Discouraged!

[suncat05]

Honestly folks, there were a few signs of hope, but overall I am pretty discouraged right now. Every phase of the defense was just plain inept. INEPT! Out of place almost every play, poor tackling, d-backs that couldn't cover my 90 year old grandmother in her Hoveround, linebackers getting "stiff-armed", a "D"-line that couldn't penetrate against U of L or even contain them for most of the game............
On offense we actually did move to ball, except we kept fumbling it. And how about we throw the damn ball DOWNFIELD more than once a game, and then NOT on a 'trick' play
I know we're "young", but that is no excuse for what we all saw today. I have been on board with Joker, but I am losing patience with this continual ineptitude on one side of the ball or the other. Every year it's the same old crap, and frankly, I'm tired of watching this 'exercise in futility'.

[KMSBball]

I thought the offense was improved. The O line needs a lot of work. But we knew that going in to this year.
I didn't see anything on defense that was better than last year. yes the DB's are inexperienced but the D line was supposed to be a strength.
I like our coaches but they are not getting the job done. And it's not just Joker. If the team improves in the next few weeks I may need to re-evaluate the staff. But right now it looks like we may have to clean house. And that usually delays things even more.

[dan_bgblue]

I am not going to give up because of a disappointing effort from the D in the first game of the season. I can understand why many would and will, and they have every right to do so.

Offense was much better than last year and there are a few legit play makers on that side of the ball to make a difference if the staff will use them. If I witness or listen to 3 or 4 more games like this, I will give up also. I want them to improve each game, and hope they will do so.

[truecatsfan]

Dan, im not giving up but as i get older it just gets harder and harder to watch this program do nothing about it.

[dan_bgblue]

Dan, im not giving up but as i get older it just gets harder and harder to watch this program do nothing about it.

I fully understand that, and it ain't easy for me either. I guess I should be a Cubs fan too.

I have to support the players and coaches. The coaches did not hire themselves and they are doing the best they can. Whatever blame we place for having a dysfunctional team needs to be directed at those in the program that put those coaches in place so they could fail. There is not a person alive that wants UK to succeed in football more than Coach Phillips and I truly feel for him as he was put in a position he was not prepared to handle.

[kingcat]

I wish UK football the best. Nothing I can do for them however but be honest. There is little in the way of hope for success. So just have fun and get that degree.

As for the program itself, thirty or forty samples that taste bad prove more than just a lack of proper flavoring...especially if you puke every time


Roll tide!!

[imsoblue]

Dan, im not giving up but as i get older it just gets harder and harder to watch this program do nothing about it.

I feel the same way. Why is it a school like UL can hire a coach and build a team in 2 yrs going on 3 and UK has to rebuild every friken season? I know UL is in a weak conference and plays a weak schedule so that must help, but UK must have some internal problems that keeps them from getting over that hump.

[kingcat]

Kragthorpe was the problem for U of L. Otherwise, the U of L program is just stronger at the core than UK. Strange indeed that we've allowed it to remain so.
Our coaches are said to require three to five seasons to field a competitive team...others can do so in one to two. UK football fans allow for such a soft cushy feel of lowered expectation at the administrative levels.

From this point on, I refuse.

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[Lfbj00]

I've given it well over 24 hours now to sink in, and not fly off the handle emotionally at the spur of the moment. And I have read everyone's posts/reasonings/queries about the situation at hand. Here is what I've come up with, and please, if anyone disagrees, feel free to respond.

I am 45 years old...soon to be 46. Not as old as some, but older, or as old as most. I have pulled for Kentucky Wildcats "ATHLETICS" since I knew what was what, vaguely since I was about 10-12. But for arguments sake, I went back to the first year I was on God's green earth. In 45 seasons of UK Football, in 522 games, the program has compiled a 211-305-6 record, for a 40% winning percentage. Under 9 different coaches we have had exactly 12 winning seasons, and 3 .500 seasons, while compiling 30 LOSING SEASONS!! We have went to 11 Bowl Games, winning 5 and losing 6. Only 3 coaches have been to multiple bowl games...Jerry Claiborne, Hal Mumme, and Rich Brooks. They accounted for 8 of the 11 bowl games, but 4 were to the Music City Bowl, and 2 were the Hall of Fame Bowl. We were 4-4 in those games. On the flip side of the winning seasons, we've had 13 seasons of 3 wins or less.

My question is this...When has the administration ever given a rat's a$$ about the football program....EVER?? We are a SEC school by affiliation only. We don't compete, and consistently, never have. And I am by no means bashing our players, because they go out and give their hearts and souls for that Blue and White jersey on their back. What I am completely dumbfounded about, is the fanbase questioning this coaching staff, yet again. Facts are facts, and we've NEVER had a great coaching staff. We had a serviceable staff under Brooks, but still only managed to wear out a path to Nashville for bowls, and that is only because the SEC has so many bowl alliances. And I'm not really bashing that either, because post season play is still great for the players. I just think some fans have unreal expectations for a football team, that they will not achieve without help from the administration. And they have proven they won't help!!

So with that off my chest, I'll be tuning in Saturday for the Kent St. game, if I can find somebody here in Louisville who's carrying it, and giving my support 100% to the boys in blue, just like every Saturday!!

[kingcat]

I know what all great coaches past and present would say...If ya aint in it to win titles find yourself a new game to play...same goes for being a fan imho.

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[chroix]

How long did it take Saban to rebuild?

[ajp40505]

About as long as it took Coach Cal to rebuild. That's the only comparison that makes sense when you compare Alabama to UK.

