Is the schedule really that much more difficult than last season?
- Thread starter wildcatman26
- Start date
I've never understood the fear & doom of our sched this yr as compared to last. Bama our rotating west opponent on the road, whoooo, so scary. This time last year everyone assumed our west rotating opponent Auburn at home was a likely loss, so what's different?
I voted "about the same". We need to beat USCjr and Missouri again this year and we should. Assuming we lose all the games we lost last year, it comes down to Vandy. If we had beat Vandy(we should have) last year, we go bowling. If we beat Vandy this year at home, we go bowling. If we lose to either USCjr or Missouri, we can make it up by beating Miss St. We could beat any of Florida, MIss St or UofL but all would be upsets and we can't count on those. What we don't want to do for a 3rd year in a row is go into the UofL game needing a win to go bowling. A win there needs to be icing on the cake.
Of course the schedule is harder this year vs. last year...it would be nonsense to argue otherwise.
Tougher games by far:
1. Southern Miss replacing La Lafeyette (or any OOC foe). They are better than anything else. UK should still win but nonetheless...the game is harder.
2. UL on road vs. UL at home last year...UL is going be better this year vs. last year. Lamar Jackson should only get better and won games on athleticism alone for UL.
3. Alabama on road v.s Auburn at home last year. Auburn was a very winnable game...now that game is a very low shot at winning this year.
4. UT on road vs. UT at home....UT brings virtually 90% of their starters back and it's on the road. That game wasn't very winnable last year...UK has very low shot at winning this year.
5. UF was a winnable game at home with a new coachng staff for UF...I see UK having little shot of winning in the 'Swamp'.
Push:
1. Vandy on road vs. Vandy at home. UK lost a game I think we were more talanted last year. Vandy brings back a ton of 2 deep but the game transitions to Lexington. I think it's about the same odds as last year IMO.
2. UGA..UGA was a mess last year for a team that was preseason top 10 (yet still won 11 games). New coach but still a talent gap IMO. even though the game as not in Athens vs. Lexington...I just don't see this game being much different than last year.
3. Mizzou...it goes to a road game which may make it harder...but Mizzou outside of 2 very good defensive players..looks very poor talent wise across the board.
Easier:
1. For sure Miss St is looking to be an easier game. At home and no more Dak Prescott
2. USCjr is hard to call. At least it's at home again.
Tougher games by far:
1. Southern Miss replacing La Lafeyette (or any OOC foe). They are better than anything else. UK should still win but nonetheless...the game is harder.
2. UL on road vs. UL at home last year...UL is going be better this year vs. last year. Lamar Jackson should only get better and won games on athleticism alone for UL.
3. Alabama on road v.s Auburn at home last year. Auburn was a very winnable game...now that game is a very low shot at winning this year.
4. UT on road vs. UT at home....UT brings virtually 90% of their starters back and it's on the road. That game wasn't very winnable last year...UK has very low shot at winning this year.
5. UF was a winnable game at home with a new coachng staff for UF...I see UK having little shot of winning in the 'Swamp'.
Push:
1. Vandy on road vs. Vandy at home. UK lost a game I think we were more talanted last year. Vandy brings back a ton of 2 deep but the game transitions to Lexington. I think it's about the same odds as last year IMO.
2. UGA..UGA was a mess last year for a team that was preseason top 10 (yet still won 11 games). New coach but still a talent gap IMO. even though the game as not in Athens vs. Lexington...I just don't see this game being much different than last year.
3. Mizzou...it goes to a road game which may make it harder...but Mizzou outside of 2 very good defensive players..looks very poor talent wise across the board.
Easier:
1. For sure Miss St is looking to be an easier game. At home and no more Dak Prescott
2. USCjr is hard to call. At least it's at home again.
More winnable games at home this year than last year makes this a better schedule IMO. More of the games we are likely to lose are on the road - doesn't matter as much.
