Gran has confidence in Johnson to throw the ball, question is does he trust his receivers?

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,146
25,082
113
UGA game was a bad game...but I've not seen a bunch of drops in other games by receivers. Juice hasn't had a great year.

Mizzou game we played a clean game catching the ball, So Miss game was very clean and NMSU game as well. Other than that, our receivers haven't been thrown to enough to warrant they aren't catching the ball well enough.

I truly think it is more about Shaky Stephen Johnson moreso than WR core why we don't throw it more.
 

Deeeefense

Heisman
Staff member
Aug 22, 2001
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Other than the big drop/interception against UGA Badet has had something close to an all conference year IMO considering how little we throw the ball. None of the other receivers have really been targeted enough to judge them. It's obvious Badet is Johnson's goto guy.

I agree that the play calling is driven by a combination of really being successful with the run, and worried that SJ could make an costly mistake at an inappropriate time. I think this week however the coaches are going to have to put Johnson on a longer leash.
 

LeonThe Camel

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May 3, 2016
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Some interesting stats:
PASSING YARDAGE 1571
Comp-Att-Int 114-206-9
Average Per Pass 7.6
Average Per Catch 13.8
Average Per Game 174.6
TDs Passing 11

PASSING GP-GS Effic Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yards TD Long Avg/G
Stephen Johnson 8-6 127.4 93-166-4 56.0 1231 7 72 153.9
Drew Barker 3-3 136.8 18-36-5 50.0 334 4 72 111.3

Johnson has passed 130 more times than Barker and has 1 less interception. Let him throw the ball. If you take a look at the average passes per game, giving Baker 2-1/2 games, he averages about 14 passes per game. Johnson (6-1/2 games) is averaging about 25.

RECEIVING GP-GS No. Yards Avg TD Long Avg/G
Garrett Johnson 9-8 27 339 12.6 2 53 37.7
Jeff Badet 9-9 22 530 24.1 4 72 58.9
Ryan Timmons 9-2 14 164 11.7 0 32 18.2
C.J. Conrad 9-7 13 195 15.0 3 72 21.7
T. Richardson 9-5 7 137 19.6 0 41 15.2
Dorian Baker 6-4 7 90 12.9 0 31 15.0
S. Williams 9-8 7 48 6.9 1 15 5.3
Greg Hart 9-0 5 31 6.2 0 11 3.4
Sihiem King 9-0 3 14 4.7 0 11 1.6
Blake Bone 7-0 2 14 7.0 0 9 2.0
Kayaune Ross 6-0 2 10 5.0 1 9 1.7
Jojo Kemp 6-1 2 5 2.5 0 4 0.8
Charles Walker 9-0 1 7 7.0 0 7 0.8
Stephen Johnson 8-6 1 -3 -3.0 0 0 -0.4
A. MacGinnis 9-1 1 -10 -10.0 0 0 -1.1
Total.......... 9 114 1571 13.8 11 72 174.6
 
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WildCard

All-American
May 29, 2001
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I would have to hear Gran's statement to get some idea of the "context" of same but it certainly appears to be your usual case coach speak (i.e., speak positively about your team and players).

Statistically, UK is #118 in pass attempts/game and #117 in passing play % at 36.7% which does not show much confidence in the passing game. It all begins with the QB but, regardless of reason (i.e., passing, catching, protecting), the staff has obviously decided that passing the ball is not their best offensive option.

Peace
 
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vhcat70

Heisman
Feb 5, 2003
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It shows more confidence in our run game which is quite good. Someone going to dispute that? So what if there's less confidence in the pass game? Doesn't mean there's a lack of confidence. If running so much is showing a lack of confidence in anything, to me it's the D since running effectively reduces the plays the D is on the field. If you want the D on the field more, by all means go full-in on Air Raid & try to score as quick as possible.
 
