Kentucky's 4-6 record isn't the major issue

[UKErik]

As is almost always the case (minus losses to U of L), I watch the replay of UK games on Sunday morning. Watching yesterday's "debacle for the ages" again didn't reveal anything that most of us didn't see the first time. BUT, the level of incompetence on the UK sideline is certainly a critical concern going forward.

I think it's important to separate the criticism with Stoops (record vs. product). The 4-6 record isn't surprising. Stoops is barely knee deep in what has to be considered one of the biggest rebuilding projects in the sport (and that rebuild will become more and more painful if he can't win games like yesterday's). Turning UK football into a winner is apparently more difficult than going to the moon (LOL). But there are things ALL football teams should be able to do. The fundamental things. If you to go a local junior high or high school game, you'll typically see teams do these kinds of things in a casual manner.

You can't blame Stoops for a FCS caliber player being pushed around. But you can blame him for having to call timeout BEFORE A PUNT! You can blame him for taking a delay of game penalty BEFORE A FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT! The 4th and 1 call at midfield turned the game at Georgia. Lesson learned? Nope. He did it again yesterday. Same result.

What's most disturbing about those types of errors is that they've become a staple of the Stoops era. Everyone remembers the eight man punt return team UK put on the field against Auburn. Did it really matter? Well, we'll never know, but I'm sure most of you saw the Broncos return a punt for a touchdown in an identical situation last week (last play of the first half). Odds are very strong UK wouldn't have returned the punt for a TD, but to not even give yourself the chance???? That's just unforgivable. Special teams coaches get fired for that type of thing. Oh yeah, UK doesn't have a special teams coach.

The timeout before the field goal attempt at Mississippi State. It's important to understand that having to call a timeout before a kick is EXTREMELY RARE. UK has done it at least three times in the last month. Twice yesterday. What does this ridiculous level of disorganization say about Stoops and his overall operation?

His handling of the QB situation has been disappointing, IMO. For whatever reason, Patrick Towles is playing with absolutely zero confidence. Last week, the young man wrote RELAX on the back of one of his hands. Yesterday, he might have had the worst game of his career. Don't get me wrong, he isn't getting a ton of help from his WR's. Then again, if you put the football right on people (like Barker did), they catch it a helluva lot more often. Yesterday, UK showed way more patience with Towles than Barker. Anyway, Towles has struggled mightily for over a month now. Yet, Barker has a tough time seeing the field. That's confusing as hell.

Anyway (this post is already too long), I still want to see Stoops do well. I'm not in the "fire Stoops" camp. With that being said, a rebuild shouldn't include the clownish decision making on that sideline. You can have a poor football team that's still organized and well coached. I don't think ANYONE would call Kentucky either.

It isn't the record that has me disappointed. It's the product between the lines. To lose is one thing. To look incompetent doing it is another.

GBB!!!

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Yes, I said my very simplified version of that earlier. It isn't the record, it's the product. Well said.

 

[LowCountryCat]

Calm down, everybody knows it takes 11-19 years to build an SEC program. Just wait until year 15 when Stoops finally has HIS recruits on the field. Then we'll be a lock to go 6-6 and everybody will be happy.

 

[JasonS.]

As is almost always the case (minus losses to U of L), I watch the replay of UK games on Sunday morning.

UKErik sainthood now!

 

[UKWildcats#8]

My biggest problem with Stoops is he appears to just not be a good coach Erik. It is definitely the product that shows me that, and not the record overall since he has been at UK. No excuse to lose to Vandy yesterday.

 

[Mr Schwump]

Totally agree. My initial guess in preseason for UK's record was 5-7. I felt that way because I didn't think the D would be very good....it's not. While I didn't like it I would accept it because the SEC is a tough place to build a football team. What I didn't expect to see was routs by unranked teams and now 5 straight games, that's FIVE STRAIGHT GAMES, where UK's collapsed and let teams get easy scores in the last 2-3 minutes of the first half. And in most of those situations UK's contributed by some totally bizarre decisions.

But what's stunned me more than anything is Stoops total lack of situational knowledge and his decisions on the sidelines. He's a football guy, it's been his life. One brother was a HC at a tough place and another brother is one of the best HCs in college football. He himself has coached at successful programs under successful coaches. How this guy continues to look totally lost is just beyond me.

