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2006 all over again? The optimist in me

  • Other than the bitter loss, I'm really hard pressed to draw the comparison because that UK team had a boatload of experienced players who had been pressed into playing early in their careers due to the probation and roster issues who would blossom in the 2nd half of the season (after the LSU debacle). Players like Little, Woodson, Burton, McClinton, Pryor etc. Secondly, UK's D that year, while giving up a TON of yards really capitalized on creating TO's and had one of the better TO ratio's they'd had in a long, long time. Additionally, that 06 UL team was one of THE BEST teams they had and went on to the Orange Bowl that year and finished in the top 10. I don't see this years version of the Cards being that good.

    I do agree with your sentiment and we have to see if the old adage is true that a team makes it best/most improvement between the 1st and 2nd games. In particular, UK needs to show DRAMATIC improvement on the defensive side of the ball if there is a chance to be competitive (MOTO observation of the day). Nobody likes to lose but their are ways you can lose that provide folks with a sense of optimism that things may be all right given time. The manhandling by UL of UK's defense certainly didn't provide that sense of optimism for most. These next two weeks are CRUCIAL for the remainder of the year and UK can't come out and perform against WKU/KSt the way they did against the Toppers and WMich last year.

    ukaveman

  • ukaveman said...

    Other than the bitter loss, I'm really hard pressed to draw the comparison because that UK team had a boatload of experienced players who had been pressed into playing early in their careers due to the probation and roster issues who would blossom in the 2nd half of the season (after the LSU debacle). Players like Little, Woodson, Burton, McClinton, Pryor etc. Secondly, UK's D that year, while giving up a TON of yards really capitalized on creating TO's and had one of the better TO ratio's they'd had in a long, long time. Additionally, that 06 UL team was one of THE BEST teams they had and went on to the Orange Bowl that year and finished in the top 10. I don't see this years version of the Cards being that good.

    I do agree with your sentiment and we have to see if the old adage is true that a team makes it best/most improvement between the 1st and 2nd games. In particular, UK needs to show DRAMATIC improvement on the defensive side of the ball if there is a chance to be competitive (MOTO observation of the day). Nobody likes to lose but their are ways you can lose that provide folks with a sense of optimism that things may be all right given time. The manhandling by UL of UK's defense certainly didn't provide that sense of optimism for most. These next two weeks are CRUCIAL for the remainder of the year and UK can't come out and perform against WKU/KSt the way they did against the Toppers and WMich last year.

    Hindsight is a funny thing. It was also a team that got shellacked 49-0 by LSU, 7-26 to UF, barely beat Central Michigan at home and won by a field goal at Miss St to turn everything around and go on a run.

    They went 6-1 at home and 1-4 on the road. That's what got them into a bowl game.

    We've got 7 home games this season and I don't see any world beaters. I see good teams and maybe 1 or 2 with the potential to be great teams but no Bama's or LSU's.

    This post was edited by MoC on 9/4/2012 at 9:13 AM

    MoC

  • MoC said...

    Hindsight is a funny thing. It was also a team that got shellacked 49-0 by LSU, 7-26 to UF, barely beat Central Michigan at home and won by a field goal at Miss St to turn everything around and go on a run.

    They went 6-1 at home and 1-4 on the road. That's what got them into a bowl game.

    We've got 7 home games this season and I don't see any world beaters. I see good teams and maybe 1 or 2 with the potential to be great teams but no Bama's or LSU's.

    We have 7 homes games every year.

    tWhit

  • MoC said...

    Hindsight is a funny thing. It was also a team that got shellacked 49-0 by LSU, 7-26 to UF, barely beat Central Michigan at home and won by a field goal at Miss St to turn everything around and go on a run.

    They went 6-1 at home and 1-4 on the road. That's what got them into a bowl game.

    We've got 7 home games this season and I don't see any world beaters. I see good teams and maybe 1 or 2 with the potential to be great teams but no Bama's or LSU's.

    Good post. I was wrong about the score against louisville. It was 59-28...

    hoptownukfan

  • tWhit said...

    We have 7 homes games every year.

    And how many of those years have we gone 6-1 at home?

    MoC

  • MoC said...

    And how many of those years have we gone 6-1 at home?

    The great things is that we have Miss. State and Vandy at home this year. I firmly believe that USCJR, based on what I saw them do vs. Vandy is beatable. UGA, based on what we did down there last year may also be beatable. In short, we'll know more after the next two weeks, but if UF, USCjr, Arky, and UGA don't pick it up and we see some improvement in our defense we could have a decent season. Going back and looking at the game vs. Louisville a few things are apperant to me.

    A. Teddy Bridgewater wasn't just good, he was very very good. He hit all of his receivers in stride. The throw down the sideline on the first series was a GREAT Throw. We won't play another qb that "on fire" all year. Aaron murray, maybe.
    B. Our issues on defense were partly "physical" but mostly "allignment and assignment". It was amazing how "lost" our guys were adjusting to the motion that UofL used. We had guys pointing, trying to get others alligned properly etc... Our d'line would shift, then shift back no knowing if they should shfit with the motion. In short, our heads were swimming.

    We'll see what happens. But getting lined up can be corrected. Let's hope this happens.

    hoptownukfan

  • stlwildcat said...

    We'll see how many teams do have an answer for him this season. Kid is the real deal, unfortunatey plays for the wrong team.

    biggrin

    signature image signature image signature image

    diehardcard ●

  • They also play a joke schedule.

    hoptownukfan

  • MoC said...

    And how many of those years have we gone 6-1 at home?

    Just letting you know in case you didn't.

    tWhit

  • tWhit said...

    Just letting you know in case you didn't.

    It wasn't my intention. Perhaps I should have been clearer but I liked how I typed it.

    MoC

  • I think OP is right. Six is doable. But, Joker lost my support with the pre-halftime strategy. Let L'ville run clock and leave 3 TO's on the board. I've tried to defend him, but I'm finished defending him. I'll cheer on the team and players and hope for the best.

    I was pleased with the Offense and think Defensive mistakes are somewhat fixable. I also think our talent level is competitive with what I saw (except LB Brause, Simpson I'm still on the fence). But six wins with Jokers game management I don't think will happen, and 4 is most likely.

    dailyminefield

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