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Oct 31, 2016
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Stoops is a defensive coach, and frankly wants his unit on the bench as much as possible, that explains the run/pass ratio. If his defense is exposed for over half the game, they will collapse in the 4th quarter. Unfortunately, he ties the OC's hands with his heavy run emphasis, and frankly, Johnson has not been that bad this year throwing the ball. You cant beat Georgia, Tennessee or other upper echelon SEC teams by running the Wildcat over and over and over/
 

vhcat70

Heisman
Feb 5, 2003
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Stoops is a defensive coach, and frankly wants his unit on the bench as much as possible, that explains the run/pass ratio. If his defense is exposed for over half the game, they will collapse in the 4th quarter. Unfortunately, he ties the OC's hands with his heavy run emphasis, and frankly, Johnson has not been that bad this year throwing the ball. You cant beat Georgia, Tennessee or other upper echelon SEC teams by running the Wildcat over and over and over/
Agree with all but with your last sentence. UK had highest rushing yards of any team against Uga all year. And the wildcat wasn't why we lost that close game. Try the WR's first.

I expect as much wc against TN as against Uga IF we're being as successful.
 

Poetax

Heisman
Apr 4, 2002
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Other than the big drop/interception against UGA Badet has had something close to an all conference year IMO considering how little we throw the ball. None of the other receivers have really been targeted enough to judge them. It's obvious Badet is Johnson's goto guy.

I agree that the play calling is driven by a combination of really being successful with the run, and worried that SJ could make an costly mistake at an inappropriate time. I think this week however the coaches are going to have to put Johnson on a longer leash.

Yep, why pass when they can't stop the run.
 

Poetax

Heisman
Apr 4, 2002
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Stoops is a defensive coach, and frankly wants his unit on the bench as much as possible, that explains the run/pass ratio. If his defense is exposed for over half the game, they will collapse in the 4th quarter. Unfortunately, he ties the OC's hands with his heavy run emphasis, and frankly, Johnson has not been that bad this year throwing the ball. You cant beat Georgia, Tennessee or other upper echelon SEC teams by running the Wildcat over and over and over/

It maybe a by-product, but we have never been this good with the run.
 
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Black Diamond Cat

All-Conference
Apr 9, 2016
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We are going to have to pas Sat. against UT, this will open up the running game even more, especially with play action passes.
We need to have 200 plus yds. both running and passing to have a chance to win IMO.
 

JasonRDunn

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2008
1,761
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Some interesting stats:
PASSING YARDAGE 1571
Comp-Att-Int 114-206-9
Average Per Pass 7.6
Average Per Catch 13.8
Average Per Game 174.6
TDs Passing 11

PASSING GP-GS Effic Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yards TD Long Avg/G
Stephen Johnson 8-6 127.4 93-166-4 56.0 1231 7 72 153.9
Drew Barker 3-3 136.8 18-36-5 50.0 334 4 72 111.3

Johnson has passed 130 more times than Barker and has 1 less interception. Let him throw the ball. If you take a look at the average passes per game, giving Baker 2-1/2 games, he averages about 14 passes per game. Johnson (6-1/2 games) is averaging about 25.

Thanks for the numbers. For comparison, here are Towles numbers last year:

SEASON CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPG YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT
2015 183 326 2148 56.1 204 6.59 53 9 14 25 112.0

So, depending on if you thought the OC trusted Towles to throw last year, I don't see a huge difference between the two.
 

Burly

All-American
Sep 3, 2002
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They don't trust him to throw over middle or run with the ball. He needs to do both for us to beat UT....don't count on it. We will play not to lose and hang in there and hope UT makes the mistakes late
 

Glenn Fohr

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Jan 5, 2003
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I don't want us to go in there and play not to lose. Go in there like we own the place and win the damn game!
 
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mtn cat1

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
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I don't want us to go in there and play not to lose. Go in there like we own the place and win the damn game!
Bravo, Be aggressive, Take the action to UT, MAKE THEM DEFEND THE PASS AS WELL AS THE RUN!!!!!!!
 

jauk11

Heisman
Dec 6, 2006
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Watched the Washington game Saturday and #1 (forgot name) caught three long TD passes and the announcers were raving about him, then the QB hit him with a perfect pass with no one close (easier than Badet's) and he dropped it. Saw another perfect one dropped in another game. It happens.
 

frost1

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Dec 21, 2001
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I predict our first offense play Sat. Is a pass. we must pass more. Hope to see some run sweeps, & drop off to backs in the flat. Love what the running backs are doing, but, they sure do need help in the passing game.
 
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