Kentucky Wildcats 8 @ Vanderbilt Commodores 38: Postmortem
by Glenn Logan on Nov 12, 2011 7:50 PM EST
in Kentucky Wildcats Football
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PrintFor the first time all season, I find myself writing a postmortem about a game I didn't see a second of. I did keep up with the score while my wife and I enjoyed some well-deserved time at the racetrack, but unfortunately, Ken had computer problems, which left postmortem duties to me and my relative ignorance. If this sounds like a comedy of errors, I can say that this is a case where A Sea of Blue mirrored the performance of the Kentucky Wildcats.
First off, congrats to the Vanderbilt Commodores for the win. They have really been good this year in a lot of ways, much better than Kentucky has, and they proved today that was no fluke. They handled the Wildcats as if this game were much further south, or much further east than Nashville, and it wasn't all about Kentucky's futility -- Vandy has a good team this year, and they've proven it in every way but winning, and they added that one this afternoon.
How badly did Kentucky fail in this game? How about 32 net yards rushing. For the game. On 22 attempts. That's 1.5 yards per rush, and folks, the only good thing you can say about that is that ... I'm sorry, I just can't think of anything. Maybe we could say that it's better than a negative net rushing yardage, but that is a redefinition of the aphorism, "damnation by faint praise." That statistic is earth-shattering, galactic futility against a team that can hardly be considered among the best in the league.
What else is there to comment about statistically?
- 41 yards total offense for the first half. I didn't see it, so I can only express my shock and disgust.
- Third down conversions for Kentucky: 0-12. That is a big, fat, goose egg. I don't know if I have ever seen that.
- Vanderbilt dominated time of possession for three of the four quarters, and proved that they could not only move the ball against Kentucky, but force the offense off the field with regularity.
- The defense has officially become as loathsome as the offense. There is really nothing I can see in the stats to offer an encouraging word except one long drive.
- Once again, for the umpteenth time this year, UK gave their opponent an easy touchdown early in the game that clearly crushed any confidence they had. They never came close to recovery.
- Ryan Tydlacka, a strong punter all year, lost all his mojo today.
Despite the fact that there are two games left, I can't imagine Kentucky winning both of them, and given today's results, even one seems a stretch. This team has completely let itself down on both sides of the ball, and I don't think anyone is standing tall right now. Injuries have been a problem, of course, but injuries are a part of football.
This was one ugly loss where UK simply failed to fire, if I'm reading the stats right. UK kept giving Vanderbilt good field position, and Vandy made them pay over and over again. That's how you win football games. Kentucky did not take advantage of either of their opportunities with good field position.
Okay, that's about all I can tell from the game stats. This was yet another brutal beating in a season full of them. Like the rest of you, I hate it and I'm not used to it, but this is just one of those years. We've been here before a bunch of times, it's just been a while.
Dawgs between the hedges next. You never know. Stranger upsets have happened.
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No, not really.
At this point, it’s just a loss. Phillips has one more season before he loses me.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Must be basketball season...
Because a 30pt loss to Vandy in football, isn’t just a loss. It is insane.
It has nothing to do with that.
I think Phillips deserves a chance, and 2 years with one bad season isn’t a fair chance in my book. Your mileage may vary.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Nov 13, 2011 11:06 PM EST up reply actions
The scatter plot on that mileage has really had some dramatic shifts. ;-)
War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce
what is not in the stats is this:
They were not as good as the stats showed.
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 12, 2011 8:52 PM EST via mobile reply actions
First off, I'm jealous for two reasons, Glenn.
You went to the track (Oh, how I miss Keeneland) and you didn’t have to see that incredibly bad excuse of a game. If you just went by the stats, you can’t appreciate just how bad this game evolved.
Unfortunately, the game evolved but Kentucky’s progress hasn’t. Just to describe a few “highlights” -
Offensively (er, on Offense), Smith was off (first game on the road nerves?) big time and either he or the receivers were playing out of separate playbooks. Smith threw one into King’s back while he was blocking downfield, another went to a phantom receiver down the middle while the tangible receiver was on a sideline route, a couple were dropped as usual, and we tried to use 3 yard screen passes to loosen up the box for the run. Coshik played for a while then mysteriously disappeared and George had some runs the Coshik was back (?). The offensive line could not block, open holes or protect the quarterback. About that 32 yards rushing – take out George’s longest (17) and Roark’s reverse (16) and we have negative rushing for the game. While play calling was again perplexing at times, it probably wouldn’t have mattered Vandy came to play and we weren’t prepared.