This is the correct way of looking at it. It makes no difference if UT beats us by more in Knoxville than they did last year in Lexington. It makes no difference if Alabama beats the crap out of us when Auburn barely pulled out the win. They are all losses and count the same at the end of the year when we either have a losing season that ends in November vs at least a break even season where we continue until the bowl game in December. Florida, UofL and UGA will probably all still be a losses. No difference. Southern Miss may or may not be a tougher game than Lafayette but it should still be a win. Missouri may or may not be a tougher game at their place but no way that out weighs the fact that Vandy, Miss St. and USCjr should be easier wins.
It is no different. I also don't understand the doom and gloom of this years schedule. Our rotating west opponent, regardless if we play them home or away is going to be a very tough game. Even if we had Arkansas, Bama, LSU, Ole Miss or Texas A&M this year instead of Bama, it would be an uphill battle. I've also always been a fan of when this game is on the road. Until we establish ourselves as a decent team again, no reason to waste a home game on a likely loss. Throw that game on the road. We have a VERY winnable home schedule:
Southern Miss
NMSU
South Carolina
Vandy
Mississippi State
Georgia
Austin Peay
We probably play 1 ranked team at home (Georgia), that is what you want. If you can win 6 of those 7, you're setting yourself up for progress. Compare that to last years home schedule:
UL Lafayette
Florida
Missouri
EKU
Auburn
Tennessee
Charlotte
Louisville
We did have 8 home games last year, but a much tougher group. I always want our most winnable games at home, period. If you look at our schedule this year and rank our opponents from most likely to least likely to win, here is my take on it:
Austin Peay - Home
NMSU - Home
Vandy - Home
Missouri - Away
Southern Miss - Home
South Carolina - Home
Mississippi State - Home
Louisville - Away
Florida - Away
Georgia - Home
Tennessee - Away
Alabama - Away
Schedule bodes well for making progress imo.
Southern Miss
NMSU
South Carolina
Vandy
Mississippi State
Georgia
Austin Peay
We probably play 1 ranked team at home (Georgia), that is what you want. If you can win 6 of those 7, you're setting yourself up for progress. Compare that to last years home schedule:
UL Lafayette
Florida
Missouri
EKU
Auburn
Tennessee
Charlotte
Louisville
We did have 8 home games last year, but a much tougher group. I always want our most winnable games at home, period. If you look at our schedule this year and rank our opponents from most likely to least likely to win, here is my take on it:
Austin Peay - Home
NMSU - Home
Vandy - Home
Missouri - Away
Southern Miss - Home
South Carolina - Home
Mississippi State - Home
Louisville - Away
Florida - Away
Georgia - Home
Tennessee - Away
Alabama - Away
Schedule bodes well for making progress imo.
Depends on where you cut off the comparison. Looking at all 12 games it's absolutely tougher. Looking at the 6 to 8 games that should be winnable it might actually be a little easier. Vandy and USC will be at home and Missouri and Miss State won't be as good as they were a year ago. The top 4 teams on the schedule are much much harder but from opponent #5 and down it's easier or the same. No question though that UT will be tougher, Florida tougher in the swamp and Alabama is much tougher than Auburn at home. UGA even though it will be at home this year I'd still rank that one also as harder since I expect UGA to be in better shape when we see them this year.
Could be playing in a girl's flag football league and some would say it's the toughest schedule eva!!
This is a bowl season....count on it.
This is a bowl season....count on it.
Steel's 2015 pre-season SOS for UK was #42. The final SOS was #64 (most likely due to pre-season Top 10 AU's on field mediocrity).
His 2016 pre-season SOS is #43. I don't see much difference there
His 2015 home field adjusted Plus/Minus rankings suggested a 5-7 season with UK a double digit 'dawg in 3 games (AU, MSU and @GA).
His 2016 home field adjusted Plus/Minus rankings suggest a 5-7 season with UK a double digit 'dawg in 4 games (@ FL, @ AL, @ TN and @ UofL).
I don't see too much difference there either, especially considering that leaves 8 "winnable games", 7 of which will be at home.
The 2014 second half collapse was due mainly to the fact that 5 of the last 6 opponents finished in the AP Top 25. The 1-6 finish last season was far more puzzling and troubling with only MSU and TN finishing in the Top 25.
