The true keys to success or failure now

[Blue Decade]

This is a bye week post about the future. I will even use paragraphs to satisfy critics. Even though we are 3-3, 2-2 and our coach has 3 more years on his contract, some posters are just locked into the next Kentucky football coach and trashing Stoops. If you are 1 of them, please stop reading at this point, because continuing may spur you to sarcasm that isn't fair to other people interested in our current football team. Since June, I have said Kentucky will win 4-5 games in 2016, then at least 7 games in 2017. My 2016 forecast is looking very good. My reasoning was based on extreme inexperience on Kentucky's defensive front 7 and at the quarterback position. My 2017 reasoning is based on the opposite - 19 incumbent starters pIus both kickers coming back. Our most important personnel weaknesses of 2016 can be turned into strengths by 2017. I am not saying they will or won't. I am only saying they "can be".

It's time for people to forget about Southern Miss and put on our big boy pants, as Coach Claiborne used to say. We have a team with lots of talent, but also with fatal positional gaps. These positional gaps have largely been created by departures. I won't recite the list of departures, because they aren't about the future.

At this point, Coach Stoops can still succeed or fail. To succeed, Coach Stoops must do 3 things. Recruit at high level, develop staff better, develop players better. 1. We have begun to see recruiting momentum fall off. Less than 20 scholarships are available this year. Cedrick Dort and Jamin Davis should not be high priorities. Kentucky won't sign Jedrick Wills, but Stoops can still save this class by keeping Javonte Richardson and signing Danny Clark and a couple of high quality linemen and linebackers. Clark has already scheduled his announcement. A year from now, recruiting must be at a higher level. Jarren Williams is a good start, and he must be kept. 2. Kentucky's coaching staff is still a work in progress. The offensive staff has been stabilized by Eddie Gran. Matt House has stabilized special teams. But our defensive staff is still unsettled. This starts at the top. When Coach Stoops took over the defense, that was a no-confidence vote in Eliot and Clinkscale. Those 2 staff positions need upgrades. Especially Eliot. Stoops must hire an SEC-capable defensive coordinator. 3. Although Melvin Lewis, Josh Forrest, CJ Johnson were spectacular development stories, Stoops hasn't had enough of those. Too many players still underperform. Some of this is inexperience. Inexperience no longer a problem in 2017.

It doesn't matter what preconceived notions some fans had about season 4, unless those notions were supported by known facts. For example, strength at running back and wide receiver is a fact. Inexperience at quarterback and the front 7 is a fact. Whereas being tired of this or tired of that is an emotion, not a fact. Stoops and our players can't and shouldn't be responsible for emotions of fans. Even when we win, the same people are always upset and negative. That's compulsion. On the ground, this coaching staff has not failed yet. They can still succeed or fail. But recruiting must pick up, and our coaching staff still needs further development. More success in those 2 areas should lead to more consistent player development. If Stoops can pull them off. I'm not saying he can. I'm not saying he can't. But for now, all these posts about the next coach are pointless, at best. All they do is make people like Jordan Griffin's mother angry.

 

[Deeeefense]

I don't think we are short any players to have won at least 7 games this year. The problem was the defense showed up on opening day not ready to play and it didn't get fixed until game 3, then we lose our starting QB. These two things put us behind schedule 1 game over all (but zero in conference play) and will prevent 7 wins this year, but we can still get to six and finish as high as 3rd in the East.

 

[Blue Decade]

I don't think we are short any players to have won at least 7 games this year. The problem was the defense showed up on opening day not ready to play and it didn't get fixed until game 3, then we lose our starting QB. These two things put us behind schedule 1 game over all (but zero in conference play) and will prevent 7 wins this year, but we can still get to six and finish as high as 3rd in the East.

As I have said since June, this is a 4-5 win team. That's because we ARE short of players needed to win 7. We are very inexperienced at quarterback and on our defensive line. That was true before Barker's and Elam's injuries. Injuries have hurt, but injuries happen to every football team. The notion that this was ever a 7 win team was not based on the personnel or experience. It was always wishful thinking. Respectfully.

 

[docholiday51]

You make some good points,I think 5 is the win # we are looking at,it could be 6 but Stoops has yet to win that one game that we don't see coming.It could happen this season.