On Defense (let’s just say “when Vandy had the ball”, since we really screwed the pooch when it came to D) Burden got consecutive pass interference penalties on opposite sides of the field; if not for a couple of long plays we would have had more penalties than offensive yardage, in addition to the pass interference the defense also contributed a couple of late hits out of bounds and a couple of off-sides. The most ridiculous play I’ve seen occurred in the fourth quarter and was the last straw for me. Vandy was at the 18 and Stacy ran up the middle, was gang grabbed by half the team, made it to the 5, the rest of the team piled on, then he proceeded to carry the entire UK defense into the endzone for the score – game turned off. It’s a shame in eleven defensive stands we can only speak of one affectionately. Of course, the offense did the defense no favors by having drives of only 5,4,8,5,4,4,9,7,4,4 and 1 plays. Offensive plays 53 – Defensive plays – 79. Too much to ask of the defense.
If there was any bright spot to the game it was the play of Alvin Dupree. He is a gamer and played his butt off. As a freshman playing with a defense showing so many faults and such confusion he was a shining star. I look forward to seeing him play in the years to come. Also, amidst pain of watching this game the defense had a brief moment of domination. At the end of the 3rd quarter Dupree, Neloms (?!) and Ukwu knocked Vandy back to a 4th and 24.
War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce
by hoboat33 on Nov 12, 2011 9:17 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I still cannot believe I saw this
Vandy was at the 18 and Stacy ran up the middle, was gang grabbed by half the team, made it to the 5, the rest of the team piled on, then he proceeded to carry the entire UK defense into the endzone for the score
Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!
Luckily I missed watching most of the game...
SWMBO had me helping with “Spring Cleaning” (she is “seasonally challenged”) so I was sparred from watching the first three quarters of the game. But I did see this:
Vandy was at the 18 and Stacy ran up the middle, was gang grabbed by half the team, made it to the 5, the rest of the team piled on, then he proceeded to carry the entire UK defense into the endzone for the score
and couldn’t believe what I saw. It reminded me of nothing so much as a playground scene where a bunch of 8 year olds try to tackle a “big kid”, and he just keeps on going although they are clinging to his legs, arms, back, etc.
I don’t know if the D was trying to strip him of the ball or what, but no one was noticeably trying to grab his legs and take him down.
Well better the problems we have than those of PSU.
by blenheim bard on Nov 12, 2011 11:53 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks for that.
I believe I mentioned in the pre-game that Smith was due for an off game. I have watched freshman quarterbacks for years, and if there is one thing consistent, it is their inability to be consistent.
Glad to hear about Dupree. Travathan is gone after this year, and we need these young linebackers to step up.
Thanks for the lucid report.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
This is going to sound like piling on, but the only bright spot was Smith.....
only 178 yds and 1 TD, but 0 mistakes. He did not do great, but he did not get them beat either….
I will say this much also….who QB’d did not matter this game…..there were not 5 guys on the whole team on either offense or defense who were able to get the job done today. Whatever the reason, UK was outgunned, out coached, outmanned and outplayed.
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 12, 2011 9:40 PM EST reply actions
I stopped hitting my head against the wall some time ago.
It was just about a month ago, in fact, when, coincidentally, Big Blue Madness finally arrived. Now that I hear myself say it, it strikes me something less than coincidental. Regardless, I wanted to let you know that what they say is true: it felt so good when I stopped.
I, too, did not watch a second of this game. My sympathies to those who did, especially to the usual suspects, whose sad but strangely compelling comments on the second-half thread I nonetheless consumed this evening with the guilt of someone stealing a peak at another’s diary.
I'm no doubt one of those of whom you speak;
however, UK is my school and I will always back the players that spend so much time and effort on a sport they love, whichever sport that may be. I’m too far away to support the sports in person and it would be great to be close enough to go to baseball, women’s basketball and other sports, but I’m relegated to the sports shown on TV – basketball and football.
