Some more thoughts on Florida

–1st of all, yes, UK can beat Florida. Yes, they really, really can. It will require a near perfect game, but, as Florida has shown through three games this season, they too make mistakes. It’s just that they haven’t played anyone capable of capitalizing on them.

–UK will be the best offense the Gators have faced, all year. UK’s offense is actually miles above UT’s and Hartline looks like a God compared to Crompton. UK has better wide outs, better tight ends, better backs (across the board. Hardesty is better individually) On defense, our Linebackers are about even, and we doo have a good secondary.

–Don’t be deceived by the secondary play against UL. It really wasn’t as bad as the numbers make it look. What killed the secondary was lack of pressure up front. Steve Brown refused to blitz (you could even hear the commentary make apologies for his lack of blitzing by describing it like “Steve Brown doesn’t like to blitz for nothing…” That’s player/coach speak for, “Steve Brown doesn’t use the blitz enough”), and the front four are just not good enough to generate pressure play in and play out without it. As a result, Burke was rarely pressured and was sacked a total number of times equal to exactly double the number of sacks we generated versus Miami. Umm… Gee Steve. Speaking of which…. we uh… we didn’t get any sacks against Miami. So,… that sort of means that… two times zero, equals… Zero.

–So, I’m going on record right now. I’m calling the entire season’s success is on Steve Brown and his chickenshilt play calling. Either blitz, or be the .500 team that some here expect. You either get a plan to make plays behind the enemey’s LOS or you will lose and lose in MISERABLE FASHION in the next two games.

Anwho, some things I noticed from Florida through two games. 1st of all, you are wasting your time running anything less than 9 in the box. Tim Tebow is a very vanilla passer and his wide outs are not play makers. Florida is a rushing team. Period.

Also, this is an interesting thing I noticed about their play calling. Florida uses the wildcat to extremely good effect because they are using standard defensive fundamentals against you. You see, if you watched the Florida game, you didn’t see a lot of pancake blocks. Instead, what Florida does is have their lineman engage you in a standing rush that is more like a pass block than a run block. Yes, they are moving forward, but their primary goal is to not to block the defender. Their primary goal is to keep both themselves AND the defender upright so that the defender’s body becomes an extra obstacle for the linebacker.

This is genius because, fundamentally, Florida is NOT consistently pulling lineman to make holes. So, the linebackers are not seeing the usual run seams that they might attack on the read when a guard or tackle pulls. Instead, the linebackers are watching the exchange in the backfield and are ‘scraping’ laterally to get into the play. Which means…. The linebackers are being shielded by their own players, and so are only able to hit a guy like Tebow or back AFTER they cross the line of scrimmage. As a result, your safeties end up making a lot of tackles.

–Believe it or not, I’ve actually seen this before as a player. Yes, it’s a refection on the athleticism of the team that can do it, because it tells you that their lineman have great feet as well as size.
–BUT, there is a defense against this and it’s very effective, though highly unorthodox. I almost fell out when our coaches taught this one, because it was so out of it.
–You run a 5-3, with a strong safety coming up before the snap to mix up blocking assignments. On the snap, if your line perceives the run rush…..

You ready?

…tackle the lineman. Cut him. Hit his legs and take him out. Roll into their feet and let/make them fall over you. Typically this will apply to your mid three on the front line. You would be amazed to see what an impact this has on visibility for the backers. There’s no wall for the backs. No seams with bodies to shield you from up field attack by the linebackers. Yes, they would frequently get three yards, but that was anathema to the team we played. They wanted big bursts with lineman and tight ends running up field and providing cutback blocks for backs in the secondary. As result, the opposing coach (Just as Meyer did against UT) got frustrated and tried to pass (his weakness) to shock our coaches into fearing the deep threat and recovering our safeties. We didn’t buy it. He threw incompletion’s. Tebow threw a pick.

–This was probably a lot easier in high school than it would be in college, because you’ve had so many more seasons of ingrained fundamentals and technique. D lineman aren’t trained to tackle o lineman. They’re trained to hit the seam, get off blocks.