As to what he must do;
1. Keep Gran and Hinshaw
2. Fill specific needs in recruiting(QB,DL,ILB)
3. Keep the players he has,no departures other than graduation
4.Rework the defensive coaching staff,Eliot probably has to go

Two more wins means a better 5-7 than we had last year(I know that is splitting hairs looking for improvement but it would be accurate) Four wins total is still on the table and that is a setback we really,really don't need.Six wins is also on the table but again that one surprise win that Stoops hasn't had will be hard to come by this year.

Some of the young guys on defense and on the offensive line may continue to get better this year and thus the team improves from where we are now to get the extra win that we need. Our QB situation is tenuous at best,we are one snap away from being in uncharted territory and game to game or maybe play to play as to being able to throw the ball effectively enough to keep defenses honest.

We have had our own version of 'a season on the brink' and will continue to have it until 6 wins happen or we know they won't happen.

 

[brianpoe]

This is a bye week post about the future. I will even use paragraphs to satisfy critics. Even though we are 3-3, 2-2 and our coach has 3 more years on his contract, some posters are just locked into the next Kentucky football coach and trashing Stoops. If you are 1 of them, please stop reading at this point, because continuing may spur you to sarcasm that isn't fair to other people interested in our current football team. Since June, I have said Kentucky will win 4-5 games in 2016, then at least 7 games in 2017. My 2016 forecast is looking very good. My reasoning was based on extreme inexperience on Kentucky's defensive front 7 and at the quarterback position. My 2017 reasoning is based on the opposite - 19 incumbent starters pIus both kickers coming back. Our most important personnel weaknesses of 2016 can be turned into strengths by 2017. I am not saying they will or won't. I am only saying they "can be".

It's time for people to forget about Southern Miss and put on our big boy pants, as Coach Claiborne used to say. We have a team with lots of talent, but also with fatal positional gaps. These positional gaps have largely been created by departures. I won't recite the list of departures, because they aren't about the future.

At this point, Coach Stoops can still succeed or fail. To succeed, Coach Stoops must do 3 things. Recruit at high level, develop staff better, develop players better. 1. We have begun to see recruiting momentum fall off. Less than 20 scholarships are available this year. Cedrick Dort and Jamin Davis should not be high priorities. Kentucky won't sign Jedrick Wills, but Stoops can still save this class by keeping Javonte Richardson and signing Danny Clark and a couple of high quality linemen and linebackers. Clark has already scheduled his announcement. A year from now, recruiting must be at a higher level. Jarren Williams is a good start, and he must be kept. 2. Kentucky's coaching staff is still a work in progress. The offensive staff has been stabilized by Eddie Gran. Matt House has stabilized special teams. But our defensive staff is still unsettled. This starts at the top. When Coach Stoops took over the defense, that was a no-confidence vote in Eliot and Clinkscale. Those 2 staff positions need upgrades. Especially Eliot. Stoops must hire an SEC-capable defensive coordinator. 3. Although Melvin Lewis, Josh Forrest, CJ Johnson were spectacular development stories, Stoops hasn't had enough of those. Too many players still underperform. Some of this is inexperience. Inexperience no longer a problem in 2017.

It doesn't matter what preconceived notions some fans had about season 4, unless those notions were supported by known facts. For example, strength at running back and wide receiver is a fact. Inexperience at quarterback and the front 7 is a fact. Whereas being tired of this or tired of that is an emotion, not a fact. Stoops and our players can't and shouldn't be responsible for emotions of fans. Even when we win, the same people are always upset and negative. That's compulsion. On the ground, this coaching staff has not failed yet. They can still succeed or fail. But recruiting must pick up, and our coaching staff still needs further development. More success in those 2 areas should lead to more consistent player development. If Stoops can pull them off. I'm not saying he can. I'm not saying he can't. But for now, all these posts about the next coach are pointless, at best. All they do is make people like Jordan Griffin's mother angry.

And if we don't win 7 next year?

 

[sambowieshin_rivals]

I just can't believe that 4 years into the Mark Stoops experiment, we have a JUCO QB starting against SEC competition. We really need to land some good depth at the QB position. A good QB will keep you in games you have no business being in, but a bad QB automatically makes 6 wins practically impossible in the SEC, even if you have a top notch O-line and backs. You absolutely must keep SEC defenses honest with at least the threat of a passing game. Getting quality QB depth should be priority #1 for this staff.

