Careful what I wish for

[Joneslab]

Ok, but that is one possession out of 4.

But it was the key possession to me because we had the game right there to take. Up 10, we'd just stopped them, the crowd was wild. There was the game.

It was the same with Florida after we got a lead. Also if you recall EKU and Eastern Michigan. And Missouri.

Also: a couple of times last year.

My argument is when they get leads, they almost always try to sit.

[surveyor]

Kentucky ran 5 pass plays and 4 run plays in the third quarter.

Running the ball in the second half when you have a lead achieves 2 things (especially if you're thin on offense and defense):

1. Fatigue the opponent's D-line.
2. Allow your defense to rest.

Lachlan McClain posited a week or so ago that UK "does no one thing well". I disagree. I'd argue their strength, however small it is, is running. Use it to your advantage when necessary. Holding onto a lead is necessary. Criticism of "conservative" play calling is mystifying to me considering the circumstances.

Were they to NOT do as they've been doing and lose more due to less than conservative play calling, the criticism, I suspect, would be louder.

[Joneslab]

^ I'd agree with that if our quarterback wasn't killing Ole Miss as well at that point in the game.

You want to ride Snell with the way he was playing for the most part, but Johnson was also killing them. Wasn't like we had a hapless QB who couldn't find his receivers.

[surveyor]

The playcalling definitely changed a little because before that point, I can't recall another drive where we'd run it three straight times.

When we get leads often what they'll do is remove the quarterback. I'm not arguing that that never works: it's obviously the best way to keep the defense rested. All I'm saying is that if you decide to play that way, you're going to be in brawls every Saturday.

Ist possession of the game they ran it 3 times straight.
3rd possession of the game and first of the second quarter they ran it 5 straight.

C'mon, man.

[Joneslab]

Ist possession of the game they ran it 3 times straight.
3rd possession of the game and first of the second quarter they ran it 5 straight.

C'mon, man.

Without picking up a first down, I mean. Once Snell got going they started running in large chunks of consecutive plays. But if Ole Miss's defensive coordinator was like me sitting in my chair, then he probably said to himself, "They're going to run it every time right up the middle" when we got the lead. Because we've seen that movie before quite a few times with Stoops/Gran.

And that first possession three-times-in-a-row doesn't surprise me: as the commentators pointed out the other night, Kentucky is one of the worst teams in America on their first drive. What you notice is that right out of the chute they will generally go very conservative likely for the same reason they do it late: because they don't want a mistake to set the tone.

My frustration generally with the playcalling is that I think Johnson is better and more sure-handed than apparently the coaching staff does. They give him just a little bit of room to work and whenever we have a lead, of any margin, they almost always will take the ball out of his hands.

[catfaninin]

Kentucky ran 5 pass plays and 4 run plays in the third quarter.

Running the ball in the second half when you have a lead achieves 2 things (especially if you're thin on offense and defense):

1. Fatigue the opponent's D-line.
2. Allow your defense to rest.

Lachlan McClain posited a week or so ago that UK "does no one thing well". I disagree. I'd argue their strength, however small it is, is running. Use it to your advantage when necessary. Holding onto a lead is necessary. Criticism of "conservative" play calling is mystifying to me considering the circumstances.

Were they to NOT do as they've been doing and lose more due to less than conservative play calling, the criticism, I suspect, would be louder.

This can't possibly be. Can't count how many times I have read that they "ran right into the middle 3 straight plays for 4 possessions in a row." Even if the facts say otherwise.

This is a very good explanation of why the play calling is just fine. And you are right with the last statement. If they decided to be a passing team and forgot Snell there would be more losses. And then they should be criticized. Loudly and often.

[catfaninin]

Without picking up a first down, I mean. Once Snell got going they started running in large chunks of consecutive plays. But if Ole Miss's defensive coordinator was like me sitting in my chair, then he probably said to himself, "They're going to run it every time right up the middle" when we got the lead. Because we've seen that movie before quite a few times with Stoops/Gran.

And that first possession three-times-in-a-row doesn't surprise me: as the commentators pointed out the other night, Kentucky is one of the worst teams in America on their first drive. What you notice is that right out of the chute they will generally go very conservative likely for the same reason they do it late: because they don't want a mistake to set the tone.

My frustration generally with the playcalling is that I think Johnson is better and more sure-handed than apparently the coaching staff does. They give him just a little bit of room to work and whenever we have a lead, of any margin, they almost always will take the ball out of his hands.

I agree to a degree about Johnson. He is very good. In this system. Because the running game affords him the chance to be good. If the running game ceased and it was up to Johnson to throw the ball all day and win games I think the outcome would be less than desirable.

[KevinHall]

Kentucky ran 5 pass plays and 4 run plays in the third quarter.

Running the ball in the second half when you have a lead achieves 2 things (especially if you're thin on offense and defense):

1. Fatigue the opponent's D-line.
2. Allow your defense to rest.

Lachlan McClain posited a week or so ago that UK "does no one thing well". I disagree. I'd argue their strength, however small it is, is running. Use it to your advantage when necessary. Holding onto a lead is necessary. Criticism of "conservative" play calling is mystifying to me considering the circumstances.

Were they to NOT do as they've been doing and lose more due to less than conservative play calling, the criticism, I suspect, would be louder.

Hey! You are ruining peoples stories with facts, You know you can't do that on the Internet.

[surveyor]

Hey! You are ruining peoples stories with facts, You know you can't do that on the Internet.

lol