When is the last time

[40bill]

I think they also continue growing, and have to adapt to that. Many also end up in a different position...Cobb was a QB, Tamme I think was a wide receiver, at one time I believe several of the O line we used to have were tight ends at one time. A kid may be a four star linebacker in high school, but may need to play safety in P5 competition.

[JEFFCOCATFAN]

So what does Hoak have that Johnson didn't?

How about arm strength and accuracy ?

[Blue Heaven]

How about arm strength and accuracy ?

I don't think our staff is so incompetent that they would play the peoples choice over someone who gives us the best chance to win. Hoak may very well have those things that you speak of but that doesn't mean he gives us the best chance to win. Maybe this season he will but Johnson was a gamer. Sure he lacked accuracy but he had a will to win and was gutsy as hell. Stephen Johnson had "it".

[boomdaddy]

The Juco kid has more game experience. None of them have D1 experience. I am hoping they have two of them ready. Won't know if one of them gets the deer in the headlights look when they get in the game action until kick off. Scrimmages are great, but the no contact rule applies. Whole different story, when a big D lineman is barreling down on you. Hard no to be uneasy. Just haven't had QB luck with this staff. Them going with Johnson all season, when he was beat up as bad as he was, makes wonder about their ability to have a back up ready. I hope all three of those guys keep fighting to be the starter, even through the season.

[Old School]

Bowden wide left, likely with lots of green space in one on one coverage ahead of him and going in motion as a possibility. Baker wide right, either one on one or with run defense compromised. Conrad to the right of the line. Either QB in the shotgun, with Snell back to the left and King back to the right. What do you do if you’re the DC on the other side of the ball? Something’s going to be underdefended. Ahmad Wagner, Tavin Richardson, ZyAire Hughes and AJ Rose among others hopefully provide equal threats. Same for taking someone out of that backfield, with or without the Wildcat employed, or WRs stacked, or a double TE set. I hope to see the offense create and utilize a lot of mismatches and tough choices for DCs this year, with different sets at different times.

[Lighthouse]

Bowden wide left, likely with lots of green space in one on one coverage ahead of him and going in motion as a possibility. Baker wide right, either one on one or with run defense compromised. Conrad to the right of the line. Either QB in the shotgun, with Snell back to the left and King back to the right. What do you do if you’re the DC on the other side of the ball? Something’s going to be underdefended. Ahmad Wagner, Tavin Richardson, ZyAire Hughes and AJ Rose among others hopefully provide equal threats. Same for taking someone out of that backfield, with or without the Wildcat employed, or WRs stacked, or a double TE set. I hope to see the offense create and utilize a lot of mismatches and tough choices for DCs this year, with different sets at different times.

This set sounds exciting and I agree, I hope we cause all DC's some headaches this year. Come on QB's!!

[Jload]

It will all boil down to wether we have a QB who can accurately deliver the football down the fiel if we do we have a really good season, if not another meh season

[RV]

So, just to be clear, a third 7 win season with 4 SEC wins, something that hasn't been done by UK in ever, is another meh season?

[Joneslab]

So, just to be clear, a third 7 win season with 4 SEC wins, something that hasn't been done by UK in ever, is another meh season?

To devil's advocate here, Stoops has the advantage of playing in a down SEC.

I think he's been good but certainly not great. 6 years, 26-36, 0-2 in bowls...I thought Kentucky would have an 8-win season in there by now. At least one. And honestly we should have.

More than any of that, I think the fanbase is just meh on Stoops. Some of that's his fault, some is just the nature of UK football, but he isn't a guy who will light people up with intensity.

So this is a big year for him. I get the meh thing and I think many UK fans feel that way. Some of those "really, really close" games have to turn our way this season. If not, he'll be on the hot seat by the end of 2018.

[40bill]

Just to be another devil....

'realistic' expectation and 'fan' don't really go together. YES,big numbers coming back on defense....but a plain bad defense.
We want Stoops to be animated and passionate, but stay in control play to play. Hard gig.
A 'down SEC' is a legit statement....however, there's only been one national title game that didn't have an SEC team in it since .... Well ...a while. TWO last year....so that's a tall bar. I'd say the conference is down from a few years ago...but a few years ago it was likely just a FEW steps from legitimately being the AFC, the NFC, and the SEC in football quality (which is really insane when the pro teams are the best from everywhere).

