Here's how we get sucked in

[billoliver40]

During practice and scrimmage, our Offensive line looked SEC caliber. Truth is they did that because they were performing against what seems to be one of the poorest front sevens in power five schools. When a couple of our highly touted o-line recruits can't break the starting or two deep. Against our defense......well....something is amiss.
Trouble is our coaching staff watches these scrimmages and they get sucked in too.

Somebody has to get better.
Barker will be fine if he survives. The receivers will be fine if they work with a quarterback that will likely have two seconds to pass. The tight ends will be fine as long as they realize they are actually undersized linemen that have to stay in and block.

 

[vhcat70]

During practice and scrimmage, our Offensive line looked SEC caliber. Truth is they did that because they were performing against what seems to be one of the poorest front sevens in power five schools. .................something is amiss.
Trouble is our coaching staff watches these scrimmages and they get sucked in too.

I was thinking same thing yesterday & earlier today. My question though is why the coaches can't see their deficiencies independent of line against line?

 

[ukalum1988]

I was thinking same thing yesterday & earlier today. My question though is why the coaches can't see their deficiencies independent of line against line?

Perhaps it's the phenomenon known as "groupthink", where a group member will have their doubts about a situation, but won't speak up for concern of upsetting the group dynamics.

 

[Blue Decade]

During practice and scrimmage, our Offensive line looked SEC caliber. Truth is they did that because they were performing against what seems to be one of the poorest front sevens in power five schools. When a couple of our highly touted o-line recruits can't break the starting or two deep. Against our defense......well....something is amiss.
Trouble is our coaching staff watches these scrimmages and they get sucked in too.

Somebody has to get better.
Barker will be fine if he survives. The receivers will be fine if they work with a quarterback that will likely have two seconds to pass. The tight ends will be fine as long as they realize they are actually undersized linemen that have to stay in and block.

I disagree with most of this. Our coaches knew our defensive front 7 is a problem. Once Meant left in early August, it was easy to see concern about our defensive line in Stoops' comments. The big tactical mistake in the game was failing to establish our running game. I get why Gran wanted to establish Barker's confidence in the passing game. But Southern Miss ran 95 plays, and we ran only 50. This stat told the story of the game. It happened because Southern Miss ran the football well, and we didn't. So our defense was gassed. If we had run the football effectively, then their defense would have been gassed and Mullens and Ito would have sat on the sideline. I didn't like Gran's game plan, and I actually felt that way when we were up 28-7. Stoops is saying we played 1 half of excellent football, but the tactical mistakes in our game plan actually set up the game outcome.

 

[Stenchymouse]

I disagree with most of this. Our coaches knew our defensive front 7 is a problem. Once Meant left in early August, it was easy to see concern about our defensive line in Stoops' comments. The big tactical mistake in the game was failing to establish our running game. I get why Gran wanted to establish Barker's confidence in the passing game. But Southern Miss ran 95 plays, and we ran only 50. This stat told the story of the game. It happened because Southern Miss ran the football well, and we didn't. So our defense was gassed. If we had run the football effectively, then their defense would have been gassed and Mullens and Ito would have sat on the sideline. I didn't like Gran's game plan, and I actually felt that way when we were up 28-7. Stoops is saying we played 1 half of excellent football, but the tactical mistakes in our game plan actually set up the game outcome.

Gran tried to establish the run in the 2nd half, but it kept setting up 3rd and long situations.

Our Oline was not good at all on Saturday.

 

[billoliver40]

I doubt any coach wants to say out loud that their group is in really bad shape. That damages a lot of things.

This coaching crew is going to have to get really creative to be able to have any chance at all. On defense, blitz until you can't stand it. You'll get burned, but if you're plugging the gaps maybe you get some three and outs. On offense, shift to the west coast packages out of the pro sets. Quick hitters and keep the O-line from having to be bulldozers or hold the block as long. A two yard pass and three yard run after catch is as good as a five yard run and keeps the linebackers from jamming the line.....and gets some matchup with our strong suit....the receivers and quicker backs...that may loosen things up for the running game.


Or just get a stronger legged punter.

