen a guy through from high school. All transfers.

Lack of pop generally speaking in the skill positions with the exception of RBs. I will give credit where credit is due CMS can find some RBs and scrap together a run game. If this were 1980's he may be the greatest coach we've ever had. But I digress, back to every other aspect of MODERN offensive football.

We haven't had consistent production, play making, or just talent in general in the WR groups that have come through. I mean when was our last 1,000 WR...Does CMS even have one in 12 years?

He seemingly flat out refuses to even acknowledge TEs in the modern era can be pass catchers.

Overall last night was a great summary of everything. Our QB, skill players, and offense over the course of CMS' tenure are not built to score, not built for big plays in crucial moments, not built to come back especially late game.

We can't keep doing the revolving portal door with QBs.

Sheron, Wade, and Bolley have all got to get a shot. Maybe two are close by summer's end, if so play both against the 3 puff OOCs and Vandy. One should separate roll with whoever that is. They'll take their lumps, but they'll be around for another couple of seasons.

You can't just insert QBs into offenses. You have to build offenses around QBs. From play scheme, play design, game plan, play calling and certain types of talent in the positions around him.

 

[sluggercatfan]

If you had to point at the most fundamental reason our fb program is unable to launch, where would you say “start here” with change?

Do we not appear dedicated to having a successful fb program to outsiders? And if so, what is it? Our crowds are great, good facilities. Our fanbase is highly-passionate, at least until it goes unrequited by the team. What would prevent another, higher-echelon coach from coming here? Just wondering if it’s the entire aura here, the combination of ALL things, or just one simple, seemingly

insignificant point of focus?

The Head Coaches refusal to
admit that he is another universe sticking with his offensive philosophy...

He said college football has officially become an offensive game. "It used to be that good defense beats good offense. Good defense doesn't beat good offense anymore," SABAN told ESPN on Friday.

 

[oldsports_]

When Stoops started banging cheerleaders?

 

[Bilrus61]

Naw, all the other SEC coaches do it and their team preform on the field. It is just one of the perks of being a SEC football coach.
My guess is just lack of instate talent....football talent not cheerleader talent.

When Stoops started banging cheerleaders?

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Stoops is an average coach. That's why u are seeing some of the losses like yesterday and vandy last season. He is lazy now that barnie made him the king of Kroger field.

We also don't recruit well enough to compete with the big boys.

 

[Roe07]

I could watch Barion hit the portal tomorrow and would go Lexington to help him pack. He runs shit routes, is lazy, has average hands which is putting it nicely and yet we try and force feed him in double/triple coverage because he is kinda fast. He isn’t a deep threat. He is not aggressive enough for deep balls. He is quite literally a cancer. Not in the sense of being a locker issue but he drains the life out of the offense.

Yep. He also never seems to miss the opportunity to run his mouth, even when we're down by 30.

 

[Basil Cat]

Problem is Kentucky is not serious about winning. Barney is happy with simply making a bowl game. Anybody that has been watching Stoops for the last several years knows that he can only take you so far. I appreciate what Stoops has done in his tenure here but it is time to move on. He is paid way too much money for these results. If you want to attract a big name hire, add about 3 million or so to Stoops current annual salary and go poach a quality coach from the NFL or from one of these other conferences that do not match up with the SEC or BIG 10. Those are the only 2 conferences that matter right now and everyone wants to be a part of what they are building so now is the time to pony up.

Very well said. Stoops is trying to plays 90’s B10 football in a SEC that adapts to anything quickly because that’s what winners do!

Mitch is completely content with Stoops being his legacy hire for football. Doesn’t want to go through another search because he knows deep down he will not deliver a good hire.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

The offensive line recruiting and coaching has to change drastically since JS everything has went downhill fast.

That's by design because we (wrongly imo) decided to completely change run schemes which meant the guys we had no longer fit the bill. Now we're striking out in recruiting and just taking whomever we can from the portal

WR- nope, ABS is your 4th WR and he's dropped as many as he's caught this year, Crowdus is a no show again
OL- nope, Dylan Ray is your backup at every position it seems and he is a walkon that got here in the summer and could'nt get on the field at WVU

Who can blame wrs for leaving? Barion gets all the balls by intent. Chris Lewis left and could've really helped this team. Magwood was good depth and left too.

OL - see above. Also Dylan Ray is a very good player. Noticably better than jager

Head Coaches refusal to
admit that he is another universe sticking with his offensive philosophy...

Nothing about this offense is stoops. It's all coen.

Why do fans, nearly to a person, refuse to criticize coen? He's a bright guy but obviously a major part of the problem.

