I’m behind Joker, and here’s why

Yes, God himself knows I’ve gone a mile out of my way to discuss my distaste with Joker’s playcalling, but all that is over. I’ve said before, and I’ll say again, I truly think that Joker will have better success as a head coach, than he did as a playcaller. He’s a tremendous recruiter, and he has a team building personality.

Allow me to entertain you with a bit deeper analysis of my predictions, and I’ll use some examples to show you what I mean. BTW I’m going to use layman’s terms, but some of you may know exactly what I’m talking about and may know what ideology I’m referring to. If so, no problem. But, I think it’s time I did a little bit of explaining as to WHY I’m so adamant in my evaluations. Plus, it might convince you that I’m not just pulling my opinions directly from my behind without a slight bit of filtering…

If there’s one thing that my considerable training on human traits and leadership has taught me, it’s that everyone has strengths. And, when those strengths are matched to the job right, it can be dynamic. and when they aren’t, it can be disastrous. To use one particular idea, there are four basic personality types. Some are thinkers, some are doers, some are collaborators, etc. you get the idea. Well, I’ve been thoroughly tested, and I am a doer. I’m a guy who specializes in crisis management, and immediate decision-making. *I* am better at evaluating plays and playcalling than Joker. That’s right. I said it. I DO know football, maybe not as much as some, but I know the game like it was my wife. I can look at a defense, and tell you what a good play might be in seconds. I can also tell you what a bad play might be at the same time. I say might, because sometimes, even the wrong play can be made good with good playmakers.
Now, I can do that and do it well. What I do NOT do well, is interpersonal management. I’m not someone who has the inspirational personality. I come off as direct, and abrasive, even when I don’t mean to. IT’s the way I’m wired. But, in a crisis, people are glad I’m around because I can make immediate decisions to manage the problem. But, this isn’t about me, it’s about Joker…

Joker IS NOT like me. Joker is not a crisis manager, and that’s what makes him a generally poor playcaller. He is however, a good leader. He can get the most out of people because he can manage them and their feelings. He comes across as a family member, not a boss. And that’s why I think he’ll make a good head coach.

Now, let me give you an example that should clarify why I believe you need doers as coordinators, and leaders as HCs. Florida State. Think about Florida State. Imagine Bobby on the sideline, or after the game. Remember the way he was? A salesman. The guy could sit down with anybody and make them comfortable. Make them believe him. You agree?

Now, think behind Bobby. Think Mickey Andrews. What did he look like during a game? Chewing the gum rapidly. Barking out orders. Never still always moving. He’s a kinesthetic doer. Are you starting to see what I’m getting at? They were perfect for each other and the team. It was the perfect fit.
Now, this is not to say that a doer can’t make a good coach (Urban Meyer) or that they WILL make a good coach (Charlie Weiss), but the best programs tend to have AT LEAST doers as head men or coordinators (Saban), or they have a leadership guy (Brooks) in charge that gets everyone to work well together.

BUT when teams inevitably go wrong is when they DON’T have a doer as a coordinator/playcaller. This has been the Achilles heel of UK for years now. Both Phillips and Brown are not critical thinkers. They are not crisis managers. They have milder personalities and are more interpersonal oriented. This leads to conservative decisions and playcalling. It just does.
UK needs to have DOERS as it’s coordinators. On both offense and defense, you have to have guys who think quickly, can adjust on the fly, and will gamble as often as they can, as opposed to as little as they can. Not that you need to onside kick it at the Swamp after you just scored, but things like CORNER BLITZES. 1st down hitch and go’s for the TD. Those type of things.

Joker is a collaborating type guy. He’s a guy who can bring people together and make them like him. Which is a great thing for leadership, but not for playcalling. In playcalling, you need guys who flourish under pressure. Like pit bulls and pain, they just wag their tail faster when the pressure increases. That’s what UK needs.
Sanders will be that guy, I think. (hope) His personality is more suited to the bang bang, and when he’s in the box making the calls, he’ll be better at making adjustments. I almost guarantee it.

Now, after that long walk in some minor psychology, back to the point. I’m behind Joker, and think he will do well. But, I can almost guarantee you that, unless he goes and gets a doer for his defense, he’s never going to get over the big hump. I still think he’ll be successful, maybe get an 8 win season here or there, but he’s never gonna challenge for the SEC, U-N-L-E-S-S…. Brown makes a dramatic change in his personality/philosophy and starts being a doer. To be frank, that’s just not likely.

Joker should be fine, and may be great. But, he’s gonna have to look past his feelings when it comes to Brown, IMNSHO, and realize that Brown is not a compliment for him. He needs a guy like Chuck Smith as Def Coordinator. Chuck is a doer. He’s a run the sidelines, screaming out stuff coach.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed it, even if you disagree.

Music City Bowl

Okay, I have managed to find myself a bit of pep. Realistic one, too. UK is very, very young. Our offense, in particular is still so young. Clemson, is pretty veteran. My assertion being that, really OUR team is the one that has the ability to make the leaps and bounds during these practice weeks. Morgan finally getting some good reps in, without having to squeeze in the practice week, in between games, with no real time to get comfortable, and get to know his receivers,.. things like that.

This whole season was really Clemson’s season to be at their best. They had the experience and depth, particularly at the skill positions on both sides of the ball, and they had their speed. They were supposed to be a 10 win team. They weren’t. And, they weren’t because they just aren’t.

