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.
Rich Brooks Field
Rich Brooks is stepping down as head coach at Kentucky after seven seasons. What you did at Kentucky and your doing things the right way and sense of humor will long be remembered will be remembered by the players and the fans.
I hope the school renames our field Rich Brooks field so you become the first coach to have fields at two schools named after you. Give the school a call or email and ask them to name the field in his honor.
Enjoy your fishing and tomatoes coach.
Thanks for the memories
Of games I can’t forget
The bowl wins you beget
Our wond’rous win against LSU
And Georgia and Auburn too
How lucky we were to have you
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.
The Hard Fall
The higher you go, the harder you fall. Its been a long time since UK fans have had to experience the long fall, and never from football. But here we were yesterday, watching the possibility of all things new. UK could beat UT and move into the upper levels of the SEC all in one game. Then it came down to all in one set of overtime series. All UK had to do was score and they probably only needed three points if the D could hold for three downs, possibly four. UK did neither and fell right back into the hole they have taken decades to dig. Maybe the long fall in football will help prepare us for the long falls we may have coming up in basketball? It’s not much of a silver lining, but at least its something I guess.
There are plenty of reasons UK fell down in the UT game. The D could not stop the run once again, but they’ve had trouble with big strong backs all year so this wasn’t a big surprise. UK did find a way to put enough points on the board, but I had that, “doomed” feeling when I felt UK needed to produce on demand in OT. The reason was at quarterback. Newton hasn’t performed all year, never seemed to grow at all, and especially not to a level that you would expect from a future savior. The bottom line with me comes down to what I consider to be the huge mistake at passing over Fidler. First, UK simply GAVE the kid a job he did not earn, and the players never seemed to play as hard for him. He never seemed to have their respect and was lost in most games and was totally lost in the entire UT game. All the while, Fidler read defenses much better, and let’s face it, reading anything at all was light years better than Newton. Fidler’s passes were more on time and on target, his decisions were that of a fourth year guy, the team played for him and he ran just as well as Newton. Of course if your end goal was to run Fidler off, I say mission accomplished as he was honored on senior day following his announcement that he wasn’t coming back next year.
Most people think UK error by not going to the Wildcat more in the UT game, which is completely an error in judgment if you ask me. The Wildcat is a wrinkle set designed to give the other team something else to prepare for. What those calling for more Wildcat fail to understand is all UT had to prepare for was the Wildcat and they bottled up every single option once they had a chance to see their guys defending it one time. There is a reason Cobb had twice as many fumbles in the UT game as all the others combined (and his other fumble was actually a backward pass he dropped). UT almost forced two other Cobb fumbles but he was able to pull it back in long enough to go down.
I love all the UK players, but when it comes to Newton, I just don’t know if he’s going to be a fit. He’s the reactional type QB in a pro style offense that requires a thinker as much as a drop back passer. Trading a number two position in the SEC for getting him some reps was a horrid mistake in my mind, especially considering he’s of the same mold as Pulley. People might point to this year, where Pulley did finally have passing numbers in a lower division, but let’s also consider it took him five years to finally get numbers in one. UK simply can’t waste two more years of dismal QB play to get one OK year and blowing this year on Newton was the worst coaching move of the year.
Second Place in the East
A post from ukn96 on the forums that deserves to be read by more than the forum users.
The battle for 2nd is coming on Saturday. Layla is bringing Lane, a reinstated (and “cleared”) freshman starting safety and the rest of the Tennessee Chain Gang to Commonwealth.
Are they visiting to see how a clean program should be built? Is Lane going to learn how to make sure his players weren’t arrested right before he proudly proclaims they have had no arrests that month? Is he going to learn from PawPaw what respect is?
His trash talking is what Vol fans want. The recent comment about there being no reason why the streak should not extend to 25 in a row was a clear indicator he is a warden the fans will love. As long as he wins. He may have a hidden talent too. How to convince the victim that the player should be able to play. After all…shop lifting is only a crime when there is enough evidence to convict. And possession of a $120.00 shirt you didn’t pay for is obviously not a crime in Volville.
So here they come to Commonwealth. A stadium with more ghosts than traditions. They are coming on senior day to extend the streak, and claim 2nd place in the East.
This is not David and Goliath as it was in years past. UK has proven they can end streaks, and make the plays when they matter. They have also proven they can brain fart at the wrong time. But this is not the same UK that played SC and MSU. Not the same teams that was embarrassed by FL, and happy to hang in there against Bama.
This team is led by Randall Cobb. A kid who was overlooked by the Pumpkins when he was playing in the shadows of Knoxville Prison. Rumor is that he didn’t have enough felonies to qualify for an athletic scholarship.
Like Cobb, this team no longer quits. They no longer make THE turnover to cost them the game. They get THE first down so they can line up in V formation. They have ended two streaks, and are going for #3.
Dinged and bruised they have played 10 straight weeks. This will be #11. A fans dream, a coaches nightmare. Either way, they are 7-4. Those of us on the bus believed they would be here, just not the way we arrived. Who would have thought we would win at Auburn and at GA?
The Felons are 0 fer in the SEC on the road. Hard to travel with that little bracelet on your leg, isn’t it? The Cats are 0 fer against the SEC at home. Yet another streak will have to end.
