OK, you're Mark Stoops

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
Talent? Eastern? Vandy? We suck in the worst SEC I've seen in a very long time.

Come on man.
EKU- overlooked our opponent
Vandy- had equal talent, beat our selves more that Vandy beat us.

If people can't see that talent is an issue, then I don't know wha to say.
 
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merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
I think you just made triple B's point
I agreed that Vandy we are comparable and it wasn't a talent issue. But AU,UGA, UT, and MSU was definitely a talent issue.
And realistically, Mizzou, UF, and USC have more talent. We beat two of those and could have beaten the other. We also had a very good chance at Auburn. So why isn't Stoops getting props for those games for playing above their talent level?
 

.S&C.

All-American
Jul 8, 2014
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EKU- overlooked our opponent
Vandy- had equal talent, beat our selves more that Vandy beat us.

If people can't see that talent is an issue, then I don't know wha to say.

Talent is an issue for lots of our opponents, but it's not going to solve all of Stoops issues. You manage ANY team, in any league, at any level in the manner that Stoops does, and you will suck. I don't care who you've got.
 

BIGCAT4LIFE

Senior
Sep 13, 2006
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Stoops disorganization is coming from inexperienced Coordinators on both sides, and he needs to realize he cannot do this on his own. He needs strong experience at his OC/DC positions.

Texas AM got Chavis Stoops needs to something similar. Bo Pelini comes to mind here for DC just an example. Also need an experienced OC.

U.K. needs to get a special teams coach.

U.K. needs a QB Coach. Saw GA Mangus name floating around he would be really good.
 

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
Talent is an issue for lots of our opponents, but it's not going to solve all of Stoops issues. You manage ANY team, in any league, at any level in the manner that Stoops does, and you will suck. I don't care who you've got.
I have said many times that I think Stoops has to do some things better. But, I also think that with more talent we could have about 3 more wins right now.
 

Soupbean

All-American
Jan 19, 2007
5,945
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Simplify everything your team does and focus on how they do everything instead of what they do.

On offense eliminate the thinking checking and thinking and speed up tempo and play fast. Teams play better in two minute because they think less and just play in rhythm. Go back to simple timing routes and crossing routs and teach the WR how to play faster and get open to make plays. You can run a cross 75% speed and get stopped on 3rd down or you can run it like your butts on fire and pick up 15 for a first down. It's not what we do it's how we do it. Cut the fog of thinking and teach them how to just play fast, run or pass. Snap the ball in the first 10 seconds daring the d to stop you and watch the talent start emerging.

Same thing on Defense. Stop the mass personnel changes and just play fast. Tighten up on the corners and encourage them to gamble now and then. Practice coming off the ball fast. Teach a pack of dog mentality to fly to the football. ITS NOT WHAT we do it's HOW we do it!!!!!

Line up goal line under center and fly off the snap with hell fire breathing out their nostrils.

Get back to the basics of just letting players play without thinking. Your going to mess up here and there but long term your going to get the most out of the real talent we have going forward. I don't think we know what we have talent wise because they have paralysis by analysis and same applies to the coaches. Simplify Coach!
 
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kyboy1998_rivals34276

All-American
Mar 20, 2006
9,326
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The SEC east is a joke compared to its historical mean average. We've blown as good of a chance as we can expect to get.

This season,and some of the mistakes you've seen, are a failure. That can't be denied. Not all losses are the same when building and you can see that.

There were seasons when Brooks was building that we went toe-to-toe with national championship, and contending, teams and came out on the very short end. (See Alabama and Auburn games)

The previous 3 curb stompings, and this most recent s**t the bed performance, have been alarming.
 