Just me....I think the issue for some of us hasnt been the losses but the play quality in those losses. Comparing the loss to Northwestern to the loss to Louisville it was two different Kentucky schools playing those games.

IF that effort and intensity carries over from Northwestern, I think we will be satisfied (perhaps exceptionally so) with a seven win season

I WOULD like 9 though.

[Jload]

So, just to be clear, a third 7 win season with 4 SEC wins, something that hasn't been done by UK in ever, is another meh season?

I suppose that depends on your expectations. If you are satisfied with a mediocre team then seven wins and losing a bowl game are great. If you would like to see U.K. rise to a higher level it isn't. I went and watched us play 3 good teams last year in person, we lost all 3 games The year before I watched us lose to 2 good teams I know a mediocre football team when I see it and so far under Stoops that's what we have had I want more

[RV]

The SEC is 'down'. Down from what? Having 6 teams in the final top 10 in 2012? Heck yeah it's down from there. That was crazy and that's not normal but some of you act like that's normal. In 2013 the SEC had 7 in the top final top 25 but again, that's not normal. What's normal is the SEC finishing with 5 or 6 teams in the top 25.

2003 - 5 teams top 25 (Brooks UK 4-8, 1-7)
2004 - 6 (UK 2-9, 1-7)
2005 - 5 (UK 3-8, 2-6)
2006 - 6 (UK 8-5, 4-4)
2007 - 6 (UK 8-5, 3-5)
2008 - 5 (UK 7-6, 2-6)
2009 - 3 (UK 7-6, 3-5)
2010 - 8 (Joker UK 6-7, 2-6)
2011 - 5 (UK 5-7, 2-6)
2012 - 6 (UK 2-10, 0-8)
2013 - 7 (Stoops UK 2-10, 0-8)
2014 - 7 (UK 5-7, 2-6)
2015 - 5 (UK 5-7, 2-6)
2016 - 5 (UK 7-6, 4-4)
2017 - 5 (UK 7-6, 4-4)

I'm not going to change any minds. I don't care about changing any minds but to say UK getting to 7 wins, 4-4 in the SEC is mediocre?!?!

Mediocre;

1. of only ordinary or moderate quality; neither good nor bad; barely adequate:
2. not satisfactory; poor; inferior:

Well I won't say that stance is mediocre but frankly it is ridiculous given UK's football history, but whatever.

Ridiculous;

1. causing or worthy of ridicule or derision; absurd; preposterous;
2. Slang. absurdly or unbelievably good, bad, crazy, etc.

Stoops ain't gon'na make you happy, I get that so let's be clear. Don't be coming back on here all giddy like a school girl going to the prom after we mash someone we shouldn't or have a great season you certainly didn't expect because it's only Stoops doing it. You see, UK having a winning record with a 4-4 SEC record for two years straight happens so often it's only 'mediocre'.

[Jload]

The acceptance of average or even less by our fan base is part of the reason we have been such for so long. Expect little and that’s exactly what you will get. As for Stoops when he raises us to the next level I will say so, thus far he hasn’t. Seems to make some here angry that anyone would dare to point that out. Maybe his is the year, we will see.

[40bill]

J, I share some of your frustration, but gotta disagree with the point that Stoops hasn't taken UK to the next level....look at the level the team was in when he took over.

Now, taking another step is what we are wanting. That's cool. Saying he doesn't or hasn't taken the program to a better level isn't correct.

AND....I'll blast him, the staff, the team on down when they make a bone head play, but saying we are blind or the cause of mediocrity is a little off when we point to improvement.

We are kind of demanding that he plays Bama level without Bama level players ...and besides bribing the kids to come here (We see you, Mississippi) I'm not REAL sure what more he can do.

[Lighthouse]

J, I share some of your frustration, but gotta disagree with the point that Stoops hasn't taken UK to the next level....look at the level the team was in when he took over.

Now, taking another step is what we are wanting. That's cool. Saying he doesn't or hasn't taken the program to a better level isn't correct.

AND....I'll blast him, the staff, the team on down when they make a bone head play, but saying we are blind or the cause of mediocrity is a little off when we point to improvement.

We are kind of demanding that he plays Bama level without Bama level players ...and besides bribing the kids to come here (We see you, Mississippi) I'm not REAL sure what more he can do.

Very well said, and all points are true. Some folks just need to get a grip.