 

[Blue Decade]

And if we don't win 7 next year?

Is it okay if we wait and see? I predicted 7 wins in 2017 because he ought to be able to put that kind of a team on the field with the talent and experience that will be on hand. From my point of view, if Stoops can't win 7 games with 19 starters (all his own recruits) and both kickers back, then he will most likely have failed at Kentucky. By then, his buyout and buyouts for his staff will be much less than now. But there are nuances. Will Stoops step up and do what must be done by replacing his friend DJ Eliot? That decision is a litmus test for his maturation as a head coach. From the moment Stoops personally took over Kentucky's defense, that die was cast. Can Stoops finish off his 2017 recruiting class? That means keeping Richardson, Ajian, Koback, King, and signing Clark, and adding a couple of legitimate SEC linemen and linebackers. I won't hold Stoops responsible for Wills specifically. But we need real SEC linemen, especially on our defense. If Stoops does those things well, then I would have more patience with him in the case of a 5-6 win season. OTOH, if Stoops' 2017 recruiting class falls apart, then I seriously worry about the future no matter what happens in 2017.

 

[gamalielkid]

This is a bye week post about the future. I will even use paragraphs to satisfy critics. Even though we are 3-3, 2-2 and our coach has 3 more years on his contract, some posters are just locked into the next Kentucky football coach and trashing Stoops. If you are 1 of them, please stop reading at this point, because continuing may spur you to sarcasm that isn't fair to other people interested in our current football team. Since June, I have said Kentucky will win 4-5 games in 2016, then at least 7 games in 2017. My 2016 forecast is looking very good. My reasoning was based on extreme inexperience on Kentucky's defensive front 7 and at the quarterback position. My 2017 reasoning is based on the opposite - 19 incumbent starters pIus both kickers coming back. Our most important personnel weaknesses of 2016 can be turned into strengths by 2017. I am not saying they will or won't. I am only saying they "can be".

It's time for people to forget about Southern Miss and put on our big boy pants, as Coach Claiborne used to say. We have a team with lots of talent, but also with fatal positional gaps. These positional gaps have largely been created by departures. I won't recite the list of departures, because they aren't about the future.

At this point, Coach Stoops can still succeed or fail. To succeed, Coach Stoops must do 3 things. Recruit at high level, develop staff better, develop players better. 1. We have begun to see recruiting momentum fall off. Less than 20 scholarships are available this year. Cedrick Dort and Jamin Davis should not be high priorities. Kentucky won't sign Jedrick Wills, but Stoops can still save this class by keeping Javonte Richardson and signing Danny Clark and a couple of high quality linemen and linebackers. Clark has already scheduled his announcement. A year from now, recruiting must be at a higher level. Jarren Williams is a good start, and he must be kept. 2. Kentucky's coaching staff is still a work in progress. The offensive staff has been stabilized by Eddie Gran. Matt House has stabilized special teams. But our defensive staff is still unsettled. This starts at the top. When Coach Stoops took over the defense, that was a no-confidence vote in Eliot and Clinkscale. Those 2 staff positions need upgrades. Especially Eliot. Stoops must hire an SEC-capable defensive coordinator. 3. Although Melvin Lewis, Josh Forrest, CJ Johnson were spectacular development stories, Stoops hasn't had enough of those. Too many players still underperform. Some of this is inexperience. Inexperience no longer a problem in 2017.

It doesn't matter what preconceived notions some fans had about season 4, unless those notions were supported by known facts. For example, strength at running back and wide receiver is a fact. Inexperience at quarterback and the front 7 is a fact. Whereas being tired of this or tired of that is an emotion, not a fact. Stoops and our players can't and shouldn't be responsible for emotions of fans. Even when we win, the same people are always upset and negative. That's compulsion. On the ground, this coaching staff has not failed yet. They can still succeed or fail. But recruiting must pick up, and our coaching staff still needs further development. More success in those 2 areas should lead to more consistent player development. If Stoops can pull them off. I'm not saying he can. I'm not saying he can't. But for now, all these posts about the next coach are pointless, at best. All they do is make people like Jordan Griffin's mother angry.