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docholiday51

Heisman
Oct 19, 2001
22,011
26,718
0
I agreed that Vandy we are comparable and it wasn't a talent issue. But AU,UGA, UT, and MSU was definitely a talent issue.
And realistically, Mizzou, UF, and USC have more talent. We beat two of those and could have beaten the other. We also had a very good chance at Auburn. So why isn't Stoops getting props for those games for playing above their talent level?
To a degree I see your point and agree in part,however with the MSU,UT,UGA and now Vandy games we fall so far off the wagon as to how we should be able to compete that talent(or lack thereof) doesn't explain what we see on the field.South Carolina and North Texas competed better than we did vs UT,we competed with UGA decently minus a couple of bonehead coaching decisions and the Vandy game I don't know where to start,let's just say that we are at least 2 touchdowns better than they are. I want Stoops to succeed as much as anyone but over the past month he has made coaching nistakes that a rookie high school coach might not make.
 
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merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
The SEC east is a joke compared to its historical mean average. We've blown as good of a chance as we can expect to get.

This season,and some of the mistakes you've seen, are a failure. That can't be denied. Not all losses are the same when building and you can see that.

There were seasons when Brooks was building that we went toe-to-toe with national championship, and contending, teams and came out on the very short end. (See Alabama and Auburn games)

The previous 3 curb stompings, and this most recent s**t the bed performance, have been alarming.
In year three of Brooks we lost 49-0 and finished 3-8.
 
May 31, 2003
16,237
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Fire Dawson now. Get therapy. Try to save the locker room and the recruiting class
Take the team to a movie, the trampoline place or something fun. Quit being an *** (appears that way)
 
Feb 21, 2006
8,403
9,162
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Off Season list:

--Give full control of offense to Shannon Dawson, but would bring in a QB coach...Pat and DB need somebody to focus solely on them and their development...Dawson has a lot of other obligations and things to worry about as OC...

--work on QB run game...both Pat and DB are big, athletic, and mobile enough...hard to be one dimensional and be successful in today's game...especially when you don't have the Oline or skill players around you to allow for a more traditional pocket attack...

--Hire a special teams coach...

--Would find somebody to take over the defense...preferably a coach with experience as DC and/or HC in a P5 conference...Gene Chizik, Al Golden, Greg Schiano, Randy Shannon, Randy Edsall, Frank Beamer...DJ could stay on as LB coach and a chief recruiter...

--OL coach...Sylvester Croom is out there...somebody like him...older, experienced, played and coached in SEC...

--Same goes for DL coach...

--have the WRs catch 10,000 balls each from the machine...

--have Elam drop 20lbs...

--Would call some old contacts from the "Da U" to gauge their interests in coaching/consulting...former players and coaches...could use that kind of "swagger" that those Miami teams had when Stoops was there...
 

kyboy1998_rivals34276

All-American
Mar 20, 2006
9,326
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61
In year three of Brooks we lost 49-0 and finished 3-8.
This year three is a little different.

You people can undervalue the insignificance of probation and over value the "damage" of Joker all you want but it isn't reality.

Anyone with eyes can tell Brooks was a better manager and didn't beat himself often. He was on par as a football mind with anyone in conference. Please save me the overall record excuse too. He took over an Oregon program that was historically dismal. They do t name stadiums after people who suck.

I wish the financial commitments we are making to football now regarding facilities and staff wages were made during Brooks tenure.

If so he could have hired some recruiting help and he would have stayed long enough to establish a winning culture. Maybe not championship culture, but winning. He could have got us to that occasional special season (10+) and 7/8 win average seasons.

What you have watched is horrible and comparisons don't change that.
 

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
To a degree I see your point and agree in part,however with the MSU,UT,UGA and now Vandy games we fall so far off the wagon as to how we should be able to compete that talent(or lack thereof) doesn't explain what we see on the field.South Carolina and North Texas competed better than we did vs UT,we competed with UGA decently minus a couple of bonehead coaching decisions and the Vandy game I don't know where to start,let's just say that we are at least 2 touchdowns better than they are. I want Stoops to succeed as much as anyone but over the past month he has made coaching nistakes that a rookie high school coach might not make.
I agree that there was more at play than talent in those games. But talent is the biggest thing. I could also argue that the lack of talent makes the staff do things that they normally wouldn't trying to overcome the talent deficiencies. Clock management not included.
Also, injuries was huge in those games. On defense alone, we didn't have West, Lewis, Hatcher. And Ware, Flannigan, and Meant weren't near 100%. Those type of things hurt us way more than the other SEC teams who have the depth to replace others.
 
