Thoughts and updates of open practice
- Thread starter JPFisher
- Start date
Totally agree with you and others regarding a "switch" to a 4 down front; that is not going to happen. However, FWIW, you seldom see a DT in a 2 tech in a 4-3 front. The DTs are almost always in 1 or 3 techs. Likewise, in UK's 3-4 front, like most 3-4 teams, the NT was frequently in a 1 tech.
Peace
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This won't work. In order to play ball control you need to ram it down people's throats with your running game. UK doesn't have talent like Bama to run at will and control the clock. The minute the O sputters, the other team is playing ball control against our D who you just said will get gashed at the point of attack.
UK's best bet is to have an up-tempo offense that can scor quickly. Dare the other team to keep up. Get in a shootout. Otherwise the tables will get turned on us very quickly.
Some just don't get it if this offense dosen't produce 30-35+ ppg we are toast...this isn't your grandpa's game anymore
Hopefully we are not assessing Pringle's potential four practices into his UK career.
Being at the scrimmage, you can only tell what you see. Some young players looked good some didn't but it hard when you can't really blitz or touch some players. I didn't hear anyone at the game say that we looked like we were going to win the East and it was our first scrimmage. Most fans know that anything that you see now you take with a grain of salt.
There are more than a few that think our D-line will be a hot mess this fall. In truth they might but then again, they might be pretty decent.
As an example, Wisconsin had the number one statistical defense in the country and was #4 against the run in 2015. Their D-line depth chart was as follows:
DE
3* 5.7 Conor Sheehy So
NR Zander Neuville RFr 6-5 225lb walkon ran 4.8
3* 5.7 Billy Hirchfeld RFr
NT
3* 5.5 Arthur Goldberg RJr
3* 5.6 Olive Sagapolu Fr
3* 5.6 Jeremy Patterson RFr
DE
4* 5.8 Chikwe Obasih RSo
3* 5.7 Alec James RSo
3* 5.6 Kraig Howe Fr
Ours currently is as follows:
DT
2* 5.3 Regie Meant RSJr
2* 5.4 Calvin Taylor RSFr
3* 5.6 Adrian Middleton RSSo
3* 5.6 Kordell Looney Fr
NT
3* 5.6 Matt Elam Jr
2* 5.4 Naquez Pringle JucoJr
3* 5.6 Tymere Dubose RSSo
DE
2* 5.3 Courtney Miggins Sr
3* 5.6 Kengera Daniel So
3* 5.6 Alvonte Bell RSJr
Last year our run defense ranked 96. Now there's no way I'm saying our guys will be a top 10 run defense, nor even a top 50 run defense but they do have the chance to be adequate and with expected improvement in our offense, adequate might just be enough to go bowling.
As an example, Wisconsin had the number one statistical defense in the country and was #4 against the run in 2015. Their D-line depth chart was as follows:
DE
3* 5.7 Conor Sheehy So
NR Zander Neuville RFr 6-5 225lb walkon ran 4.8
3* 5.7 Billy Hirchfeld RFr
NT
3* 5.5 Arthur Goldberg RJr
3* 5.6 Olive Sagapolu Fr
3* 5.6 Jeremy Patterson RFr
DE
4* 5.8 Chikwe Obasih RSo
3* 5.7 Alec James RSo
3* 5.6 Kraig Howe Fr
Ours currently is as follows:
DT
2* 5.3 Regie Meant RSJr
2* 5.4 Calvin Taylor RSFr
3* 5.6 Adrian Middleton RSSo
3* 5.6 Kordell Looney Fr
NT
3* 5.6 Matt Elam Jr
2* 5.4 Naquez Pringle JucoJr
3* 5.6 Tymere Dubose RSSo
DE
2* 5.3 Courtney Miggins Sr
3* 5.6 Kengera Daniel So
3* 5.6 Alvonte Bell RSJr
Last year our run defense ranked 96. Now there's no way I'm saying our guys will be a top 10 run defense, nor even a top 50 run defense but they do have the chance to be adequate and with expected improvement in our offense, adequate might just be enough to go bowling.
The best thing about that DL depth above is there are only 2 guys who will graduate this year, so depth (# of bodies) looks promising for 2017 and beyond. Obviously still have to find a pass rush, but that will likely be generated from the LB crew
I wish we had a legit DC. Elliot has proved over and over he was not ready for the job. Hope this year will prove me wrong.
This is off base. Here we are talking about the practice & somebody changes the discussion to the coaching staff quality. I've been told this isn't allowed.
That just isn't true. Passing oriented spread offenses that mix in read option plays can be used to manage the clock. We are going to have to be creative to get the ball to playmakers in space.
My point is that a hurry up offense is great when changing the pace at intervals (a true 2 minute drill, etc.), but we need to try to limit the snaps the D will face through offensive pace and playcalling. I have zero confidence that our D will have improved at getting off of the field on third down.
