Report Card: Kentucky Football Under Joker Phillips
by SaturdayDownSouth on Nov 1, 2010 7:07 AM EDT
in Kentucky Wildcats Football
Email
PrintThe following article was written by Tyler Montell. He bleeds blue. Graduated from UK in 2009 after serving as the Student Body President and on the Board of Trustees. He now attends law school in enemy territory, Louisville. He is the lead writer for Kentucky football on Saturday Down South. Tyler will be guest-blogging periodically for A Sea of Blue during the football season.
"I'm handing the ball off to you, now run with it." Those eleven words, uttered in a voicemail message, signified the end of one era; and the beginning of another in Lexington. Joker Phillips told Sports Illustrated’s Cory McCarteny that the message left by Brooks was waiting for him when he arrived home from the 2009 Music City Bowl. While the message only contained few words, its consequence will be felt for decades.
The question is not whether or not the ball now belongs to Phillips; he signed on as head coach in January. The question remains whether Mr. Phillips is in fact running with the ball. In other words, are we making progress?
The program enjoyed moderate success in the last part of Brooks’ tenure in Lexington, appearing in four consecutive bowls games. However, many fans remain discontented that the team has yet to rise above a lower tier Tennessee bowl appearance. Whether it is blind ambition, stubborn arrogance, or wishful thinking- fans expect the program to mature and take the next step in the direction of the SEC elite; or at least break eight wins. Are we on that path? Are we carrying the ball towards the goal, even after a 4-4 start this season? In a word: Yes.
To properly evaluate the state of the Kentucky program, we must start before the South Carolina win, the Ole Miss debacle, the Florida blowout loss, and the Louisville season opener. It is oft said that programs are built in the offseason, and for Kentucky, this rings true. One of the criticisms from former players from Brooks’ tenure was the offseason training program. While upper echelon programs use professional, position specific conditioning programs, Brooks took a ‘one size fits all’ approach. To his credit, Phillips went after one of the best conditioning and strength coaches in the business in Cincinnati Bengals’ Rock Oliver.
Phillips brought in Mike Summers to coach the offensive line, David Turner to coach the defensive line, and Tee Martin to coach receivers. Summers’ group, a solid line anchored by Billy Joe Murphy, gave up thirteen sacks in 2009, but only nine thus far this season. Turner inherited a struggling corps, coming of a 2009 season where the unit amassed just sixteen sacks in the entire season, tying for last in the league. In 2010, however, Turner’s guys have already recorded twelve. Tee Martin has two receivers in the top five of all SEC route runners. In terms of an investment, there is no real quantitative way to measure the impact of a strength coach in just one season, but the hires of Summers, Turner and Martin are paying dividends.
Kentucky broke into the top half of the SEC is passing yards just once (in 2007) under Brooks. This season, Phillips’ passing unit boasts the best passing attack in the division, and second best in the league. Much of this success is due to the maturity and development of the much-maligned Mike Hartline, who currently leads the league in gross yards and touchdowns thrown. A great deal of praise goes to Offensive Coordinator Randy Sanders, who coaches the twenty-third ranked offense in the country in points scored.
While the offense has improved under the Phillips’ administration, the defense has struggled. In a stat that can be anything but understated, the Cats have the nation’s second worst red zone defense, and rank ninety-eighth in the country in points scored against. Despite holding the #6 and #10 ranked teams in the country to six points in the second halves of the contests, the defense allowed 59 points and 581 total yards in first halves. Defensive Coordinator Steve Brown shook things up this week by starting sophomore linebacker Ridge Wilson at Mississippi State. The defense should look better as the Kentucky schedule eases up a bit; with the remainder of SEC play against a 1-4 Vanderbilt, and a 0-5 Tennessee.
In qualitative terms, the season has been disappointing. While Joker and company found a signature win over the South Carolina Gamecocks, the rest of the season has been riddled with heartbreak and frustration. Sure, the loss of Derrick Locke is a critical one, but good teams find a way to win. The Wildcats just haven’t done that against any SEC team not named Cackalacka.
In short, the long term perspective in Lexington is bright. Despite defensive struggles, Kentucky was in position to win nearly every game this season. The young secondary is improving, and the domination of Danny "The Leviathan" Trevathan is encouraging. With the return of Derrick Locke, Kentucky is in prime position to finish out the season with three convincing wins, including a much-needed victory in Knoxville.
The Kentucky football program is getting better, and this program will reach new heights with Joker Phillips. While Saturday night was a reminder that the team isn’t there yet, the body of evidence suggests that the club is on the right path. This is Joker’s program, and I’d say the ball is in pretty good hands.
31 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Grade is C-
The minus because I expected something fresh and new from Joker. This is the same ol, same ol. Big expectations, medium results.
If Mike Hartline had not stepped up this year, this team has maybe 3 wins….maybe.