Oct 1, 2001
5,199
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Mark could well be much like brother Mike, a high intensity, in your face coach players either embrace or greatly dislike. Just guessing in a time we are all frustrated, upset and once again resigned (generally speaking) to losing for yet another generation.
 

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
Fire Dawson now. Get therapy. Try to save the locker room and the recruiting class
Take the team to a movie, the trampoline place or something fun. Quit being an *** (appears that way)
Joker...Is that you??
Seriously, I know what you are saying but I had to say it. LOL!!
I do agree that it may be a good idea to make them do a team thing where they just take a step away from football and just have some fun. But they don't need to do that in place of practice or preparation like Joker did.
 

ukalumni00

Heisman
Jun 22, 2005
23,244
38,718
113
Adding Pelini would be tremendous. Let's have two hot heads trying to run the defense together. Sounds like the best plan out there.
 

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
This year three is a little different.

You people can undervalue the insignificance of probation and over value the "damage" of Joker all you want but it isn't reality.

Anyone with eyes can tell Brooks was a better manager and didn't beat himself often. He was on par as a football mind with anyone in conference. Please save me the overall record excuse too. He took over an Oregon program that was historically dismal. They do t name stadiums after people who suck.

I wish the financial commitments we are making to football now regarding facilities and staff wages were made during Brooks tenure.

If so he could have hired some recruiting help and he would have stayed long enough to establish a winning culture. Maybe not championship culture, but winning. He could have got us to that occasional special season (10+) and 7/8 win average seasons.

What you have watched is horrible and comparisons don't change that.

If you don't think that Joker left a mess you are crazy. Just because it wasn't called probation doesn't mean it was the equivalent. Joker was beyond bad. The roster was beyond bad. Who did Stoops inherit that was halfway descent? Bud and Avery Williamson are all that I can remember.
 

kyboy1998_rivals34276

All-American
Mar 20, 2006
9,326
8,754
61
If you don't think that Joker left a mess you are crazy. Just because it wasn't called probation doesn't mean it was the equivalent. Joker was beyond bad. The roster was beyond bad. Who did Stoops inherit that was halfway descent? Bud and Avery Williamson are all that I can remember.
He didn't inherit a good situation, but also didn't do any better than his predecessor with it.

I never understand how people can agree one guy didn't do well enough, yet expect nothing more out of who is hired to do a better job.

We did this with Tubby and BCG too. We thought Tubby didn't get it done and spent a season and a half making excuses for the guy brought in to "improve" the situation.

Stoops hasn't accomplished anything. He has made a bunch of tactical mistakes and hasn't shown to be any better of a football mind than who he replaced.
 

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
He didn't inherit a good situation, but also didn't do any better than his predecessor with it.

I never understand how people can agree one guy didn't do well enough, yet expect nothing more out of who is hired to do a better job.

We did this with Tubby and BCG too. We thought Tubby didn't get it done and spent a season and a half making excuses for the guy brought in to "improve" the situation.

Stoops hasn't accomplished anything. He has made a bunch of tactical mistakes and hasn't shown to be any better of a football mind than who he replaced.
Yes he has. Joker went down every year. To this point, Stoops has went up every year.
 

BIGCAT4LIFE

Senior
Sep 13, 2006
4,086
767
0
Adding Pelini would be tremendous. Let's have two hot heads trying to run the defense together. Sounds like the best plan out there.

Stoops needs to learn to be a HC. Giving the Defense up could do wonders on evaluating the rest of the team. Pelini yelling at the players and Stoops yelling at the refs would work out great.
 