Basketball is easy to follow as a UK sport, the tradition will never allow it to be down for very long so being a fan simply is easier, more satisfying and lofty goals (#8?) are realistic. Unfortunately, I prefer the sport of football and that just presents a larger challenge (Is that a major understatement, or what?). As a fan, I’m going to follow football avidly, through thick and thin. Yes, it will rip your heart out and stomp it on the floor – that’s how its been for ages. I was fortunate to be in school during the 10-1 year and have that memory to keep my flame as a fan alive. As a fan I’m going to invest the time and emotion in following my team, I don’t need “sympathy” for being a fan. Perhaps our players could use some sympathy, but a fan? No.
As a fan that has invested that time and that emotion, I just expect to be able to vent when the team (players and coaches) has a bad performance. Today, I watched the game, got pissed off at what I saw and I’ll be venting until next week. Then I’ll tune in to watch the Georgia game and root for the kids again. I’m not a fan that is going to simply quit tuning in to games and it’s unfortunate that so many tune out because the path is thorny. Like it or not it’s our team and if you don’t like it make yourself heard, don’t quit watching. Simply tuning out and getting lost in the easy euphoria of basketball has gotten the football program to where it is today.
War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce
by hoboat33 on Nov 13, 2011 12:26 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Not too sure about this....
“Dawgs between the hedges next. You never know. Stranger upsets have happened.”
This would shock me more than App state beating Michigan a few years back. we are so bad its hard to talk about .
Yes, we are pretty bad.
But you still have to play the game. I have no real hopes of winning, you just never know, the Dawgs may have a bad day. It happens.
Not sure that would be enough, but I saw a 50-1 shot have a race won to the last furlong yesterday, so I know it happens. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
That's the thing about hourse racing - you can sometimes find that one horse with long odds do that
But if you were betting on a complete stable (not one horse) of long shots to do the same – you’ll lose every time. Team sports and singular sports are so much different, needless to say.
A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!
i agree....
but i have not seen this uk team play over its head once in the last two years – i guess auburn last year is one. at least vandy showed earlier this season they could as they almost beat 3 very good teams. i know its almost, but at least it was competitive.
it just seems to me that other teams come closer to the upset than us. i realize uk beat #1 LSU several years ago, but we were ranked in the top 10 to 15 at the time. also, we would not have the losing streaks to UF and UT that we do if we had some luck.
guess its just the frustration of the loss but its hard to be optimistic about the chances of an upset – especially give UGA’s performance vs auburn last night
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Nov 13, 2011 7:51 AM EST up reply actions
Upset?
I hate to pile on, but I’d be amazed if the odds makers put a line on the Georgia game. Would anyone in their right mind bet the Cats? I’ve watched every game in the Joker era, and with just a couple of exceptions, the Cats have looked worse every time out. I can see why Ole’ Miss dumped Houston. Could there be anything more embarrassing than to lose to this Kentucky team?
They’ll be 4-8, and should consider themselves lucky to get that.
If UK announces more than 20,000 at the Vols game, they’ll be lying.
SmokinDave
by dwsmokin on Nov 12, 2011 10:36 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Awesome music makes everything better.
Phish, Alter Bridge, Dave Matthews Band, and Robert Randolph make everything better.
But seriously...
What happened to our running game? Did the O line just not block; I didn’t watch the game.
Welcome to A Sea of Blue.
I was wondering the same thing. We are able to run on some decent defenses, and then this?
What happened to the line? Did they pack it in, or was Vandy really LSU in disguise?
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
I watched it
Our running game really wasn’t that bad. Coshik disappeared, but George was running the ball effectively. It was all the sacks we took (that count towards rushing stats in college). This was not the problem at all.
The problem is this: we’re just not very good. With a couple exceptions, the talent level is sub-par, and the execution is worse. Our collection of WRs and defensive secondary are by far the worst offenders, but no one is particularly blameless.
Never know,but Dawgs will probably win.....
Last game of the season and this can be Kentucky’s bowl game for this year…….
orange leaf/EndtheStreak bowl….
Go Cats!!!!!
Beat Vols!!!
This ...
… is right.
After 26 straight years of losing to Tennessee, beating them would cause me to forget much of the putrid foulness that has been Kentucky football this season.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Nov 13, 2011 6:54 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
amen...
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Nov 13, 2011 7:51 AM EST up reply actions
I can agree with that....