Predicting 4 or 5 wins has almost always been a safe statement at UK. You can call realist or you can call it anything you want - it's time for EVERYONE to expect more. The defense not being ready to play in game one and Barker's injury hurt, but the loss of the first game was on the defense - I think anyone would agree about Elliott then, however, if you are so good and positive about what the future is - then why are you not more optimistic about us winning 6 games now? The defense has looked totally different the last month - yes Stoops made changes - wasn't it really about time he did that? It doesn't mean that Elliot has to go - it just means that Stoops needs to take control of calling the plays and energizing the defense during the games. Stoops is NOT going to be the motivator on the offense - I think he finally learned to be himself on the field and not try to look like he was running the offensive show. I think he realized he needed to let Gran and Hinshaw do their thing and he and Elliot would do their thing. I feel differently, obviously, than before. We have had a two man coaching team for the offense and now Stoops has learned that he needed a two man defensive team.

Now, as to injuries and Barker. I was very hopeful for Barker, but Drew hadn't proved he could lead a team to a win - which was a problem from last year - a mistake made by the staff. Now, Steve Johnson has his flaws, but the team seams to believe in him and we have better team chemistry - why? Well, I don't know, but it could be HE wasn't involved in the split locker room and chemistry - and the players are rallying around him. I can tell you from many years of watching team sports - if players rally around the lesser talented guy - then he can lead the team to MORE victories than a guy that isn't supported. Plus, I have heard nothing but good reviews about Gunner Hoak - who knows what he could be capable of now? He could be the passing star we need. I think his red shirt needs to come off - why? You have your long term future quarterbacks in place. We need for him to gain experience NOW and hopefully he can do some positive things.

Drew may very well get a medical redshirt. Their have been many 6 year players in the NCAA. Now, give Drew 3 more years - when does Gunner Hoak play? His redshirt senior season? Williams would be a redshirt sophomore then. UK will have at least 3 more qbs not mentioned here available then as well. Stoop's, this team and the UK football future is riding on doing as well as possible THIS year. Now is the time you go for broke. We may not win another game - but we could win 4 more games this year. You don't know and neither do I, but one thing is for certain - if we don't aggressively go for wins - then we will not have to worry about recruiting in the future - players want to win, they want to see progress and they want to go to a bowl game.

This can still be a very good year - the younger players you speak of are growing up in front of us. We have 4 teams left on our schedule that we can truly compete with - let's go bust some heads!

Go Big Blue!

 

[Blue Decade]

I just can't believe that 4 years into the Mark Stoops experiment, we have a JUCO QB starting against SEC competition. We really need to land some good depth at the QB position. A good QB will keep you in games you have no business being in, but a bad QB automatically makes 6 wins practically impossible in the SEC, even if you have a top notch O-line and backs. You absolutely must keep SEC defenses honest with at least the threat of a passing game. Getting quality QB depth should be priority #1 for this staff.

Again, I predicted 4-5 wins in June. So I am not surprised. Here are the facts about our quarterbacks. Almost every fan on this board was screaming and campaigning for Barker. Now a lot of them don't like Barker anymore. But Barker has started 6 games in his college career, and now he has a serious injury. Towles and Phillips left our program before Gran and Hinshaw got here. Stoops signed Hoak last year and then got him to spring practice. Hinshaw brought in Johnson at the last minute, when all the elite high school quarterbacks had already committed. And thank goodness we have Johnson, because believe it or not things would be much worse now without him. Johnson has only started 3 games and Kentucky won 2 of those. Stoops is about to sign Danny Clark. Stoops also has a commitment from Jarren Williams. Both 4 stars. Stoops had a commitment from Mac Jones for a year before Jones finally flipped to Alabama. Stoops is filling that void with Clark. So Stoops is getting the job done with quarterback recruitment. What we need now is quarterback development, and I still have confidence in Coach Hinshaw.

