FWIW, Athlon released their pre-season rankings today...

[WildCard]

The real ones, not the way too early rankings. Cats were #56, about where most pre-season rankings put them. They project a bowl eligible 6 win season for the Cats. However, of the 6 teams ranked above them, the lowest ranked was #41 MSU, a "gap" of 15 spots. OTOH, UK "outranks" 3 opponents by fairly close margins; Vandy (#57), Mizzou (#62) and SC (#63). USM is #68.

Peace

 

[JasonS.]

Those four teams at the bottom of the SEC East (us, Vandy, South Carolina and Missouri) are basically a kaleidoscope this fall. Shake em up and pray.

 

[Michigan Fan]

Two of their top 4 are Florida State and Clemson...still don't get the love for Tennessee...Butch Jones...

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Two of their top 4 are Florida State and Clemson...still don't get the love for Tennessee...Butch Jones...

Will make them look good, neither team plays anyone very good, 1 will be 12-0 and the other 11-1 at the end of the year with a SOS very likely above 70. If UT can break their 11 game streak against UF they are very likely to be 11-1 at the end of the year. But some of their fanbase is predicting beating Bama 3 times in 16, regular season, SEC championship and in playoffs. If Dobbs goes down early they become Auburn, Butch's offense is much like Gus's, very simple offense and depends on having a great runner at QB who is more of a threat with his legs than his arm.

 

[EnPassant]

Grumpy Tenn's offense is a lot different than Auburns. Just because people line up in similar looking formations doesn't mean they are similar. In the passing game UT gives you much much more than Auburn does.

 

[dorkmeister]

Will make them look good, neither team plays anyone very good, 1 will be 12-0 and the other 11-1 at the end of the year with a SOS very likely above 70. If UT can break their 11 game streak against UF they are very likely to be 11-1 at the end of the year. But some of their fanbase is predicting beating Bama 3 times in 16, regular season, SEC championship and in playoffs. If Dobbs goes down early they become Auburn, Butch's offense is much like Gus's, very simple offense and depends on having a great runner at QB who is more of a threat with his legs than his arm.

If Bama loses twice to them then no way Bama makes the playoffs

 

[KyDore]

Those four teams at the bottom of the SEC East (us, Vandy, South Carolina and Missouri) are basically a kaleidoscope this fall. Shake em up and pray.

I don't disagree at all but will add the dimension that the four are indistinguishable from each other at the moment due to a relatively wide unknown as to whether any one of them will be a lot like they were last year or significantly different. It would not surprise me if one of the four (with either UK or Vandy being the likely candidate) sweeps the other three. However, I would be surprised if either South Carolina or Missouri shows significant improvement and I think that UK's "unknown" is wider than Vandy's at this stage since UK's quarterback and defensive effectiveness is unproven. That being said, I agree that there is more upside potential with wider unknowns so UK gets my potentially-best-upside nod.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/117395/take-two-sec-east-team-on-the-rise-after-spring

 

[bigbluewildcat84]

Hopefully UK can make it to a bowl game and also beat UF this year.

 

[gobigblue812_rivals29381]

Will make them look good, neither team plays anyone very good, 1 will be 12-0 and the other 11-1 at the end of the year with a SOS very likely above 70. If UT can break their 11 game streak against UF they are very likely to be 11-1 at the end of the year. But some of their fanbase is predicting beating Bama 3 times in 16, regular season, SEC championship and in playoffs. If Dobbs goes down early they become Auburn, Butch's offense is much like Gus's, very simple offense and depends on having a great runner at QB who is more of a threat with his legs than his arm.

When was the last time ut beat Bama?

 

[ukalumni00]

Ranking is fair until the team proves they are better on the field and not in hype videos or tweets.

 

[hmt5000]

Still wonder how much record determines ranking in these polls? If a team beats 1 top 20 teams and loses to 4 top 20 teams they will be ranked behind a team with 1 top 20 loss on D no wins.

I wish cfb playoffs would have 10 tiers. Top 4 play for title but each subsequent group will play to truly see how teams stack up. Not enough ooc games imo to know .

 

[JasonS.]