Peace
His 2016 pre-season SOS is #43. I don't see much difference there
His 2015 home field adjusted Plus/Minus rankings suggested a 5-7 season with UK a double digit 'dawg in 3 games (AU, MSU and @GA).
His 2016 home field adjusted Plus/Minus rankings suggest a 5-7 season with UK a double digit 'dawg in 4 games (@ FL, @ AL, @ TN and @ UofL).
I don't see too much difference there either, especially considering that leaves 8 "winnable games", 7 of which will be at home.
The 2014 second half collapse was due mainly to the fact that 5 of the last 6 opponents finished in the AP Top 25. The 1-6 finish last season was far more puzzling and troubling with only MSU and TN finishing in the Top 25.
Peace
Very good analysis Wildcard.
I think in a nutshell it is accurate to say that last year's schedule set up better for us to potentially win 8 or 9 games but this year's schedule actually sets up better than last year's for us to win 6 or 7.
All in all, the schedules are about the same from year to year. The difference is going to be how much UK improves rather than how hard the competition is going to be.
Thank you and well said yourself. THAT (^^^) is a very good way to put it.
Peace
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Good stuff. It might be harder due to playing some good defenses early. If UK gets beat up at Florida and Alabama, or even takes some tough hits from a decent USM or a Muschamp USC, the more winnable games may get much tougher. UK is going to need to avoid key injuries in those early match- ups.
This schedule seems a lot more navigatable to me. I always want our almost certsin losses to be road games. Check
Also want it spread out. Check.
Last year we had tough home games which would have been a loss wherever they were played. This year, we should be favored in 5, maybe 6. And I'm predicting/hoping to be 6-1 at home. That's a bowl right there.
Also want it spread out. Check.
Last year we had tough home games which would have been a loss wherever they were played. This year, we should be favored in 5, maybe 6. And I'm predicting/hoping to be 6-1 at home. That's a bowl right there.
2015 schedule result 2016 schedule how does it compare?
Louisiana (H) W Southern Miss tougher
South Carolina (A) W South Carolina (H) easier
Florida (H) L Florida (A) tougher
Missouri (H) W Missouri (A) draw
EKU (H) W NMSU (H) easier
Auburn (H) L Alabama (A) tougher
Miss State (A) L Miss State (H) draw
Tennessee (H) L Tennessee (A) tougher
Georgia (A) L Georgia (H) draw
Vandy (A) L Vandy (H) easier*
Charlotte (H) W Austin Peay (H) easier
Louisville (H) L Louisville (A) tougher
Conclusions:
We replace an easy win from 2015 (Louisiana) with a tougher opponent in 2016 (Southern Miss)
Winning on the road in the SEC is always tough. That's why I labeled the Missouri game as a draw. Yes they have a new coach and new offense, but the road in the SEC is unforgivable. If you don't believe me look at the Vandy game from last year.
It will be easier to win two games which we won last year (EKU barely) in Austin Peay and NMSU. No net gain here.
Until we can compete with Georgia and Mississippi State consistently, these games will be draws from year to year. If playing MSU at home is easier, how come we haven't beaten them at home since the 2005 season? Over the last 20 years Kentucky is 4-6 at home over MSU and 3-7 on the road. No clear evidence of home turf giving the Cats an advantage over MSU. Over the last 20 years Kentucky is 2-8 at home against Georgia. Again, no clear evidence of home turf providing an advantage for the Cats.
Vandy HAS to be easier to win at home. Over the last 20 years Kentucky is 7-3 against Vandy in Lexington. THIS has to translate into a win this season; there's just no other way about it.
Florida, Tennessee, Bama and Louisville are definitely all tougher than Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, and Louisville at home.
Just because a game is labeled easier or tougher is no guarantee of a win. This year's schedule however is definitely tougher. Of last year's 7 losses, only one falls in the "easier" category this year: Vandy. Two fall into the draw category. Of the 5 wins, two fall into the tougher category, and one falls into the draw category. In the draw games the Cats may end up winning, but it is impossible to say that the situation is tougher or easier than last year again because we show no consistent ability of beating UGA and MSU at home or of winning on the road (Missouri).