 

[Blue Decade]

Predicting 4 or 5 wins has almost always been a safe statement at UK. You can call realist or you can call it anything you want - it's time for EVERYONE to expect more. The defense not being ready to play in game one and Barker's injury hurt, but the loss of the first game was on the defense - I think anyone would agree about Elliott then, however, if you are so good and positive about what the future is - then why are you not more optimistic about us winning 6 games now? The defense has looked totally different the last month - yes Stoops made changes - wasn't it really about time he did that? It doesn't mean that Elliot has to go - it just means that Stoops needs to take control of calling the plays and energizing the defense during the games. Stoops is NOT going to be the motivator on the offense - I think he finally learned to be himself on the field and not try to look like he was running the offensive show. I think he realized he needed to let Gran and Hinshaw do their thing and he and Elliot would do their thing. I feel differently, obviously, than before. We have had a two man coaching team for the offense and now Stoops has learned that he needed a two man defensive team.

Now, as to injuries and Barker. I was very hopeful for Barker, but Drew hadn't proved he could lead a team to a win - which was a problem from last year - a mistake made by the staff. Now, Steve Johnson has his flaws, but the team seams to believe in him and we have better team chemistry - why? Well, I don't know, but it could be HE wasn't involved in the split locker room and chemistry - and the players are rallying around him. I can tell you from many years of watching team sports - if players rally around the lesser talented guy - then he can lead the team to MORE victories than a guy that isn't supported. Plus, I have heard nothing but good reviews about Gunner Hoak - who knows what he could be capable of now? He could be the passing star we need. I think his red shirt needs to come off - why? You have your long term future quarterbacks in place. We need for him to gain experience NOW and hopefully he can do some positive things.

Drew may very well get a medical redshirt. Their have been many 6 year players in the NCAA. Now, give Drew 3 more years - when does Gunner Hoak play? His redshirt senior season? Williams would be a redshirt sophomore then. UK will have at least 3 more qbs not mentioned here available then as well. Stoop's, this team and the UK football future is riding on doing as well as possible THIS year. Now is the time you go for broke. We may not win another game - but we could win 4 more games this year. You don't know and neither do I, but one thing is for certain - if we don't aggressively go for wins - then we will not have to worry about recruiting in the future - players want to win, they want to see progress and they want to go to a bowl game.

This can still be a very good year - the younger players you speak of are growing up in front of us. We have 4 teams left on our schedule that we can truly compete with - let's go bust some heads!

Go Big Blue!

I like your optimism. But this has always been a 4-5 win team. Expecting more than that is wishful thinking. Always was. Criticizing my prediction as "safe" is baloney. It is proving to be accurate, and it took some foresight. At the time I made it, everyone else here was predicting a bowl season, and some people were predicting 8-9 wins. There were entire threads here about how we were going to "blow out" Southern Mss. LOL! All I did was to match my prediction with our returning roster. When I tried to explain how beating Southern Miss would be an uphill battle, I was blasted. So it sure wasn't "safe". But it was right.

 

[BlueRunner11]

So 5 whole years just to possibly make an entry level bowl game huh?

So ridiculous.

 

[Blue Decade]

So 5 whole years just to possibly make an entry level bowl game huh?

So ridiculous.

You are a perfect example of what I meant in the 1st paragraph, which is where you should have stopped reading.

 

[brianpoe]

Is it okay if we wait and see? I predicted 7 wins in 2017 because he ought to be able to put that kind of a team on the field with the talent and experience that will be on hand. From my point of view, if Stoops can't win 7 games with 19 starters (all his own recruits) and both kickers back, then he will most likely have failed at Kentucky. By then, his buyout and buyouts for his staff will be much less than now. But there are nuances. Will Stoops step up and do what must be done by replacing his friend DJ Eliot? That decision is a litmus test for his maturation as a head coach. From the moment Stoops personally took over Kentucky's defense, that die was cast. Can Stoops finish off his 2017 recruiting class? That means keeping Richardson, Ajian, Koback, King, and signing Clark, and adding a couple of legitimate SEC linemen and linebackers. I won't hold Stoops responsible for Wills specifically. But we need real SEC linemen, especially on our defense. If Stoops does those things well, then I would have more patience with him in the case of a 5-6 win season. OTOH, if Stoops' 2017 recruiting class falls apart, then I seriously worry about the future no matter what happens in 2017.

I will wait and see how this season plays out as I have always said.

As @gamalielkid stated, predicting 4-5 wins with our schedule, especially in year 4 is no stretch. The fact you are satisfied ending the season with our current 4 wins and possibly one more vs a D2 school is probably an opinion shared by a minority of fans.


