Kentucky 31, Georgia 44: Postmortem
by Glenn Logan on Oct 23, 2010 11:06 PM EDT
in Commentary
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PrintCongratulations to the Georgia Bulldogs for doing what we did to them last year -- won on the road. Georgia played solid SEC football, and had one spectacular play that added up to a convincing victory. Georgia took almost perfect advantage of every Kentucky mistake, of which there were very many. Some may say that Kentucky beat themselves. Not me. Georgia did what they were supposed to do -- when presented with opportunities, they put the ball in the end zone.
For Kentucky, well, they just made a mess of things. The defense could not stop the run, so Georgia saw no need to pass. That is just good football. Kentucky threw the ball pretty well, and ran it okay, particularly in the second half, but that was nowhere near enough. In the end, Kentucky simply gave the game away as if they didn't want it, and Georgia thanked them and took it.
I think we missed Derrick Locke more than Georgia missed Caleb King. Washaun Ealey demonstrated that he was more than up to the task of replacing King, and had arguably his best game as a Dawg. In the end, though, it was turnovers that beat Kentucky, and Georgia was responsible for all but one of them.
Observations:
- Mike Hartline continues to shine. Yes, he fumbled (bad blocking) and threw an interception (his fault) but he did a lot more good than harm. Worse, he had at least two perfect passes dropped.
- Randall Cobb was excellent, as always. Unfortunately, Superman was just not strong enough to overcome all the turnovers.
- Craig McIntosh did a good job. He not only nailed a 41 yard field goal when we really needed it, but he recovered an onside kick.
- Chris Matthews still runs good routes only about 1/2 the time.
- Very impressed by Raymond Sanders. He looked an awful lot like the man he was replacing, which is really hard to do.
- La'Rod King. What a catch. I pray God he is okay.
- Fumbles suck.
- Kentucky's defense was porous. Anybody surprised?
- The Bulldogs were a little cheap tonight. They got away with at least 2 personal fouls in the first half alone. What's up with that? I know this is football, but seriously, that is something I have come to associate with Florida or Tennessee.
- Did I mention that fumbles suck?
- It's important to tackle the opponent before he scores. I'm just sayin'.
Well, that's about that. You saw what I saw. Give credit to the Dawgs for playing error-free football and taking advantage of Kentucky's largess.
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UK...
…Cannot continue to spot these teams 14, 21, 28 points every week…
Like many have said, UK beat UK… AGAIN
Steelers 6 rings, Wildcats 7 Banners..!! Winning never gets old...!!!!
That about hits the nail on the head
Kentucky made mistakes and Georgia took advantage. They didn’t do anything fancy, nothing unexpected, no surprise formations, no surprise players, nothing but line up and run the ball. It seems like when a team does EXACTLY what you thought they would do (and do it repeatedly) you might try to figure out a way to stop them. Well, that’s not my job, we’ve got people on the staff to handle those difficult duties…………..I think.
I think our offense did admirable, especially realizing they needed to roll the pocket to get Hartline some time and keep him in one piece standing up to the Georgia defensive elephants linemen. There were some good quick draws to Sanders which helped slow them down a little bit considering how overmatched our offensive line appeared.
Overall, I was proud of the team’s effort. No, not a moral victory in any sense; we got beat. But the team played hard to the end and that I can appreciate. We did not lose to the Georgia team that started the year, we lost to the Georgia team that finally found itself. They are a talented group and will likely raise hell with the rest of their schedule.
Some people are like Slinkies, they're really good for nothing........but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
Most of us were wrong...
Glenn,
I have to say that I was wrong about Rich Brooks. He was a fighter and a winner. He gave UK every ounce of himself.
It is time to say the exact same thing in regard to Mike Hartline.
Forget the fricking fumble and an errant pass or two. You are correct, there were at least two drops and some others that were not on him. But, he put the ball in play under severe duress for four quarters and piled up some crazy numbers once again. He was aided by spectacular plays by LaRod, the tight ends, Number 8 and Superman. But, those are true SEC talents who should be making some of those plays.
Mike Hartline will leave this campus a winner no matter what else happens this season.
Our Cats shot themselves in the paws and every other body part against the Bull Pups but they fought their guts out until the triple zeroes.
And Hartline was, once again, their heart and their leader.
Who knew?
Indeed.
Who would have thought that at the beginning of the year?
Life is full of surprises.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Indeed
Nobody probably remembers, but I did and never backed off. Seen it happen too many times for it to be a surprise.
My son played HS football in Texas. His coach used to tell the team before every game,
“Men, when you make mistakes against a good team, they WILL make you pay.”
