Give Me the Confidence…….

[KCKUKFan]

I think Stoops is an entirely mediocre head coach, but we probably couldn't do any better. So... hopefully, he can keep us moving forward.

If, in August, you told me we'd be 6-2 eight games into the season, I would've been thrilled, but after watching them play, I'm still have this general feeling of "meh." If this was the SEC 90% of the time, we'd probably be 3-5.

[catfaninin]

I don't take seriously anyone that says we should fire Stoops. And hire who, exactly?

Stoops isn't his brother Bob yet, but he has Kentucky going forward. We have a really good shot at winning 8 games in a regular season for the first time in a long time.

Couldn't agree more. 8 is more likely but I would even say 9 wins is there for the taking.

[Joneslab]

The SEC East has been down for awhile now.

But really, we don't have great players. We've got a JUCO transfer out there playing QB. It's not like we have stone cold ballers who are going to play on Sundays all over the field. I watched some of Ohio State and Penn State the other day, and good Lord. We're not even close to that. Our most electric player, and really one of our only true jump-off-the-TV-screen types, is a true freshman.

So it isn't like Stoops has freaks to work with. He's obviously recruited at a high level for UK, but we also lost crucial pieces from the offense.

In that way it serves to reason that we'd be in dogfights every Saturday. We're still Kentucky. None of this is easy. It never will be, I don't think. Those two tremendous Brooks years were probably the apex of what UK can conceivably do, but I think Stoops can approximate that. This team though would get pummelled by those teams, which is another reason 6-2 is impressive.

[Dwight Schrute]

I think Stoops is an entirely mediocre head coach, but we probably couldn't do any better. So... hopefully, he can keep us moving forward.

If, in August, you told me we'd be 6-2 eight games into the season, I would've been thrilled, but after watching them play, I'm still have this general feeling of "meh." If this was the SEC 90% of the time, we'd probably be 3-5.

Perhaps, but in previous years we'd be 3-5 even with the SEC in this shape. Stoops' biggest issues come with game management. I think a lot of folks were expecting the offense to be better because of last year's. If it were, I think people would feel better.

[KCKUKFan]

The SEC East has been down for awhile now.

But really, we don't have great players. We've got a JUCO transfer out there playing QB. It's not like we have stone cold ballers who are going to play on Sundays all over the field. I watched some of Ohio State and Penn State the other day, and good Lord. We're not even close to that. Our most electric player, and really one of our only true jump-off-the-TV-screen types, is a true freshman.

So it isn't like Stoops has freaks to work with. He's obviously recruited at a high level for UK, but we also lost crucial pieces from the offense.

In that way it serves to reason that we'd be in dogfights every Saturday. We're still Kentucky. None of this is easy. It never will be, I don't think. Those two tremendous Brooks years were probably the apex of what UK can conceivably do, but I think Stoops can approximate that. This team though would get pummelled by those teams, which is another reason 6-2 is impressive.

I'm not sure why people have this revisionist history about Brooks' two "great" teams. They played hard and they had some talent in important skill positions, but they were paper thin and as the season went on, they sort've broke down. This team would probably lose to the Woodson teams, but more because the coaching on those teams was considerably better than the coaching on this team.

[DA#23]

The 2007 team when in a great shape of health was top 12 in that season. We simply had no depth. If you look at UL, the LSU, and then the Florida games, they had their collective brains beat out in the first half of the season which is why they lost several on the back end. It was a tough team when healthy and probably was among the best ever at Kentucky. That team and its lessons are why I watch this board and am bewildered when a talented player transfers, and the the reaction is MEH. That shows me that the person saying that learned nothing.

Depth is crucial and we aren't there yet. I expect a step back next season, actually.

[Joneslab]

I'm not sure why people have this revisionist history about Brooks' two "great" teams. They played hard and they had some talent in important skill positions, but they were paper thin and as the season went on, they sort've broke down. This team would probably lose to the Woodson teams, but more because the coaching on those teams was considerably better than the coaching on this team.