WildcatofNati

Heisman
Mar 31, 2009
8,183
12,420
0
Yes he has. Joker went down every year. To this point, Stoops has went up every year.
Not this year. We're 4-6 and actually have performed worse than we performed last year. In all probability, we either finish with 5 or 6 wins this regular season, and I would argue that a 2015 5 and 7 is worse than last year's 5 and 7, considering that last year we had a tougher schedule. Actually, if we do manage 6 wins, it's a better season in the books than last year, but I wouldn't say that it's a better team than last year's team. If we get to 6 wins, the difference will be a win against a mediocre Louisville team, in Lexington, when last year we lost to a fairly good Louisville team, in Louisville.
 

kyboy1998_rivals34276

All-American
Mar 20, 2006
9,326
8,754
61
Yes he has. Joker went down every year. To this point, Stoops has went up every year.
You may have seen an improvement in recruiting but you haven't seen any improvement in coaching from the Joker era yet to date.

The recruiting will start to fall off too. The new staff buzz will go away now and our negativity will play a large part in that.
 

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
Not this year. We're 4-6 and actually have performed worse than we performed last year. In all probability, we either finish with 5 or 6 wins this regular season, and I would argue that a 2015 5 and 7 is worse than last year's 5 and 7, considering that last year we had a tougher schedule. Actually, if we do manage 6 wins, it's a better season in the books than last year, but I wouldn't say that it's a better team than last year's team. If we get to 6 wins, the difference will be a win against a mediocre Louisville team, in Lexington, when last year we lost to a fairly good Louisville team, in Louisville.
I think it is seeing how we replaced an OC, and lost some playmakers on offense and two NFL guys on defense. So even if we finish 5-7, we haven't regressed, which again is better than Joker. I think and hope we finish 6-6 though.
 

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
You may have seen an improvement in recruiting but you haven't seen any improvement in coaching from the Joker area yet to date.

The recruiting will start to fall off too. The new staff buzz will go away now and our negativity will play a large part in that.
So Stoops is going up in wins and Joker went down in wins and the coaching hasn't been better? So are you saying that the talent is important then sense you admit that Stoops has brought in more talent? If so, then you must also agree that losing to UT, UGA, UF, AU, and MSU wasn't Stoop's fault then because they have so much more talent. You must also have to give credit to him for beating more talented teams in Mizzouri and USC.
 

kyboy1998_rivals34276

All-American
Mar 20, 2006
9,326
8,754
61
So Stoops is going up in wins and Joker went down in wins and the coaching hasn't been better? So are you saying that the talent is important then sense you admit that Stoops has brought in more talent? If so, then you must also agree that losing to UT, UGA, UF, AU, and MSU wasn't Stoop's fault then because they have so much more talent. You must also have to give credit to him for beating more talented teams in Mizzouri and USC.
You argue like a fool.

Believe what you will and see what you can convince yourself of. What you've watched isn't any better of a coaching and managing job than what we had before. Stupidity wasn't good enough then and it shouldn't be accepted now.

Recruiting will suffer soon enough and all things will be equal for you.
 

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
So, you agree that recruiting is one of the things he could do better?
Recruiting could always get better, unless you are Alabama who has number 1 classes every year. Am I saying that the level he is recruiting is all his fault? No. I am saying though, that he has recruited better than anyone in our history, so he is taking the right steps to get the talent. You have to start somewhere. He wasn't going to magically come in and get top 10 classes. The classes he has pulled in have been incredible compared to what we are used to.
 

LowCountryCat

Heisman
Apr 17, 2010
117,188
22,769
0
Recruiting could always get better, unless you are Alabama who has number 1 classes every year. Am I saying that the level he is recruiting is all his fault? No. I am saying though, that he has recruited better than anyone in our history, so he is taking the right steps to get the talent. You have to start somewhere. He wasn't going to magically come in and get top 10 classes. The classes he has pulled in have been incredible compared to what we are used to.
That is so weak, asking yourself easy, rhetorical questions. Bottom line, is he recruiting to YOUR satisfaction? Don't dodge the question THIS TIME. Your answer will tell a lot about what kind of results you are willing to accept.
 

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
You argue like a fool.

Believe what you will and see what you can convince yourself of. What you've watched isn't any better of a coaching and managing job than what we had before. Stupidity wasn't good enough then and it shouldn't be accepted now.

Recruiting will suffer soon enough and all things will be equal for you.