UK, on the other hand, came into this season with many of us debating whether this team was even a six win team. Most of us fell between 6 and 8. Yea, lo verily, we got 7. But, we never anticipated a true freshman QB winning three conference games. Not for a minute. And our receivers are still a group of young guys who, even though we’ve played a season, still haven’t gathered that much experience. We’ve had to run the ball so much (and it was good) that none of these guys, even Cobb, posted number like they could have if we had a more experienced and confident QB.

Well, now we will. I think this pause and practce will be take alot of pressure off Morgan. I think with the time to ONLY have to watch film on one team, and having the luxury to take 5 days a week to throw all the reps he can to all his recievers, learn their timing, get to know their speed, I think UK may well emerge a different team for this bowl game.

I think Clemson will be good, but they have ONLY the lowest level of performance of our team to look back on and reflect. They really, truthful, CAN’T possibly know how to scheme for this team because there has been so little game footage of this team getting to play well as a unit. The only thing they will definitely know is that our O-line is really good, top ten good, but that really only tells you you may have send extra people, to get pressure. They are only gonna know Locke is fast, and Cobb is dynamic. Beyond that, they have no idea as to the capabilities and potential of the rest of our offense.

–I’m starting to like the idea.

Team of Destiny

Cross my fingers. Make the signs in the air. Knock on wood three times. Apologize before you hypothesize. But, am I the only one out there who gets the “team of destiny” feeling from UK?

I mean, I know Kansas is good, but… they just aren’t capturing the heart and mind. Even as much as I HATE UNC, you just knew, last year, that they were on a mission and there was almost no one who was going to stop them? Ya know? I get the same feeling here. Not for the same reasons, of course. Not for having a group of seniors stick to it, and pledge to come back. But, kind of a feeling that the basketball universe WANTS to be righted again. UK is rebounding back to it’s place with an immediate gusto that will be repayment for several long years of tedious mediocrity.

Look at ESPN. Look at their top headlines. Out of all that’s happened…. “UK moves up to number 3″. That tells me that even THEY are watching and waiting. I get the sense the entire basketball world is watching UK come back to the top, and have only ranked them below the top so that the program will have somewhere to go, to create the story. To create HIstory.

I’m not saying they won’t lose… I’m saying it feels like they may not. And, I can be one of the biggest doubters in the world. But, I don’t think this team will lose big games. I don’t think they will fail to be up for them. The only games I’m worried about are trap games like Vandy, or USC. I would be willing to wager heavily, today, that this team (barring things I won’t mention because they don’t exist in this world) will beat Florida and Miss St. I think they will be longing to punish UT. That’s a personality game, and the players can see, will know, that they are playing for their coach’s hunger there.

I just get a weird feeling. I won’t say I even remotely think it’s probable,…but I do think it’s it’s possible. We may be looking back on an undefeated season.

Win or lose the next two, UK is now a winner

Let’s be honest about something. Something that’s been gnawing at the back of our mind for the last three years. “Was it real?” And, the answer to that question is, “yes”. UK is a winning program. The last three seasons were not flukes. The last three seasons were not just accidents of achievement.

Yes, yes. Each of us has our opinion of the staff and some of the calls that we’ve seen. We have questions about what we did or didn’t do to win. But, it hasn’t escaped me, and I hope it hasn’t escaped you, that this program, and we the fans, have quietly, gently, moved away from the “doomed loser” mindset we had for so many, many years, and into the mindset that we are competitors, capable of winning, with reason to invest hope in winning.

We are not, of course, Florida, or Alabama. We know that. But, it’s not as simple as what we are that’s important, it’s what UK is not. UK and it’s fans, are no longer the homecoming queens. We are no longer schedule fluff. And I want to tip my hat to all the coaches, and all the players here, and gone on, who have worked so hard to get us here from there.

If you recall, only a few years ago, UK was looked at in the similar fashion that we regard EKU, ULM, and the teams that UK is better than. A scrimmage you plan to win. We are no longer that team for all our opponents, with only IU and UL not expecting to win against us. We no longer are the team with that level of talent. We are a team that made Alabama work to win on their home field. We are the team that can now beat Auburn, beat Miss. St., beat Ole Miss. We are a team that is winning bowl games against other winning teams. We still have to work to do it, and we can lose to those teams, just as well. But, there can be no question that this UK program has achieved what we hoped to achieve. We are established winners.

UK has won the respect of the media in this process, as well. We no longer are a team that they immediately dismiss as being a possible ranked team. Now, we know that, if we have a good season, they don’t find it unthinkable to put a top 25 number beside our name. They may not do it as quickly as they would FSU, but they are certainly more willing to do it than they ever would have considered 6 years ago.

Win lose or draw on these last two games, this season has finally made it happen. We can believe. We can now look for upcoming players that will guide us into rankings, as opposed to hoping to develop players to achieve respectability. We are a winning team, in the best conference in football, with tons more media exposure than we had ever imagined we’d get.

It’s happened, guys, and hats off to Rich for it. We are winners. It’s not an accident. And, I’m so happy to say I got to live to see it.