If we continue with our current improvement against better teams then that will be great.

But if we do not improve, winning only 2 more games this year why risk the opportunity of 2017 and those 19 starters? Not to mention, as you correctly stated, recruiting falling off after yet another down year?


As I have stated before:

I think even if CMS tanks the rest of this year he could go 6-6 next season with the 2017 kids but then what?

With the past 2 years of recruiting going backwards is 6-6 really exciting for a 5th year?

Or... if we do not continue our progression this year give a new staff the opportunity to win with some talent still left.

The same 6-6 record is much more exciting to new recruits in year 1 than year 5 in my opinion.


Miss State is having their worst season since 2008, the year before Mullen, yet it is still a big test for us. A win vs the Bulldogs and the Tigers (along with AP) will end the CMS fire talk and resume to criticizing offense, defense and special teams play...

 

[NCukcat62]

You are a perfect example of what I meant in the 1st paragraph, which is where you should have stopped reading.

Or maybe he wants to be a winner? But hey it's just year four and we haven't gone to a bowl game. That's perfectly fine because we always have next year! (Your logic)

 

[Blue Decade]

I will wait and see how this season plays out as I have always said.

As @gamalielkid said, predicting 4-5 wins with our schedule, especially in year 4 is no stretch. The fact you are satisfied ending the season with our current 4 wins and possibly one more vs a D2 school is probably an opinion shared by a minority of fans.


If we continue with our current improvement against better teams then that will be great.

But if we do not improve, winning only 2 more games this year why risk the opportunity of 2017 and those 19 starters? Not to mention, as you correctly stated, recruiting falling off after yet another down year?


As I have stated before:

I think even if CMS tanks the rest of this year he could go 6-6 next season with the 2017 kids but then what?

With the past 2 years of recruiting going backwards is 6-6 really exciting for a 5th year?

Or... if we do not continue our progression this year give a new staff the opportunity to win with some talent still left.

The same 6-6 record is much more exciting to new recruits in year 1 than year 5 in my opinion.


Miss State is having their worst season since 2008, the year before Mullen, yet it is still a big test for us. A win vs the Bulldogs and the Tigers (along with AP) will end the CMS fire talk and resume to criticizing offense, defense and special teams play...

Now Brian. Where did I say I am "satisfied" with 4-5 wins? You made that up. I don't make my predictions on the basis of what satisfies me. If I did that, I would predict 12-0 every year, LOL! I have already offered my thoughts about what would constitute improvement, and what would save Stoops' job. He must recruit at a higher level than he has recruited so far in 2017. He needs to keep Richardson, Ajian, King, Koback. He needs Danny Clark, and he needs a couple more true SEC linemen, especially on the defensive side. He has to replace Eliot with a legitimate SEC coordinator. And player development must become a more consistent feature for our program. I summarized all of this in the OP, which I assume you read.

 

[docholiday51]

We are to the point in the season where the annual meltdown occurs.My question to you guys is ,does it occur this year? If it does that is clearly lack of progress but if it doesn't or does to a noticeable lesser extent is that progress.?

 

[BlueRunner11]

You are a perfect example of what I meant in the 1st paragraph, which is where you should have stopped reading.

Just thought the thread needed a "perfect example" or aka voice of reason.

Blue Decade it is, that's for sure.

 

[brianpoe]

Now Brian. Where did I say I am "satisfied" with 4-5 wins? You made that up. I don't make my predictions on the basis of what satisfies me. If I did that, I would predict 12-0 every year, LOL! I have already offered my thoughts about what would constitute improvement, and what would save Stoops' job. He must recruit at a higher level than he has recruited so far in 2017. He needs to keep Richardson, Ajian, King, Koback. He needs Danny Clark, and he needs a couple more true SEC linemen, especially on the defensive side. He has to replace Eliot with a legitimate SEC coordinator. And player development must become a more consistent feature for our program. I summarized all of this in the OP, which I assume you read.

Valid point my good barrister. It was your prediction and not your stated desire. I stand corrected.

The rest of this post couldn't be more correct as well.

 

[TuckyFB]

Just thought the thread needed a "perfect example" or aka voice of reason.

Blue Decade it is, that's for sure.

Why do you go back to Rafters and keep talking simpleton ball. You clearly don't have the intelligence to talk football. Blue Decade has his opinion and it is a legit one.

