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The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

  • http://kentucky.247sports.com/Article/The-Good-The-Bad-The-Ugly-43499

    This edition of “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly” covers Saturday’s 54-3 beatdown at the hands of the South Carolina Gamecocks from top to the deep, deep bottom.

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    E-mail: JDRUM@247SPORTS.COM Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JDrumUK

    Jeff Drummond

  • So how bad is the 120th ranked offense? I can't even imagine.

    BigTyrone

  • It's Kent St. I believe they're averaging about 180 yards per game. If UK's offensive ineptitude continues, this will be the worst in school history. But, with less than stellar D's coming to town, things have to get better. Right?

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    "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." ~ Emerson

    alphacat93

  • Good point about SC's defense. Ellis Johnson is one of the best defensive coordinators in this league and has been for quite some time. His defenses will throw a few clunkers every now and then, but he'll give his team a chance to win most of the time.

    Heck, his coaching got one of the worst coaches in SEC history (Sly Croom) to a bowl game. That's how good he is.

    olblue

  • One good from the day I took was the play of Mike Douglas. He played well getting two sacks.

    That's the only other positive I could find. An awful awful day

    Naterunstheworld.blogspot.com facebook.com/NateRunsTheWorld Twitter - @NTHrunstheworld

    catsfan19

  • Tydlachka had a good day.

    ukfit

  • You can't really lay much of this @ the Defense's feet. Joker kept the starters in the whole game, and the O didn't help out a damned bit.

    Just saw the stat about Points scored last year vs. this year and thought there should be an *.

    Edge

    Edgehollow2

  • I am far from a football expert, but it seems we might need a better way to judge the D. Yard per game, points etc. just does not seem fair given the amount of time they are on the field. Honestly it is criminal to subject them to normal statistical rankings :-)

    I like what I have seen from the D this year, with the exception of the DB's never turning for the ball.

    Thanks for another good write up as always JD.

    WLGenerals54048

  • What about Christian Coleman and Douglas, those guys are young and they are going to be really good. Also, the hit that Travathan put on Shaw that prompted his removal. They can run that blitz every down as far as I am concerned.

    Catfan_cook

  • catsfan19 said...

    One good from the day I took was the play of Mike Douglas. He played well getting two sacks.

    That's the only other positive I could find. An awful awful day

    I'm glad you mentioned that. I had intended to include him.

    I like this kid's future.

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    E-mail: JDRUM@247SPORTS.COM Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JDrumUK

    Jeff Drummond

  • Edgehollow2 said...

    You can't really lay much of this @ the Defense's feet.

    That wasn't really the intent. I thought they played hard for the most part and did some nice things for about 2 1/2 quarters, given the offense was putting them on the field every four downs.

    But there's no way to sugarcoat 639 yards.

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    E-mail: JDRUM@247SPORTS.COM Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JDrumUK

    Jeff Drummond

  • I believe that points per possession provides a better basis for comparison, team to team, year to year. In the case of UK's defensive efficiency in 2010 and through 6 games of 2011, adjusted for schedule strength, here are the values:

    2010, full season: 2.128 points per possession
    2011, 6 games: 1.801 points per possession

    Therefore, in my opinion, this defense has improved over last season's defense. However, last year's defensive efficiency was very poor, and only Ole Miss posted a worse defensive efficiency for the season at 2.132 ppp.

    However, the offensive efficiency comparison is very disappointing. Last year's offense was very efficiency, 3.129 points per possession. That offensive efficiency is among the best in college football in most years. Last year, only Alabama (4.067 ppp), Auburn (4.566 ppp), and Arkansas (3.593 ppp) posted significantly higher offensive efficiencies than UK.

    This year's offensive efficiency has dropped to only 1.140 ppp, which is dead last in the SEC and lower than all four of UK's 2011 non-conference opponents.

    These numbers quantify what we have all been seeing, and do so better than total points, total yards, or points per game.

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    http://bigbluefans4uk.com

    TheProfessor

  • TheProfessor said...

    I believe that points per possession provides a better basis for comparison, team to team, year to year. In the case of UK's defensive efficiency in 2010 and through 6 games of 2011, adjusted for schedule strength, here are the values:

    2010, full season: 2.128 points per possession 2011, 6 games: 1.801 points per possession

    Therefore, in my opinion, this defense has improved over last season's defense. However, last year's defensive efficiency was very poor, and only Ole Miss posted a worse defensive efficiency for the season at 2.132 ppp.

    However, the offensive efficiency comparison is very disappointing. Last year's offense was very efficiency, 3.129 points per possession. That offensive efficiency is among the best in college football in most years. Last year, only Alabama (4.067 ppp), Auburn (4.566 ppp), and Arkansas (3.593 ppp) posted significantly higher offensive efficiencies than UK.

    This year's offensive efficiency has dropped to only 1.140 ppp, which is dead last in the SEC and lower than all four of UK's 2011 non-conference opponents.

    These numbers quantify what we have all been seeing, and do so better than total points, total yards, or points per game.

    I think that is a useful analytical device.