I don't disagree at all but will add the dimension that the four are indistinguishable from each other at the moment due to a relatively wide unknown as to whether any one of them will be a lot like they were last year or significantly different. It would not surprise me if one of the four (with either UK or Vandy being the likely candidate) sweeps the other three. However, I would be surprised if either South Carolina or Missouri shows significant improvement and I think that UK's "unknown" is wider than Vandy's at this stage since UK's quarterback and defensive effectiveness is unproven. That being said, I agree that there is more upside potential with wider unknowns so UK gets my potentially-best-upside nod.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/117395/take-two-sec-east-team-on-the-rise-after-spring

Yep. I'd say the only real known out of that group of four is that Vandy will have a really good defense. By SEC standards, every other unit will be somewhere on the mediocre-to-tire fire spectrum.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Grumpy Tenn's offense is a lot different than Auburns. Just because people line up in similar looking formations doesn't mean they are similar. In the passing game UT gives you much much more than Auburn does.

Arc, you are just wrong, both rely on having a strong running attack, a very mobile qb who can hurt you with his running. UT has 4 and 5 star receivers all over the field, yet they don't take advantage of them. Without Dobb's ability to escape and run the ball their offense isn't hard to deal with at all. No, its not exactly like AU's who runs an option based offense with more motion normally, But you have to stop the dive on the option with your DL and ILB. If you have to commit a S to help stop that dive it opens up the rest of their options by overloading the edge, if the qb is a threat to run. If not you get what you saw out of AU's offense last year, pretty inept. UT doesn't run the option based spread, but its a run based spread with Dobbs being just good enough to hurt you with his arm. Its not the same but it uses the same principles just a different method of getting there. Without the treat of a qb who can hurt you running the ball, both are very simple, basically HS offenses. Cam wasn't a good passer at AU, he had Dyer who was MVP in nc game to run his dive with, and teams were forced to bring a S in to stop the dive. Nick Marshall was he same as a JR, he had the rapper's son who forced defenses to use the S to stop the dive. Without that threat at RB, their offense was garbage. UT has that threat at RB with Hurd and Kamara, they just run an option based attack, but the principle is the same, force a S to commit to stopping the run and take advantage of the qb's ability to escape and run.

I really don't understand why you insist on following me to other boards to disagree with everything I post and are wrong everytime.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

When was the last time ut beat Bama?

I believe it was 2006, Shula's last year at Bama.

 

[WildCard]

I don't disagree at all but will add the dimension that the four are indistinguishable from each other at the moment due to a relatively wide unknown as to whether any one of them will be a lot like they were last year or significantly different. It would not surprise me if one of the four (with either UK or Vandy being the likely candidate) sweeps the other three. However, I would be surprised if either South Carolina or Missouri shows significant improvement and I think that UK's "unknown" is wider than Vandy's at this stage since UK's quarterback and defensive effectiveness is unproven. That being said, I agree that there is more upside potential with wider unknowns so UK gets my potentially-best-upside nod.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/117395/take-two-sec-east-team-on-the-rise-after-spring

Yep. I'd say the only real known out of that group of four is that Vandy will have a really good defense. By SEC standards, every other unit will be somewhere on the mediocre-to-tire fire spectrum.

You both make good points from a perspective I had not thought about. I don't know what the other schedules look like but I still think UK hosting SC and Vandy should tip those games in UK's favor. If not, things could get a little edgy in Lexington.

Peace

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

Bowl or bust. No bowl and season tickets will plummet further than they already have which happened due a team coming to games very uninspired and unprepared and a lot of fans were sick of it and cancelled season tickets. Had Dawson returned I was going to do the same, but we got rid of him so it was a lot easier to renew them since now I have a tiny bit of hope. At the same time though if we have another mid season collapse for 3rd year in a row then I'm canceling, and if that happens stoops will have lost 95% of his fan support. Season tickets will be at joker lows. And the remaining 5% that still love them some stoops will be nothing but the most hardcore of stoops apologists if we don't make progress this season. Those people will continue to blame it on joker and the players and makin the same excuses they've always made for stoops. This season is it for me. Bowl or bust. If it's a bust then stoops doesn't deserve job. But his buyout unfortunately will keep him here a year or 2 too long.

 

[KyDore]

I think that five wins this year plus continued positive recruiting will keep most folks interested and returning. At some point, the talent level becomes good enough where a bowl has to happen even although I think its close to 50/50 whether it happens this year. Even if a successor is a better coach than CMS, success is a combination of recruiting and coaching and it may be difficult to recruit at CMS's current level following a failed CMS.

