Summing up

[40bill]

Teams take beatings. Michigan last night. Penn State took a horrendous drubbing about this time last year and has not lost since....returning that last night. Notre Dame dismantled USC yesterday.
so they happen.
The trick is how you come back.
Up to the coaches and kids. All we are going to do is talk about it.

[Lighthouse]

This is a great thread and we should probably have one after every Football and Basketball game.

Here's my summation of the whoopin we got Saturday. Our lines are not athletic, big enough or deep enough to compete with most SEC teams. MSU had a huge advantage in size and quickness on both sides of the ball. Our kids played hard but were just outmanned. CS knows this and is working hard to remedy the problem, and he has made a lot of headway but still has a ways to go. As most on here I too am puzzled by Gran not using the TE's because it makes no sense. We have 2 above average TE"s If the OL can't pass block, one of the quickest throws is to the TE in the flat or the middle. Let's hope the Coaches and Players work this stuff out, and we put a whipping on UT Saturday!! GO CATS!!!

[40bill]

It would seem we have personnel that we could run a short passing game. It's been called West Coast, but I remember Fran Tarkenton getting into the Hall of Fame using what some announcers termed a five yard handoff. The O-line doesn't have to hold spot as long, there's still the run option, we don't have to have bulldozers up front, the opposing defense can't put seven in the box, and the clock STILL runs on short passes so the defense gets their rest.
might be too late in the season, and it could be against the man on man war Mark Stoops has stated again and again football is all about. I just think it might be a compromise option for this team that could carry over until the Coaches can get those five star linemen.

[Jload]

Eddie Gran stinks as an o coordinator, there I’ve said it. We will NEVER get where we want to be with him as O coordinator. He runs an offense that requires a level of player we don’t posses to succeed. His offense might be effective at Alabama, we ain’t them. Why so many on here cover and make excuses for him is a mystery to me.

[Lighthouse]

Eddie Gran stinks as an o coordinator, there I’ve said it. We will NEVER get where we want to be with him as O coordinator. He runs an offense that requires a level of player we don’t posses to succeed. His offense might be effective at Alabama, we ain’t them. Why so many on here cover and make excuses for him is a mystery to me.

I hope you feel better.

[Matt Dillon]

I haven't forgotten the train wreck coach Stoops inherited in 2013 and, yes, I think we would all agree that the program is in much better shape now than at any time since coach Brooks latter years here. Having said that, I'm very discouraged by the fact that we're still having discussions about the lines size, athleticism and depth. It seems, to me, with the ability the coaching staff has displayed in recruiting we shouldn't be having these problems in year five of coach Stoops tenure. Also, we've had three OC's in five seasons and many of us are wondering if coach Gran is the guy for the job.

[teamchemistry15]

I haven't forgotten the train wreck coach Stoops inherited in 2013 and, yes, I think we would all agree that the program is in much better shape now than at any time since coach Brooks latter years here. Having said that, I'm very discouraged by the fact that we're still having discussions about the lines size, athleticism and depth. It seems, to me, with the ability the coaching staff has displayed in recruiting we shouldn't be having these problems in year five of coach Stoops tenure. Also, we've had three OC's in five seasons and many of us are wondering if coach Gran is the guy for the job.

You hit the nail on the head. You always want to give a football coach four years. That way he has his guys. It isn't like basketball where getting two superstars can change your program overnight. He has his guys in there so there's no excuses. I know losing Mosier hurt and losing Toth was crushing, but losing Toth doesn't account for snapping the ball over Johnson's head. That should have been fixed over the summer. Injuries happen to every team every year. You have to have depth and, in Mosier's case, we have Young. The big one is the OC. As you said, three in five years and we are asking if Gran can get it done in the SEC. I understand one miss at that position with a new staff, but three?