Louisiana (H) W Southern Miss tougher
South Carolina (A) W South Carolina (H) easier
Florida (H) L Florida (A) tougher
Missouri (H) W Missouri (A) draw
EKU (H) W NMSU (H) easier
Auburn (H) L Alabama (A) tougher
Miss State (A) L Miss State (H) draw
Tennessee (H) L Tennessee (A) tougher
Georgia (A) L Georgia (H) draw
Vandy (A) L Vandy (H) easier*
Charlotte (H) W Austin Peay (H) easier
Louisville (H) L Louisville (A) tougher
Conclusions:
We replace an easy win from 2015 (Louisiana) with a tougher opponent in 2016 (Southern Miss)
Winning on the road in the SEC is always tough. That's why I labeled the Missouri game as a draw. Yes they have a new coach and new offense, but the road in the SEC is unforgivable. If you don't believe me look at the Vandy game from last year.
It will be easier to win two games which we won last year (EKU barely) in Austin Peay and NMSU. No net gain here.
Until we can compete with Georgia and Mississippi State consistently, these games will be draws from year to year. If playing MSU at home is easier, how come we haven't beaten them at home since the 2005 season? Over the last 20 years Kentucky is 4-6 at home over MSU and 3-7 on the road. No clear evidence of home turf giving the Cats an advantage over MSU. Over the last 20 years Kentucky is 2-8 at home against Georgia. Again, no clear evidence of home turf providing an advantage for the Cats.
Vandy HAS to be easier to win at home. Over the last 20 years Kentucky is 7-3 against Vandy in Lexington. THIS has to translate into a win this season; there's just no other way about it.
Florida, Tennessee, Bama and Louisville are definitely all tougher than Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, and Louisville at home.
Just because a game is labeled easier or tougher is no guarantee of a win. This year's schedule however is definitely tougher. Of last year's 7 losses, only one falls in the "easier" category this year: Vandy. Two fall into the draw category. Of the 5 wins, two fall into the tougher category, and one falls into the draw category. In the draw games the Cats may end up winning, but it is impossible to say that the situation is tougher or easier than last year again because we show no consistent ability of beating UGA and MSU at home or of winning on the road (Missouri).
It's not the schedule. THE PROBLEM IS HOW WEAK WE ARE AGAINST IT.
Except for the secondary the defense is likely to suck against the run/pass which weakens any advantage the secondary might have. Barker is a big question mark on offense as are the receivers. The offensive tackle situation is not good although the running backs and interior line are a plus. Special teams and game management may still be a chinese fire drill.
5 wins far more likely than 7. After 50 years of UK football I threw those blue tinted glasses away.
Except for the secondary the defense is likely to suck against the run/pass which weakens any advantage the secondary might have. Barker is a big question mark on offense as are the receivers. The offensive tackle situation is not good although the running backs and interior line are a plus. Special teams and game management may still be a chinese fire drill.
5 wins far more likely than 7. After 50 years of UK football I threw those blue tinted glasses away.
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people pumping up Southern Miss forget that this time last year we were in fear of a ULL team that was rolling into 2015 with 4 straight seasons of 8 wins/4 straight bowls. Southern Miss had a good 2015. Pretty dredful program for many years before that. dont forget their head coach bolted a week before spring practices even began.
IMO claiming they are without a doubt a more difficult opponent than ULL is dubious
IMO claiming they are without a doubt a more difficult opponent than ULL is dubious
Bowl eligibility is always my primary goal. With that in mind, I think achieving that goal is more doable this year than it appeared to be this time a year ago. Every year, there are key games that will determine whether or not we go bowling. This season, those games appear to be more winnable with the exception of getting Missouri on the road.
IMO, Vandy (at home), MSU (at home and without Prescott), USC (at home and without Spurrier) and Missouri are the key games on our schedule (assuming we win SMiss, APSU and NMSU.
I don't see much likelihood of beating Fla, ut, UGA or ul and no chance of beating Bama. In a nutshell, IMO, bowl eligibility is more likely this year than it was last.....Again, IMO, it all depends on one player...Barker.
IMO, Vandy (at home), MSU (at home and without Prescott), USC (at home and without Spurrier) and Missouri are the key games on our schedule (assuming we win SMiss, APSU and NMSU.
