Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
Remember how folks would call in to Coach Gillispie’s radio show and keep harping about him not running a zone defense? For two straight years, fans would call in completely perplexed that our players would *never* play a zone, even when we play teams that thrive on the 3-pointer. (Like, oh, I dunno, VMI?)
Are you ready for the football version of it? Coach Brooks better be ready for a steady stream of, “Coach, why don’t you let Randall Cobb have the ball in the red zone? He’s our most dangerous threat. I’ll hang up and listen to your answer.
There was a lot more about this 31-24 loss to Mississippi State, but we’ll start with the question that will have everybody talking this week:
* With Kentucky down a touchdown early in the 4th quarter, why did Joker call for two QB draws with Newton and not Cobb? Larry Vaught reports that Brooks wanted Newton to check out of the first run, but the freshman QB didn’t see the call. On the second run, Brooks said that MSU made a good play stopping Newton. On the third-and-goal play that resulted in the back-breaking INT, Brooks said the play was a sprint-out pass option with Newton’s first option being Cobb. Unfortunately State’s pressure never gave the true freshmen QB time to make a play, Brooks said.
Brooks mentioned in his post-game interview that he didn’t opt for Cobb and the Wildcat because MSU had been able to stop the Wildcat earlier in the game. This is true; the Wildcat (and Cobb) didn’t find a whole lot of success on the ground. He was limited to 17 net yards and lost or gained no yards on 4 of his 8 rushing attempts.
Really, if Newton doesn’t panic and throw the INT, Kentucky still has 4th and short. With the offensive line playing very well, odds are that Kentucky has a reasonable chance of scoring with Cobb, Newton, Connor OR Smith. (I don’t think Locke was on the field; I believe he was fighting cramps most of the second half.)
* About that freshman QB of ours. Overall, Morgan Newton played a pretty decent game for a true freshman. Despite throwing that INT, Morgan completed 11 passes out of 18 attempts for 119 yards. He also rushed 13 times for 39 yards. Morgan gashed open the Bulldog defense in the second quarter with his quarterback sweeps, and scored a rushing touchdown.
I tracked most of Newton’s touches during the game — I missed the first couple of possessions in the first quarter due to trick-or-treat obligations. There were bad decisions and executions outside of the INT:
1st Q, 2nd & 8 — Newton throw to Locke Incomplete: Screen busted with pressure, bad throw could have been intercepted.
2nd Q, 3rd & 9 — Newton overthrows McCaskill (MSU called for defensive offsides to keep drive alive)
3rd Q, 2nd & 13 — Newton throws long for Matthews, ball slips out of hand (fortunately too short for the coverage guy to get an INT, or the pass interference call)
4th Q, 1st & 10 on final drive — Newton isn’t set when he throws, underthrows McCaskill deep
4th Q, 3rd & 6 on final drive — Newton forces a throw into double-coverage to King (converts 1st down, but was a very dangerous throw)
But Newton also made some smart, great plays:
1st Q, 3rd & 8 — Newton throw to King caught (was nearly an INT because of a great jump by the MSU linebacker, but the throw was right on the money)
2nd Q, 3rd & 18 — Newton rolls right, finds Cobb wide open for 20-yard gain (Cobb finds space in D and Newton makes fantastic pass while moving)
2nd Q, 3rd & 5 — Newton rolls left, throws ball away (receivers covered, good play)
2nd Q, 1st & 10 after Cobb’s great punt return — Rolls left, gains 6 yards on scramble (gets out of bounds to stop the clock)
3rd Q, 3rd & 13 — Newton scrambles for 11 yards (setting up Locke’s 21-yard run on 4th and 2)
4th Q, 3rd & 6 on final drive — Newton scrambles, sets his feet and finds King for 13 yards (converts 1st down)
Overall, Newton performed as well as one could expect, given his youthfulness. He converted 4 first-downs with passes, 3 on the final drive. He made plays and made mistakes.