’Nuff said.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
Classic
Kentucky football. I’m a big fan but I’ve grown to expect more games like this than games like last weekend. I hope Jokester can turn it around…I’m not holdin my breath though.
by 166leslie on Oct 24, 2010 2:04 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
166leslie
Aw shucks. He’ll “joke” his way to a better job before long. Then UK can start over as usual. I’ve watched this since 1954, the year the Bear left.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
Sounds like groundhogs day.
I guess UK football may be the joke then or the joke is on us. Whichever, its not very fun or funny to loose.
by 166leslie on Oct 25, 2010 1:52 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
This one should go under the category of
Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda.
Hartline did make mistakes, but they were effort mistakes.
UK shoulda learned how to tackle someone.
If they had, they woulda had less points scored against that sad defense that they played.
Then they coulda had a shot to win the game.
Until we have an effective run defense we might as well be a bowling team.
I Shall Always Be The Cat......In The Hat!!! The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Oct 24, 2010 8:53 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Time to call a spade a spade...
2/3rds of the way through the season, its time to be realistic. here is what i believe the reality is:
1) we have a really good offense
2) special teams are solid
3) our defense is not so good.
With appologies to Meat Loaf – two out of three is bad – or at least it ain’t good enough to get to the next level.
That being said – and maybe i am settling – if we can get to a bowl, hold on to Cobb for his senior year, then we could be setting up for a year with a solid offense (hartline will have to be replaced and so will Locke – but i am thinking we will be ok here) and the defense will be one year older.
i hate saying “maybe next year” as much as anyone, but i do believe we are set to move forward not backward.
if we can win 3 (or 4) of our remaining games and end the streak, i would say that puts us in a good position. even if we only win 2, it will not be a disaster…
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Oct 24, 2010 10:35 AM EDT reply actions
I'm with you on this.
Everyone wants total success now but its not going to happen this year. The biggest shame is this would have been a good year to be good on both sides of the ball with the off year in the SEC East. Next year’s hill will be a little higher so we’ll have to be significantly better to better this year.
Some people are like Slinkies, they're really good for nothing........but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
Time...
Special teams are solid? Who gave up that long kickoff return TD? The Fairy-godmother?
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
that happens even to the best special teams
i am thinking solid relative to the defense and to the past years. we have good kicking (fg, punt and kickoff).
we have has some lapses in coverage (in case of punting, it was out kicking coverage), but when looking at what needs work, i stand by my assessment
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Oct 25, 2010 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions
memphis wildcat
+1 Gotta respect that. I wasn’t quite understanding your relativity.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
I'm tired..
I’m tired of everytime the football team surprises me, they turn around and disappoint me.
I’m tired of getting hyped up to start the season because of how good the team looks in practice, only to be letdown when we get beat by SEC teams.
I’m tired of having the greastest college fanbase in America who wants to win desperately but has to “settle” every year.
I’m tired of making excuses for poor coaching decisions.
I’m tired of wondering why we can’t recruit 4 and 5 star players.
In the end, I think I’m just tired of being mediocre in football in the SEC.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
I hate to say it, but it will be this way for the foreseeable future.
I, for one, embrace our mediocrity. It doesn’t change the fact that these guys go out and play hard, and they win more than they lose. UK has been mediocre for years, and yet we still sell many games out. I don’t see anybody selling off their season tickets.
The SEC is just a tough place to grow a football team. Kentucky has been much more exciting this year than last. In fact, this team reminds me of 2005, when we were last in scoring defense but first in passing offense. We are currently second, and may yet pass Arkansas.
No matter how great we think UK should be in football, the reality is rather different. I refuse to let myself get down over how things are, especially when the team is always in games, and just never gives up even when it would be easy. We have been uncompetitive exactly once this year, and that seems to happen every year.
How many schools have great football and basketball teams? Very few. I think, overall, I’ll take the status quo and hope for incremental improvement. We have seen some, but we knew that defense was going to be a sore point this year. What we didn’t know was that it would be quite this bad, and that the offense would be quite this good. If our O-line or D-line was a little better, I think we could have won one more of the last four games at least.
But it is what it is, and the football around here is still exciting, if not top 25 quality. What is killing us this year is the lack of quality on the lines. If we can ever find a way to improve that, we may actually become a threat to win something.
But I’m not holding my breath. Just keep it exciting and win more than we lose, and I’ll take it. I won’t be happy, but I’ll take it.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Oct 24, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
As much as I appreciate your overall acceptance of our current situation there , Glenn
Our defense reminds me of what my former boss once wrote on the board in our meeting room concerning our performance as a unit during a particularly slow stretch of writing business.