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    rompcat

  • Geez 119 out of 120. We will be fortunate to win another game. I didn't want to lose it with this team, but I just don't see them turning anything around in two weeks. I expect to see more of the same.

    Edit: Typo.

    This post was edited by Nate87 on 10/9/2011 at 9:41 PM

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    Nate87

  • Nate87 said...

    Geez 199 out of 120. We will be fortunate to win another game. I didn't want to lose it with this team, but I just don't see them turning anything around in two weeks. I expect to see more of the same.

    It sure feels like 199 out of 120!

    BigTyrone

  • BigTyrone said...

    It sure feels like 199 out of 120!

    Oops. Slight typo there. It sure is the most futile offense I vividly remember at UK.

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    Nate87

  • clap for JDrum guys.

    He deserves a pay raise for having to go over these last 3 games with a fine-toothed comb and glean anything 'Good' out of them.

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    Chris Fisher

  • I know that the trick plays didn't work but I have to commend them for trying them as I've been Sanders biggest critic. I think he needs to go and has failed to motivate and use the teams strengths whatever that may be.

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    Stoopified!

    cobbycobb

  • cobbycobb said...

    I know that the trick plays didn't work but I have to commend them for trying them as I've been Sanders biggest critic. I think he needs to go and has failed to motivate and use the teams strengths whatever that may be.

    I agree. At least Sanders started mixing it up a little.

    BigTyrone

  • Douglas was definitely a bright spot in my opinion.

    I thought a good was letting Newton sit and at least trying with M. Smith. I know he went 2-2 out of the gate with two interceptions, but at least they tried. What else can you ask for there?

    Further, he comes out in first possession first pass, throws an interception and they allow him to take another stab at it.

    I liked the call to sit M. Newton and give Smith a chance. Glad the staff had it in them to go through with it.

    Also liked the first two runs by Clemons. I think that was the first time, in a long time, that I have clapped hard and yelled with excitement for the CATS. Of course, as soon as we had to settle for the FG I knew that the hope that had just been kindled was gone. But, for a moment, it was fun.

    offline

  • Jeff Drummond said...

    That wasn't really the intent. I thought they played hard for the most part and did some nice things for about 2 1/2 quarters, given the offense was putting them on the field every four downs.

    But there's no way to sugarcoat 639 yards.

    I think the D has played well the last two weeks, but they wear down and break in the 3rd quarter. Without the offense helping by sustaining drives and scoring points, it will continue to be the script each week. They've been on the field far too long this season. And, some of it is their fault as well. They continue to struggle with 3rd and long situations. They must make more stops in those situations. They're also giving up more big plays as the season progresses. Over the next two weeks, they need to address both issues as well as the secondary's lack of coverage skills. The next four opponents do not possess potent offensive attacks or the level of talent we've seen the last three weeks. UK's D should do quite well against all of them. Now, if only the O can help them out.

    This post was edited by alphacat93 on 10/10/2011 at 9:12 AM

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    "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." ~ Emerson

    alphacat93

  • Alpha, very fair take. We all know that defenses wear down and their enthusiasm has to fade when the offense is an epic failure. I hate this season for the seniors on defense. We have 3 pretty good linebackers who have to be disappointed. The only good point is that their tackle numbers are good since they get 90 snaps a game.

    zcats

  • alphacat93 said...

    I think the D has played well the last two weeks, but they wear down and break in the 3rd quarter. Without the offense helping by sustaining drives and scoring points, it will continue to be the script each week. They've been on the field far too long this season. And, some of it is their fault as well. They continue to struggle with 3rd and long situations. They must make more stops in those situations. They're also giving up more big plays as the season progresses. Over the next two weeks, they need to address both issues as well as the secondary's lack of coverage skills. The next four opponents do not possess potent offensive attacks or the level of talent we've seen the last three weeks. UK's D should do quite well against all of them. Now, if only the O can help them out.

    How come offenses never get tired? cool

    Ever wonder about that? The thought of defenses wearing down came from the old days when teams would get up on you and pound you with a power running game. South Carolina barely tried to run the ball. They were 4-wide most of the day.

    That being said, 91 plays is ridiculous. I don't think I can ever recall a UK defense being on the field so much. For a while there, it was like every four snaps.

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    E-mail: JDRUM@247SPORTS.COM Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JDrumUK

    Jeff Drummond

  • The thought is that defense requires more effort since the offense knows where they are going and on the lines the OL is in a sort of controlled retreat on pass plays whereas the DL is trying to read what is going on and fight through what the offense is running. Knowing the snap is also an advantage.

    zcats

  • zcats said...

    The thought is that defense requires more effort since the offense knows where they are going and on the lines the OL is in a sort of controlled retreat on pass plays whereas the DL is trying to read what is going on and fight through what the offense is running. Knowing the snap is also an advantage.

    Think it's all overblown, unless, like I said, a huge, physical OL is caving you in play after play.

    I would argue UK didn't get tired Saturday. It got demoralized.

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    E-mail: JDRUM@247SPORTS.COM Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JDrumUK

    Jeff Drummond

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