I don't see much likelihood of beating Fla, ut, UGA or ul and no chance of beating Bama. In a nutshell, IMO, bowl eligibility is more likely this year than it was last.....Again, IMO, it all depends on one player...Barker.
Overall i would say this years schedule is a little tougher but our home schedule which is hugely important for our bowl chances is MUCH easier. I see UK as either a favorite or draw in every home game outside of UGA. I still think UGA is beatable at home.
Southern Miss - W
NMSU - W
South Carolina - W
Vandy - W
Mississippi State - toss up but definitely beatable
Georgia - L
Austin Peay - W
I see at least 5 home wins. I think the season really hinges on Miss State at home and Mizzou on the road. Both teams should be worse than last year. These two games have the potential to take the season from good to great.
Southern Miss - W
NMSU - W
South Carolina - W
Vandy - W
Mississippi State - toss up but definitely beatable
Georgia - L
Austin Peay - W
I see at least 5 home wins. I think the season really hinges on Miss State at home and Mizzou on the road. Both teams should be worse than last year. These two games have the potential to take the season from good to great.
That is another good "schedule summary". The SEC is the best conference in the land but being "as good as" all but the truly elite is, IMO, not asking too much. They have 7 solid opportunities to win at least 6 this year. I still think a 6 win regular season is very doable...and also very "necessary".
Cats closed as a 17 point fav against ULL last year and opened as a 7 point fav against USM this year. For the record, USM has a pretty long tradition as a proud, sold, blue collar southern football program. They made a HUGE mistake hiring Ellis Johnson after Larry Fedora left for NC. Johnson was fired after his 0-12 debut season in 2012. It took Todd Monken 2 years to "recover" but had a "competitive" team in last season before jumping to the pros. They are now on their 4th coach in 6 years.
I totally agree about MSU and Mizzou. I would not exactly call a 7 win regular season "great" but it is possible and, most importantly, would represent the "big step forward" everyone wants to see this year.
Peace
I agree Miss St. will be an easier game, they can't replace prescot, USC could be easier too, but they are very high on a frosh qb who is very mobile but lost their best defender I think it will likely be a push game. But how do you see Vandy being an easier game? They return almost everyone from a very stout defense, have a good RB, not a big play guy but a grinder type, is it because it's at home?
I get what yer saying, but i think there are more winnable games this year than last...making the sched better in my mind as far as results.
To me it's more tougher because of the road games. It's hard enough to win at home in the SEC and our home games this year do not have anyone on it that we could sneak a win away by playing well at home. Last year, theoretically you had some could be's in with UT, Auburn, and Florida but they just aren't on this year's schedule. I guess you could say Miss St but I'm not ready to declare them down like so many are. Georgia, for me, is an automatic loss and the only road win I see is Missouri. Home wins against Southern Miss, New Mexico St, Austin Peay, and we should beat USC jr and Vandy but that game's a week after Alabama so who knows health and mental wise where we'll be.
i generally stick with numbers but I have a "gut feeling" people are undervaluing MSU this year. Mullen has posted only 1 losing season in 7 years and has a 7 game win streak going against the Cats. And 5 of those seasons came without Prescott. Now this is not like the losing streaks to FL and TN but it has reestablished MSU as the series leader. I won't deny that the Prescott years were the best and he took them from "average" to "above average".
Lots of personnel losses this year, but they have apparently recruited well the past 5 years with 3 of those classes in the Top 25 and the others #31 and #38. While not a threat to the ALs, FLs and LSUs but it probably near the top among the "non-elite" programs. Furthermore they have the program momentum of 6 consecutive winning seasons. I'm just not sure they are going to fall off the cliff.
As for Vandy, they have shown, time and time again, they can be a tough out for UK. I think this is due, in part, that over the years they have come to a belief that they can beat UK, something I'm not really sure they "feel" when playing other SEC programs. There is nothing "easy" about winning at UK but, IMO, there are 4 SEC games that are on the table for taking (@ SC, Vandy, MSU and @ MO). If the program is where most think it is they should be able to take 3 of those 4.