Weep. Weep for the sale of Rights

A coach rants up the sidelines. They’re seething. A game official has made a call they thinks is wrong. It’s an important call. A game changer. And he/she is voicing their lack of agreement.
The official looks onto the field, stoically. Clearly hearing the rant, and knowing in their own mind whether they are certain they made the right call, or whether that’s a call they should not have made. They don’t even turn around, as the coach spews up and down behind them. Listening intently for the mistake that will take this over the long time agreed upon edge. The remark that makes this personal. The coach has until the next play or so to vent. All goes well, and the coach returns to coaching his team…. OR, the coach finally goes too far and starts talking about family heritage. Personal Technical foul time. Will they make the point and put it completely over the edge? Or will they buckle down, satisfied that they made their point?

Later, in the locker room, there is a crowd of reporters around the coach, and he again gives a tirade in defense of his team. Reporters ask about the big call, and the coach tells his side of it. The reporters scribble furiously, and the next day the teams local papers describe the robbery in detail. The other teams papers reinforce their teams dominance in victory. And the national media throws in a few cliff notes and pronounces the winner, regardless of the smaller issues in the game.

Ahh.. Those were the good old days. Freedom of speech for everyone. Freedom of press for every journalist. Like looking back at a mural of american past, the sportsworld and all it’s fanfare and the fans, much like the nation. Its government. Its voters. And the political shoptalk that colored the men and women of America in barber shops and boutiques across the land.

Welcome to the new millennium. The enlightened era. The government seeks to censure opposing views. Seeks to blackball journalists who don’t carry the party line. And to eliminate opposition of government philosophy in a manner that speaks more of Mafiosi strong-arm tactics than any belief in the conviction that the righteousness of their position will undoubtedly prevail.

Look today at the SEC. A body grown rich and powerful by it’s monopolistic enterprises. A body once a partner of the institutions that shared in glory and shame, now turned tyrannical ruler of it’s participants in a way not seen since corrupt monarchies that once marked most all the world’s nations.

Today, the SEC has issued a decree. And Let’s be frank about what the decree is. It is a statement. “We own you.” That’s the beginning and end. Not “We are partners with you.” Not, “We are joint entities.” No, the message was clear. “We have examined the breadth and depth of the state of this conference and have determined we have the might-bestowed right to injure you for your speech, TRUTH NOT WITHSTANDING.” “It matters not if we murder in the streets. It matters not that we steal, lie, or cheat. We are the government of these institutions and we have decided that no grievance we legitimately visit upon you, trumps our right to dictate your freedoms.”

Weep. Weep for more of the fall of America.

Imagine, if you can, the effect this decree would have had on Bear Bryant, Adolph Rupp, and the many, many others of legendary coaches who have walked gridiron or hardwood. Think of the fiery personalities that made them the legendary leaders. The will they exuded. The many quotes and statements they made that were scribbled or taped into infamy. Peers of the game, they were. Think of the statement that Adolph Rupp made when he rebuked the, then not so powerful, sports governments will, and flatly refused to allow his team to participate in their invitational tournament, due to punitive actions they intended to impose that he found unworthy. A statement of strength. A statement of individuality. A Declaration of Independence, if you will.

Where would you find such a will, today? Institutions have sold their rights for profit. And those profits now make them slaves incapable of asserting the rights they willfully squandered, and are now irrevocably beyond recall.

So, where does this last step leave a coach? Where does this leave a program? Where does this leave a fan base? We have no voice. The program surrendered it’s voice. And the coach has had his voice stolen at career knifepoint. Where does this leave us? What’s next for this family run by the controlling Don? He has silenced the critique of players with threats to their career, education, and lives. He has silenced the coaches in a single fell blow with the same. He has created Judas like disciples of the thirteen member institutions with the promise of empty silver.

What will he do next? It seems impossible that he could exclude journalists from media conferences, after they perhaps wrote an unfavorable piece on official conduct, game outcomes, or league maneuvering, doesn’t it? It seems impossible to think that he would reach through his puppeteer institutions and ensure that no contradictory opinion or conclusions can be uttered, doesn’t it?

Where does that leave us? The last bastion of hope. The last layer of desperation. A courtroom. Imagine it. You cannot achieve justice with written or spoken language. Perhaps the last thing we have is the presence of “evidence”. Why not? Each game is taped. Every game shown to thousands and thousands of witnesses. Are we now left to where, at the end of a season, a team like Arkansas, looks back to the bowl slot they were guaranteed barring the obvious misconduct or negligence. Might they then sue the SEC for the loss of revenues due to those issues? There will be ample video evidence. And little reason to think that justice will be achieved in the minds and hearts of men who, once upon a time, could be made to feel shame.

Then again, if you own billions of dollars of institutions, censure public figures, dictate arbitrary punishments to programs, coaches and player, you can probably buy your way into a courtroom as well.

Weep.

So Wall might not be fully eligible?

This is important. The SEC and the NCAA need to be all over this. This can’t be tolerated. Boy, I sure wish we had a clean program. I just envision a day when UK finally cleans up it’s act and starts behaving like the many other schools in other conferences with scintillating records of conduct. Like USC, for example.

Then again… USC does make the PAC 10 a lot of money… and they ARE sort of the premier West Coast program. But, that has nothing to do with it. The PAC 10 and the NCAA have thoroughly investigated the matters and I have it at the highest confidence that several people will be receive probationary imaginary hand slaps that will clear this all up so that NCAA can get it’s attention back to the really important violators, like UK and the infamous JOHN WALL!!!