Tell me where I am wrong? What makes someone look like a fool is to argue with someone without evidence. I gave you my evidence and you respond my calling me a fool and saying wait and see. If you are right, then why do I have to wait and see? You state your opinion like it is fact. The fact is, you said Stoops hasn't done any better than Joker. That is simply not true according to the results.
 

LowCountryCat

Heisman
Apr 17, 2010
117,188
22,769
0
Tell me where I am wrong? What makes someone look like a fool is to argue with someone without evidence. I gave you my evidence and you respond my calling me a fool and saying wait and see. If you are right, then why do I have to wait and see? You state your opinion like it is fact. The fact is, you said Stoops hasn't done any better than Joker. That is simply not true according to the results.
Sure it is. The records are similar if not identical. The only difference is the initial trend, which seems to be slowing and reaching equlibrium. It's a strong argument either way, but you don't have enough evidence to claim his argument is false.
 

kyboy1998_rivals34276

All-American
Mar 20, 2006
9,326
8,754
61
Tell me where I am wrong? What makes someone look like a fool is to argue with someone without evidence. I gave you my evidence and you respond my calling me a fool and saying wait and see. If you are right, then why do I have to wait and see? You state your opinion like it is fact. The fact is, you said Stoops hasn't done any better than Joker. That is simply not true according to the results.
My evidence will probably be replayed at sometime this week on the SEC network.

You may have DVRd additional evidence for yourself.
 

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
Sure it is. The records are similar if not identical. The only difference is the initial trend, which seems to be slowing and reaching equlibrium. It's a strong argument either way, but you don't have enough evidence to claim his argument is false.
Notice I said, "until this point" it has been better. And it has. He is acting like he knows the future.
 

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,105
29,280
113
That's because the warning signs are obvious for those not so wrapped up in defending Stoops that they can see it.
Nope..Wrong again. If you weren't so caught up with your agenda to have him fired, you would read where I have said multiple times that Stoops needs to change some things and get better at others. And again, mistakes aren't signs that you can't accomplish something. Do you know how many coaches would be out of a job if in their first three years as a head coach they didn't produce to the fans expectations? All but about .1 percent of them. Go look at Saban in his first year at Michigan State. Look at Beamer.
 

LowCountryCat

Heisman
Apr 17, 2010
117,188
22,769
0
Nope..Wrong again. If you weren't so caught up with your agenda to have him fired, you would read where I have said multiple times that Stoops needs to change some things and get better at others. And again, mistakes aren't signs that you can't accomplish something. Do you know how many coaches would be out of a job if in their first three years as a head coach they didn't produce to the fans expectations? All but about .1 percent of them. Go look at Saban in his first year at Michigan State. Look at Beamer.
See, you're not paying attention. I'm not advocating he be fired.

What if Stoops can't change and get better? He's not gotten better after every loss, despite saying he needs to get better. And even if he does, he'll likely leave as soon as he takes us to a bowl.
 

UK39

Redshirt
May 16, 2004
3
2
0
Hire a special teams coordinator Coleman Hutzler-ST away from Boston College.

Bring in defense line coach Ed Orgeron as defensive coordinator from LSU

If they don't replace Dawson, at least bring in QB coach Darin Hinshaw from Cincy.

Mainly, he needs to reevaluate what he is trying to do. Is it a running team? Is it a deep vertical passing game? Is it a quick passing attack?

Defensively, are they a bend but don't break or they going to blitz from multiple looks?

I don't think he knows.
 

Deeeefense

Heisman
Staff member
Aug 22, 2001
43,876
50,268
113
I too, hate to fire a guy after 1 yr but if Stoops truly feels that Dawson is an issue its better to cut him loose now than go through another yr and risk being fired yourself or pushed further onto the hot seat before making a change. This goes for any member of the staff.

The down side of cutting Dawson loose after just one year is it will be very difficult to find someone of any caliber to replace him. We all know how the coaching hot seat game is played. The head coach dumps one or both coordinators over the side to save himself first. the top guys is always the last to go down. Who will want to just be the next scape goat if things keep going south?

IMO even though Stoops and Elliot are joined at the hip, I think he is the more likely to be the first causality.