BTW, I enjoy your posts, especially regarding "the rest" of the SEC.
Peace
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Thx, I try to be fair. you may be right about State, but its hard to overcome the loss of maybe your best player ever. No doubt UK has at least 4 SEC games on the table that are very winnable, maybe more. We have a complete new staff except for 2 defensive guys, this is one of our coaches first year as an on the field coach, he is Kirby's protege from Bama, had major input in Bama's defensive gameplan every week, a great recruiter, maybe best on the staff excluding Kirby, but it's still his first on field coaching job. I won't to think we can beat UK, but it's not a given, could be a true frosh qb starting, we will be very young defensively, 1, maybe 2 sr starters on D, not many more on offense, 2-3, 2 OL and maybe the qb. So we aren't going to have many easy wins. But I think Kirby is the right guy, he has brought fire and emotion that was lacking the last few years, I hope he learns quick, if he can, 17 forward will be very good years to be UGA fans.
We played an absolutely horrendous game vs Vandy last year and still should've won by 3 scores easily. Our defense may be nearly the same level as it was and Vandy only scored because we gave them the ball inside the 5 and we were snookered on a lost sideline receiver coming out of a TO. OTOH we return 8 guys who have started at least 4 games on D and we are, without doubt, deeper than last year's team.
Offensively we will purr like a Bugatti AND we are at home so ...
Much easier.
----------------------
I Don't want to argue with you on the first two games, but I really don't like Muschamp, how did he get another SEC HC job? From his sideline rants where I thought he was going to bite his own players head off (literally) I don't think he should be coaching anywhere. Even Joker was able to bring in two top ten recruiting classes in his two years as the RC there, LOL. Seemed like a very reasonable guy at the recent interviews though, maybe he learned something, but it is hard to teach old dogs new tricks, just ask me.
Vandy doesn't have to be an easier game, they shouldn't have even been in the game last year, we had all kinds of chances to win that game, lots of mistakes by the players AND coaches there. Vandy scored three TDs on us, one on an interception return, one on a fumble recovery at our five yard line, and a "trick" play they don't even allow in Pop Warner, outlawed with the same heavy emphasis (more really) as headhunting on calling it if there is ANY doubt about it being legal. In any case, NONE really scored by their offense, and we were clearly a better team that day, IMO.
Yes, their D should be better, but I don't think any offense in the nation "should" improve any more than ours does this year, and I am really looking forward to a big improvement in our coaching, I even think our D will be improved------the one that essentially held them scoreless last year.
Is their "grinder" better than Boom, and do they have anything like the depth we have at RB?
And then you do have them losing the home field advantage and us gaining it. And then our players and coaches should have a lot of motivation for this game after last year, if we can't beat Vandy at home then we have a very long road ahead of us, despite the recent gains we are still behind most other SEC teams talent wise.
I Don't want to argue with you on the first two games, but I really don't like Muschamp, how did he get another SEC HC job? From his sideline rants where I thought he was going to bite his own players head off (literally) I don't think he should be coaching anywhere. Even Joker was able to bring in two top ten recruiting classes in his two years as the RC there, LOL. Seemed like a very reasonable guy at the recent interviews though, maybe he learned something, but it is hard to teach old dogs new tricks, just ask me.
Vandy doesn't have to be an easier game, they shouldn't have even been in the game last year, we had all kinds of chances to win that game, lots of mistakes by the players AND coaches there. Vandy scored three TDs on us, one on an interception return, one on a fumble recovery at our five yard line, and a "trick" play they don't even allow in Pop Warner, outlawed with the same heavy emphasis (more really) as headhunting on calling it if there is ANY doubt about it being legal. In any case, NONE really scored by their offense, and we were clearly a better team that day, IMO.
Yes, their D should be better, but I don't think any offense in the nation "should" improve any more than ours does this year, and I am really looking forward to a big improvement in our coaching, I even think our D will be improved------the one that essentially held them scoreless last year.
Is their "grinder" better than Boom, and do they have anything like the depth we have at RB?