There’s dirt here. We might find that he’s being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by an agent while attending USC.. err UK and that can’t be tolerated!! This is serious. He may have taken trips, had some clothing bought for him…!! The list goes on. The next thing you know he might be out shoplifting while he’s attending FSU….errr UK! And that can’t be allowed!! He might be out driving drunk and literally putting people LIVES at risk while he’s here at Michig….er UK. And that CAN’T happen!! Hell, this kind of criminal might be hanging out robbing people while he’s here at USC…errr Texas A&… I mean UK, and damn if that can stand!

There are big issues facing the sporting world of college athletics. Crime. Embezzelment. Dirty dealings. And there is no better place to look for those things than at UK! Yesssirree! I sure do look forward to the day we have a program that is run as cleanly and with the kind of clear cut classical American patriots that these other programs recruit, endorse, and employ.

Friends, countrymen, cat fans, lend me your ear

There’s been some discussion in other threads about beating top teams and season predictions. In some of these things, i’ve made it clear that i am disappointed with results. i also want to explain my look on things and what it is i am really disappointed about.

When this season started, we each and all looked down the roster and made predictions, sight unseen with no idea what Georgia was going to have or no idea if Alabama would recover an offense.

Let me emphasize the point. You went into this season and already had pre created excuses for losing to teams. Most of them based on information you could only assume.

I came into this season believing something that i was happy about. I was crowing it. i was happy to say we could win 8 games. why? Because i knew that the tired old excuses shouldn’t apply. i knew we had the talent. to beat every team? no. Yo beat any team? Yes.

We’re five games into this season, and I stand here to tell you that we’re not some vastly inferior team to Alabama. We have a better team, with better talent than South Carolina. We have a team that was not intimidated in the slightest by playing at USC. Did you notice that?

Our offensive line has handled these great national powerhouse defenses and given up…5 sacks. Despite the immensity you preemptively prescribed to our opponent’s defense…5 sacks in….5…games. But, you knew that when you looked at that schedule back in august and inked in losses didn’t you?

We ran for over 200 yards versus South Carolina. But, you knew that back in august didn’t you?

You’ve watched the same games i have. You’ve seen the teams. You’ve seen Alabama and South Carolina win games, Not because they shredded our defense, not because they blew up all our plays in the backfield, not because they could out run us, not because their players were stronger, not because their line dominated our line, not because their qb could beat our corners none of that. They won because we let them win. A few covered assignment ons kickoffs and we win one, and make the other a 1 score game.

This may be too subtle for some to grasp. We are better than South Carolina…. did you hear that? We are better than South Carolina . Try it out. We are better than South Carolina. Try it again, we are better than South Carolina. Again we are better than South Carolina. Again, we are better than South Carolina,. AGAIN We are better than South Carolina. AGAIN WE ARE BETTER THAN SOUTH CAROLINA. IN EVERY WAY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL WE ARE BETTER THAN SOUTH CAROLINA.

We were better coming into the game. We were better during the game. we were better after the game. We are better RIGHT NOW IN PRACTICE!! Say it again, because it’s true. WE ARE BETTER THAN SOUTH CAROLINA. We are better than the team everyone picked to finish behind Florida. We are better!

Don’t waste time wailing about our two corners. That’s a lie. You can sit here and come up with that and then say that if Hartline isn’t hurt, we win. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE IF THOSE CORNERS WERE SO CRITICAL? BECAUSE WE ARE BETTER THAN THEM!!

Yet I almost guarantee that when you looked at this game, you just knew we were gonna lose because they were better than us.

And that’s what disappoints me the most. Not that we lost. But that you lost this game in your heart without ever being willing to realize that we really, actually, have the better team. You had excuses before the season began about why we would lose this game, and damn near none of them could have been true. Then we lose our corners before hand and our starting QB during the game, and that just conveniently fit your need for an excuse for the loss, without you ever bothering to realize that we are the better team. Our lines are better. Our QB was better. Our linebackers were better and it TOOK those corners being out and that QB getting injured for their healthy, at home team to miracle away a win by two points against us. We out sacked them. We out blocked them. We out ran them. WE ARE BETTER THAN THEM.

That’s the disappointment. UK fans just and coaches.. accepted these losses before hand with excuses that you were practicing before the game started, and you never took the time to realize you had no right or reason to do so. We ARE the better team.

Now put away your excuses for this Auburn game. Don’t be ashamed to recognize that you have a good team and you can expect to win this game. I’ve seen Aubuurn play and I’ve seen who they played. They are not better than we are. i know it. i believe it. YOU need to know it. YOU need to know. More importantly, you really need to believe it. UK over Auburn. 31 -24.

My Thoughts on Tebow

Look, simply put, he should not have been in the game. I don’t know if any of you caught the Mike and Mike clip about it, but I agree with Golic. The game was done. It was clear UK was not going to win, even if Florida turned the ball over twice. He was sick, the game was secure. He should have been out, or Florida should have kept running it to chew clock and protect him.

-So, there is some debate as to why he was in the game. My opinion, simply put, because he’s not having a Heisman year. His numbers for the season are good, and his abilities are prolific, but he’s not having the numbers that he needs to be comparable to the other top QBs in any way other than team wins. And, while we all know that team wins are where the meat of your goals are, it’s individual stats that get reviewed when they go Heisman hunting.

Look at this: 4 games into the season Tim Tebow has thrown for 643 yard and ran for 271. He does have 11 total tds. Good numbers, but where are they in the Heisman race?

Look at Colt McCoy who, in four games, has thrown for 1145 yards and run for 63 yards and has 10 tds. That over 1200 yards of offense that he’s responsible for, compared to just over 900 for Tebow.