For better or worse we're stuck with him. Maybe the light comes on but experience and UK "tradition" tells me we're in for many more dark days.

 

[irishcat1965]

As I said in another thread, it isn't the losses. It is the way they are losing.

 

[akaukswoosh]

To lose is one thing. To look incompetent doing it is another.

Wouldn't surprise me to see the team to take the field with their jerseys on backwards in one of the next two games.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Yep I agree. Total chaos on the sidelines.

But this is what happens when you have a staff that is green everywhere. He needs to fire the DC and hire a competent coach also the DL and the OL needs some looks.

 

[screwduke]

Stoops shouldn't be allowed to coach in second quarters. Its like once the second quarter hits he becomes clueless.

 

[Saguaro Cat]

I'm not defending Stoops. Yesterday was worst coaching I've ever seen. Ever. He cost us the game. But I'm not ready to give up on him yet.

I saw Brooks do some of (couldn't do all) that. Those first few years, we had bad pay calls. We had bad personnel decisions. Discipline issues. We had him standing up for a bad coach. Delay of games. Ten men on the field. Twelve men on the field.

And eventually, he got that under control. After a while, experienced talent makes coaching easier. You're not getting swallowed in hopelessness and you can concentrate on clock management. If you know who your qb should be you can focus on other decisions.

Again, not defending Stoops last night. Just saying, things can still get better. I don't think he'll ever be confused with a Gary Pinkel. But can recruit and he knows defense. He might carve out some strengths we can ride to respectability.

It's not hopeless. YET.

 

[sparky59]

........factual , reasonable , dispassionate analysis across the board....biggest most important improvement begins with him........just remember the Cubs almost made the World Series this year.....it proves with the right leader ANY organization can improve.....question is ......is CMS really that guy?.....

 

[Mr Schwump]

Truth. As for STs...remember the game where Matt Roark had multiple roughing the kicker calls?

Maybe it's something in the water, coaches/players take a swig and go brain dead.

 

[supernova0221]

Calm down, everybody knows it takes 11-19 years to build an SEC program. Just wait until year 15 when Stoops finally has HIS recruits on the field. Then we'll be a lock to go 6-6 and everybody will be happy.

Someone please ban this UofL Clown

 

[sparky59]

......posted this on another thread.....does anyone thing he's waiting for someone this year that wasn't or could be be available last year for st?....

 

[trav55_rivals214556]

As is almost always the case (minus losses to U of L), I watch the replay of UK games on Sunday morning. Watching yesterday's "debacle for the ages" again didn't reveal anything that most of us didn't see the first time. BUT, the level of incompetence on the UK sideline is certainly a critical concern going forward.

I think it's important to separate the criticism with Stoops (record vs. product). The 4-6 record isn't surprising. Stoops is barely knee deep in what has to be considered one of the biggest rebuilding projects in the sport (and that rebuild will become more and more painful if he can't win games like yesterday's). Turning UK football into a winner is apparently more difficult than going to the moon (LOL). But there are things ALL football teams should be able to do. The fundamental things. If you to go a local junior high or high school game, you'll typically see teams do these kinds of things in a casual manner.

You can't blame Stoops for a FCS caliber player being pushed around. But you can blame him for having to call timeout BEFORE A PUNT! You can blame him for taking a delay of game penalty BEFORE A FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT! The 4th and 1 call at midfield turned the game at Georgia. Lesson learned? Nope. He did it again yesterday. Same result.

What's most disturbing about those types of errors is that they've become a staple of the Stoops era. Everyone remembers the eight man punt return team UK put on the field against Auburn. Did it really matter? Well, we'll never know, but I'm sure most of you saw the Broncos return a punt for a touchdown in an identical situation last week (last play of the first half). Odds are very strong UK wouldn't have returned the punt for a TD, but to not even give yourself the chance???? That's just unforgivable. Special teams coaches get fired for that type of thing. Oh yeah, UK doesn't have a special teams coach.