If you keep on doing what you have always done, you will keep on getting what you have always gotten.
Works for both good and bad.
I Shall Always Be The Cat......In The Hat!!! The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Oct 24, 2010 12:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Is change of stratagy in order then?
I am no football expert but I would love to see UK be great at basketball and football. Why can’t we hire a big time coach? Jokester is nice and all but I get the feeling in end he will be pretty good, decent, average or something like that. What is wrong with hiring a big time/high paroll coach instead of hoping our coach can be better than average?
The "big time coach" answer is not the answer.
Just ask South Carolina about Spurrier. He’s been there for 10 years and still doesn’t have any hardware. (And he’s 0 – 1 against our non big time coach.)
Some people are like Slinkies, they're really good for nothing........but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
I don't believe that.
I think the big time coach is more likely the answer than any other strategy. It may be that Spurrier was just past him prime (ask U of L how that could happen).
To say that isn’t the answer means (1) the answer is something else, or (2) there is no answer for UK. Which is it?
It seems we could attract a big time coach.
It would be a great project for the new guy. The fans would be supportive. If sucessful it would be a historic move for the coach in the end. Handpick the right guy (not a Spurrier type, someone fun and likeable) and it could work.
by 166leslie on Oct 24, 2010 7:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Great coach
Great coaches don’t grow on trees and they don’t view uk as a great project to undertake.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
by davw83 on Oct 24, 2010 7:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Bluehound
Correct. Since The Bear left, UK has never been able to compete in the football coach market. They don’t want a good football program except on the cheap.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
That seems to be a choice.
We certainly haven’t offered great coach salaries. That tells me we very much could hire a great coach if we were willing to pay for one. Lots of football schools have built good basketball programs. UNC is working on a good football program (after probation). It can be done. We have just have to prove we are serious.
I think we're watching the answer.
Besides, there would never be a consensus on even what would be considered a big time coach.
Is a big time coach someone that has had success at a major program? In that case they are employed in a position they wouldn’t leave to go build up a program in the SEC East or they are unemployed because they ran afoul of their previous most likely due to loses (ie. Fulmer). With the revival of direct snap offenses many of these big names may find themselves lost in the change taking place in today’s game.
Is a big time coach someone that has had success at a mid-major or lower program? People like Peterson (Boise) and Kelly (Oregon) are enjoying incredible success implementing progressive offenses. Would they want to leave the comfortable confines of easier conferences to risk the pressure cooker recruiting and gridiron battles they would find at Kentucky? Would Kentucky fans be sympathetic to a 3 – 5 year transition period while the new coach gets his type players in to run his offense? Lets keep an eye on Rodriquez at Michigan for that answer.
I like what Joker is doing and seen nothing that discourages me in thinking the program is progressing. Sure, the milestone of playing in Atlanta has evaporated for this year but it doesn’t mean we aren’t on the right path. Keep in mind he’s not even through his first year as head coach. Yes, he was the coach in waiting but that doesn’t approach the kind of effect he can have as the head coach. I see recruiting getting better and a better team on the field. He knows Kentucky, he has the recuiting in-roads for our needs, he hasn’t been hesitant to make staff changes when necessary and, above all, he has a passion and vested interest for the job we couldn’t find in any big name coach.
Some people are like Slinkies, they're really good for nothing........but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
by hoboat33 on Oct 24, 2010 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Your probably right.
I do hope the Joker is a success. If he does have a few good years won’t he just leave for more money? Eventually UK has to pay up to keep or get a great coach, right.
by 166leslie on Oct 25, 2010 1:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
maybe, but
joker went to UK and bleeds blue. i think he really wants to build something special at uk and will not bolt for a higher offer. not saying we underpay him if/when he is successful but, all things being equal, we should keep him longer than if someone else was here and was successful
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Oct 25, 2010 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions
You're right.
Right now he only appears to be underpaid compared to other SEC coaches. It looks as his compensation is in line with his experience and I’m confident the powers that be will keep his salary commensurate with his accomplishments. They aren’t so myopic to not realize that good coaches have to be paid to stay.
Some people are like Slinkies, they're really good for nothing........but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
memphis wildcat
I’m sure he wnats to build a winner. And as doubtful as I am that he can, two or three years is not enough time to assess his progress.
And that would be by someone more capable of that than myself.
Good comment.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
Well said hoboat
Rec’d. Joker bleeds blue and truly wants to keep building this program.
Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!
Oh well, what the hell.