[dan_bgblue]

Lfbj00, if you are willing to listen via the PC, here is a link that will do the trick for you. Btw, I think you make excellent points in your post

WLAP via iHeartRadio

[kritikalcat]

First, I want to see where we are after the next 2 games, and game 6 (Miss St). We should beat Kent State and WKU, I want to see that happen and decisively. If we do that, my gut says we might grab a win from the 1st 3 SEC games, and be 3-3 headed to Arkansas. That sets up a good shot at winning 3 more on the back end. If we struggle with the Golden Flashes and Hilltoppers, and get blown out vs. UF, SC and Miss St. it's time to announce the search committee.

If that happens, I will just say that this time around I'd like to see a proven head coach. I don't have any prejudice against hiring a top coordinator (honestly, I think a lot of that comes from an irrational view that "UK basketball won't hire an assistant as HC, so if UK football does it shows the admin. doesn't care") in general, but I do think THIS program needs someone with HC experience the next time around.

[Badinage]

Honestly folks, there were a few signs of hope, but overall I am pretty discouraged right now. Every phase of the defense was just plain inept. INEPT! Out of place almost every play, poor tackling, d-backs that couldn't cover my 90 year old grandmother in her Hoveround, linebackers getting "stiff-armed", a "D"-line that couldn't penetrate against U of L or even contain them for most of the game............
On offense we actually did move to ball, except we kept fumbling it. And how about we throw the damn ball DOWNFIELD more than once a game, and then NOT on a 'trick' play
I know we're "young", but that is no excuse for what we all saw today. I have been on board with Joker, but I am losing patience with this continual ineptitude on one side of the ball or the other. Every year it's the same old crap, and frankly, I'm tired of watching this 'exercise in futility'.

The defense looked like crap. Some of that is on Minter. Some of that is on Bridgewater and UL's OC who just plain outcoached our defensive staff. Some has to do with the fact that UL has some really good skill players and, perhaps, one of the best QBs in the country. And, some of that is on youth. We constantly kid ourselves that UK has ready-made replacements for guys who go to the NFL.

The fake punt was not good. Our young punter may be unique, but I did not see speed. I thought our kickoff specialist was a WR in high school with real speed. He also can punt. I know fakes are situational, but maybe we should have put THAT guy in the game and if the fake was not there, call time out and put Foster back in?

Given that our offense is very young and this was the fist game of the year, I was happy with the preparation, the game plan, the execution, but for the fumbles. UL's defense seemed really lost at times. We ran well and, against a blitz happy defense we protected pretty well, except for the beginning of the second half when they threw some different blitz schemes at Max. Collins, King, Smith and others look as if they can really be a pretty good squad, if they continue to improve.

But, UL may have been caught off guard by the offensive scheme (not sure how, but I have heard they were surprised). No other team will be caught off guard. Some teams in the SEC will pack it on the line and make Max and the WRs beat them down the field. We could not tell from Sunday whether we will be able to do that.

[Catfan73]

I thought the offense looked fine for the most part, though I think I would rather see what one of the freshmen backs can do than to see Ray Sanders fumble again. I don't understand why we never saw Whitlow either. Max did an awesome job at QB, but it wouldn't have hurt anything to see what Whitlow could do from the wildcat.

The biggest problem was our defense. I've been trying to put my finger on it for two days now, but I think what's bugging me the most is that instead of the attacking defense we were promised, we get the same ol' same ol' of standing back and hoping someone with a football will magically run into our arms. This defense couldn't attack a flea on my dog's ass and that's about the nicest thing I can think of to say about it.

[Darrell KSR]

I'm really hoping the UK defense was 60% UL-related, 40% UK-related, and that of the 40% UK-related, some of it will be "fixed" by a) simplifying the defense/correcting errors, and b) replacing experienced, less-talented players with less-experienced, more-talented players.

I am still discouraged, but the season isn't over. UK is only a 6.5 point favorite this weekend, which is near-ridiculous. If UK wins by a touchdown or less, I will be even more discouraged than I am now, but if we come out and lay a 21+ point whipping on Kent, I'll start to feel a little better. Kent ain't no SEC team by any means, which tells me we need to win by three touchdowns to be SEC-competitive.

They say a team makes the most improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. UK has a long way to go.

[Catfan73]

If we don't win this game by at least two touchdowns, we're in big trouble.

[imsoblue]

Lets remember if a Kent player recovers a fumble and is returning the ball the wrong way don't tackle him.

[blueboss]

Offense looked like it has improved except for that one little thingy about holding on to the ball. A fumble during a sustained drive just over mid-field, and then cap it off after length of the field drive for a goal line fumble (potential 14 pts) Throw in Joker's unwillingness to throw the ball down the field but has no problem dialing up hoakie gimmick plays. (-7pts).

Defense is spotty at best with a pass rush that is non-existent, is Bridgewater really that good? Or could you or I throw like that with no pressure? What corners/safety. Front four got blown off the line with holes you could have pushed a wheel chair through. (-21pts)

I'm with LFBJ and will be watching/listening as always to our beloved CATS

[Catfan73]

I expected the defense to put some pressure on Bridgewater but we played like we were afraid he would burn us if we tried. So we sit back in no man's land--neither pressuring the quarterback nor containing outside the tackles. Some of Bridgewater's throws reminded me of Shane Boyd's, but if you don't put any pressure on him it doesn't matter if it's pretty or on the shoelaces as long as they catch it. Giving a quarterback that much time is a recipe for disaster every time, and one I would have thought Minter knew well. Or maybe the players weren't doing what he wanted them to do? Oh well. It was so bad I found myself reminiscing about the Steve Brown days.

Hopefully we learned something from the game. HIT THE QUARTERBACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!