Tee Martin seems to have earned his pay, but turnover situation for the entire offensive unit has been poor. So we get another 6-6 season, and Joker loses the chance to post the best first year record as a coach in the history of the school. And it would not sting so much if we had not given every one of those losses away. The other teams didn’t take them, we gave them away. Minus the Florida debacle, this team should be undefeated. And no I dont care that Auburn is now number one. They wouldnt be there if we hadn’t tripped over our own inability to tackle someone.
I love my Cats, but I guess coming to the realization that nothing ever changes is disheartening. We can call it anything we like, but the fact is that it is just Kentucky Football.
I Shall Always Be The Cat......In The Hat!!! The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 1, 2010 8:40 AM EDT reply actions
Nice job BTW Tyler......the way it was written makes it almost palatable....lol
I Shall Always Be The Cat......In The Hat!!! The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 1, 2010 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions
O ye of little faith
Doesn’t it seem like we are trending up as a football team over the last 10-12 years?
Not sure we can ever stand toe to toe with the SEC powerhouses,but in time (10 years?) we should
have a program that will be at least competitive.
"SPORTS"--Not interested----"CATS"--Pull up a chair,I've got all night.
Thats a funny word there that "trending".
To me the Cats have gone in stages as a Football team. I don’t know if that “trending” word applies, but hey, to each his own.
Stage 1- The fight Vandy for the cellar stage. We slip into this one about every 10-15 years.
Stage 2- Clawing our way to respectability stage. We usually get into this one only for a year or two. This time it has lasted much longer….about 5 years.I just dont know how long we can stay in this stage when everyone has committed to getting themselves better that we play.
Stage 3- Win big stage, get into NCAA trouble. This one only happens every 20-30 years. Our last big run was in the 70’s I believe. We had that flirtation with Mumme a few years ago which got our hats handed to us, so I don’t really count that one.
Stage 4- Respectability and a winning record over all levels of competition. This one has not been seen since the 50’s. I don’t see it coming back anytime soon.
And as far as my faith goes, that rests in the man upstairs. Having faith in Kentucky Football is a little like masquerading as Charlie Brown. You don’t know when, you don’t know how, and you don’t know why, but sooner or later Lucy is going to pull that football out from under you as you try to kick off. She has to do it. It’s her job.
I Shall Always Be The Cat......In The Hat!!! The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 1, 2010 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions
like you, i am frustrated...
however, when was the last season we were 9 games into a season and can say except for one game, we should be undefeated? being close is frustrating – but ask any vandy fan if they want to swap. yes i know vandy is not the bar, but at least we are putting a competitive product on the field – even if we cannot tackle or hold on to the ball
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Nov 1, 2010 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I think "trending" should be "building blocks"
I just have to weigh in here. Building a consistent winning program in NCAA football takes a long time, and it starts with recruiting and (even more so now) training. And that recruiting is most inportant along both lines of scrimmage.
The biggest difference between SEC football teams and most of the rest of the country in on the line of scrimmage. And that difference is depth. I.E. the typical good SEC team will have at least 2 deep starting talent along the line of scrimmage. That means at least 10-12 starting scholarship players at those positions (and the really good teams probably have more like 15-18). Thing is, those players are the hardeest to find. There are literally hundreds of 5’9" – 5’11" and 175-195lbs players who can run like the wind all over the country. There are a lot, although significantly less, 6’ – 6’2" and 200-225lbs players who are also fast. Every college team in the country will have a lot of those players. The quality may vary by team, but those players are out there. Finding 6’5"-6’7" and 275-300lbs players that are still athletic is the real trick, and those players are scarce.
If you want to know why tackling seems to be a problem for the Cats, I think its because their lack of depth causes the starters (and more importantly) the 2nd string to exert themselves to the fullest more than they can. The human body can only go full speed for so long until muscle fatigue sets in, and then the body just will not go as fast as you want it, no matter how hard you try. That’s why all the college coaches talk about having a “good rotation” of linemen who are able to spell each other. The failure to have a full rotation looks like…poor tackling and missed assignments.
Having said all that, I think we can see definite signs of improvement. The article made a very good point about the new coaches. These coaches, as good as they may or may not be on game day, are RECRUITERS. And talent is where a great many of the games are won and lost. Either you have enough talent to fill out the rotations, or you don’t. And building up the level of talent required takes several years, at best. Remeber back to Oregon before Brooks? A perrenial also-ran in the PAC 8/10, and located in a place without recruting advantages. Brooks was able to turn that around, but it took more than a decade to get it done.