The timeout before the field goal attempt at Mississippi State. It's important to understand that having to call a timeout before a kick is EXTREMELY RARE. UK has done it at least three times in the last month. Twice yesterday. What does this ridiculous level of disorganization say about Stoops and his overall operation?

His handling of the QB situation has been disappointing, IMO. For whatever reason, Patrick Towles is playing with absolutely zero confidence. Last week, the young man wrote RELAX on the back of one of his hands. Yesterday, he might have had the worst game of his career. Don't get me wrong, he isn't getting a ton of help from his WR's. Then again, if you put the football right on people (like Barker did), they catch it a helluva lot more often. Yesterday, UK showed way more patience with Towles than Barker. Anyway, Towles has struggled mightily for over a month now. Yet, Barker has a tough time seeing the field. That's confusing as hell.

Anyway (this post is already too long), I still want to see Stoops do well. I'm not in the "fire Stoops" camp. With that being said, a rebuild shouldn't include the clownish decision making on that sideline. You can have a poor football team that's still organized and well coached. I don't think ANYONE would call Kentucky either.

It isn't the record that has me disappointed. It's the product between the lines. To lose is one thing. To look incompetent doing it is another.

GBB!!!

The thing about the special teams has me angry as anything. I hear people like J-Lo (who I respect the hell out of) laughing when people criticize the fact that we don't have a special teams coach because he says you don't need one. I don't care if other teams need one or not, WE obviously do!!! It's HORRIBLE out there. We make about 4-5 special teams mistakes a game!!! That's absolutely ridiculous!!! And they're contributing to the losses just as much as anything.

I'm just sick over this. You can't lose to vandy. I don't care how good their defense is, their offense is horrible.

We just took a step backwards and this year is now a total loss of opportunity. Even if we win out, which I don't see how that happens over a mediocre Louisville team, it's still a season that we failed. Not good.

 

[docholiday51]

Hats off to you Erik for having enough nerve to re-watch that load of crap.I have to confess I have a hard time watching other teams play football after one of our games.I find myself thinking,why can't we do stuff that approximates what they are doing

As you point out ,how we play and how we find new ways to lose week after week is amazing.When you have watched/listened to UK for as long as I have you can reasonably think that you have seen it all,but that is not the case (as Stoops & Co prove on a weekly basis) The play calling inside the 5 yard line defies description in it's incompetence. The clock mismanagement is below the high school coaching level and the lack of attention to detail is unbelievable.

Even with the playing mistakes our guys made yesterday we were 2 TD's better than Vandy.The fact that we got beat rests solely in the laps of the coaching staff.They should apologize to the players,fans and the school for such a performance as we saw yesterday.

One additional thought,last week in a thread someone posted the question ,do you think you know more about coaching than Mark Stoops? The answer is still no,but me or probably 50 other posters here could walk out of the stands and call better plays inside the 5 and manage the clock better than what we saw yesterday. I expect to get blasted for this but that doesn't make it any less true.

 

[kyjohn]

As is almost always the case (minus losses to U of L), I watch the replay of UK games on Sunday morning. Watching yesterday's "debacle for the ages" again didn't reveal anything that most of us didn't see the first time. BUT, the level of incompetence on the UK sideline is certainly a critical concern going forward.

I think it's important to separate the criticism with Stoops (record vs. product). The 4-6 record isn't surprising. Stoops is barely knee deep in what has to be considered one of the biggest rebuilding projects in the sport (and that rebuild will become more and more painful if he can't win games like yesterday's). Turning UK football into a winner is apparently more difficult than going to the moon (LOL). But there are things ALL football teams should be able to do. The fundamental things. If you to go a local junior high or high school game, you'll typically see teams do these kinds of things in a casual manner.

You can't blame Stoops for a FCS caliber player being pushed around. But you can blame him for having to call timeout BEFORE A PUNT! You can blame him for taking a delay of game penalty BEFORE A FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT! The 4th and 1 call at midfield turned the game at Georgia. Lesson learned? Nope. He did it again yesterday. Same result.