And then you do have them losing the home field advantage and us gaining it. And then our players and coaches should have a lot of motivation for this game after last year, if we can't beat Vandy at home then we have a very long road ahead of us, despite the recent gains we are still behind most other SEC teams talent wise.
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I agree on Muschamp, I have thought he was one of the most overrated DC's in the country since his Auburn days. Bobo lit him up every year. Then top it off with his sideline rants, about as unprofessional as he can possibly get. Wasn't a happier person in Georgia when he got the USC job because he was going to be our DC otherwise.
I agree Vandy's offense was awful last year, their qb might have been worse than ours. But I think I heard Mason say their best guy was hurt all year, or most of it and will be their starter. Their defense is good, considering how bad their offense was it was better than good because of the time they spent on the field. I am not saying he is better than Boom, but he is a good SEC back and if he were playing on a better team his numbers would be better than what they are. I think considering them an easy win is a mistake, I don't consider them an easy win for UGA, I think we can win, but I don't think it will be easy. Honestly I don't think we have any easy P5 wins this year, an awful lot of question marks on offense and an awfully young team, we will start at least 8 non seniors on defense and close to the same on offense and maybe a true frosh at qb.
But to the point of Vandy, I think Miss St will be an easier win than Vandy. I think Mason is a better coach than Mullins and they will struggle bigtime this year without Dak.
I don't think it's much of a difference but I do like how it's structured.
The last two years has seen nice calm water followed by a big wave that lasted a month. My goodness, the shift in 2014 was like hitting a brick wall of hard opponents the back half of the yr. when you have little depth, a fledgling staff, lack of playmakers, and lack of on field leadership, it's a death sentence......the team has no opportunity to recover mentally and physically from week to week. They drown under the wave. It was sorta similar last yr as well.
This yr seems more gentle. Instead of one big, long lasting wave, it's a serious of smaller waves. And, of course, you would hope that in some ways our depth, maturity, talent, and leadership is starting to come alive.
The last two years has seen nice calm water followed by a big wave that lasted a month. My goodness, the shift in 2014 was like hitting a brick wall of hard opponents the back half of the yr. when you have little depth, a fledgling staff, lack of playmakers, and lack of on field leadership, it's a death sentence......the team has no opportunity to recover mentally and physically from week to week. They drown under the wave. It was sorta similar last yr as well.
This yr seems more gentle. Instead of one big, long lasting wave, it's a serious of smaller waves. And, of course, you would hope that in some ways our depth, maturity, talent, and leadership is starting to come alive.
Once again, I lay last season losses to Auburn, Vandy. and UofL squarely on coach Stoops. I want to believe with new coach hires he's corrected his short comings!
I try and closely watch tackle to tackle offensive play and Miss. State has won those battles in bully fashion for several years. Missouri on road with their defense will be a tough outing. But think our o.line end to end will best we fielded in the Stoops era. Leavitt by end of fall camp should have play book down, he has the body for a SEC tackle. Liked play of red-shirt freshman Wolfe in Spring Game another youngster with SEC body. After his high school career as a wrestler, o. tackle, and in track&field, plus his performance in both jr, and sr. All American games Landon Young I think is best o. tackle prospect CATS have signed since Warren Bryant! Barring injury I think he will play early and often! Believe Missouri, Miss. State on the road and Vandy at home are wins. If CATS have six wins by the UofL game think number seven is very likely! Don't keep up with UofL personal like I do SEC teams on our schedule!
I try and closely watch tackle to tackle offensive play and Miss. State has won those battles in bully fashion for several years. Missouri on road with their defense will be a tough outing. But think our o.line end to end will best we fielded in the Stoops era. Leavitt by end of fall camp should have play book down, he has the body for a SEC tackle. Liked play of red-shirt freshman Wolfe in Spring Game another youngster with SEC body. After his high school career as a wrestler, o. tackle, and in track&field, plus his performance in both jr, and sr. All American games Landon Young I think is best o. tackle prospect CATS have signed since Warren Bryant! Barring injury I think he will play early and often! Believe Missouri, Miss. State on the road and Vandy at home are wins. If CATS have six wins by the UofL game think number seven is very likely! Don't keep up with UofL personal like I do SEC teams on our schedule!