 

[brianpoe]

Why do you go back to Rafters and keep talking simpleton ball. You clearly don't have the intelligence to talk football. Blue Decade has his opinion and it is a legit one.

Why dont you stop chastising posters that have been posting here longer than you have been out of high school?

I'm really getting tired of the constant snarky remarks, you can actually talk football, but cant seem to control yourself on attacking people.

 

[TuckyFB]

Why dont you stop chastising posters that have been posting here longer than you have been out of high school?

I'm really getting tired of the constant snarky remarks, you can actually talk football, but cant seem to control yourself on attacking people.

Ok. So people can say smart *** things but other people can't say anything back?

 

[gamalielkid]

Ok. So people can say smart *** things but other people can't say anything back? Ok.
You're tired of my word's?
I don't have a problem meeting you in person

Sounds like we need you on the football field! Enough anger to make a difference.

Go Big Blue!

 

[BlueRunner11]

Why do you go back to Rafters and keep talking simpleton ball. You clearly don't have the intelligence to talk football. Blue Decade has his opinion and it is a legit one.

Clearly.

Look, I've played, coached and have been watching fball including KY fball which I've lived and died by over many many years way before you knew the difference between a football and your dirty diaper.

Disagreeing and personal attacks are two different things and you would do well to learn the difference.

 

[brianpoe]

Ok. So people can say smart *** things but other people can't say anything back? Ok.
You're tired of my word's?
I don't have a problem meeting you in person

First off, @BlueRunner11 did not make a personal attack.

Secondly, @Blue Decade is the last poster that needs a 20 year old defending him on a message board.

As to your invitation, I use my real name and live in Lexington. Meeting me in person will not help your case any.

 

[lz]

Good thread, would love for us to scratch out 6 victories, but 5 wins plus staying competitive in our remaining games would make for another great season end thread by you, Blue Decade. Our defense has improved, but we haven't faced the running QBs this season like UT and UL will throw at us, so it will be most interesting to me if Stoops' coaching can slow those offenses. If so and assuming recruiting finishes well, he may retain all defensive coaches and continue as is, if he has the energy to perform both jobs again in 2017.

 

[Blue Decade]

Or maybe he wants to be a winner? But hey it's just year four and we haven't gone to a bowl game. That's perfectly fine because we always have next year! (Your logic)

You don't understand my logic. You have given up on Stoops, and that is your business.

 

[catzfanjim]

Ok. So people can say smart *** things but other people can't say anything back?

So you want to meet someone in person because they don't agree with you. I'm sorry to tell you this but not everyone on here is going to always agree with something you post.

 

[brianpoe]

You don't understand my logic. You have given up on Stoops, and that is your business.

It appears to me that @Blue Decade has done a better job with predicting the performance of the players and the coaches than those of us that expected more.

I can accept that.

 

[JC CATS]

As I have said since June, this is a 4-5 win team. That's because we ARE short of players needed to win 7. We are very inexperienced at quarterback and on our defensive line. That was true before Barker's and Elam's injuries. Injuries have hurt, but injuries happen to every football team. The notion that this was ever a 7 win team was not based on the personnel or experience. It was always wishful thinking. Respectfully.

This team could, very big could, have won 6-7 games. They should not have dropped the S Miss game. They should beat AP and could win 2, prolly just 1 out of Mizzu, Vandy, Miss ST, and Ga. That is 6-7 wins. saying that, your post is solid and I agree and hope 17 turns out that well

 

[westharris]

They were just a play or two away from a bowl game last year and are a play or two this year from being in a better position for a bowl game this year. I don't see how players not making plays is coach stoops' fault. He has put them in a bowl position two years in a row. Coaches can't play the game. They prepare the players and its up to them.

 

[JC CATS]

So 5 whole years just to possibly make an entry level bowl game huh?

So ridiculous.

Outside the decade of the 70's when did UK play in a bowl that wasn't entry level?

 

[BlueRunner11]

It appears to me that @Blue Decade has done a better job with predicting the performance of the players and the coaches versus those of us that expected more.

I can accept that.

I agree and for the 30th+ year in a row, I bought into the hype and expected more.

I have never thought or expected Stoops was capable of making this team a competitor in the East but thought we'd be consistently bowling and that's been a major disappointment.