[Spiritof96]

You hit the nail on the head. You always want to give a football coach four years. That way he has his guys. It isn't like basketball where getting two superstars can change your program overnight. He has his guys in there so there's no excuses. I know losing Mosier hurt and losing Toth was crushing, but losing Toth doesn't account for snapping the ball over Johnson's head. That should have been fixed over the summer. Injuries happen to every team every year. You have to have depth and, in Mosier's case, we have Young. The big one is the OC. As you said, three in five years and we are asking if Gran can get it done in the SEC. I understand one miss at that position with a new staff, but three?

Did people question if Gran could get it done last year? I think Gran is fine. All teams vary up and down from year to year in terms of what they are good at. It's frustrating that we seemed to have an offensive identity last year and can't come close to that this year. We all were expecting a throw it around spread when Stoops came in and it seems that's the only thing our current O is good at. (kind of)

So the jury is still out on Gran. Personnel matters and I think we have been fair to middling in handling the loss of Toth, Mosier, Baker, Boom, Badet, (and Nick Haynes illness.)

I don't think Neil Brown was a miss either, I think he didn't have the people. Dawson did suck.

[40bill]

My question on the OC is just how much control does he have end of the day. He hasn't come out and said it openly, but CMS gives every indication he's a three yard cloud of dust guy. Someone correct me, but the three OCs we've had seem to fall into the same pattern....throw and go offenses that rack up lots of points and yards, the come to Kentucky and get conservative. Brown left for the big chair, but then Dawson AND Gran. Gotta wonder how much pressure coming from Mark Stoops for ball control....

As far as coach Gran, was he not hired by Mitch Barnhart with assurance he was actually co-head coach ? If so, the buyout may be enormous.

[Matt Dillon]

My biggest complaint with the play calling is the lack of throws to the TE. We have two good ones and are underutilizing the position, in my opinion.

[Joneslab]

I like Gran. I don't think he has a ton to work with. The lack of playmakers was something that jumped off the screen when you looked at the roster back in August.

The loss of Boom Williams in particular has been huge. Also the o-line hasn't been nearly as good as advertised, and it's been riddled with injuries.

I think the calls are mostly right, I'm just not sure we have the Jimmies and the Joes on that side of the ball. Margin for error = tiny.

[Lighthouse]

My biggest complaint with the play calling is the lack of throws to the TE. We have two good ones and are underutilizing the position, in my opinion.

This is the main reason most fans are questioning Gran's play calling. We all thought and said we finally have a SEC Back, but didn't realize how much Snell's success depended on our opponents having to guard against Boom's presence. Snell is powerful but not fast, and King has speed but is very small. We have playmaker problems, and that isn't going away soon. Like most, I think using the TE's would open up some space, but for some reason they are being used different than we see necessary. There could be an answer to this question.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Eddie Gran stinks as an o coordinator, there I’ve said it. We will NEVER get where we want to be with him as O coordinator. He runs an offense that requires a level of player we don’t posses to succeed. His offense might be effective at Alabama, we ain’t them. Why so many on here cover and make excuses for him is a mystery to me.

well apparently Gunnar Hoak's dad isn't a fan of Grans either

[40bill]

Im not really surprised, nor will I be surprised if Gunnar transfers out.
let's face it, if Stephen has another off game which he very well could, Gunnar will be the most popular kid on all the Kentucky talk boards. Poor Drew had his turn, and bless his heart his play made Stephen the man.

[Katmendo]

I've seen Stephen lead the team, and he can really get that done. But, the guy just doesn't pass well. Maybe there's no time. Maybe guys aren't open. I don't know all the answers. But, I would think it might be time to start getting guys some P.T.

I'd like to see Gunnar get a series or two. See how he performs, or how the team reacts. I'd like to see some backup DBa start a game ans send a message to the two starting cornerbacks. Give them a nudge by having the other guy start. Maybe inspire a little more focus and effort.

If nothing else, Hoak could split out and be just as non essential, non distracting, an UN-threatening as Johnson is when you run the wildcat. Btw coach. That's dumb. Take your QB off the field, and bring in either a coverage threat that has be honored, or a real blocker, if you insist on that play being a key in your offense.