What's most disturbing about those types of errors is that they've become a staple of the Stoops era. Everyone remembers the eight man punt return team UK put on the field against Auburn. Did it really matter? Well, we'll never know, but I'm sure most of you saw the Broncos return a punt for a touchdown in an identical situation last week (last play of the first half). Odds are very strong UK wouldn't have returned the punt for a TD, but to not even give yourself the chance???? That's just unforgivable. Special teams coaches get fired for that type of thing. Oh yeah, UK doesn't have a special teams coach.

The timeout before the field goal attempt at Mississippi State. It's important to understand that having to call a timeout before a kick is EXTREMELY RARE. UK has done it at least three times in the last month. Twice yesterday. What does this ridiculous level of disorganization say about Stoops and his overall operation?

His handling of the QB situation has been disappointing, IMO. For whatever reason, Patrick Towles is playing with absolutely zero confidence. Last week, the young man wrote RELAX on the back of one of his hands. Yesterday, he might have had the worst game of his career. Don't get me wrong, he isn't getting a ton of help from his WR's. Then again, if you put the football right on people (like Barker did), they catch it a helluva lot more often. Yesterday, UK showed way more patience with Towles than Barker. Anyway, Towles has struggled mightily for over a month now. Yet, Barker has a tough time seeing the field. That's confusing as hell.

Anyway (this post is already too long), I still want to see Stoops do well. I'm not in the "fire Stoops" camp. With that being said, a rebuild shouldn't include the clownish decision making on that sideline. You can have a poor football team that's still organized and well coached. I don't think ANYONE would call Kentucky either.

It isn't the record that has me disappointed. It's the product between the lines. To lose is one thing. To look incompetent doing it is another.

GBB!!!

 

[kyjohn]

What you failed to notice is the most obvious,Stoops is a slow learner.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

Erik is 100% right. Competent coaching would mean at least a 6-4 record right now.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

As is almost always the case (minus losses to U of L), I watch the replay of UK games on Sunday morning. Watching yesterday's "debacle for the ages" again didn't reveal anything that most of us didn't see the first time. BUT, the level of incompetence on the UK sideline is certainly a critical concern going forward.

I think it's important to separate the criticism with Stoops (record vs. product). The 4-6 record isn't surprising. Stoops is barely knee deep in what has to be considered one of the biggest rebuilding projects in the sport (and that rebuild will become more and more painful if he can't win games like yesterday's). Turning UK football into a winner is apparently more difficult than going to the moon (LOL). But there are things ALL football teams should be able to do. The fundamental things. If you to go a local junior high or high school game, you'll typically see teams do these kinds of things in a casual manner.

You can't blame Stoops for a FCS caliber player being pushed around. But you can blame him for having to call timeout BEFORE A PUNT! You can blame him for taking a delay of game penalty BEFORE A FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT! The 4th and 1 call at midfield turned the game at Georgia. Lesson learned? Nope. He did it again yesterday. Same result.

What's most disturbing about those types of errors is that they've become a staple of the Stoops era. Everyone remembers the eight man punt return team UK put on the field against Auburn. Did it really matter? Well, we'll never know, but I'm sure most of you saw the Broncos return a punt for a touchdown in an identical situation last week (last play of the first half). Odds are very strong UK wouldn't have returned the punt for a TD, but to not even give yourself the chance???? That's just unforgivable. Special teams coaches get fired for that type of thing. Oh yeah, UK doesn't have a special teams coach.

The timeout before the field goal attempt at Mississippi State. It's important to understand that having to call a timeout before a kick is EXTREMELY RARE. UK has done it at least three times in the last month. Twice yesterday. What does this ridiculous level of disorganization say about Stoops and his overall operation?

His handling of the QB situation has been disappointing, IMO. For whatever reason, Patrick Towles is playing with absolutely zero confidence. Last week, the young man wrote RELAX on the back of one of his hands. Yesterday, he might have had the worst game of his career. Don't get me wrong, he isn't getting a ton of help from his WR's. Then again, if you put the football right on people (like Barker did), they catch it a helluva lot more often. Yesterday, UK showed way more patience with Towles than Barker. Anyway, Towles has struggled mightily for over a month now. Yet, Barker has a tough time seeing the field. That's confusing as hell.