–If UK can train it’s inside three to just cut when they feel the rush, they can do damage to this Florida offense. Plus, if you stop trying to use your d-line as primary tacklers, then anytime they fall back to pass they can rush, and because they’re being reactive to the offense, they are less likely to over penetrate and give up the screen.

It’s a thought. I can’t say it’d be a game long philosophy, but if Steve Brown this kind og defensive scheme on 1st down, we might all be very surprised at how effective this would be.

Thoughts on UL Game

–Digesting the game, dissecting the game. So, let’s take a look and, by all means BBR readers, chime in and give us your thoughts. Agree or disagree. Label it genius or stupidity. Doesn’t matter. One thing I’ve learned from chatting football for years is that SOMEBODY has a good point that you (I) overlooked.

–Good thing: Pass blocking was really, really, really, good. Only a few pressures. Even on the 3rd down scramble, Hartline had time to look downfield and make reads before seeing the obvious seam.

–Bad thing: Where was Matthews? It appeared to me he didn’t get enough throws and you could see his body language late in the game that suggested he wasn’t into it. Chicken or the egg?

–Good thing: UK ran the ball well between the tackles. Got some good gash runs. During the first half we ran it and made them suffer.

–Bad thing: We stopped running good plays in the second half. Connor touched the ball for one carry in the second half. Joker’s philosophy kicks in and we start trying to pass through the downs. **Later on, UK runs three straight times and powers the ball into the end zone. It’s hard to argue how many times I’ve argued this philosophy. Funny how I spend time being right and Joker wrong.

–Good thing: We threw to the tight end. (one of my long time components of winning football) It was in the first half…. The half we were winning and pulling away in.

–Bad thing: We threw to the tight end once and once only with a little over seven minutes left in the game. (admittedly, we didn’t have the ball much) but, might we have had the ball if we didn’t run that ridiculous option? (Which should, for the next two years of Mike Hartline’s career, NEVER, EVER, be called with him as the option QB)

–Making the point: 1st drive: RUNNING BACKS… run seven times, QB throws three times, we end up with a field goal and use 5:25 off the clock.
2nd drive: Running backs rush three times, QB throws 4 times, we punt and use 3:07 off the clock.
3rd drive: Running backs rush 5 times, QB throws 5 times, Touchdown UK. 5:36 off the clock. (starting to see a pattern here?)
4th drive: Almost all passes, but has to be. It was two minute drill. Botched play calling at the end.
5th drive: Cobb rush for six yds, QB throws pick. 52 seconds of possession.
6th drive: Running back rushes for 3 yds. HARTLINE, HARTLINE for an option, QB fumble. 33 seconds of ball possession.
7th drive: Running backs run 6 times, 1 QB scramble, QB throws four times. Ky TD. 5:21 time off the clock.
8th drive (possession, really): Running backs run twice, QB throws four times, UK punt. (UL fumble)
9th drive: Running backs rush 2 times, QB throws 1 time, Ky TD!!
Last possession running the ball, scramble to use clock.

CAPPING the point: In all of the offensive scoring drives, 4 of them, UK ran the ball, consecutively, in EACH OF THE SCORING DRIVES. In each of the scoring drives (again 4) UK only scored **1** time when the series contained three consecutive passes. UK scoring drives consistently included as many or MORE running plays than passing plays. *discounting the Hartline fumble, because that was just the worst call, and a huge misuse of personnel. Though Hartline should have held on to the ball.

Good thing: Finally saw Micah running up field to tackle.

Bad thing: He was the only one, and can’t seem to tackle without a face mask penalty.

Good thing: Hartline was fairly efficient throwing the ball.

Bad thing: Despite all the talk of receiver and QB improvement, we never stretched the field. Did you really go and get Matthews to throw to him not even one time over 15 yards. And THAT includes YAC. Most of the throws were from 5 to seven yards and then he got what he got. Never saw him use his size one time.

PS: Joker and Randy: Please stop calling plays that are passes behind the line of scrimmage. You’ve never been that good at setting them up, and all too many of them end up busted or with minimal gain. If you want to keep the linebackers and safeties honest, use the Tight end, or throw crossing routes, or hooks with slot receivers.