* What really hurt Kentucky was the defense. With Kentucky spread out to cover MSU’s slot receiver, Anthony Dixon and the MSU O-line completely dominated the 6-man defensive box. And for some reason, the secondary couldn’t react properly to stop Dixon (or backup QB Chris Relf, or WR Christian Ducre, or really anybody who got past the line of scrimmage). Micah is obviously still hurt (and didn’t start), Sam Maxwell allegedly left the game with an injury, and everybody else couldn’t hardly bring Choo-Choo Dixon down.
It wasn’t for lack of trying. The D forced 2 fumbles, but couldn’t recover them. The D grabbed 2 interceptions, which led to 7 points. The D gave up 201 rushing yards and 306 total yards in the first half, but held MSU to 10 points. As much as fans may be frustrated with Joker’s playcalling, you guys should be as equally as upset at Steve Brown’s defensive sets, and the lack of adjustment against Dixon in the second half.
* Fox Sports South didn’t cut back from commercial for me to see Locke’s 21-yard run on 4th and 2. That was some professional television production there, boys.
* Good thing the Legend of Cobb sign made the trip, because it saw some action. Cobb scored a rushing TD and gained 17 yards on the ground. Cobb caught 2 passes for 36 yards, and attempted one pass that was incomplete — a long pass to Chris Matthews, who’s defender was called for pass interference. Cobb also lost a fumble.
One of the more important plays Cobb made in the game won’t make the sign: Cobb returns a punt 46 yards to the MSU 26-yard-line, giving UK the chance to attempt (and make) a field-goal at the the end of the half. (Cobb had 188 yards in kick and punt returns tonight.) I think Murph is going to have to expand the sign for plays like that. He should also include a “John Wall Dance” counter.
* I call for a “Hooray for Jorge” sign, and poor Jorge gets injured in the first half. I feel awful. I should have called for a “Tricky Dixon” sign instead for the implicit jinx.
* We’ve moaned about special teams some this year, but they were definitely a strength tonight. No allowed punt or FG blocks. No MSU kickoff/punt returns for touchdowns or huge gains; MSU’s longest kickoff return was 35 yards. Kentucky’s average AND net yards per punt was 42.5 with 3 fair catches. MSU was held to 74 total return yards (kickoffs AND punts), and Kentucky had 224 total return yards.
* Lane Kifffin let the Vols play in black jerseys. They won tonight against #22 South Carolina. And I know that black is not an official school color for Tennessee.
You know how fun it would have been to make Black Cats puns? Just sayin’, Pawpaw.
* Speaking of Pawpaw, he said, “The key thing is to bounce back and get a win before we go on the road…” You know, there’s a book that I’m reading that might help you and your team a little more than the movie Stepfather.
—
Well, we’re all properly frustrated. But this is Kentucky football: for every breakthrough “turn-the-corner” win, we have a “take-a-step-back”, “season-in-jeopardy” loss. And the rest of the schedule is no guarantee: Vandy was exceptionally game against Georgia Tech, Georgia is down but still talented and Kiffykins has the Vols rounding into form. The character of this team will be on full display in November; I will be rooting that they rise and meet the challenge before them.
Stay tuned later today for some more information. Hopefully Dustin will be giving us some updates, and I’m sure Beisner will pontificate about the joys of newlywed life. Plus, you know, Matt doin’ his radio thang.
So jot down your question for Coach Brooks radio show in the comments. Remember, Richie Farmer is going to be too busy to start.
Update:
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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November 1st, 2009 at 1:01 am
i am still mad
November 1st, 2009 at 1:02 am
I think Stepfather was a horrible movie to go see the night before the game
November 1st, 2009 at 1:04 am
I’m trying to read through this but I keep seeing Dixon blast through the middle of each sentence.