Let’s look at some stuff that’s comparable. How close would you think these guys would stack up?

Michigan’s Tate Forcier =671 passing yards, 127 rushing yards 4 wins, 9TDs.

Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen = 1122 yds thrown, 10 tds, 1 pick. 3-1 record.

Bama’s Greg McElroy = 938 yds, 33 rushing, 8 total tds, 1 pick, 4 -0 record

Boise St’s Kellen Moore= 932 yds, 10 tds, 1 int, 4-0

Kansas’s Todd Reesing = 1137 yds thrown, 89 rushing, 11 total tds, 2 picks 4-0

Ohio State’s Pryor =695 passing yards, 235 rushing yards, 7 tds, 4 picks, 3-1

Then take a really really good look at who these teams have played compared to Florida’s schedule.

Michigan and Notre Dame
Ohio state and USC
Boise and Oregon

It’s really not even close.

So, there is your answer to why Tebow was in the game. Because it could very fairly stated that his performance isn’t distancing himself. So, he was in the game so that Meyer could pad his passing stats. It was plain to see. Meyer could see that he was running on us like a video game, but Demps and the other back are better runners than Tebow, and were eating the field up. So, in order to make Tebow look better, Meyer starting calling passing plays. And, you’ll notice that I pointed this out during the game talk, and pointed out florida started looking bad when they committed to throwing. Or, at least, didn’t look as good.

That being said, I don’t think Tim will be back for the LSU game. There’s no way he can take that level of a concucssion, and then play the way he plays this soon. If he were a pocket passer, he might be able to get back early. Tim is a bull rusher who takes a lot of hits.

Mind you I’m no medical expert, and any who are feel free to chime in, but I just don’t see it. You just get into a whole new threat to your career and life when you start down the concussion highway. These things end pro QB careers with regularity.

Where to begin?

This will be multiple thoughts. No high horse. As few “I told you so as possible” and will surely echo some of the sentiments and thoughts that my esteemed friends here on this board have already voiced.

Let’s start with talent. At no time, and in no way, did any Kentucky fan I know of suggest that UK had more talent than Florida. I, and others, asserted that we had more talent at our wide receiver positions, and that was, and is, true. However, talent had little to do with what happened on the 26th.

Coaching: As bad as I have ever seen it. To be blunt, because it’s so fresh, I’m wont to call it the worst I’ve seen, but the truth is I’ve seen this program get humiliated so many times in the last 15 years that common sense tells me this can’t be any worse than those many others.

Joker Phillips: You are, without doubt, the worst play caller in the SEC. I’ve said it for years. The simple fact is that the shining moments in your career have come only because you had NFL quality players who could throw, catch, and run their way out of your philosophy. Sure, sure, some will say that’s obvious, but it really isn’t. You call games with three degrees of incompetence that I am going to eloquently describe, so that readers can fully understand why my label is fairly placed.

Your first level of incompetence begins with your own personnel. Regardless of the lack of ability of your own personnel, nor where the better strengths of your team lie, you want and impose a ‘throw first’ philosophy that consistently leaves your team in long yardage situations. You have had one, exactly ONE quarterback in your entire coaching experience who was good enough to make some of the toughest throws, a guy who holds the record for throws without an interception, and yet you somehow think that YOUR genius is what made that happen. That somehow, if you keep calling the plays that that ONE guy could perform, they will be performed by any other player you put in that position. As Ron White famously said, “You can’t fix stupid”. You have a weak and inexperienced Receiver corps. You have a Quarterback who has never been, and will likely never be, a game winner. You admit your tight ends aren’t as productive. Then, you have the fastest running backs that UK has ever had in it’s history. With all that, you still don’t run. You have DECADES of SEC and NCAA football statistics that clearly show that the team with the better running game wins over %70 of games, and yet you still think throw first.

Perhaps you will one day be proved to be genius in your play calling, but I somehow deeply suspect that that day will come when a player appears who is NFL caliber, and not because your philosophy or insights to the game sharpen. And, I suspect that day will fade just as quickly when the next guy, who likely will not be as gifted, takes over.

YOU should know your team better than anyone else. YOU should be able to decipher where your strengths lie. My only question now is, when you are head coach, and a new OC takes over, will you be able to tolerate the fact that he will almost certainly be a a more savvy, and intelligent coach than you are? Will you be able to let him shine to the harassment of your own tenure?

Your second level of incompetence is in knowing the fundamentals of football. You simply have displayed an indifference to the fundamentals of winning football. It does not, will not, can not, be any simpler than this: Teams that run the ball win more games than those that don’t. It’s been true for more years than all the coaching staff on the side line have been alive, combined. It can only be willful spite that could describe the manner with which you seem to think that these rules will suddenly be bent and rewritten because of your dedication to a pro style offense, that hasn’t produced a single .500 or better conference record in your tenure.

Your play calling consistently leaves this team in third and long situations that expose our passers to blitz packages that, when coupled with the fact that we already need 7+ yards to continue a drive, make it a continual uphill battle four our teams to have to perform individual feats of athleticism to succeed. All of this when better play calling could simplify the needed play, and reduce pressure, allow for possible running solutions, and simply generally increase our chances for success.