UK 31 – UL 27

A team is never as good as it looks or as bad as it looks.  This is a quote from a very wise coach.  What is the coach’s name?  Rich Brooks; and I think it applies in a major way to both UK and UL.  UK, in the UL matchup, looked exactly like UL did in their opener.  The very first play from scrimmage was a very good sign of things to come.  UL’s Anderson takes the ball to the right, and the entire UK team follows him.  The only UK defenders that maintained their assignments were the ones that were suppose to be on the left side of  the D.  Anderson cuts back with all the room in the world.  UK did a must better job of staying in assignments two weeks before.  And so began a long list of missed assignments, horrid penalties, bloops and blunders.  UK’s two most thought of defenders were the leaders of pack.  Johnson, on several occasions, over pursues, face masked twice and generally contributed to at least 100 positive yards for the Cards all by himself with 30 of them coming on penalties.  Lindley was beat several times and should thank Burke for either not seeing a few of them or for missing his target.  Even still, he looked average at best.  The major problem is with the pass rush.  UK just does not have one yet.  There are signs that Evans can become the man but he’ll need to turn it up a few more notches and get lots of help.  UL picked up several blitz attempts and made UK pay so I don’t think that is the answer.  Johnson is a little better in pass coverage this year but he will never be the all round option that Woodyard was/is.  Because of this, UK must be very careful with its blitzing.  The answer is to simply up the play across the D line and even then it would be adequate at best.

 

It was quite obvious that the only team that could stop UK’s offense was in blue.  I must give UL credit for creating the turnovers.  That is the exact same thing UK USED to have to do when they were woefully outmanned by an offense.  A quick note to the UK defense would be to watch the UL game eight or nine times to bone up on what they should to do the next few weeks.  Hartline is doing what people wanted him to do last year, and that is to take a few more changes.  He is putting the ball in tighter coverage and will have some interceptions in doing so.  Because of that, I can’t fault him for the interception.  People say he stared down the receiver, but he went to his first read, it was actually a great throw, and the defender outplayed the receiver.  So when you really think about it, his receiver let him down and he was a little more cautions the next series, which is something no one should want.  The fumble was an entirely different story.  All in all, he was about what I thought he was compared to last year.  He’s a little stronger, a little quicker, a little more accurate and a little wiser.  And he need much more help than he got yesterday.

 

But there is a silver lining and a BUNCH of good stuff to take from this game.  UK’s offensive line dominated the game.  UL was not able to even touch Hartline unless he ran.  They created the seams needed to run anywhere the play was called and had zero holds that I remember.  The only one called was on Cobb and that was a block in the back where the guy turned around in front of him (which isn’t supposed to be called).  Locke did whatever he wanted, Cobb is Cobb and Conner will be a weapon.  But the part is the silver lining:  UL probably wanted it more but UK is the team that actually did what it took to win the game.  With all the mistakes, they still managed to make the right plays at the right time which is a drastic change from the years of finding a way to lose.  A team will not always play its best ball.  A winner finds a way to win even when things are not going as planned and UK did just that.  UL, for all of the hustle, pride, guts and sweat, came away empty.  Their fans may feel a little better about their team, but at this point they are the team that is finding a way to lose.  The legacy of this UK team will not be defined in its first game or the UL game but both should serve as valuable learning experiences and there are probably more positives to learn from the UL game than the opener.

PRP Coach Stinson has been found Not Guilty

Former PRP high school football coach David Jason Stinson
was found not guilty Thursday in the death of a player who collapsed at a practice where the team was put through a series of sprints on a hot summer day.

Coach David Jason Stinson, 37, was charged after 15-year-old Max Gilpin collapsed at an August 2008 practice as the team ran a series of sprints known as “gassers.” He died three days later at a Louisville hospital of heat stroke, sepsis and multiple organ failure. His temperature reached at least 107 degrees.

Although there were other factors involved what no one has really talked about on the national scene much is that Gilpin was taking the attention deficit disorder drug Adderall an
amphetamine.

Heres just a few of the effects of amphetamines on people. They all interact bad even excessive sweating with heat and physical exercise.