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 13, 2011 8:37 AM EST up reply actions
Congrats to Vandy
If you’ve watched them much this year, you know this is not your normal Vandy team. They have been on the cusp of knocking off some of the better teams in the SEC every weekend. You could tell they were fired up by their energy on Senior night. You got the impression from the beginning that Vandy wanted a bowl game worse than we did. They came out hitting hard, not many mistakes, and made the big plays when they needed them. Vandy looked like the real SEC team out there. I hope they pound they the Vols and get to go to the bowl game they deserve. For our Cats, please just end the streak!
They have been very good this year.
Much better than we have. They are unquestionably a better team than Kentucky this year, notwithstanding this pounding.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
And there is the rub.
Vandy has been better than us this year and yesterday they proved they are much better. Where is their advantage? Budget? Motivation? Facilities? Execution? Continuity? Preparation? Scheme? Athletes? Coaches?
Yeah, you know where I’m going with this. It’s a rhetorical question.
War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce
It becomes less and less rhetorical as the season goes on hobo......lol
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 13, 2011 8:56 AM EST up reply actions
GAE mentioned this during the game thread
How is it that first year coach Franklin for Vandy can come in and completely turn this program around. He is using players recruited by his predecessor not his. Joker is using his players and the program he has been involved with since he became our CIW. It all has to do with the coaching end of things. No excuses from Joker and staff.
Simply put – they’re just not very good – no coaching quality on either the offense or defense.
This is the same team, Vandy, we could always rely on for a win – not any more folks. UK now becomes the number 11th team in the SEC, ahead of only a miserable Ole Miss. With the addition of Missouri and TAM we will become number 13th in the conference until Ole Miss turns their program around and I’m confidant they will.
A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!
by KansasUKCat on Nov 13, 2011 7:04 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
about ole miss...
at least for the most part, uk fans are realistic about our position in the football pecking order. however, ole miss fans are not and expect to be competing for a trip to atlanta almost every year. they are still living in the 60’s. as one of my friends says about ole miss fans: “never have so many been so proud of so little.” i have another ole miss fan that predicts them to be 9-3 every year….
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Nov 13, 2011 7:54 AM EST up reply actions
VANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To me this is the lowest point of the football team, no coaching!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go CATTTTTTTTTTTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by oilliecat on Nov 13, 2011 8:47 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
We probably won't stay ahead of Ole Miss for long.
They’ve taken the steps toward replacing the coach and will likely pass us next year purely on the boost a new coach brings to a program.
War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce
It all comes down to coaching
In my opinion some of our players do not believe in Joker Phillips. They tune him out because he does not have that magnetic personality – basically he is boring & not innovative at all. Joker reminds me a lot of Tubby Smith. The similarities are quite striking. Remember how many bad starts Tubby’s teams would have? Same with Joker. Remember all the player transfers under Tubby? Same with Joker. Remember how many games Tubby’s teams would seem unprepared and just sleepwalking thru games? Same with Joker’s teams.
The reason Franklin has been successful at Vandy- his players believe in him. You could see it yesterday on the field.
By the way my reference to Tubby is in no way me trying to bash him or anything like that. I just feel when I watch UK football now it reminds me of the last couple of b-ball seasons under Tubby. Very frustrating.
by uk_cantbestopped on Nov 13, 2011 8:29 AM EST reply actions
My caveat with that was that Tubby could actually coach......
I have not seen Joker Phillips beat anyone with his coaching…..Tubby did. Tubby had the ability to get overacheivement out of some kids who were not top tier talent. Tubby is like Joker in that he values loyalty above all else, and he sticks with people long after he shouldn’t. It’s an honorable trait, but unfortunately it does not always get results.
Tubby’s teams were not necessarily unprepared, they were out manned a few times, but Tubby won, plain and simple. He didn’t win the tournament a lot, but the man put up some impressive stuff. An undefeated SEC season, SEC Championships, and an NC. Sorry, but Tubby=Joker doesn’t work for me.
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 13, 2011 8:36 AM EST up reply actions
Their personalities are basically the same...
Both can coach…But both are boring and are not very innovative. That was my point.
by uk_cantbestopped on Nov 13, 2011 8:43 AM EST reply actions
That type of coach can be successful, if they have better talent than anyone else.....
Woody Hayes was the most boring coach in the world…..but he had kids that could grind it out with anyone….so he won.
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 13, 2011 8:55 AM EST up reply actions
Exactly
Which is why Joker will not be competitive with Florida, GA and UT on a yearly basis at UK. UK will never have more talent than other teams in the SEC. That’s why you need innovation and a coach that inspires players to play at their max physical and mental capabilities. Franklin is doing that at Vandy. Hence Stacey dragging the whole UK defense 10 yards for a TD.