The Last area of coaching that you display incompetence in, may be the worst. You have no idea of the strategy to defeat an opponent. Last night was as clear cut an example of that, as ever could be. To use a well understood analogy, it’s a lot like a pressing basketball team. When you KNOW you are playing a pressing team, the last thing you should do, when you KNOW their talents in the open floor exceed your own, is play THEIR game with them. To his credit, this is why Tubby Smith consistently played the Pitino teams closer than even his talent should have allowed. He reduced possessions. Used the shot clock. Made you defend. It would be very fair to describe this Florida Football team to that 96 UK team. And you came out and tried to run with that team. You took quick shots. You let your worst players take any shot that looked open. You lost, as predictably as rain in the rain forest. And, to make matters worse, you even had a complete scout film of how to affect the game, from LAME KIFFIN. Think about this Joker, Kiffin showed more intelligence and tactical ability in his third game at UT than you did, with all your experience at UK (most of it bad, that you fail to learn from).

AND, I’d like to take this time to exonerate Rich Brooks, a bit. I don’t know if any of you folks caught this in the game, there was a video capture of Rich on the sidelines, and he and Joker were having an exchange. I hope someone can pull this up, but I am all most certain, I could CLEARLY read Rich’s lips as he appeared to say, “Run the football. Get first downs!” If someone TVoed or DVRed this, it was in the third Quarter. Immediately, the camera cut to the shot of Joker in the booth, and he replied with a word that starts with “F and then the words “Run” or “Running it” No imagination, here folks. I’m serious. If ANYONE can pull this up, it’s clearly an exchange between coaches. I’m a lot more certain about what Rich said. It was clear, but take a good look at what Joker said immediately and tell me what you think.

A reminder of my prescription to beat Florida

–Just a reminder and some minor modifications on my prescription for success. Most of it depends on clock management, running the ball, and Steve Brown growing a pair.

From weeks ago…. most of it, at least.

“–This might take a while, but I’m going to piece together a few things, ideas, and suggestions, that I think will give the Cats a chance to beat the Gators. Feel free to jump in and opine, and I’ll snag em as I get them.

–I know that there’s no way this can happen. I know there has been this much agreement as to a number one team in AP history. I know the Gators have returning a fully stocked defense. I know this. Yet, I also know that some teams will play this team close. Likely, ONE team will beat this team. Teams will score touchdowns. Teams will move the ball. Teams WILL deny the Gators the endzone, sometimes. So how does a team like Kentucky do it?
Well, that’s what I’m here for.

–The biggest worry we have to take into consideration is gonna be the kicking game. From all indications, the kickoffs have been inconsistent in their depth. Combine that with Florida’s speed and you have the makings for a LONG day full of short series on defense. No coaching ideas I can offer here. You either can get the ball deep enough or high enough to get the stop or you can’t. My suggestion to the coaches would be to consider free kicking the ball. The punters seem to be able to get over 40 on most every kick, and you get the hang time. Chances are you can force a fair catch on the 30 to 35 yard line that would be better than letting them catch it on the run at the 15-20. Just a thought.

–So, let’s start where we likely will, no matter what. Defense. Opening thought. Team is full of energy. Snapping at the leash. You’ve got better DBs than they have receivers. Start the day with a blitz. Doesn’t have to be a sell out. And, I certainly wouldn’t advertise it. But send one side and Micah. Objective: Get into the backfield early. Even if they hand the ball to a back, get in there early. If they don’t; if Tim keeps the ball for a play action, then hallelujah. Hit HIM! Throw or no throw. Get the hit, and set the tone. Chop the throwing arm if you can get there early. Remember. You’re not trying to win the game in one play. You’re trying to make this guy thinking about himself, not the play, late in the game.

Addition: UK must attack upfield. We have to play our assignments on the wildcat, but Linebackers cannot be expected to scrape the line with the way UF blocks. Each tackler is going to have to get upfield into the gaps and tackle their man.

–Obviously, UF has a lot of weapons. And, they have their best play maker handling the ball. But, Tim Tebow is human. He can be caught up in a number of things. 1st: You have to attack HIM for the game. Not waste time with assignment here or there, or this or that. Yes, you need to honor the assignments you have, but when all esle fails go hit Tim Tebow. Have somebody, as often as you can, not spying on him, but running toward him. And I don’t mean the DT and DE who are pushing every play. I mean a LB. A safety. A corner. MLB. MLB again. Safety. You’re gonna have to mix coverages and you’re gonna have to play up and back with your spacing, but this will be effective. You run your DBs up to play press or to blitz, then you back them up and leave the safety in. The snap of the ball he lunges then falls back into a zone about 8 yards off the ball to the slot side. Instead, your MLB some hard on a blitz to the opposite side of the DT the safety lunged to and the press is on. Tim is good enough to beat you. Yes. He’s good enough to make tough throws. But, NOW, at least, YOU are deciding how long he has to do it, and what routes he’ll have time to see develop before he gets rid of it.

ADDITION: Florida does not have good wide outs. They are primarily down field blockers, and blockers for the option pitch. We should be able to man up on them.

–Offensively (which I’ll get to ) I’d all but guarantee screens will be a waste of time. Screens just aren’t that effective outside of high school. Florida’s defense is gonna be too experienced. I think UK will call a screen. Probably a couple, and I’ll go on record telling those coaches ahead of time that they will be terrible plays and that the Gators will smell everyone of them out and be all over them. Cut and paste it. The screen is great if you catch a blitz, or if the other team is slow. But Florida’s DT’s will smell it out and be in the middle of it.

–About the only way I’d call a screen is if I was running double screens and had a QB who could fake to the heavy screen and throw to the weak one. And even THEN that’s not a good call.