One of those teams beat the national champs.

You run this bunch up against that LSU team and LSU'd win by seven touchdowns.

What Stoops has done is very impressive for that reason. Those UK teams had solid vets, guys who would go on to the NFL, a quarterback who basically tripled the stats Johnson is going to put up, and much more depth.

This team is mediocre. It looks mediocre, plays mediocre, has average players in key spots. But somehow it puts itself in a position to win, because I think some of these players are winners.

Stephen Johnson is Exhibit A. Guy is so, so average. And yet he's kind of a star.

That should be the motto of this team. Horrendous Beauty.

[johnkyblue]

I'm not sure why people have this revisionist history about Brooks' two "great" teams.

There were three. 2006, 2007 and 2008 were all awesome.

[Dwight Schrute]

It is nuts to think this team is two wins away from one of the best SEC records (and overall records) in a generation with a team that is pretty mediocre.

[johnkyblue]

Yeah we are gonna take a step back next year in some phases of the game. In others we will take strides forward. It's college football and part of it, we are losing some solid linemen and ALL of our kicking. We are losing our winningest since the 1970s QB. Don't have a clue where we will get better.

[johnkyblue]

It is nuts to think this team is two wins away from one of the best SEC records (and overall records) in a generation with a team that is pretty mediocre.

I think they are awesome. :P I love 'em.

[RV]

With which part? Surely you can't disagree it was a hold?

You're correct, it was not a hold. Therefore the call was bogus and we were hosed.

The Nick engaged with the D-linemen and attached to the breastplate of his front shoulder pads between his shoulders which is perfectly legal. The Florida play is beaten, off balance and goes down to his left knee. Benny went through the massive hole to Nick's right (UF left) and the lineman lunges to his left arm outstretched off his left knee. Now Nick is pulled off balance with his right hand still in the correct position and begins falling down with the UF kid and slides his left hand around the outside of the defender trying to break his own fall.

No hold.

[Spiritof96]

You're correct, it was not a hold. Therefore the call was bogus and we were hosed.

The Nick engaged with the D-linemen and attached to the breastplate of his front shoulder pads between his shoulders which is perfectly legal. The Florida play is beaten, off balance and goes down to his left knee. Benny went through the massive hole to Nick's right (UF left) and the lineman lunges to his left arm outstretched off his left knee. Now Nick is pulled off balance with his right hand still in the correct position and begins falling down with the UF kid and slides his left hand around the outside of the defender trying to break his own fall.

No hold.

Drops the mic...

[RV]

This is part of what I'm getting at. Do you feel like the players he's recruited should be performing at a higher level, or are we just not there yet? Will Stoops be able to maximize the potential of those "better recruits" once (if) they start rolling in?

Check our recruiting rankings against our opponents. SEC opponents we have consistently out recruited during Stoops time here are listed as follows:

Vandy and Mizzou.

In 2013 UK finished 13 in the conference and Vandy was 14.
2014 UK was 9 followed by Ol Miss, Ark, Mizzou, Ms St and Vandy
2015 UK was 13 followed by Vandy
2016 UK was 10 followed by Ark, Ms St, Mizzou and Vandy
2017 UK was 10 followed by Ms St, Ol Miss, Mizzou and Vandy

[Spiritof96]

Check our recruiting rankings against our opponents. SEC opponents we have consistently out recruited during Stoops time here are listed as follows:

Vandy and Mizzou.

In 2013 UK finished 13 in the conference and Vandy was 14.
2014 UK was 9 followed by Ol Miss, Ark, Mizzou, Ms St and Vandy
2015 UK was 13 followed by Vandy
2016 UK was 10 followed by Ark, Ms St, Mizzou and Vandy
2017 UK was 10 followed by Ms St, Ol Miss, Mizzou and Vandy

This is a real issue. Until we can consistently start finishing 6,7,8, in that ranking we should be very happy with 7 or 8 wins.