Eddie Gran – A good guy gone too soon

[Dwight Schrute]

Whether letting Gran go was the right decision depends on what we see in offense next season. If a quick shot at open it up then go back to ground and pound we will pretty well say Gran got a bums rush. A little success, some more exciting ball, and we will be a bit happier.

Unless we lose.

If the play calling isn't any better then yeah, it's fair to say Gran got a bum rush. But if next year's offense struggles because we're filling holes and can't make the plays it's not really fair I don't think.

[Lighthouse]

I believe CS had more to do with the offense then even Gran would admit. Gran had a successful passing offense until he came to UK, so why the change? It all points to CS.

[Blue Heaven]

I have had enough of five wide qb draws and bubble screens 2 yards behind the LOS on 3rd and long. I don't know if it was Gran's fault or Stoops holding him back. Matt alluded to that So. Miss game with Barker and how wide open we were. The offense hasn't been the same since outside of very few games, particularly in Stephen Johnson's season. Stoops has no choice but to open it up now. If he doesn't, then we will have our answer as to where the finger can be pointed.

[Dwight Schrute]

I have had enough of five wide qb draws and bubble screens 2 yards behind the LOS on 3rd and long. I don't know if it was Gran's fault or Stoops holding him back. Matt alluded to that So. Miss game with Barker and how wide open we were. The offense hasn't been the same since outside of very few games, particularly in Stephen Johnson's season. Stoops has no choice but to open it up now. If he doesn't, then we will have our answer as to where the finger can be pointed.

Eddie Gran seemed to love the wildcat and that stuff - I don't believe Stoops was that involved in the play calling and wasn't calling bubble screens and plays that don't get past the chains.

Grans offenses were productive but he's been chided before for not having great passing offenses.

[SBCatMan]

I Gran had a successful passing offense until he came to UK, so why the change? It all points to CS.

With all due respect, this is a bit of a myth that we UK fans seem to have created. Gran had a good passing offense for a year or two at Cincy when he had that stud QB who transferred from IU to LSU to ND and then to Cincy. But, historically, Gran’s bread and butter has ALWAYS been the ground game. Remember, he was the OC at Auburn when he had Cadillac Williams and that other 1,000 yard RB who’s name escapes me now. Furthermore, Auburn eventually came under pretty heavy criticism for having too bland of an offense and NOT having a very good passing game. (Sound familiar?). Too some degree, that is a reputation that follows them around to this day.

[DA#23]

Ronnie Brown

Eddie Gran wasn’t an offensive coordinator until 2010 at FSU. He was the rb and special teams guys at Auburn when they had Brown and Cadillac Williams.

I hope that doesn’t read as me being sarcastic, just wanted to help on that difficult to remember name...that sort of thing bugs me to death and I experience it too often, ha!

[DA#23]

I am a UK fan first and foremost, so I have to hope that we are making the very best decisions for our program. Sometimes those decisions are difficult ones.
With that said, I cannot help but wonder if we are doing the right thing at this time. Eddie Gran is the kind of guy that I want around this program. It is unfortunate that he could not have stayed on staff in some other capacity, but I understand that is not realistic and he also is too young to be doing such a thing. I have nothing but well wishes for him.

[Lighthouse]

With all due respect, this is a bit of a myth that we UK fans seem to have created. Gran had a good passing offense for a year or two at Cincy when he had that stud QB who transferred from IU to LSU to ND and then to Cincy. But, historically, Gran’s bread and butter has ALWAYS been the ground game. Remember, he was the OC at Auburn when he had Cadillac Williams and that other 1,000 yard RB who’s name escapes me now. Furthermore, Auburn eventually came under pretty heavy criticism for having too bland of an offense and NOT having a very good passing game. (Sound familiar?). Too some degree, that is a reputation that follows them around to this day.

I should have been more specific and referred only to his tenure at UC. Since he's been at UK, he hasn't had a true passing QB.

[teamchemistry15]

Gran has been successful to this point in his career because of a number of things and players. Developing a passing game has never been one of them.

At Auburn he had Brown and Williams as the RB coach. That team got robbed at a national title shot, IIRC.

At Cincinnati he had a decent passing game, but he was handed a good, experienced QB with one of the best TEs the game will ever see and not in the most competitive conference.

He got spoiled by JoJo when it comes to the wildcat. That dude just wouldn't lose.

Then we had Boom and Badet, both of whom could take the top off a defense, which we didn't have this year.

Then we have that defense and Benny.

Then we have Bowden.

When he doesn't have superior talent he's a mediocre coach. He seems like a great guy, but he is what he is.