–Trick plays are for tricks. I don’t mind the occasionally punt fake, or field goal fake, but most everything else is just too chancy. If we’re in third and short (3yds or less) Florida will be bringing heat. And they will have some of the, if not THE, fastest linebackers we’ll see. They will be in the backfield and trickery will likely mean a fumble or sack.

–***Florida will be a game where the judicious use of the tight end will be key.*** Like I’ve described MANY times, there is little defense for having the TE come off the ball, go 5-7 yds, turn and sit. All the QB has to do is burn a shot right to the side opposite the defender and then they guy just has to catch it and fall.

–The Wildcat package will be neat, but I’m not sure how much. Against a deep and experienced fron seven, some times you just need to be able to reduce the variables, put helmet on helmet and just get three yards between the tackles. It’s not flashy, and it won’t make we the fans go oooohhh. But, it gets the ball moving, keeps the defense honest, and gives the defense some rest. Can’t do it every play, but we also can’t consistently scheme up wildcat option draw passes. And, yes, we do have the lineman and full back to get yardage up the middle. The one thing UK CANNOT DO (are you listening Randy) is run hope plays. We need to run consistent plays. If you are in 2nd and 7 and you can either run it up the gut for three yards, try a screen (and we all know how badly those can go), or run a post pattern, TAKE THE THREE YARD RUN. Get it to third and four. Extend the defense’s time on the field and give yourself options. Now you only need four yards, but you can go as deep as you want. You can expect a blitz and run a slant, a draw, or a screen (still, I think, not a good call against florida’s speed) You can hit the TE short. And, depending on field positions, if you’re say… inside their 45, you call a hope play and leave yourself the option of faking the punt because you ONLY need four yards, not 7.

ADDITION: I cannot wait to see the wildcat. I believe it will be very interesting in seeing how Florida reacts to their own medicine. I think they will quickly be able to adjust, with their experience, but I don’t think they realize how fast UK is. UK back field, with Smith, Cobb, and Lock is just as fast as the Gators. Truth. Tebow is what gives them the edge, because he’s a running 250lb tight end that can throw. We don’t have any QBs that can bullrush for four yards. I cannot help but be convinced that it is not coincidence that we have seen this program use it’s most deadly weapons effectively until this game. My gut tells me that Rich Brooks knows we can win this game, at commonwealth.

–A big weapon offensively for us, will be the big weapon we’ve all known about from Florida. You set up in a shotgun formation with either Hartline (who runs fairly well… um no. Change that. Never again.) Cobb, or Newton and spread the field. On the snap the QB just runs a QB draw and tries to get three or four yards without fumbling. This can be a cheap, easy, play, and the formation is such a problem. Run it with Cobb and you’ve got a real passer, who’s a better runner, with a speed back. Call this play out of no huddles and it drives defenses crazy.
ADDITION: Imagine Cobb in shotgun, tucking the ball and stepping up like a run, then springing back (as he is quick and agile enough to do, and looking down the sideline for Matthews. Florida will bite on this, and I can see it being a big play once or twice, if we establish the wildcat.)

–My next bit of advice is for Steve Brown.

–Umm.. blitz. Hit Tim Tebow early in the game. hit him late in the game. Hit him when it’s a draw play. hit him when it’s a trap. Okay,.. okay. Clearly we can’t hit the guy with no reason, but you get my point. I strongly encourage you, Steve, to look at some of the blitzes that Joe Lee Dunn used to come up with as Miss. St. Safeties, corners, every LB, one LB, Middle and weak LB, Zone blitz. LBs and no ends. You are going to have to call a game that PREVENTS Florida from being able to assume anything.

–As a defensive coach, You cannot play a veteran team by doing what they’ve seen time and time again. You have to create mismatches. You have to limit Tebow’s time to make reads. You have to shorten their passing game by making Tebow protect himself from hits.

ADDITION: I would still blitz, but I’d blitz as much now to get my backers in the backfield on the run, as I would to just hit Tebow. Maybe he’ll break out, but Tim Tebow is not a good passer, and they don’t have Spurrier era Wide outs. I think we can chance their passing attack and focus on the run. If we get florida to start passing the ball, our chances for winning improve dramatically.

–Here’s another HUGE tip from the guru. During pass rush situations, You need to train your defensive lineman to rush for two seconds. TWO SECONDS. In TWO SECONDS if your defensive lineman doesn’t have the advantage against the offense, if they aren’t in a seam heading for the QB, or if they are running straight into a double team, they need to back up, get their hands up and jump into passes. It’s a waste of energy for a d-lineman continue to struggle for another second and a half to two seconds just to have the play go by them, anyway.

–I know many coaches teach this. I KNOW it. But, I still see teams that are getting out there and not doing it.

My thoughts for offense aren’t too complicated. This is the one area where Florida DOES have the advantage. The ability to make plays is still a factor. So, here’s what I recommend. Don’t get too caught up in trying to outscore Florida.

The Gator offense is similar to a major league baseball pitcher on a good day. They start the day, get you into a rhythm of going three and out, trying to make desperation plays to keep up with them. The pitcher gets going. He’s usually throwing the ball fairly quickly, because he’s in his groove. When good pitchers do this, they start commanding the strike zone, getting ahead early, and that’s the beginning of the end.

