Has this off-season's positive momentum helped your outlook?
- Thread starter ZenCatFan73
- Start date
I feel much better about the offense. Not sure at all that the defense will be improved or even serviceable. But I am looking forward to the season far more than I was two months ago.
I think that almost every year our outlook ends up getting a boost. The question is how much of a boost do we get heading into the new season? Under Joker the problem was that we would play poorly and then nothing would boost the confidence too much. Now, we at least aren't playing extremely well, but the results of recruiting coupled with the new coaches are giving is a new lease on quite a bit of confidence. If nothing else the optimism is there simply to see just how different we might look under a new OC.
I'm definitely excited we get to have a Spring Game this year. Can't make too much of those, but will be good to at least see the offense.
The offense is in better hands, IMHO. However, it will take 2 years to really see the improvement. Ditto in regards to all of the recently signed players. That doesn't mean that there wont be any improvement this fall, it just means that learning a new system & bringing in new players will take some time. IOW, be realistic with your expectations.
Always does until the season starts. I had thought both Brown and Dawson were the answers to the offense. Now I'm hoping Gran works wonders.
The thing is, the Cats should have been bowling this year had our offense even just stayed the same as it had the previous year. But no, we regressed, to the tune of 7pts/game less.
Gran and Hinshaw have the PROVEN ability to mold this offense into something lethal.
I was really down at the end of the year, like ready to give up on the team, program, etc down. But the moves that have been made have shown me that I should still have faith in Stoops getting it done. Lots of things happened last year that derailed our natural maturation as a team. Hopefully these moves gets that back, along with the influx of additional talent.
No more Jokers guys. It's all Stoops guys now. Let's see how they respond to the adversity they've had so far. I believe they will. But they gotta FINISH. They've started GREAT the past two years now it's time to finish.
Gran and Hinshaw have the PROVEN ability to mold this offense into something lethal.
I was really down at the end of the year, like ready to give up on the team, program, etc down. But the moves that have been made have shown me that I should still have faith in Stoops getting it done. Lots of things happened last year that derailed our natural maturation as a team. Hopefully these moves gets that back, along with the influx of additional talent.
No more Jokers guys. It's all Stoops guys now. Let's see how they respond to the adversity they've had so far. I believe they will. But they gotta FINISH. They've started GREAT the past two years now it's time to finish.
When Stoops was hired, I predicted that Stoops would take to yr 3 to get to 6-6. Because of taking 3 yrs to make it to a bowl, I thought that the recruiting class would suffer just a little. I was very pleasantly surprised to see the recruiting maintained even though we didn't make a bowl game.....and the way our performance suffered the last 1/2 of the yr.
As of right now, I'm cautiously optimistic. We've had waaaaaaaay too many coaches who have got us 4-5 wins a yr throughout the last 60+ yrs. We haven't had any coaches who have recruited this well on paper. So, because of the recruiting prowess and the improvement in school commitment (facilities, etc), I'm certainly willing to be more patient than I normally would.
But let's be honest, he has to start winning soon.
As of right now, I'm cautiously optimistic. We've had waaaaaaaay too many coaches who have got us 4-5 wins a yr throughout the last 60+ yrs. We haven't had any coaches who have recruited this well on paper. So, because of the recruiting prowess and the improvement in school commitment (facilities, etc), I'm certainly willing to be more patient than I normally would.
But let's be honest, he has to start winning soon.
Yep, like others I was starting to lose hope the way we finished the year for the second time in 2 years. I was beginning to get that feeling of " we're never going to get over the hump" but with the new hires on offense and the new S&C coach I'm back looking forward to spring practice and even more what kind of improvements we can make over the summer in S&C.
Actually makes me wonder if we wouldn't be better off with Gran at HC. Concerned that, in year three, we're still having discipline issues and now things have changed.
IDK about that, but IF Stoops ever leaves UK (for whatever reason), Gran should seriously be considered for the HC job, IMHO.
I am so fired up for this season! I got a bigger TV, and upgraded to the HD package!
Sure I am more optimistic now than end of season.
1. Keeping the entire class save Kobie Smith was a huge boost. Coming off of last year's class falling apart...to keep this class together was a bit of a surprise to me.
2. I never bought into Dawson as it was always Holgerson that ran the WVU offense....it was more of hope Dawson could translate to UK. Hinshaw and Gran are way more proven commodities to get that side of ball to play better.