Anyway (this post is already too long), I still want to see Stoops do well. I'm not in the "fire Stoops" camp. With that being said, a rebuild shouldn't include the clownish decision making on that sideline. You can have a poor football team that's still organized and well coached. I don't think ANYONE would call Kentucky either.

It isn't the record that has me disappointed. It's the product between the lines. To lose is one thing. To look incompetent doing it is another.

GBB!!!

Totally agree. It is painfully obvious that Stoops is learning on the fly how to be a head coach. Can you do that in the SEC? Not a good place to learn.

Does anyone remember the first year when Coach Stoops ran out to mid field to shake Petrino's hand after Petrino dominated us with a WKU team?

I have to admit, when I saw that loss to WKU in the first year and Stoops' reaction after the game like it was almost "expected" that we lose, I had a scary feeling in my gut.

There was something very wrong watching an inferior school like WKU dominate us and completely outcoach us. It was one of the most embarrassing things I've seen as a UK football fan. It was like Coach Stoops had no idea what he was doing and Bobby Petrino's QB at WKU ran a complete clinic on us.

It was after that game, that I had a bad feeling in my stomach that Stoops might not be up to the job.

Ever since then, I've been extremely supportive of Stoops and recruiting. I've quoted Dan Mullen several times saying you need to be 3 deep in the SEC to compete. I've said Stoops' needs 5 years to really be a mid tier SEC solid team.

But how can you go to OT vs EKU with our playmakers? How can you lose to Vandy and get outcoached? How can you get thoroughly DOMINATED by struggling teams like UT and UGA?

That's what really has me pissed.

 

[gamecockcat]

I've got a few major disappointments thus far into Stoops' tenure:

1. We are not playing very physical. Vandy hit harder, ran harder, played harder across the board. Ditto for Georgia, MSU, EKU, etc. Not a question of talent here - we just don't have hitters that want to play. On defense, only Stamps really brings the wood every week. Our DL and LBs bring people down but they don't pop 'em. On offense, Baker has obviously given up, our OL certainly doesn't blow people off the line, our RBs with the exception of JoJo don't run very hard (Horton does to an extent but he's bigger and Boom runs backwards to avoid tackles). Thought we'd see a more physical team by this point under Stoops.
2. Horrible, inexplicable coaching decisions. 4th and short two weeks in a row? Horrible play calling down on the goal line two straight series with no points to show for it. Giving Towles any leeway to make decisions at the line when he's proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he does not make good decisions. The handling of the QB situation. Calling for plays that require a receiver to break 3 tackles to get a first down (throwing short of the sticks). Our constant inability to stop 3rd and long and get off the field. Special teams disasters and disorganization. Allowing certain players to obviously dog it on the field without consequences. Baffling for someone with his resume
3. Total lack of progression by the team and individual players as the season wears on. Our players seemingly don't get better each year. There are players on the team in their 3rd year in the program and damn few of them are one iota better than when they stepped on campus. Our team plays progressively worse each game in the season. I understand that level of competition influences that to a degree. But, we played much worse vs. EKU and Vandy than we did against MO and SC. We'll struggle to beat Charlotte next week and get run out by UofL who has improved throughout the season.

 

[sambowieshin_rivals]

To lose is one thing. To look incompetent doing it is another.

Wouldn't surprise me to see the team to take the field with their jerseys on backwards in one of the next two games.

[roll][roll][roll][roll]

 

[BurpinTurpin_rivals209459]

To lose is one thing. To look incompetent doing it is another.

Wouldn't surprise me to see the team to take the field with their jerseys on backwards in one of the next two games.

Made me LOL. Part of what makes it funny is that I truly wouldn't be shocked if it actually happened.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

What's most disturbing about those types of errors is that they've become a staple of the Stoops era.

Undeniably true - but the key phrase here is "they've become." This is a recent phenomenon. Like, in the last month. There have been conversations about Stoops coaching, doubts about him, but before it was about whether he could develop talent or make adequate adjustments. Never was the talk about basic game management. What began with a single crazy can you believe that screwup play vs Auburn and then against Miss. State, has deteriorated into a comedy of basic errors that we saw yesterday. You don't suddenly get stupid about game management half way thru your third year. I'm just guessing, but one thing that causes disarray and the appearance of chaos is dysfunction. Wouldn't surprise me to find severe divisions among players and more likely even staff.