They need to drop football altogether. Turn Commonwealth Stadium into an enclosed all
purpose facility for any event with BB having the first option. It would be the biggest money maker ever. UK would pocket bucks beyond the dreams of avarice.
Stop trying to keep up with the “Jones’es” and let common sense prevail for once.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
UK makes more money from Football then
it does Basketball.
by Grasslands1 on Oct 25, 2010 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Do you mean profit?
Basketball brings in the big bucks. But we pay big too. Expenses like payroll, not so much with football.
by 166leslie on Oct 25, 2010 1:59 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Grasslands
Apples vs. Oranges. Commonwealth seats over 60,000; Rupp 24,000. Figures are approximate.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
Well then
maybe you’ll reconsider if you review this.
Some people are like Slinkies, they're really good for nothing........but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
hoboat33
Irrelevant. Commonwealth seats 67,606. Rupp seats 23,000. I’m not a CPA but the resultant figures will favor football because of the difference stated here. Simple math.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
Sorry
Didn’t realize you were serious about enclosing Commonwealth for basketball.
Some people are like Slinkies, they're really good for nothing........but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
hoboat33
I’m not. Should have been clearer. It’ll never happen and I don’t really want it to. I said that with tongue in cheek. My fault.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
I picked up my copy of the Maple Street Press last night.
And so far, I’ve been impressed Glenn. Good job.
I think what is so maddening to me as a fan, is we never seem to have ALL the pieces. We either have a good defense OOORRRRR we have a good offense. Never both. Is it too much to ask to be maybe 6th in the SEC in both?
And I can’t remember the last time we have been so BAD in red zone defense. Other teams are almost perfect percentage-wise in scoring once they get into the red zone. Whose fault is that? Is that coaching or lack of talent?
Thank you for picking up the book. I hope you enjoy it.
Is it too much to ask to have both? Good question. The answer seems to be, “Yes,” at least lately.
We have seen this phenomenon in teams other than Kentucky. South Carolina has suffered from it frequently, as has Tennessee and the Mississippi teams, and even Auburn. Only Florida and Alabama seem immune.
As to your question about red zone conversions, I would estimate you have to go back pre-2005 to find a team as bad as this one. Kentucky has typically been mid-pack in that statistic, but this year we are truly loathsome.
On the other hand, since 2006 at least, Kentucky is better at red zone conversions on offense right now than in any of the five previous years. Yin to yang, I suppose.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Oct 24, 2010 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Cameron1
Well, an expression we used at Lockheed-Martin in Ft. Worth, when describing management,
was, “Poop runs downhill.” LOL
Of course poop is the milder of several words that could have been used.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
Epps DUI
Former Cat Anthony Epps charged with DUI. Not a good role model for a HS coach.
Socialism is not an alternative to capitalism; it is an
alternate to any system which men can live as human
beings." Ludwig von Mises
Too bad.
He will probably be fired. Too bad he didn’t do something more socially acceptable like have an affair or beat up the other team’s AD.
Oooooo-
Club 68! Had some fraternity brothers from there that spoke highly of it. Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure of sleeping off a visit to the infamous club.
Some people are like Slinkies, they're really good for nothing........but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
Epps
I figured that when it was reported years ago that he was a wife beater.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
Ducks, Broncos, Tigers In AP
Auburn moves up to third but expected to be #1 in BCS.
Socialism is not an alternative to capitalism; it is an
alternate to any system which men can live as human
beings." Ludwig von Mises
Tolly Ho Riot
Lex 18 reports. Not good for community image. Probably just a college prank, yeah, right. Had a couple of melees in my student days in 50’s but without knives.
Socialism is not an alternative to capitalism; it is an
alternate to any system which men can live as human
beings." Ludwig von Mises
Wild Weasel
I’m not familiar with that area of Lexington. However it sort of sounds like the North Side of Fort
Worth, TX. An area you don’t want to visit if you ever visit Ft. Worth.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
My last comment. When a university hires a second rate coach he will hire a second rate (good ol’ boy) coaching staff. Just like a near past BB coach who is proving my point.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
So you think
Joker has a staff of second rate coaches? Although there might be some assistant that wouldn’t disappoint me to lose, I heartily disagree. Besides, I’m not sure what “good ol’ boy” hiring you’re talking about. He hasn’t just hired assistants that he has worked with before, he’s hired coaches with no prior ties to himself. Other than that college coaches are almost a fraternity, there is great camaraderie among coaches/assistant coaches across college football and job fulfillment comes from reliable recommendations within the ranks.
Some people are like Slinkies, they're really good for nothing........but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
hoboat33
I stand corrected on the “good ’ol boys” comment. Thanks.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
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