Joker is not innovative and does not inspire most of his players to play at the max capability. I see many players loafing and not giving 100%. For example a UK corner was burnt on a TD pass & on the extra pt that same corner did not even make an attempt to block the kick. He just stood there while Vandy kicked the extra pt. Joker has lost most of the players. They don’t believe in him.
by uk_cantbestopped on Nov 13, 2011 10:13 AM EST up reply actions
You may well be right.....
Losing tends to drag anyone down…..and being unprepared to face Vandy is inexcusable.
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 13, 2011 10:21 AM EST up reply actions
Let's Put The Blame
where it really belongs shall we. The administration and it’s commitment to a quality, competitive football program. Let’s pretend that yesterday’s game was a basketball contest. Apply the appropriate stats from football to b-ball such as rebounding, opposing team’s FG percentage, etc. Would the administration or even the fans tolerate such a performance from the basketball program? I suggest that the answer is obvious. Let’s blame the people really in charge and react appropriately!
If we were talking a Florida, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee,Georgia, etc. loss, I could agree with you
but this is VANDY……….VANDY……….last year they were worse than us…….much worse…..Yes, this program needs a commitment from on high, but until they get that, they have to win the winnable games……..this was a winnable game, or maybe even Vandy is not winnable anymore.
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 13, 2011 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
I'll have a win against Tennessee, please
There’s no way we’ll beat Georgia. However, if we could just end the Tennessee streak…
By the way
I’ve checked this website every day for 2 years now. Just recently, I finally realized I should become a member, lol. So you’ll probably be seeing plenty of cake from here on out.
as long as no one makes jokes about having our cake and eating it too.....
oh wait……
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 13, 2011 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
One More Year????????
You can’t play football at this, or any other, level without effort and that was on full display yesterday. The team has quit on Joker and yet, we’ve got supporters of the program who feel Joker deserves at least one more year. If you don’t care enough to watch the game and then say Joker should be the coach next year, you’re part of the problem.
To keep his job, Joker only needs one supporter - mitch.
War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce
by hoboat33 on Nov 13, 2011 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I dont think that's called for....everyone misses games.....
Had I of known Glenn was not going to make it, I would have offered to write the post mortem if it would less offend your sense of fandom……
Glenn and I butt heads every day about this stuff, but to call him part of the problem is uncalled for….If the team quits on the coach, that’s on them…blaming fans for the product on the field shows a whole new level of ignorance of what is going on.
Everybody is passionate about what they want…..but insulting other fans because you are frustrated with the team accomplishes nothing. You want to make a case, make it. You want to argue points, argue away. You want to call out a coach or the team for not being competitive, you can do that too, but throwing the guy that keeps this whole thing going under the bus because he decided to take his family out for a day is a load of another great Kentucky product.
Grow up……and apologize.
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 13, 2011 8:11 PM EST up reply actions
uk-vandy
cats were horrible. jokerkept praising his team all fall, telling us that he finally had recruited sec calibre players. if he has, he must be hiding them because they have not been on the field. i supported joker , but the vandy game has totally changed my mind. i don’t think he deserves another year. they should fire him for failure to do his job which is to at the very least compete with other teams in the sec.
You do realize ...
… that all-time, we have a 2-win advantage over Vanderbilt?
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
I have to say Glenn, that doesnt make me feel better......lol
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 14, 2011 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe not ...
… but the idea that we have historically owned Vanderbilt is a fallacy that many people hold.
I’m just setting the record straight.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Nov 14, 2011 11:59 AM EST up reply actions
I know, just couldnt help myself.....
last time I felt this bad about Kentucky football, I almost bought EKU season ticets
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 14, 2011 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
Want to hear something worse?
My wife was watching Desperate Housewives last night. A lady on the show picked up a bottle of Blanton’s……and called it scotch…
Dayman, Fighter of the Nightman, Champion of the Sun
I have waited
But now it is the time to say “This football team sucks” Me not being a footballer anyway does not help. What ever UK is spending on the sport could well be used in a better place.
Yes, well...
… we’ve sucked before. And we’ll suck again.
But in between, we might be okay. The suckage to adequacy component hasn’t been too bad for the past several years. We were overdue for some suckage by UK standards. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
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