 

[docholiday51]

Undeniably true - but the key phrase here is "they've become." This is a recent phenomenon. Like, in the last month. There have been conversations about Stoops coaching, doubts about him, but before it was about whether he could develop talent or make adequate adjustments. Never was the talk about basic game management. What began with a single crazy can you believe that screwup play vs Auburn and then against Miss. State, has deteriorated into a comedy of basic errors that we saw yesterday. You don't suddenly get stupid about game management half way thru your third year. I'm just guessing, but one thing that causes disarray and the appearance of chaos is dysfunction. Wouldn't surprise me to find severe divisions among players and more likely even staff.

I have had similar thoughts for the past few weeks,resisted posting them because i didn't want to go all "grassy knoll" conspiracy theory..It would seem that there are things going on that we don't know about,Stoops comment to Matt Jones last week could be a hint of that.It has been my experience that people tell you more than they think if you know what to listen for and hear what they are saying.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I am giving no one a pass on this, but I really do wonder how much of this is possibly a product of the fact that a lot of the UK coaches are basically brand new. Eliot and Dawson have never really been coordinators and Stoops has never been a head coach. I wonder if having more experience at the top would help to eliminate some of these mistakes.

 

[kypecos]

Stoops is an excellent head coach when it comes to recruiting. But he is a poor head coach when it comes to actual coaching.
And because of that, he will cease to be a good recruiter and the classes will drop off (probably very soon). Which will then make him a completely poor head coach. It's very foreseeable.

 

[ekywildcat_rivals26726]

Losing is bad enough, but to look stupid doing it is really depressing. When I was watching the Alabama/LSU game, LSU called the time out and Alabama trotted out two defense units until they saw what LSU was doing. LSU comes out and the extra Bama players calmly trot off the field. One day I hope we can do that.

I still hope Stoops can do the job. He may have to clean house thou.

 

[G_Money]

As is almost always the case (minus losses to U of L), I watch the replay of UK games on Sunday morning. Watching yesterday's "debacle for the ages" again didn't reveal anything that most of us didn't see the first time. BUT, the level of incompetence on the UK sideline is certainly a critical concern going forward.

I think it's important to separate the criticism with Stoops (record vs. product). The 4-6 record isn't surprising. Stoops is barely knee deep in what has to be considered one of the biggest rebuilding projects in the sport (and that rebuild will become more and more painful if he can't win games like yesterday's). Turning UK football into a winner is apparently more difficult than going to the moon (LOL). But there are things ALL football teams should be able to do. The fundamental things. If you to go a local junior high or high school game, you'll typically see teams do these kinds of things in a casual manner.

You can't blame Stoops for a FCS caliber player being pushed around. But you can blame him for having to call timeout BEFORE A PUNT! You can blame him for taking a delay of game penalty BEFORE A FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT! The 4th and 1 call at midfield turned the game at Georgia. Lesson learned? Nope. He did it again yesterday. Same result.

What's most disturbing about those types of errors is that they've become a staple of the Stoops era. Everyone remembers the eight man punt return team UK put on the field against Auburn. Did it really matter? Well, we'll never know, but I'm sure most of you saw the Broncos return a punt for a touchdown in an identical situation last week (last play of the first half). Odds are very strong UK wouldn't have returned the punt for a TD, but to not even give yourself the chance???? That's just unforgivable. Special teams coaches get fired for that type of thing. Oh yeah, UK doesn't have a special teams coach.

The timeout before the field goal attempt at Mississippi State. It's important to understand that having to call a timeout before a kick is EXTREMELY RARE. UK has done it at least three times in the last month. Twice yesterday. What does this ridiculous level of disorganization say about Stoops and his overall operation?

His handling of the QB situation has been disappointing, IMO. For whatever reason, Patrick Towles is playing with absolutely zero confidence. Last week, the young man wrote RELAX on the back of one of his hands. Yesterday, he might have had the worst game of his career. Don't get me wrong, he isn't getting a ton of help from his WR's. Then again, if you put the football right on people (like Barker did), they catch it a helluva lot more often. Yesterday, UK showed way more patience with Towles than Barker. Anyway, Towles has struggled mightily for over a month now. Yet, Barker has a tough time seeing the field. That's confusing as hell.

