A SEASON ON THE BRINK FROM INSIDE THE HUDDLE Part 4

#1–It was the opening game of what we felt would be a very good season

#2–We lost to a team that we felt we should have defeated

#3–We defeated ourselves with mistakes and poor execution

Pretty hard for a team heavy with seniors and juniors that were experienced. We turned the ball over, We gave them short field position to score from, we got a lot of penalty’s called that killed our drives and helped our opponents drives. Our kick coverage was poor which ended our chance for a comeback.
We got behind early and let the crowd bother us but still this game was much closer than the score would indicate.

We got behind 13-0, then in the second half we marched down the field and scored 7. We were back in the game and good kick off coverage and a stop by our defense which had been playing well would give us the ball around our 35-40 yard line with plenty of time left to march down and score and win this game.

We got poor kickoff coverage and LSU ran it back for a long td. Game over, no alibis, no complaints, we lost that one. It would be a long ride back to bluegrass field.

The coaches were also in shock trying to figure out just where the problem was but they would have to look at and grade the film to know just what went wrong. Well it was mistakes and poor execution that did us in. That big tackle named Legget didn’t help either he was a load.

We got back to Lexington and everyone was in shock like zombies. I called 10-12 of the seniors and juniors in to write my weekly column–it went like this.

Inside the huddle the wrap.

The loss at LSU was very disappointing. It was the result of poor execution on our part. We turned the ball over. We gave LSU short field position to score from. We had a lot of penaltys that stalled our drives and a few penaltys on defense that helped LSU’s drives. Our kicking coverage was inadequate and cost us a chance to get back into the game. In the end we lost a game that we should have won, a very poor way to start a season.

Our only bright spot was that our defense played well enough to win and that we had marched down the field and scored 7 in the second half to get back into the game.

Ole Miss was coming to town and would be ranked #1 or #2 when the rankings came out on Monday. This was a great football team and it would take an error free effort to play with them. They were loaded with great rangy athletes that looked like a measuring tape had selected them. They ran a sprint out run pass offense with split ends and wide receivers. The quarterback threw on the run or kept the ball if the linebackers and corners came up. The quarterback would also slip the ball to the fullback who stayed in which froze the middle linebacker. They ran a well greased, well organized offense. They had speed at all the receivers including the ends. Their backs were fast, could get outside or power inside. Play action offense at it’s best.

Their defense was textbook, good linebackers, good corners, good safety’s and a very good line. They would be hard to run power stuff at

The common feeling of our seniors and juniors is that this will take a great effort to play with Ole Miss. At the same time this group feels that this will be exactly what Kentucky brings Saturday. Better get your tickets. Don’t miss this one it could very easily be the game of the year.

My prediction Kentucky 20 Ole Miss 14.

Mike Hartline Starts The Season, But For How Long?

Mike Hartline has that experience and knows the playbook and there is no substitute for that. I’m all for him starting the season, and integrating the freshmen QB’s as they learn the system. The roster is better from size, speed, and skill standpoints.

Kentucky has two blue chip QB’s joining the program this year. What impact will they have on the ’09 season? Will Ryan Mossakowski redshirt and play baseball?

Will one of the Freshmen QB’s eventually transfer due to lack of playing time?

How long before Joker does what he did last year, and replaces Hartline with one of the Frosh, or does Hartline start all year? It’s impossible to say right now.

Which one of the newcomers, Newton, Moss, will be called upon should Joker make a change?

From watching the film of the newcomers, it is plain to see that either one of them can hit a receiver in full stride deep down the field. At some point in the season, just as happened last year, I think Joker will bring in one of the freshmen to try and stretch the field. He has a more experienced set of receivers this year, and a better offensive line. There is no fall off in the running back position with Smith, Locke and Turtle, and the fullback is one of the best in the business.

Once opposing defenses stack the LOS, and that becomes a problem for the offense, Joker will again call on another QB to loosen things up, and that QB will be Morgan Newton, IMO. He is the best athlete and can do everything, including hurt you with his legs, (4.5 forty), as well as his arm. Even if he calls on Ryan Mossakowski to run the offense, the “PRO STYLE” will not suffer, as his arm has been rated as the 2^nd strongest in the nation as a high schooler, and he can hit any receiver going down field. Let the best man win.