But, if Barker is a flop and/or Southern Miss wins the opener, then it could be a four-win season tailspin and that would be a tipping point toward change. The pressure to be better will definitely be there this season.

 

[EnPassant]

Arc, you are just wrong, both rely on having a strong running attack, a very mobile qb who can hurt you with his running. UT has 4 and 5 star receivers all over the field, yet they don't take advantage of them. Without Dobb's ability to escape and run the ball their offense isn't hard to deal with at all. No, its not exactly like AU's who runs an option based offense with more motion normally, But you have to stop the dive on the option with your DL and ILB. If you have to commit a S to help stop that dive it opens up the rest of their options by overloading the edge, if the qb is a threat to run. If not you get what you saw out of AU's offense last year, pretty inept. UT doesn't run the option based spread, but its a run based spread with Dobbs being just good enough to hurt you with his arm. Its not the same but it uses the same principles just a different method of getting there. Without the treat of a qb who can hurt you running the ball, both are very simple, basically HS offenses. Cam wasn't a good passer at AU, he had Dyer who was MVP in nc game to run his dive with, and teams were forced to bring a S in to stop the dive. Nick Marshall was he same as a JR, he had the rapper's son who forced defenses to use the S to stop the dive. Without that threat at RB, their offense was garbage. UT has that threat at RB with Hurd and Kamara, they just run an option based attack, but the principle is the same, force a S to commit to stopping the run and take advantage of the qb's ability to escape and run.

I really don't understand why you insist on following me to other boards to disagree with everything I post and are wrong everytime.

I have posted here for 15 years Grumpy - long before you - I don't go to the many others you post on. It's nothing personal but you don't strike me as having a great technical knowledge of football. Your statement that about Kiffin really changing Alabamas offense was particularly lol - it's like you never paid attention to Alabama football. Go back and watch Alabama in 2011 and 2012 in big games and you'll see how silly that post sounds to people that actually know football.

As for Tenn, watch the 2014 Ga/Tenn game and how we struggled with their offense despite them having zero rushing threat from the QB spot. Their passing game and Auburns are light years apart -you aren't adept enough to realize it but that's fine cause most people in the stands don't really know what they are watching either.

Whenever you post about the NCAA or about strategic football it's just straight "I read the Internet and thus know things" guy. The fact that you come across with the tone of such an expert makes it more hilarious.

 

[Capt Tony]

Will make them look good, neither team plays anyone very good, 1 will be 12-0 and the other 11-1 at the end of the year with a SOS very likely above 70. If UT can break their 11 game streak against UF they are very likely to be 11-1 at the end of the year.

That's funny considering both play two sec schools.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

That's funny considering both play two sec schools.

Well at least sec fans can admit when their is a school that isn't that good unlike those who thump their chest on OOC schedules. Clemson's schedule is pretty horrid If you ask me, Fl St has a much better schedule.

3/4 of the ACC is on par with the bottom rung of the sec.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

nm

 

[TBCat]

I have posted here for 15 years Grumpy - long before you - I don't go to the many others you post on. It's nothing personal but you don't strike me as having a great technical knowledge of football. Your statement that about Kiffin really changing Alabamas offense was particularly lol - it's like you never paid attention to Alabama football. Go back and watch Alabama in 2011 and 2012 in big games and you'll see how silly that post sounds to people that actually know football.

As for Tenn, watch the 2014 Ga/Tenn game and how we struggled with their offense despite them having zero rushing threat from the QB spot. Their passing game and Auburns are light years apart -you aren't adept enough to realize it but that's fine cause most people in the stands don't really know what they are watching either.

Whenever you post about the NCAA or about strategic football it's just straight "I read the Internet and thus know things" guy. The fact that you come across with the tone of such an expert makes it more hilarious.

Auburn( White/Johnson combined)
2257 yards 59% compl 11 TDs 12 Ints

Dobbs
2291 yards 59.6% 15 TDs 5 Ints


This is light years apart?

Clearly Dobbs was the better QB but under no circumstance are they a pass oriented team. UT depends on the run and as part of that the threat of the QB to run. Just stopping his running doesn't mean that it didn't affect your defense.