Anyway (this post is already too long), I still want to see Stoops do well. I'm not in the "fire Stoops" camp. With that being said, a rebuild shouldn't include the clownish decision making on that sideline. You can have a poor football team that's still organized and well coached. I don't think ANYONE would call Kentucky either.

It isn't the record that has me disappointed. It's the product between the lines. To lose is one thing. To look incompetent doing it is another.

GBB!!!

Great commentary Erik. If he's smart, Dawson is history; Elliott is history, too.

 

[LowCountryCat]

Someone please ban this UofL Clown

A++++ keep posting!

 

[Orionorl]

Calm down, everybody knows it takes 11-19 years to build an SEC program. Just wait until year 15 when Stoops finally has HIS recruits on the field. Then we'll be a lock to go 6-6 and everybody will be happy.

You are correct, sir! The Hawaii Hula, Pineapple and Poi Bowl is ours for the taking in 2030...

 

[Lost In FL]

But what's stunned me more than anything is Stoops total lack of situational knowledge and his decisions on the sidelines. He's a football guy, it's been his life.

I find this interesting as well. It seems he's a great position coach, and a very good DC, but never had to make "game" decisions on the sideline DURING the game. Said another way: he's had to call the defensive play, but not manage a team. He still is very involved in the defensive calls and I wonder if his mind gets stuck in the details, losing the big picture (time, distance, situation, etc.).

 

[BlueRaider22]

Good post OP.

Yes, Stoops has made some poor decisions while learning to be a HC but they aren't decisions that can't be corrected in time. But will he? It's also worth noting that he hasn't made any mistakes that other rookies haven't.

I think the biggest mistake was his staff choices. Brown was a good choice because he was proven. Riley would've been a really good choice as well. But breaking in Dawson who is unknown and basically a rookie on the side of the ball that isn't your bread and butter????.....that was not smart.

As far as Elliot. He doesn't bother me as much. He has Stoops for guidance. And he would look much, much, much better if they had a little more depth and an offense that could give them a rest occasionally.

 

[OHIO COLONEL]

Not trying to be a Monday Morning QB, but the tail end of last year I started wondering what was up. We completely collapsed. And not just getting beat, but getting beat bad. Then, fast forward to this year, same thing. Don't know if I can ever recall seeing anything like it. Normally with a young team, you can sometimes see improvement during the year, but if not then certainly the next year. We are still young, but this years collapse is head scratching to say the least. An experienced QB, supposed athletic improvement across the board, better back-ups, etc, etc. But the product on the field, the results, are just as bad if not worse considering all of the supposed improvements. Like Erik, I'm not on the 'fire Stoops wagon', but I have a ton of questions.

Can you imagine, since we're all UK fans, if Cal's teams collapsed in the second half of the season? The players didn't improve, went on a losing streak of 8, 9, 10 games bad coaching moves, etc? Especially if there were no significant injuries? I know comparing football and basketball is like apples to oranges....and probably not fair. But to a degree...coaching is coaching.

 

[LowCountryCat]

Not trying to be a Monday Morning QB, but the tail end of last year I started wondering what was up. We completely collapsed. And not just getting beat, but getting beat bad. Then, fast forward to this year, same thing. Don't know if I can ever recall seeing anything like it. Normally with a young team, you can sometimes see improvement during the year, but if not then certainly the next year. We are still young, but this years collapse is head scratching to say the least. An experienced QB, supposed athletic improvement across the board, better back-ups, etc, etc. But the product on the field, the results, are just as bad if not worse considering all of the supposed improvements. Like Erik, I'm not on the 'fire Stoops wagon', but I have a ton of questions.

Can you imagine, since we're all UK fans, if Cal's teams collapsed in the second half of the season? The players didn't improve, went on a losing streak of 8, 9, 10 games bad coaching moves, etc? Especially if there were no significant injuries? I know comparing football and basketball is like apples to oranges....and probably not fair. But to a degree...coaching is coaching.