I am on board with those of you who believe Stoops has his hands on the offense. He wants to control the game with his defense and hold time of possession. That's no secret. But he doesn't call the plays. I'm willing to bet he helps setup the scheme and influences it, but he isn't the one sending the play in. That's Gran. Gran is the one calling a draw on third and seven. He's the one calling three yard curls on third and five. He's the one not utilizing the tight end. More importantly, him and Hinshaw are the ones who are supposed to be developing our quarterbacks. Who have they developed? Wilson still overthrows screens. The bottom line is they didn't do their jobs. It's easy to look good calling handoffs to Snell or Bowden. Like I said earlier, everyone in the stadium knew those two guys were getting the ball and they couldn't be stopped. Having players like those two really makes an OC's job easy.

[SBCatMan]

I am on board with those of you who believe Stoops has his hands on the offense. He wants to control the game with his defense and hold time of possession. That's no secret..

Stoops has now been quoted as saying he wants to score points and be fun to watch. And that is GREAT. He will get no argument from me.

But, his first job is to win games. That is always the bottom line. And, if you are coaching Kentucky in the SEC, where even your most talented rosters are still usually not as good as your opponent’s, sometimes it takes unique approach to win. Hal Mumme caught everyone off guard with the “ Air Raid,” and for a while, it kind of worked. Then, everyone seemed to catch up with it, or at least neutralize it a little. Stoops has taken the opposite approach. He has tried to shorten the game and slow it down. Yes, his defensive numbers have been very impressive at times. But, ball control and limiting the opposition’s possessions has been a MAJOR part of our defensive success. Stoops knows that, up until now, at least, it has made no sense to try to get into a shoot-out with some of these SEC teams.

Score points? Check.
Be fun to watch? Check
But ... WIN GAMES. Let’s now lose sight of that as we attempt to open up the offense.

[teamchemistry15]

Stoops has now been quoted as saying he wants to score points and be fun to watch. And that is GREAT. He will get no argument from me.

But, his first job is to win games. That is always the bottom line. And, if you are coaching Kentucky in the SEC, where even your most talented rosters are still usually not as good as your opponent’s, sometimes it takes unique approach to win. Hal Mumme caught everyone off guard with the “ Air Raid,” and for a while, it kind of worked. Then, everyone seemed to catch up with it, or at least neutralize it a little. Stoops has taken the opposite approach. He has tried to shorten the game and slow it down. Yes, his defensive numbers have been very impressive at times. But, ball control and limiting the opposition’s possessions has been a MAJOR part of our defensive success. Stoops knows that, up until now, at least, it has made no sense to try to get into a shoot-out with some of these SEC teams.

Score points? Check.
Be fun to watch? Check
But ... WIN GAMES. Let’s now lose sight of that as we attempt to open up the offense.

Agreed. There's fans out there who would rather lose a game 42-33 because it was fun to watch than win a game 13-7.

[Spiritof96]

With all due respect, this is a bit of a myth that we UK fans seem to have created. Gran had a good passing offense for a year or two at Cincy when he had that stud QB who transferred from IU to LSU to ND and then to Cincy. But, historically, Gran’s bread and butter has ALWAYS been the ground game. Remember, he was the OC at Auburn when he had Cadillac Williams and that other 1,000 yard RB who’s name escapes me now. Furthermore, Auburn eventually came under pretty heavy criticism for having too bland of an offense and NOT having a very good passing game. (Sound familiar?). Too some degree, that is a reputation that follows them around to this day.

That is interesting. I didn't know much about his UA time.

The press on Gran from Cincy was a prolific offense...

Regarding what Stoops says he wants, my reaction is well doesn't everyone? I mean, "everyone wants to be a gangster till it's time to do gangster shtuff."

[Matt Dillon]

Agreed. There's fans out there who would rather lose a game 42-33 because it was fun to watch than win a game 13-7.

I guess everyone likes exciting games, but I'd rather win 2-0 than lose 49-42.

[fastkat]

Agreed. There's fans out there who would rather lose a game 42-33 because it was fun to watch than win a game 13-7.

I've harped for years about that. I usually say 52-48. But then I thought the 75 yard run off tackle by Rodriguez was pretty exciting.

The worst thing to happen to Kentucky football was the day that Hal Mumme was introduced and C M Newton said " It's like fast break basketball on grass"

[fastkat]

[QUOTE=SBCatMan;n249595]



But, ball control and limiting the opposition’s possessions has been a MAJOR part of our defensive success. Stoops knows that, up until now, at least, it has made no sense to try to get into a shoot-out with some of these SEC teams.

Most of the top defenses are because the offense controls the clock. The great backs pad their stats in the 4th quarter, not because they get stronger but because the defense gets tired. That's how we've been able to win close games in the 4th quarter.