Commonwealth is ready. Extra locks and police. New safes for wallets and jewelry. Accommodations for the parole officers, and plenty of photographers for the arrival of Layla. Rumor has it that the shops at Fayette Mall and Lex Green are trying to prevent shoplifting by not allowing anyone wearing orange in their store.
Commonwealth will accept cash only from Vol fans. The Secret Service is looking for “funny money”, and will keep an eye on the players in and out of the tunnel. Al Gore’s “carbon credits” are not real currency either.
They Cats are ready. They will be bruised and playing hurt. But aren’t they all this time of year? I feel we will see a conservative offense early in the game, with Brooks trusting the D to keep them in check while Joker figures out Monte. Then we open it up.
Will Under Armor protect against a shank? THAT is the question I need answered.
After we end the 3rd streak of the season and secure 2nd place in the east, I will have 1 question for Lane.
Who’s your Daddy?
Expectations vs Facts
You know I think I’ve complained about everything when it comes to football this year except for the players. They have been the one positive this year win or loose. Sure I could have complained about their outing against Florida but they didn’t quit and have shown it ever since.
I complained about the offensive play calling but frankly they brought the offense along slowly but surely. Joker even called a pass on first down twice in the second half at Georgia and I can look forward to seeing a more diversified offense against Tennessee.
I complained about the defensive play calling and Im gonna imagine that if I was named Cox I’d be complaining about his offensive protection after the defense harassed him in the second half into committing several turnovers.
I complained about special teams play but they held a good kick return game in check and created turnovers that we were able to capitalize on. Thats something we haven’t done especially well in the past.
I still have several complaints that I’m gonna express because I’m afraid if I don’t I might Jinx the cats.
1. We need to use a few more blitzes.
2. We need to pass to the TE a little more.
3. The middle of the field needs to be used more in the passing game.
Some place along the road I seemed to have gotten my expectations confused with the facts.
1. We are starting a freshman quarterback and the coaches have brought him along nicely.
2. Our defensive line had one returning lineman and we have been forced to depend on our linebackers more than we would have if Jarmon had been here.
3. We had no experienced receivers. Now we do and next year the rest of the SEC is going to disrespect them to their undoing.
If we were as bad as my complaints we couldn’t have come back come back against Georgia turnovers or not. I promise to try not to complain again this year
It was suggested in the forums that Uga VII died because he didn’t want to face the embarrassment of losing to Kentucky at home. And whats with the arrest of 1 more Georgia football players thats 31 in the past four years. Florida only has 24 arrests and Tennessee 25.
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.
The Cats should be fine
It is a roller coaster ride for many. One day UK is ready to win out, the next UK is doomed. I will say that I had the Miss St game penciled in as a probable win before the season. I also didn’t feel very good about it due to the injuries last week. Every team has injuries. But the Cats always seem to get them with their key guys. I think that maybe UK relies on those guys too much, probably because UK still doesn’t have a team full of play makers, and that contributes to WHO is getting hurt. I fear for Cobb on every one of his plays.
But that’s another topic for another time. Looking forward, I think UK is just fine. UK will get the win against EKU. The key moving forward is getting people healthy and that is what the EKU game should be about. If Johnson and Lindley are both healthy I think UK could still get the seven wins I thought they would. If they can also get Hartline back, the mental attitude of the team would have to go sky high. I have Vandy as a must win and had them as a likely before the season. If UK takes care of business, the Georgia game now needs to flip from a possible loss to a possible win and I think it is doable. I am hopeful that the mentality in the camp is this is a must win and I think that can play a big role in getting it. UT is a game I’ve always wanted the most. Even in years where UT was way up and UK was way down, even in years where they played at UT, UK has played them tough only to lose another heart breaker. They have a new A. H. heading them up and I am hopeful the Cats go into that one with a mental attitude that the hex is broken. Even with the Miss St loss, the Cats can still do a lot of good things and even exceed what I thought they could do. ALL of their remaining games are winnable; win them all and an eight or nine win season would be a major upgrade from last year, even given the much tougher schedule. It isn’t time to throw in the towel, its the time to buckle down, support the team. Its also time for the team to buckle down and take care of business.
Hump Day
This was worth posting from the forums by ukn96.
Every Wednesday, we go over the hump. We have to cross the hump to get to the weekend.
Last Saturday, we had our Hump Day. Our Cats went into Auburn, and in front of 84,000 fans (20,000 by the end) used two inexperienced QB’s, and a great team effort to shut down the Tigers.
We are over the Hump and headed for the weekend. Today we will not come out flat. This team is led by Cobb, and he won’t let that happen. The FidNewton offense gets about 450 yards and both QB’s get valuable experience. UK runs early and often, disappointing a fairly cute group of Warhawk Cheerleaders. (this is for you TONE)
We will then face a MSU team that loses a closer than expected game to Urban Legend and his Gaytards. They are so demoralized by having 8 TD’s called back, and being flagged for personal fouls every time they stop TBone on 3rd down, we beat them by 20.
EKU’s home grown cuties abandon their boyfriends by the end of the first quarter and the FidNewton’s have new followers on Twitter.
We head to Commonwealth South to face the Commodes in front of 25,000 UK fans, 1 cute girl, and one that looks like the lion from the Wizard Of Oz. Our Nashville homecoming is a success, and The FidNewtons are 7-3 headed to Athens.
My crystal ball will not see any further right now, so I am going to rake some leaves.
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.