So, how does UK stop this? In a similar fashion that major league hitters do. They step out of the box and call timeout. They stretch back and swing a couple of times. They take some time to readjust the gloves. They MAKE the pitcher go at the pace they want. This frustrates the guy. Might even make him throw a little chin music. That’s fine. The minute he starts doing stuff like that, he’s showing his aggravation. He’s showing he lost the focus. That’s what you wanted. And, that’s what UK needs to do.
UK needs to perform simple, aggressive plays that keep the Florida defense on the field. Even if you don’t score a touchdown, a couple of first downs and time off the clock will disrupt the offense, and slow the game down.
AND….

wanna know a little secret? Urban Meyer is an ego maniac. HE is the one he will get frustrated from this kind of play. He KNOWS everyone is watching and he KNOWs that his team’s fitness for a championship is being evaluated every game not by whether or not they win, but in how GOOD they look doing it. He would ABHOR a 21-17 third quarter score, even if he was winning.

ADDITION: Take note of the gator players during the UT game, and Meyer’s reaction afterward. Even up till Tuesday of this week, he was grumbling over the fact that UT took them out of their play style. I tell you, he’s an ego maniac worse than Spurrier. WE run the ball, we get some first downs, He’ll start eating his nails. UK runs it with Connor 4 or 5 times and focus on hitting them from Tight end to tackle, and we’ll get first downs, stay in third and shorts (which hinder blitzing) and we WILL win this football game.

–This UK team has potential. No, they will not be able to stare down there schedule and pick out the tough games that they SHOULD WIN. But…

Let me see if I can give the Wildcat Faithful the best way to look at this.

–Florida is as good as any Florida has been, when they’ve been good. They’re not better than the best teams that Spurrier had. Look at those teams and be fair. A lot of NFL players. This team is still good, and right up there. That’s what everyone in the media sees. The problem is that ignore that THIS UK PROGRAM IS NOT THAT ONE THEY USED TO PLAY. This Florida could beat those UK teams by 70 points,… just like they did then. This Gator team cannot beat this UK team by 70 points unless we just let them. And this team has WON THREE BOWL GAMES. Had THREE winning seasons. Is putting guys into the NFL. This UK team has players who have beaten… not just played with… not just came close to… but BEATEN the SEC and National Champion.

This UK team is the team getting better and deeper EVERY YEAR. They are not regressing. And they certainly have not peaked. These coaches are still hungry. They have a mission. It’s not out of reach, anymore.

–Let’s be clear fans. Let’s not doubt this team until they give us reason. If I could emphasize ONE point, it would be this. We need to realize that UK playing the Gators is NOT like UK playing EKU. The talent difference is not that vast and broad. Certainly in Florida’s favor, but not by some damn near divisionally sized difference. No. UK playing Florida is more like Miami Redhawks playing UK.

(Minor Change: Miami was really, really bad. Really bad. If I had know their talent had fallen off that much, I would have declared the game much more like UK playing Miss. St.)

Yeah, we should win. But, we aren’t going to their house, with a starving fan base in an SEC sized arena. This is doable, if not likely. Florida sees Alabama. They see Georgia. They LSU. They see UT (to beat on) They see what they think are peers. They do not see the UK team coming. They don’t. The MEDIA will even tell you what to look for. They’re pre-selling it.

–Florida has UT at home. The Vols and the Gators. In the Swamp. Lane Kiffin and all the bad blood. The smack. The egos. Then they go on the road to play #11 LSU. LSU. ANOTHER championship coach. ANOTHER HUGE EGO…..

Those of you who’ve looked ahead may have noticed something. There’s a game in between those two monsters. A little visit to UK. Now you tell me. Where is the practice priority going to lie? What films do you think the coaches are REALLY going to be watching? What highlights do you think the players are going to be looking at? Think they’ll be looking for UK Louisville highlights? Think they’ll be flipping over UK Miami?

I see the world overlooking this game.”

The majority of that was written weeks ago, and I think it’s been damn near Karnak like.
–UK: run more than pass. USE THE CLOCK. Understand that each play is only a battle, not the entire war. Be happy with 2nd and seven. Run it again and get 2 to 4 yards or throw to the tight end or a hook route. Eat clock. Use the tight end three plus times. Run between the tackles. Stay in third and 5 or less. UK has a great kick return team. We should get good field position. Turnovers never need be emphasized. It’s hyperbole. Florida will do what they did against UT. They TOO will commit 9 to the box. Fine. Play action and give Matthews a reason to play here. Start this guys career with a highlight day torching UF when he’s in single coverage.

On defense, Get up the field. Don’t try to play laterally, they’ll be through the line if you do. Use 9 in the box most of the day, and disguise it by floating your safeties a bit. Blitz, and mix up the blitz.
I’d probably put Micah on Tebow as a permanent spy.
In fact, I might drop him an additional yard off the line to encourage him to run at the line of scrimmage.

Expect Florida and Meyer to get impatient to score. Trust Lindley, Burden, and Warford. Let them know you trust them. They can do it.

Tell your DE’s to get upfield and KEEP contain. Don’t get trapped at the line while they string out an option and leave the DB on an island. If you’re blitzing appropriately, as I’ve described, **STEVE BROWN**, then you will still get good pressure and will meet runner at the LOS.

LAST THING for the defense. Strip the ball every chance you get. Florida has shown a propensity to fumble the ball. They are so used to and eager to burst out that they aren’t used to being in traffic. They do not protect the football well. Strips by safeties and corners could yield BIG results.

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