Still not sold of a number of UK coaches...Stoops as head man is still a ?, Schlarman is not a good coach IMO and Elliot...I have no idea what he's adding to UK. But can't argue talent is improving which is really important.
1. Keeping the entire class save Kobie Smith was a huge boost. Coming off of last year's class falling apart...to keep this class together was a bit of a surprise to me.
2. I never bought into Dawson as it was always Holgerson that ran the WVU offense....it was more of hope Dawson could translate to UK. Hinshaw and Gran are way more proven commodities to get that side of ball to play better.
Still not sold of a number of UK coaches...Stoops as head man is still a ?, Schlarman is not a good coach IMO and Elliot...I have no idea what he's adding to UK. But can't argue talent is improving which is really important.
Very,very little...but trying to upgrade season tics and will be attending all road games so the support is still there at this time although I refuse to let my excitement get ahead of results with the current staff in place
I think that is a healthy stance. I try to be a realist with UK football. I knew when Joker only won 6 games with a senior Hartline Jr Cobb Senior Matthews and King with Locke at rb he was not the guy for the job. I have not had a moment where I say that with Stoops. If they would have kept Dawson we would have won 4 or 5 games again. Gran will actually use the weapons we have to his advantage.
I'm on hold, waiting to see them on the field, before getting too hopeful. I want to get excited again and feeling that the changes will bring improvement but the way the past two seasons ended have me very guarded ablut being to feel more positive too soon. Gotta see it for real.
The minute I heard Dawson was out, the up n coming season then started to look far better. When I knew we hired Gran it got even better again.
I'm encouraged that rather than trying hide the problems and make excuses, they maned up and admitted there were problems and took an aggressive approach towards resolving them. It's yet to be seen if this will be a different team in the fall but at least there is some logic to believe that it could be.
Also keeping this recruiting class together was a huge positive and the fact that all these quality players stuck with Stoops and UK is an endorsement of him and the program.
Also keeping this recruiting class together was a huge positive and the fact that all these quality players stuck with Stoops and UK is an endorsement of him and the program.
- I totally agree with Dawson. Was disappointed when he was hired. Thought it was more Stoops trying to find a OC similar to what brown ran to continue the progress that Brown had made with the offense. Last year was the year the offense under Brown was supposed to really take off. I honestly believe had Brown not left for a HC job, we would have won at LEAST, the Vandy and Louisville games. And I believe our defense with the help of a competent offense would have looked a lot better. The defense always seems to loose a strength going into the next year and upgrade at another but hasn't seemed to have the depth to have at least serviceable back ups. That's changing for sure. Linebackers I truly believe will be a strengthen the coming season. Thought they were a weakness last year. D-line was a strength during Duprees year, but degressed this year. Secondary was young. Really think our defensive unit as whole last year was weaker across the board than the first and second units stoops put on the field. And it was mostly because we lost valuable players and had only youth or less talented experience to back it up. I believe this will be our best offensive and defensive units together at the same time since Stoops has been here. We will go bowling this year, but prolly barley at like 6-6. That's only because the schedule is tougher. Should make a real nice push the year following. It was a huge downer last year because we should have made a bowl and everyone including the coaches expected it. The season went to **** with the hire and failure of Shannon Dawson. We got Brown on more year, we are never having this conversation.
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Yes. We should be quite a bit improved on offense and the D should be at least as good as last year which, imo, was good enough. I believe this years team would have won 8(UofL, Vandy, Florida, Auburn) against last year's schedule.. Thing is that they don't get to play that very mild schedule. I expect 6 wins this year. That gets us to a bowl and gives this staff something to build on.
Yes! And after being led to be so optimistic going into last year I was pretty low! But the $$ keeps coming in, that and the coaching changes had moved my needle forward again!
I am cautiously optimistic. I have been excited every off season that Stoops has been here. If we can get some good D line play this year then I think we will take another step forward. I look for the offense to be improved and the defense to be improved as well. My biggest hope is that we can recruit some D linemen the quality of the O linemen we have recently brought in, that is what it will take to get us to us to another level. Of course special teams must improve, but I think that with better overall depth and athleticism that we now have, that will resolve itself as well. All I want to see is improvement, keep teams like UT and Bama and Georgia from blowing us out, beating the teams we should beat and not have games like we did against EKU and Vandy last year. As many have said, we may have a better team, but not a better record. I for one am hoping for 6 wins and an outside shot at 7 with some luck and improvement. Attitude is everything.