# increased heart rate
# increased breathing rate
# irregular heartbeat
# increased urine output
# increased temperature
# fainting
# sweating
# fever
# convulsions

The state should be talking about banning players who are taking ADD drugs like he was from playing sports unless the coaches, parents and the state can come to an agreement about what can happen and ways to keep it from happening again.

Its sad a young man had to die to bring this to the publics eye but as it stands now its to much like playing Russian roulette with young mens lives.

High Class Pooch In The Hood

Tulane and LSU have mutually agreed to end their football series after this season, Tulane University director of athletics Rick Dickson announced Tuesday.

The teams will play the fourth of what was to be a 10-game series on Oct. 31 at Tiger Stadium. The teams also agreed to play one final game in New Orleans on a future, undetermined date.

The Tulane-LSU series dates back to 1893, the first year of varsity football for both schools. LSU leads the series 68-22-7 and Tulane hasn’t defeated the Tigers since 1982. Tulane has suffered 17 consecutive losses since that time.

Another long time series is going to vanish. And why you wonder because LSU has finally become the high class pooch of the neighborhood.

Myles Brand Dies

NCAA president Myles Brand died Wednesday after a nine-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

He became the first university president to run college sports’ largest governing body, and worked to change the perception that wins supersede academics in college athletics.

Love him for his interest in educating student athletes or hate him for his inability to see that the NCAA handed down sanctions in a timely and even handed manner he will be missed by many but not all.

While doing a search on Brands career I came across this. Heres a view on Brand thats not to positive but considering what its about and who its coming from he probably didn’t worry about it to much.

http://www.misconduct.org/4.htm

http://www.misconduct.org/4a.htm

Now that I got that out of the way its time to get the pooper-scooper out and and say it sounds to me that its nothing but doggie doodoo and seeing as how many times peoples religion were mentioned its religious bigotry at its internet best.

Funny isn’t it that its so easy to slander a decent man like Brand or use a firebrand like Knight as an example to do it.

A SEASON ON THE BRINK FROM INSIDE THE HUDDLE PART 5

Auburn upcoming

Well folks this auburn team is a powerhouse, a perfect example of power football at it’s best. With 2 great tackles, a great full back and a great kicker. Throw in 2 very good ends, 2 very good guards and a very good blocking center. Their other backs and receivers are good blockers who occasionally catch short passes and carry the ball about 1/3 of the time. Their quarterback is very good handling the football and is accurate on short passes, seldom throws deep unless to James. Seldom intercepted and takes care of the ball.

But this team’s game is running the fullback between the ends and make you stop it defense.

Auburn with those 2 all American tackles is tough to run on inside, their ends are hard to get outside of, their linebackers close well and try to crowd the line and their corners support the run well. In short this team will be hard to run on

This will be a great exhibition of power football against against a well balanced offense like we ran against ole Miss. Auburn has more power than ole Miss but not as much overall speed.

It will take an effort like we had against ole miss to come out on top in this one.

Game Rules

#1–take care of the ball don’t short field our defense.

#2–execute–execute–execute

#3–no penalty’s

It is my opinion that this will be a low scoring game played in the heat of the afternoon with a late field goal being involved in the outcome. Whether that field goal is successful or not will decide the winner.

We need this game bad. It will be a test of endurance and hopefully our tackles play well and offset auburn’s 2 big horses.

The wrap Auburn game

The Auburn game was 2 well matched teams offensively but with totally different offenses on a hot afternoon in Birmingham. Auburn ran inside mostly because they could since their line was a great blocking line, anchored by 2 great tackles, with a great fullback to run behind that great line–they lacked a lot of speed at their receivers so they were not deep threats except for James a burner.

Kentucky had to run a more rounded offense because of those 2 big Auburn tackles which pretty much sealed things up inside. Sure we ran inside some, we didn’t gain a lot of yardage there but we had to keep them honest inside. We also threw a lot on first and second down. Ran some on third down just to keep auburn’s defense off balance.

Both teams played great football on both offense and defense with Auburn scoring late in the first quarter and Kentucky in the middle of the second quarter. 7-7 at halftime.