Look we've all played football and we mostly know about the same as each other. Argue and disagree all you want about the the game as we all have our observations and opinions but questioning someones knowledge is pushing it. Normally when I see that the person doing it knows the least.

Grumpy's been on here for a while now and I often disagree but I never question his knowledge. He seems quite knowledgeable to me. And to his point it wasn't about the similarities between UT and Auburn's systems it was more about the similarity in their situation if they lose their starter. Dobbs really is that important to UT. Even if you shut him down the fact that you need to shut him down affects your defense. Losing Dobbs probably will impact UT as much as the QB struggles at Auburn did them a year ago. Dobbs is really that good.

 

[PowerPlay66]

I agree with the post above, I could see Dobbs being the best QB in the sec this yr

 

[rwtcat123]

When Butch Jones was considering KY I did not want him because I did not like his run first approach from the spread and had no confidence it would work at KY in the SEC. However, after watching him at UT I do believe he likes to throw it MORE than Gus at Auburn.

I also believe Dobbs is a capable passer that becomes more dangerous because he can run better than anyone else in the SEC.

I do not believe the UT offense is light years ahead of Auburn throwing the ball but it is MORE open.

I think the TRUTH is somewhere in the middle.

Dobbs
2291 yards 59.6% 15 TDs 5 Ints


This is light years apart?

Clearly Dobbs was the better QB but under no circumstance are they a pass oriented team. UT depends on the run and as part of that the threat of the QB to run. Just stopping his running doesn't mean that it didn't affect your defense.

Look we've all played football and we mostly know about the same as each other. Argue and disagree all you want about the the game as we all have our observations and opinions but questioning someones knowledge is pushing it. Normally when I see that the person doing it knows the least.

Grumpy's been on here for a while now and I often disagree but I never question his knowledge. He seems quite knowledgeable to me. And to his point it wasn't about the similarities between UT and Auburn's systems it was more about the similarity in their situation if they lose their starter. Dobbs really is that important to UT. Even if you shut him down the fact that you need to shut him down affects your defense. Losing Dobbs probably will impact UT as much as the QB struggles at Auburn did them a year ago. Dobbs is really that good.[/QUOTE]

 

[Blue Decade]

Hopefully UK can make it to a bowl game and also beat UF this year.

Someday, Kentucky will beat Florida again. I'm thinking 2017. I don't think it will happen in the swamp this year.

 

[Blue Decade]

The real ones, not the way too early rankings. Cats were #56, about where most pre-season rankings put them. They project a bowl eligible 6 win season for the Cats. However, of the 6 teams ranked above them, the lowest ranked was #41 MSU, a "gap" of 15 spots. OTOH, UK "outranks" 3 opponents by fairly close margins; Vandy (#57), Mizzou (#62) and SC (#63). USM is #68.

Peace

In mentioning the close preseason rankings of Kentucky, Mississippi State, Vandy, Missouri, South Carolina, Southern Miss, you imply the success of our season hinges on outcomes of those 5 games. You are probably right. Some Kentucky fans dream about beating Florida in the swamp, but that probably won't happen. Missouri is away, but we catch Southern Miss, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Vandy at home. That fact is the only aspect of Kentucky's 2016 schedule that I regard as favorable. If we go 4-1 in these 5 games, then you are looking at a 6-6 season and a likely bowl. But 4-1 in these 5 games will be a lot harder than people think. And if we go 3-2 in these 5 games, then it's another 5-7 season unless we can handle Louisville on the road in the final. Which would be a replay of last year. 5-7 is my prediction for this year. Although I expect 7-5 or 8-4 in 2017, many of our negative fans will go berserk if we finish 5-7 again this year.

 

[BigBluePhantom]

In mentioning the close preseason rankings of Kentucky, Mississippi State, Vandy, Missouri, South Carolina, Southern Miss, you imply the success of our season hinges on outcomes of those 5 games. You are probably right. Some Kentucky fans dream about beating Florida in the swamp, but that probably won't happen. Missouri is away, but we catch Southern Miss, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Vandy at home. That fact is the only aspect of Kentucky's 2016 schedule that I regard as favorable. If we go 4-1 in these 5 games, then you are looking at a 6-6 season and a likely bowl. But 4-1 in these 5 games will be a lot harder than people think. And if we go 3-2 in these 5 games, then it's another 5-7 season unless we can handle Louisville on the road in the final. Which would be a replay of last year. 5-7 is my prediction for this year. Although I expect 7-5 or 8-4 in 2017, many of our negative fans will go berserk if we finish 5-7 again this year.