(as an aside, even in places where there are natural recruiting advantages, a bad coach can undo those advantages – anyone remember Ron Zook? What about Alabama before Saban? Even Saban’s first year was nothing to write home about…)
The other encouraging sign that the article rightly points out is the hiring of Rock Oliver as strength coach. And the way that the Cats have hung in there mentally (its a lot easier to give up mentally when the body has given up physically) points directly at the strength training and conditioning in the off-season. All of the players noted that they felt much more prepared this year from a training stand-point than in years past.
I got excited about Joker as coach when I began seeing the recruiting job he did last spring, and the increasing number of defensive and offensive linemen starting (slowly) to come into the program. I loved the coaching hires, and was really excited about seeing Rock Oliver back in Lexington where he belongs. Make no mistake, this is going to take some time, say 4 – 5 years, to see the full results. But the first step has been in the right direction.
And you can't get
better players without better facilities. Let’s face it, kids at the talent level we are trying to get are marched through some palatial facilities and Joker is behind the eight ball. Until the purse strings are loosened for better football facilities it will be difficult to upgrade our recruiting class much less recruit a top ten or fifteen class. Football brings in more money than basketball so it only makes sense to keep up with the Joneses.
Just for comparisons, last weeks announced $35 million improvement to the Arkansas facilities (which have wowed recruits in its present state) will carry yet another SEC program into the upper echelon of football accommodations. This comes after the previous update of $110 million in 2001. Take a look at what we’re competing with: Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina.
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.
Man, Spurrier sure did that up right at SC didnt he??
I have been in Hilton Hotels that were not that nice.
I Shall Always Be The Cat......In The Hat!!! The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 1, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Commitment from the university
I’m still waiting for it and have been for 45 years – some have waited longer…!
Nick
Red Zone Defense
…is the worst part of the team in my opinion. The Cats have been able to score this year and make plays on offense, but whenever the opposing team gets in the red zone, they score. That is hard to handle as a fan.
Joker needs to brinf that defensive unit around in order to compete for an SEC East title in the future.
SaturdayDownSouth.com - SEC Football Blog
Twitter - @SatDownSouth
by SaturdayDownSouth on Nov 1, 2010 8:45 AM EDT reply actions
The RZ defense obviously hasn't been good,
but having such a young D lessons a bit the sting due to lack of RZ stops, also, the RZ numbers are a bit skewered because of the numerous number of TO’s deep in UK’s territory by the offense, leaving teams only a few yards, up to 20-25 yards to go to score a touchdown. Under that scenario, even if the D holds the opponent to no touchdown, a FG is still recorded and counted against UK’s RZ stops.
By far, and without any doubt, the worst aspect of this team are the turnovers, and where they have ocurred on the field of play. In the MSU, Ole Miss, and Georgia games (three losses) UK is a minus-9 in the TO dept (with a total of 11 TO’s) and they gave up 35 points off those TO’s.
At this point, those three losses define the season. Win out, and a fresh look is deserved.
Joker Phillips was a so-so offensive co-ordinator. He is a flop, thus far, as a head coach. His defensive coaches are, to put it mildly, suspect. Also against MSU; when a team throws everything it has against your offense on every play, something is terribly wrong. There must be some “telegraphing” going on somewhere with the offense. MSU tore
the UK offensive line to shreds.
Hartline never had a chance. Somehow MSU knew what UK was going to do on almost every play. Somebody had a
“telegraph” key on offense. There is simply no way a defense can dominate an offense like MSU did without players giving away their intentions on offense. Add that to the fact that Joker got terribly out coached and this was the result.
Guess the “Joker’s” on us.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
In basketball that is.
Happy days are here again,
The skies are Wildcat blue again,
We have the best recruits again,
Happy days are here again!
FREE ENES!!
Joker is not a flop
Recruiting is looking really good. He is bringing in new coaches to help were needed. Rock has made a big improvement this far. Locke got hurt along with little injuries here and there. A totally healthy team COULD have(?) produced a lot more W’s than L’s. Sure better depth COULD have(?) helped that a lot, I guess. I see Joker striving to make any improvements to our favorite team and I think we fans need to have a little more patience.
Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!
by a2d2 on Nov 1, 2010 1:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
a2d2
Of course he’s going to work hard to succeed. Wouldn’t you, if your job was on the line? He’s not up to the task right now.
Mabye next year. But if he doesn’t do something about the conditioning of this football team, next year will be the same song second verse. He needs to consult Joe B., RP, Tubby and Cal about conditioning. Probably not his fault as Brooks only used “Brand X” conditioning.
I know you are an avid fan. I can respect that and do. I have followed them for many years and despite the disappointments still do. I’m blue through and through. Just because I’m critical of certain aspects of the FB and BB programs doesn’t mean I’m not a fan. But neither am I blind. Not yet. LOL
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
In basketball that is.
Happy days are here again,
The skies are Wildcat blue again,
We have the best recruits again,
Happy days are here again!
FREE ENES!!
Conditioning!
What, are you kidding me?