 

[billoliver40]

I disagree with most of this. Our coaches knew our defensive front 7 is a problem. Once Meant left in early August, it was easy to see concern about our defensive line in Stoops' comments. The big tactical mistake in the game was failing to establish our running game. I get why Gran wanted to establish Barker's confidence in the passing game. But Southern Miss ran 95 plays, and we ran only 50. This stat told the story of the game. It happened because Southern Miss ran the football well, and we didn't. So our defense was gassed. If we had run the football effectively, then their defense would have been gassed and Mullens and Ito would have sat on the sideline. I didn't like Gran's game plan, and I actually felt that way when we were up 28-7. Stoops is saying we played 1 half of excellent football, but the tactical mistakes in our game plan actually set up the game outcome.

ThIs logical enough, but sooner or later a defense has to stop the other team. Continual long drives fueled by two running backs WILL wear down a defense. Asking an offense to hold back or burn the clock.....shorten the game if you will....could work I suppose. You have to be able to stop someone though.

 

[Kats23]

The offense wasn't the problem on Saturday

 

[Fast3ddy88]

I disagree with most of this. Our coaches knew our defensive front 7 is a problem. Once Meant left in early August, it was easy to see concern about our defensive line in Stoops' comments. The big tactical mistake in the game was failing to establish our running game. I get why Gran wanted to establish Barker's confidence in the passing game. But Southern Miss ran 95 plays, and we ran only 50. This stat told the story of the game. It happened because Southern Miss ran the football well, and we didn't. So our defense was gassed. If we had run the football effectively, then their defense would have been gassed and Mullens and Ito would have sat on the sideline. I didn't like Gran's game plan, and I actually felt that way when we were up 28-7. Stoops is saying we played 1 half of excellent football, but the tactical mistakes in our game plan actually set up the game outcome.

No way we're up 28-7 and you said to yourself our offense needs to slow down.

 

[billoliver40]

like one guy pointed out.....southern miss defense didn't seem to be slowing up in the second half when their offense was turning the scoreboard into a pinball machine.

 

[gamecockcat]

I wondered why we didn't run some screens our shallow crossing patterns in the 2nd half to get USM back on their heels a bit. Seemed like they were run blitzing on early downs and then just pinning their ears back on 3rd down. And we kind of played right into it.

 

[K_TIME]

The offense wasn't the problem on Saturday

This is what has amused me about UK football fans for years...we've had maybe 1 good defensive squad in last 20 years (2004 Brooks team the year Hartline was a first year starter with Jarmon, Pryor, Peters, Lindley, Braxton Kelly,etc...). But in that same 20 years we've had quite a few good offensive teams...last 2 years of Woodson, last year of Hartline, JLO years, Tim Couch years, etc..but fans always latch onto to desiring more offense to win games.

Last night we scored 35 (and all of those points early...not in mop up scrub time). That is more than enough to win...but here we stand and 1/2 the posts are about offensive playcalling,etc...this loss was 90% on defense and defense alone.

 

[jc2010]

I disagree with most of this. Our coaches knew our defensive front 7 is a problem. Once Meant left in early August, it was easy to see concern about our defensive line in Stoops' comments. The big tactical mistake in the game was failing to establish our running game. I get why Gran wanted to establish Barker's confidence in the passing game. But Southern Miss ran 95 plays, and we ran only 50. This stat told the story of the game. It happened because Southern Miss ran the football well, and we didn't. So our defense was gassed. If we had run the football effectively, then their defense would have been gassed and Mullens and Ito would have sat on the sideline. I didn't like Gran's game plan, and I actually felt that way when we were up 28-7. Stoops is saying we played 1 half of excellent football, but the tactical mistakes in our game plan actually set up the game outcome.

Those long scoring drives USM mounted are what gassed the defense

 

[TACcat7]

The defense had the option plenty of times in the 3rd quarter to get a stop before they were "gassed." They had that option and failed. It's on them.

 

[StubbornPenny]

I'm sure Gran would love to establish a run game, but we have a RB who gets yards in large chunks but not consistently from down to down, an adequate Kemp, and the worst OL of all time.