Auburn scored late in the third quarter and Kentucky scored early in the fourth quarter with both teams driving a long way to score.

Late in the game auburn drove down just short of Kentucky’s 20 yd line. Kentucky called time out and got a blow, talked things over. We put a rush on auburn’s qb and fb and got a couple of stops. Auburn then completed a short pass well short of first down and attempted a 38 yd field goal which was wide. Kentucky got the ball but time ran out before we could score.

14-14 tie. 2 very good teams.

Mississippi St. is coming to town next week end. This team has won their last 3 games after losing their opener to Florida. This is a dangerous team, especially offensively. They have a sprint out quarterback that throws on the run or pitches out to speedy backs that can get outside. Their quarterback also keeps the ball and runs with it very well, but he is most dangerous throwing the ball down field. Totally different from Auburn

Our defense will be tested our offense should be able to move the ball on this team.

Our game plan is to play run pass defense and execute–execute–execute and of course take care of the ball.

BBR’s Week 2 Top 25

Couple of good games this weekend mixed the top 25 up a little with the Pac10 and the MAC doing most of the mixing. The MAC and the WAC came real close to pulling upsets over the Big 10 and the Pac 10. The biggest losers this week Notre Dame and the Big 10.

Being off Kentucky didn’t pick up any votes in the AP which doesn’t mean anything since the AP has never matched what fans manage to see every weekend with what writers don’t watch.

In the Coaches poll Kentucky got 9 votes which would rank us 6th in the SEC and 38th in the nation.

1 Florida 2-0
2 Texas 2-0
3 USC 2-0
4 Alabama 2-0
5 Brigham Young 2-0
6 Penn State 2-0
7 Mississippi 1-0
8 California 2-0
9 Boise State 2-0
10 Ohio State 1-1
11 LSU 2-0
12 Oklahoma 1-1
13 Virginia Tech 1-1
14 Cincinnati 2-0
15 TCU 1-0
16 Miami (FL) 1-0
17 Georgia Tech 2-0
18 Utah 2-0 405
19 Nebraska 2-0
20 Oklahoma State 1-1
21 Houston 2-0
22 Kansas 2-0
23 Georgia 1-1
24 Notre Dame 1-1
25 Michigan 2-0

Bring out the Lions and Let the Crucifiction begin

The latest is that Kentucky has reported a secondary violation according to Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News.

In early July, Bilal Batley visited the UK practice gym to speak with a player regarding an academic matter, the source said. While there, he was seen gathering rebounds for one of the players. The university determined it should be turned into the NCAA as a secondary violation.

We could talk about Tubby doing the same thing but we all know that Main Stream Media is more interested in crucifying Coach for the ratings than in mentioning that.

So come on Pat Forde you got a article to get out in a hurry.

BBR’s Week 1 Top 25

In an attempt to give you a unbiased by the media blue view of how good teams are we proudly give you our week 1 top 25 rankings.

Our rankings in no way suggest that some of these teams deserve to be ranked #1 or in the top 25 since at least one of them won against a Charleston Pastry team and others against programs desperate for money and short on top 150 talent.

BBR’s hats go off to Alabama, California, Miami (Fl), Boise St, BYU and Cincinnati for winning against quality opponents. A special hat tip to the WAC and the MWC for electing to play top tier teams and to William & Mary and Richmond for wins over ACC teams.

1 Florida 1-0
2 Texas 1-0
3 USC 1-0
4 California 1-0
5 Oklahoma State 1-0
6 Alabama 1-0
7 Penn State 1-0
8 Mississippi 1-0
9 Brigham Young 1-0
10 Ohio State 1-0
11 LSU 1-0
12 Boise State 1-0
13 Georgia Tech 1-0
14 Virginia Tech 0-1
15 Oklahoma 0-1
16 TCU 0-0
17 Utah 1-0
18 Miami (FL) 1-0
19 Cincinnati 1-0
20 Notre Dame 1-0
21 Nebraska 1-0
22 Georgia 0-1
23 North Carolina 1-0
24 Kansas 1-0
25 Missouri 1-0

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