This team, and generally all UK teams after Mumme left have been in great condition. Plus, all the variables point to UK being a better second half team than first half, and it’s been that way for several years now.
Find something else to bitch about ab.
Sorry....
….that you feel that way. Didn’t one of our previous coaches call that attitude “fellowship of the miserable”? We’ve been in every game, save one, this year and recruiting is improving. How is that failure? It boils down to talent. We’re getting closer and trending upward, but no there yet. Keep the faith!
by John Gilbreath on Nov 2, 2010 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions
A flop?
What exactly did you think this team was going to do this spring? Personally, I am shocked that we have one as many as we have. We had one starting offensive lineman return, no defensive line starters that were considered capable of making it to the next level and a linebacker corps that was decimated by graduation. On top of all of that, we had a three way fight at quarterback between a redshirt freshman, a sophmore that had shown that he had not learned how to read defensive coverage and a returning senior that the fan base loathed. We have four wins and a legitmate chance at seven and you say the coach has been a flop. Dude, have a little perspective on where this team was in the spring and where it is now.
Good points for consideration.
So, balance that against the positive, “Operation Win” atmosphere at the beginning of the season and then decide – Kentucky has had a _?_ season.
Its interesting in that our season sits about where the “experts” predicted – at 4-5. Even so, it looks like Kentucky football is on the rise with the fans. In previous years a losing record at this time of the year would have been met with a yawn. This year fans are still interested, games are well attended and people argue and discuss with gusto.
ESPN and the internet contribute to some, if not most, of the increase in interest but sentiment seems concerned but underlying that concern is a deeper feeling of confidence in the program. Recently, I read UK had something like 16 come from behind victories since mid 2006. (I can think of a couple recently that would have been nice to add to that list.) Granted, I’d rather not have to come from behind but that’s still much better than Old Kentucky. Maybe in the near future we’ll have enough good memories to subdue the ghosts from the past thought haunt our minds.
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 think the author (Tyler Montaell)
needs to buy some tap dancing shoes. He goes to great lengths to complement each of the main coaches on the staff except one. Guess who?
With that in mind I think he aligns pretty much with my thinking and doesn’t get much into any specifics of any games. Generic, but good.
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.
The program is 1-5 right now
with a 3-5 record a good possibility; so I would say things are in “business as usual” mode.
Although, if we do end losing streaks against Spurrier and Tennessee this year, this will be one of my favorite 3-5 seasons, for sure.
2010: 1-5 (3-5 if we sweep the last two games)
2009: 3-5
2008: 2-6
2007: 3-5
2006: 4-4
2005: 2-6
2004: 1-7
2003: 1-7
2002: 3-5
Personally, I would like to get to at least 5-3 one year. I think 4-4 should be the minimum goal every year.
-- Tim
2011 doesn't look favorable!
Looking at the 2011 schedule, a 4-4 record would seem the best we could expect. And that may be slim with a “new QB” at the helm. To get that we would need wins against Miss State, Ole Miss and Tennessee at home, along with Vandy on the road.
Our home game against Florida is probably not winnable and we could expect losses on the road against LSU, South Carolina and Georgia.
I would predict another 3-5 record next year at best.
Nick
Summers’ group, a solid line anchored by Billy Joe Murphy, gave up thirteen sacks in 2009, but only nine thus far this season. Turner inherited a struggling corps, coming of a 2009 season where the unit amassed just sixteen sacks in the entire season, tying for last in the league. In 2010, however, Turner’s guys have already recorded twelve.
Those are not improvements. Giving up 9 sacks through 9 games is 1 per game, exactly the same as giving up 13 sacks through 13 games (12 + bowl). Registering 12 sacks through 9 games is 1.333 per game, which is 17.333 in 13 games. OMG! One more sack this year than last!
Eagle Totem - Comprehensive EMU coverage.
Man, there are still 4 games to play. None of these opponents are pushovers if the team doesn’t play up to par.
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
In basketball that is.
Happy days are here again,
The skies are Wildcat blue again,
We have the best recruits again,
Happy days are here again!
FREE ENES!!
Anybody know if the UK vs. Pikeville game is on TV somewhere?
We're as good as the best and better than the rest.
In basketball that is.
Happy days are here again,
The skies are Wildcat blue again,
We have the best recruits again,
Happy days are here again!
FREE ENES!!
See the game thread, up now.
Sorry it took so long to get up. I got home late from work.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Joker Phillips was a so-so offensive co-ordinator. He is a flop, thus far, as a head coach
WOW i had to read it twice… the only decent things we have had this year is a good head coach and a good qb… joker has ran with bcs championship contender auburn with a vastly out talented team and beat hof coach spurrier with the weaker team… our coach isnt the problem.. our talent is
FREE ENES
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
[UPDATED 01/18/2012]
Related FanPosts on A Sea Of Blue
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