 

[Blue Decade]

Valid point my good barrister. It was your prediction and not your stated desire. I stand corrected.

The rest of this post couldn't be more correct as well.

I am just stating what I believe it will take for Stoops to succeed. I am not saying Stoops WILL succeed, because I don't know if he will. I don't know if he has the maturity to cut ties with his friend Eliot, but he must do it. People shouldn't immediately dismiss what it means to get 19 starters and both kickers back. People who really understand football won't. I have been involved in football for my entire life, but I don't think I have ever seen a team with 19 starters coming back. As I look at next year, it's a team that ought to win 7 on the basis of the roster. Not on the basis of what would satisfy me, or what I am tired of. Those things don't matter. If Stoops can't get it done in 2017 with an experienced, veteran roster of his own recruits, then I think it's over for him.

 

[BlueRunner11]

Outside the decade of the 70's when did UK play in a bowl that wasn't entry level?

So we should just accept the status quo? UK has things in place now that it never has before that can make a REAL difference to turning the program around if we have the right coach. So far, he's not been that guy and that's not really even debate able.

 

[brianpoe]

They were just a play or two away from a bowl game last year and are a play or two this year from being in a better position for a bowl game this year. I don't see how players not making plays is coach stoops' fault. He has put them in a bowl position two years in a row. Coaches can't play the game. They prepare the players and its up to them.

If you cant see last year's Vandy or UL game, EKU preparation, Southern Miss breakdown, misalignments and too many or not enough men on the field then you do have a hard time seeing.

The last 2 games do not encompass the entire 4 year regime.

Stuff like this article is all on the coaches:

http://www.sbnation.com/college-foo...ion-even-worse-than-that-time-it-had-8-men-on
http://blob:https://vine.co/305df9e9-53bb-455a-8086-646e7ac3f7ca

 

[JC CATS]

So we should just accept the status quo? UK has things in place now that it never has before that can make a REAL difference to turning the program around if we have the right coach. So far, he's not been that guy and that's not really even debate able.

Never said that, I just insinuated that it has been acceptable in the past. Rich Brooks went to minor bowls and was a big deal around here. Fot the record though, I am with you, I am ready to go to playoffs...

 

[Blue Decade]

So we should just accept the status quo? UK has things in place now that it never has before that can make a REAL difference to turning the program around if we have the right coach. So far, he's not been that guy and that's not really even debate able.

There is no definition for "entry level bowl". Our 1984 team beat Wisconsin in the Hall of Fame Bowl. Prior to that game, Wisconsin was the #9 team in the country. So that was a significant win. Brooks beat Clemson and Florida State in bowls. Those were meaningful victories for our football program. You can disagree, of course, but you would be wrong. And again, you are jumping the gun to conclude that Stoops isn't the "right coach". You say it isn't "debatable" but that is an emotional response, not a fact. Maybe he is. Maybe he isn't. We will know in November, 2017.

 

[BlueRunner11]

They were just a play or two away from a bowl game last year and are a play or two this year from being in a better position for a bowl game this year. I don't see how players not making plays is coach stoops' fault. He has put them in a bowl position two years in a row. Coaches can't play the game. They prepare the players and its up to them.

And we could easily be 1-5 so far this season. Very easily. Each game being won or lost on a bounce of the ball here and there is not where you want your program at.

 

[brianpoe]

Is it too much of a stretch to think that maybe CMS, at this time in his career, is a coach good enough to recruit players to pull a team from the bottom but has a ceiling when it comes to game preparation, on-field coaching, in-game decision making, and the overall moxie required to take that next level of upsetting better teams on such a large stage?

It is very tough on the job training in the SEC, whether it is UK or UGA.

 

[CB3UK]

But sven if we win 4 or 5, we will always say it ahould have been 5 or 6. If it's 5 or 6 then we'll say 6 or 7 (which is what I had us at.) The Southern Miss game will be a factor when we look back at season's end. For now, we need to recalibrate as a fanbase, and focus on what lies in front. I think predicting 5 wins was a safe bet but that doesn't mean we shouldn't expect to see 6 or even 7. Just because we can say we only see 4 or 5 with our roster doesnt make it OK if we only get that many. Not the way they came out the first three games.