The defense has shown improvement every single year. Year 4 will be no different. There was some really good defensive performances last year especially before melvin got hurt. The run defense will be solid with the additions of Love Kash and Laster. The secondary will force some picks with the length we have. No team in the sec shuts down running games every single week. UK will be no different the olines and backs in this league are NFL players. Even teams like Georgia Lsu Auburn etc get run on. We will have 10 games at the end of the year that we could win. I do believe we win more of those games this year than the last two.
An offensive shootout forces the other team to pass. If the strength of our D is the secondary, and the other team has to keep up with fast scoring, there will be opportunities for 3 and outs and limited defensive series. This will make it easier on our D.
And yes, a spread offense can play some ball control assuming it has a good running game. Otherwise the opposing D won't respect it one bit. Then they can force us into 3 and outs.
One thing I've learned about football is you cannot hide your weaknesses on defense. A team that doesn't pass well will run (Ga Tech). A team that doesn't run well will pass (Boise St, Texas Tech). A team that can't stop the run will most definitely get gashed at the point of attack. This has been Kentucky football for the last 35 years.
First, you assume that I was there at practice and then continue on to cherry pick two statements to support your point. Second, you assume that I set unrealistic expectations when it is quite clear that I also pointed out deficiencies I read about on Twitter. A lot of assuming is happening here and it shows.
I think we had some solid defense in the Hartline era, but I agree for the most part. UK needs to correct the basic issues that seem to have plagued us for decades.
And we would have had an outstanding one if not for the NCAA's stupid ruling on Jarmon. Peters had a great year with teams doubleteaming him all year, you have to wonder what he could have done if teams had to split the doubleteams with Jarmon, or let him run wild.
Last year's pass defense was comparable to that era. That may be even more impressive given how much more importance teams place on throwing the ball today than they did in the aughts. Rush defense has been worse than the Joker era.
Stoops tenure at KY will solely fall in the hands of Gran and Hinshaw because if they cannot solve the offensive mess that has been at UK under his watch then he has no chance. Dline recruiting has been poor for SEC standards. You simply cannot win at this level if you can't stop the run or get a consistent pass rush. They will have to get very creative with their lber packages and hope for the best. KY will have to win games with offense and hope the defense can create a good ratio of turnovers a game.
I disagree with your premise that an offensive shootout forces the other team to pass. Even if UK can score quickly, that does not mean that the opponent is going to be forced to pass. To the contrary, it's CW for a team to run the ball a lot if it can successfully do so in order to keep the ball out of the hands of a high scoring opponent. And as you acknowledge, UK has had a problem stopping the run over the years. So there is no reason whatsoever to think that just because we can score quickly, an opponent with a good running game is going to simply abandon it to start throwing the ball around. Particularly if our defensive secondary is better at defending the pass than our defensive line is better at defending the run. If anything, an opponent is going to stick to its running game if for no other reason than keeping the ball away from our O.
Sure if a run oriented opponent is down several TDs heading into the fourth quarter, it's going to have to pass the ball and that would be playing into what should be the strength of our D this year. But if our ability to stop the run is as bad as it has been for the last 35 years or so as you claim, I seriously doubt any opponent with a good running game is going to be down 3 TDs heading into the fourth quarter.
I'm certain Mark and his staff are adapting your observations and telling the defense to "man up" as our fans feel we have no chance except possibly edging out the mighty governors of Austin Peay.
I don't think it is quite that dire,I think it will come down to, do we have a QB that can execute the offense and make the plays that are there to be made. He doesn't have to be great but good enough to get the ball to the right receivers on time and not turn the ball over too much.
This is absolute truth. The season, just like last year, is riding on the offense.
We will simply have to outscore teams in SHOOTOUTS to win games.
Why? Because our D-Line is not a SEC D-Line, pure and simple(They are young and lack depth). In addition, our LBs are mostly green with no game experience at all in the SEC. The only solid part of our defense is the secondary. That is not a good situation in the SEC.
Also, don't forget that Jason Hatcher was a HUGE loss. He was one of the most talented players coming back on our Defense and would have helped tremendously.
It is what it is....
I think the coaching has mostly been good on defense we just simply don't have SEC talent up front like most SEC teams.
Gran will probably make or break Stoops' career at UK. Gran could be the difference between Stoops leaving UK and staying. Our offense has to improve significantly to get to 6 wins and a bowl game.
The one significant area we could improve and affect the outcome of a game is our punting teams. We improved to respectability on KO's but we were dreadful punting and returning punts. That is especially true with punt return defense and net punting. All things remaining equal there is enough room for improvements to be made in those areas, that competent execution could could result in a 6th win this year.
It can mean so much to a team when special teams can come up with some scores on the Kickoff and Punt return teams.
Jason Hatcher had multiple opportunities to adhere to team rules and simply blew it. Will he be missed? I doubt the players will miss a teammate who was his own worst enemy. The fans will miss him with some having overblown expectations while others hope he can resolve personal issues and be the best he can be. Yes, UofL will try to enroll him. Yes, other SEC schools notably in Knoxville would simply sweep his issues "under the rug" as boys will be boys.