Kentucky Football: Performance Management-The Numbers Don’t Lie

I think most UK fans left Nashville with a bad taste in their mouths. Many were expecting to see a disciplined team who would play with enthusiasm and heart. Many feel cheated. Last year’s team lost on a trick play in overtime. This year’s team was simply manhandled and left the field as underachievers.

Those who were predicting 7 or 8 wins this year had a nasty dose of reality dumped in their laps. Those of us who were predicting 4 wins should be doubting our foolishness for being so optimistic considering our schedule for the rest of the season. Stoops,& Company, however, must be given a pass for this year a a first year coach. So, what do the numbers say?

It seems to me that a comparison with last year's game is in order:

Kentucky	2012	2013	Difference
Score	31-32	26-35	-5
First Downs	28	15	-13
Time of Possession	23:53	24:58	1.05
Rushing Attemps	19	32	13
Rushing Yards	41	216	175
Rushing Touchdowns	2	2	-
Passing Attempts	61	28	-33
Pass Completions	37	18	-19
Passes Intercepted	4	0	-4
Passing Yards	332	203	-129
Passing Touchdowns	2	2	-
Total Offensive Plays	80	60	-20
Total Yards	373	419	46
Total Touchdowns	4	4	-
3rd Down Conversions	9 of 16	6 of 15	-3 of -1
Fumbles Lost	0	1	-1
Field Goals	1	2	1

The running game has improved.

Question: What Air Raid?

At the national level, here's where we stand statistically in the NCAA (per game stats and National Rank):

Offense:

Rushing Offense: 216 (t-37th)

Passing Offense: 203 (66th)

Passing Efficiency: 136.97 (57th)

Red Zone Offense: 100% (t-1st)

Scoring Offense: 26 (t-64th)

Total Offense: 419 (t-57th)

Tackles for Loss Allowed: 9 (t-100th)

Sacks Allowed: 3 (t-81st)

Time of possession: 24:58 (98th)

3rd Down Conversion %: 40% (t-56th)

4th Down Conversion %: 100% (t-1st)

First Downs: 15 (t-88th)

Defense

Rushing Defense: 216 (t-88th)

Passing Defense: 271 (79th)

Scoring Defense: 35 (t-82nd)

Passing Efficiency Defense: 156.1 (84th)

Passes Intercepted: 0 (No Ranking)

Tackles for Loss: 3 (t-92nd)

Sacks: 1 (t-59)

Total Defense: 487 (t-87th)

3rd Down Conversion %: 20% (t-14th)

4th Down Conversion %: 100% (t- 34th)

First Downs: 22 (t-69th)

Other

Fewest Penalty Yards: 69 (83rd)

Fewest Penalties: 10 (t-101st)

Turnover Margin: 1 (t-22nd)

Net Punting: 33.33 (86th)

Punt Returns: 27 (3rd)

Punt Return Defense: 4.25 (62nd)

Kickoff Returns: 24.67 (28th)

Kickoff Return Defense: 20.5 (t-58)

Early last month, Neal Brown talked about his expectations:

Plays per game: 75

3rd Down Conversion Rate: 48%

1st Down yards: 4 or more yards

Saturday's plays: 60

3rd Down Conversion Rate: 40%

1st Down yards: 43.5% 4 or more yards - not including Timmons 33yd run where he fumbled.

The eye tests have been discussed on every UK related web site, so there is no use discussing it further. The numbers tell their own story. Look for improvement next week against Miami (OH). While one game does not make a season, Kentucky's schedule is murderous. Illusions of beating Louisville were flushed down the toilet with our loss to WKU and Louisville's drive by of Ohio. The possibilities of victories diminished with the WKU loss when you look at how our future opponents performed this weekend. Probabilities are down to three: Miami, Alabama St. and Missouri because all are home games. Missouri might just be a possibility.

The good news is that most Kentucky fans had low expectations with this team because they knew Stoops would have a difficult road. It seems our 2014 recruiting class had the same expectations and are excited about being a part of the turnaround.