Nope, you're right, it's totally fair. In no other sport does the coach have a bigger influence in halftime adjustments than in football. And Stoops almost NEVER comes out with any halftime adjustments. He's a horrible 2nd half coach.

 

[Soupbean]

Totally agree. My initial guess in preseason for UK's record was 5-7. I felt that way because I didn't think the D would be very good....it's not. While I didn't like it I would accept it because the SEC is a tough place to build a football team. What I didn't expect to see was routs by unranked teams and now 5 straight games, that's FIVE STRAIGHT GAMES, where UK's collapsed and let teams get easy scores in the last 2-3 minutes of the first half. And in most of those situations UK's contributed by some totally bizarre decisions.

But what's stunned me more than anything is Stoops total lack of situational knowledge and his decisions on the sidelines. He's a football guy, it's been his life. One brother was a HC at a tough place and another brother is one of the best HCs in college football. He himself has coached at successful programs under successful coaches. How this guy continues to look totally lost is just beyond me.

For better or worse we're stuck with him. Maybe the light comes on but experience and UK "tradition" tells me we're in for many more dark days.

Guys I certainly agree with all about the sideline struggles, how can you not. But the part that I'm more disappointed in is the actual lack of of impact the staff has had on the actual way they play.

By that I mean the lack of development in all areas in their technique, fundamentals, aggressiveness etc. and the most glaring of these is the Defensive Backfield, that Stoops coaches. How is it possible that EVERY other team we play seems to cover us like blankets and rarely leaves our WR free yet we can't stay within 2 yards of 2 star WR over and over again. You watch them and they seem to have no ability to turn their hips and react to very basic moves by ordinary receivers. We play zone defense like we think our job is to protect the ground below our feet like we all did in junior pro basketball frozen to that spot instead of matching up with anyone daring to come in your territory. very basic stuff. Again I understand struggling against Bama type talent but what I described happens against all levels of talent.

And the same can be said about just about every other unit on the team. I've said it before but at UK you have to have a coach who is a difference maker at plain ole ground floor coaching. He has to be able to take 3s and 4s and make them better at what they do and how they do it to compete- simple as that.

I was a huge Stoops backer and I'm lost right now. I think coach needs to simplify everything they are doing as the staff seems lost in the complexity of everything and trying to manage it. You're not going to outwit anybody to build anything here. It has to come with developing players to get better at the simple details of how to play and gain advantages how they play. And it starts with just how to play aggressive in all they do- it's football and that covers a lot, but we lack that too. Coaches gotta get better at managing games but more importantly they have to get better at building better trained more aggressive football players- simple as that.

 

[SanAntonioCat_rivals376502]

John Ray was the top defensive coordinator in the country at Notre Dame. When hired at UK, he was touted as the "answer" to bring winning football to the Bluegrass.

John was a super salesman and got Commonwealth Stadium built. He failed badly as a head football coach.

In the 80s, the Nutter Center and football training facility were state of the art in the SEC. That was the "answer." Nothing really changed tor UK football.

Today, Mark Stoops has recruited better than any coach in decades. He has sold the university and donors to finally perform a major upgrade at Commonwealth Stadium and construct a state of the art football training facility.

What we continue to endure is sub par coaching and player development. And, we clearly continue to be the laughing stock of college football. Why, why, why does this athletic director and president continue a policy of paying a basketball coach millions and the football coach a middling salary (compared to top coaches) in the hopes we can win in the SEC? Why can't we hire an experienced, winning head football coach with a proven record to coach at UK? This isn't a matter of money.

We weren't the first choice for many coaches to follow Joker. Mark Stoops sold himself and a vision to the university. We bought in and have supported Mark who is a fine defensive coordinator and respected coach. He is a good man and matches Mitch's values of respectability and humanity.

Yet, the name of the game is winning. What price is the University of Kentucky prepared to pay to win? The university was clearly prepared to pay Cal who despite many questions has become a hall of fame coach and representative of all Mitch values in a coach. Surely, Mitch and the university can truly once and for all bring us a experienced winning football coach.

As for Mark, I'm afraid he will follow brother Mike and return to football as the respected defensive coordinator where his experience suits his career best.