Spot on. The two games in my opinion that could be season changers are Southern Miss and Florida. Lose the opener and 4 wins could be our ceiling but pull out a win in the Swamp and we could easily be playing the dirtybirds for win number 8.

The other dynamic you talk about is a huge headache for Stoops. 2017 should be the year we break out. However, Stoops has to find a way to get to 6 wins this year because another 5 win season is likely to cause a massive implosion with the fan base. While Stoop's job should and probably will be secure, the media, message boards, call-in shows and opposing coaches are going to make it seem like his seat is very hot. This could have big impact on recruiting. He needs one more year but in many ways he has to perform this year.

 

[Blue Decade]

Spot on. The two games in my opinion that could be season changers are Southern Miss and Florida. Lose the opener and 4 wins could be our ceiling but pull out a win in the Swamp and we could easily be playing the dirtybirds for win number 8.

The other dynamic you talk about is a huge headache for Stoops. 2017 should be the year we break out. However, Stoops has to find a way to get to 6 wins this year because another 5 win season is likely to cause a massive implosion with the fan base. While Stoop's job should and probably will be secure, the media, message boards, call-in shows and opposing coaches are going to make it seem like his seat is very hot. This could have big impact on recruiting. He needs one more year but in many ways he has to perform this year.

I don't see us beating Florida in the swamp this year. In my opinion, people expecting that are setting themselves up for major disappointment. Stoops is not on the hot seat at all. His contract runs through 2020 and he will get at least 2 more seasons. He will have 19-20 starters scheduled to return in 2017, which should be a good year for Kentucky football. He doesn't need to find a way to get 6 wins this year, although that would be nice. But I am not expecting more than 5 wins this year, and it would be a good thing if some of our fans would look at the experience level on our roster (9 seniors) and cut out the complaining.

 

[WildCard]

In mentioning the close preseason rankings of Kentucky, Mississippi State, Vandy, Missouri, South Carolina, Southern Miss, you imply the success of our season hinges on outcomes of those 5 games. You are probably right. Some Kentucky fans dream about beating Florida in the swamp, but that probably won't happen. Missouri is away, but we catch Southern Miss, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Vandy at home. That fact is the only aspect of Kentucky's 2016 schedule that I regard as favorable. If we go 4-1 in these 5 games, then you are looking at a 6-6 season and a likely bowl. But 4-1 in these 5 games will be a lot harder than people think. And if we go 3-2 in these 5 games, then it's another 5-7 season unless we can handle Louisville on the road in the final. Which would be a replay of last year. 5-7 is my prediction for this year. Although I expect 7-5 or 8-4 in 2017, many of our negative fans will go berserk if we finish 5-7 again this year.

Yes, that is true. But I respectfully disagree about "how difficult" it will be to go 4-1 vs MSU, Vandy, MO, SC and USM. No, it won't be as easy as beating NM State and Austin Peay but, barring a flood of injuries or the unexpected "emergence" of one of those teams as a "power", they all look like very winnable games. Consider...

None of those teams figure into any top 25 projections. Other than MSU (?) all are "basically on par" with UK. (We will get a better indication when Steele releases his 2016 pre-season numbers later this month)
Four of those games are in CWS.
Three of those teams have new HCs and staffs; Stoops is "senior" to all but Mullen
Cats ARE favored against USM and will likely be favored in some other games as well​

There is not a lot of margin for error but that is always the case in a 12 game season. In a way it depends on what you are playing for. There is not a lot of margin for error for AL, Clemson, FSU, et. al. relative to what they are playing for (i.e., NC).

Just go out and play good football. If the Cats are truly improving I don't think expecting 6 wins is asking too much. But I do think there is/will be a HUGE difference (in fan perception of the direction of the program) between winning 5 and winning 6 this year. Stoops will get 5 years regardless but should the Cats fail to win 6 game this year, he will join John Ray as the only coach since Bear Bryant to not have a 6 win season in his first 4 years.

And I think that would create real concern about whether things are on the right track. JMO

Peace