 

[dallasg23]

I agree with a lot of that but because Coen tries to get him the ball so many different ways that suggests to me they view him as important.

…but yeah I would t be sad either if he transferred. I assume his NIL fee is lower this year than last so maybe resign at a bargain.

I mean he always has a chance to make a big play. But he also prone to mistakes, probably more so than he is to make a big play. Getting him the ball is one thing but he’s not even remotely close to being good enough to design a system around him which pretty much what they’re doing.

 

[WildCard]

The Head Coaches refusal to
admit that he is another universe sticking with his offensive philosophy...

He said college football has officially become an offensive game. "It used to be that good defense beats good offense. Good defense doesn't beat good offense anymore," SABAN told ESPN on Friday.

He (Saban) has made that quote before.

 

[OleBluCatz]

The lack of Accountability and Discipline it’s glaring everywhere from Stoops, to Assistants, to players.

 

[Rockfly78]

One of the worst recruiting bases in all of college football. The state of Kentucky basically produces the same amount of talent as North Dakota

Also, a long culture of losing that goes back decades.

 

[know1]

I think the problem is in game coaching and style/philosophy.

I'm a big Stoops supporter, and think the program has been better for much longer than any other time in my life. I'm not ready for him to be gone yet.

The recruiting has been pretty good. Game management and execution has been sub par a lot of the time.

 

[Kattopper]

-Lack of offense and QB development

Our OL with Schlarman allowed him to run the ball the way he wanted hid all the other problems with his philosphy.

We are so undisciplined its really sad and have been for several seasons

Not only has he lost this team but the program in a sense. It looks like a leaderless fiasco of epic proportions. Him bitching about NIL etc. Fix what you should/can fix and quit crying about it in public. I expect we have some massive losses in the portal coming. Things can and likely to get worse before it gets better. This is going to be an ugly 2-3 years coming Im afraid.

 

[mrschwump]

11 targets for 30 yards. That's insanely low production.

Can't remember if it's Rodgers or Palmer on the call, but they obviously don't really watch film. Otherwise they'd know the qb has to throw him long. Can't afford to be short at all because brown literally doesn't leave his feat or battle for any ball. He usually weirdly starts backpedaling.

Every single deep shot play should've gone to dane

Did you hear Rodgers late game comment directed at Brown? Last drive, 2-minute drill, Leary throws toward Brown but Brown wasn't looking. Rodgers re Brown: "What are you doing? You're a WR in a 2-minute drill trying to win a ballgame and you aren't expecting the ball?!" He was livid.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Did you hear Rodgers late game comment directed at Brown? Last drive, 2-minute drill, Leary throws toward Brown but Brown wasn't looking. Rodgers re Brown: "What are you doing? You're a WR in a 2-minute drill trying to win a ballgame and you aren't expecting the ball?!" He was livid.

His play this year is just unbelievable. Yet we force the ball to him time after time. 11 targets for 30 yards is beyond atrocious

 

[Girthang]

If you had to point at the most fundamental reason our fb program is unable to launch, where would you say “start here” with change?

Lack of discipline, drive, and situational awareness/adjustments.

Start with counseling for our head coach.

This passive-aggressive bullsht needs to stop. Stop forcing whats not there. Take what they give you on most plays before hitting them with the counters and bigger gains. Wear the other team down FIRST, and then go for the jugular. Make them adjust to us instead of abandoning what works.

Uptempo. Using the whole field. Cutting the EDGE rushers on plays in the flat and quick hitters/hot reads/slants. Make the motion .ean something instead of just using it for window dressing. Tailor your offense to the personnel.

Do we not appear dedicated to having a successful fb program to outsiders? And if so, what is it? Our crowds are great, good facilities. Our fanbase is highly-passionate, at least until it goes unrequited by the team. What would prevent another, higher-echelon coach from coming here? Just wondering if it’s the entire aura here, the combination of ALL things, or just one simple, seemingly insignificant point of focus?

All things. We are never in synch as a program from fans to team. Never the primary focus of the program itself, except to keep revenue going that can keep basketball from having to give up its money to support the tertiary sports. Other than about 30-40k fans, the rest are ready to jump ship with the first loss, and are impossible to please. They're merely passing the time until basketball. They won't be seen supporting the team until they've won 9-10 games because they're just like that.

Not enough football focused NIL to fuel real efforts to get to the top of the conference. No history of doing so to point to. No other draw to Lexington. Even Nashville has that....

 

[JBHolmesfan]

Stoops’ absolute unwillingness to change from his archaic ultra conservative approach to the game.