Several things had to happen in order to have the momentum continue;
Stoops had to keep the recruiting class together
Staff changes had to be made
The QB situation had to be addressed
Wholesale transfers had to be avoided
It appears that all these things have happened,Gran and Hinshaw are bigger upgrades than we might have expected,the class stayed together plus the addition of Johnson and Hoak getting here at mid term were things that really helped. It looks like most of our guys are sticking with us. I think Stoops has done all he can at this time to give us a chance to surpass last year.
Now it comes down to work in the weight room,player development and a year of player maturity to answer the question of how much better we can be next season.
I am in the camp that thinks we can make a push and see a better product on the field that will translate into better results on the scoreboard.
Stoops had to keep the recruiting class together
Staff changes had to be made
The QB situation had to be addressed
Wholesale transfers had to be avoided
It appears that all these things have happened,Gran and Hinshaw are bigger upgrades than we might have expected,the class stayed together plus the addition of Johnson and Hoak getting here at mid term were things that really helped. It looks like most of our guys are sticking with us. I think Stoops has done all he can at this time to give us a chance to surpass last year.
Now it comes down to work in the weight room,player development and a year of player maturity to answer the question of how much better we can be next season.
I am in the camp that thinks we can make a push and see a better product on the field that will translate into better results on the scoreboard.
after literally decades, this last season was close to the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back . . . but I felt the last 2 years was not so much on the players as it was on, what is to me inept coaching . . . in almost every phase of the game. With that being said, the hiring of Gran has me cautiously optimistic . . . I think he possesses the experience and abilities that may be able to address every shortcoming we have had both on the field, and just as importantly, off the field . . . GBB
Overall I'm ready. We need a good wide receiver coach. We should have gone bowling this year except for a peewee football play to a wide receiver no one saw on the sideline for the easiest TD scored against us I've seen.
I believe that we are building a foundation that will allow UK to compete successfully in the SEC. Most of us expected to see on the field improvement by year 3 or 4. We didn't see it last year.
But I think 2015 was a lost year, due to poor coaching, team dissension, and other factors discussed many times on this board. Not a complete loss, since the younger players got a year older, bigger and stronger, and more experienced.
So I am not looking at this as year 4, but rather as year 3 1/2. I think we are progressing toward our goal - I just think it will take us a little longer than we had hoped. I am very optimistic about where we will be two years from now.
But I think 2015 was a lost year, due to poor coaching, team dissension, and other factors discussed many times on this board. Not a complete loss, since the younger players got a year older, bigger and stronger, and more experienced.
So I am not looking at this as year 4, but rather as year 3 1/2. I think we are progressing toward our goal - I just think it will take us a little longer than we had hoped. I am very optimistic about where we will be two years from now.
I was so excited about the Stoops era but by the end of last year I was completely deflated. I said then there was no way I would renew season tics however I already have. The team looked to me to be terribly coached last year and I am not gonna blame it all on Dawson, the head man is the guy ultimately responsible, as much as I like Stoops and want to see him succeed here I'm gonna have to see much better results on the field to become a believer once again.Many on this forum are hanging their hats on Coaches recruiting successes as proof that the program is turning around but on the field I am not seeing it. I am not talking about wins and loses but in competitiveness and solid coaching decisions. So I guess I am in "show me" mode now!
Depends in large degree how are weight lifting coach works out, I understand he is real good......he did an outstanding job at Indiana.............:football::boxing:......Mark my word how good summer workouts go in the weight room will tell a lot....[thumb2]
Yep, us football junkies are all trackin' with you...
For me Gran/Hinshaw is equivalent to Coach Cal post Tubby era--I don't worry anymore because we're in good hands...
Not even concerned about QB play because those two will scheme, devise, scribble in dirt (whatever it takes), to be productive...
However, my biggest concern is D-Line--we're woefully behind the SEC power curve--watchin' an earlier posted video (on this board) of ELAM and his "muffin top" on steroids, only solidifies in my mind that we need to UPGRADE all across the line...and not by UK standards, but by SEC...
Go CATS!
I do believe that ME must make a major step up next fall for the defense to be as good as it needs to be
I was seriously considering dropping tickets after the deflation of the end of last year - V was just awful & the LV come back after our big lead. But, the Gran & Hinshaw hires were a major step forward. I think they can do wonders with lesser talent. Net, I'm giving it another shot.