November 1st, 2009 at 1:04 am
am i the only one who thought cobb was open long enough to receive a pass on the play where newton threw the pick? it was a small window but to win games you’ve got to get the ball in there….maybe i’m just dreaming but when cobb made the move on the defender he was open for a second and should have gotten the ball.
twitter and facebook are blowing up tonight with players and fans alike angry……
November 1st, 2009 at 1:13 am
#2 — For the record, I went back to Coach Brooks’ “bounce back” quote and jumped to my own Stepfather joke. I had no idea you made your comment. If you need me to +1 you, I will.
November 1st, 2009 at 1:23 am
You left out the play where Newton threw the ball 5ft over Cobb’s head–when Cobb was wide open and standing still.
November 1st, 2009 at 1:32 am
crap, crap, crap. that game sucked and I’m still mad.
November 1st, 2009 at 1:34 am
cobb should HAVE THE BALL IN THE RED ZONE OUR PLAY CALLING SUCKS…KY should not have lost this game…Its REALLY SAD..N JOKER IS YA NEXT COACH….lol..I STILL THE CATS THOUGH…WE HAVE LOST SO MANY GAMES BY JUST ONE BIG PLAY WE DIDNT MAKE
November 1st, 2009 at 1:36 am
STILL LOVE^
November 1st, 2009 at 1:37 am
5. No need, I’m sure I wasn’t the first to come up with it lol. And besides, it was obvious it was a horrible movie choice.
November 1st, 2009 at 2:01 am
Is coach Brooks just a figure head? Like Bobby Bowden at Florida St.? I want my best guy to have the ball with the game on the line. Thats good play calling. Win or lose I want Cobb to have the ball in his hands with the game on the line. I can handle a loss when my best guy has the ball. No excuses, just bad coaching. Can’t coach Brooks call a play?
Thanks coach Steve Brown (defensive CO) for a GREAT game plan and all the adjustments at half time…. SEC defensive coach of the week!
November 1st, 2009 at 2:22 am
Sunday
November 1, 2009
SEC week in Review
Steve Brown, the defensive coordinator of the University of Kentucky football team was named the SEC defensive coach of the week. Coach Brown received this award for the outstanding game plan he crafted against the Mississippi State Bulldogs this past Halloween night in Lexington KY. His half-time adjustments will be talked about in Lexington for years to come. The Kentucky run defensive looked like a different team in the 2nd half.
The master mind of coach Brown held Miss St. to just 493 in total yards. The magic of coach Brown shut down the running game of Miss St. that totaled only 353 yards in 45 attempts, only 7.7 yards per running play. If you average in the passing yards gained by Miss St. they averaged only 8 yards per offensive possession. Amazing work Coach Brown, and congradulations on this award.
November 1st, 2009 at 2:22 am
well, atleast basketball starts monday
November 1st, 2009 at 4:06 am
good play-calling today Joker…..
November 1st, 2009 at 5:43 am
1. What I dont understand is that last week ULM had a freshman quarterback making his first career start on the road and he makes all the throws and we have a freshman high school all-american who throws the ball all over the place, high-low-wide…….The interception in the red zone on the next to last drive was just plain pathetic.
2. Also get with the times, there is absolutely no reason to not have something special on Halloween. Even UT wore black jerseys. It is not going to happen that often that Halloween falls on a home night game. Paw-*Paw’s old school excuse is sorry excuse not to make the night fun/special.
3. Why is it that for YEARS we have not been able to contain a QB who can run the ball? What is up with that?
November 1st, 2009 at 6:06 am
Defense lost this game, end of story. UK was not prepared and did not make adjustments. I don’t think it’s fair to blame offensive play calls when you have a talented Freshman that still has some things to learn.
Speaking of Defense a “Zone Defense” is used to stop scoring in the paint and is less effective for teams shooting well, i.e. 3 pointers. Irregardless Gillispie’s teams never had legs at the end of games because they played straight man to man defense and had hard game day practices. Those policies made a huge difference in the wrong way.
November 1st, 2009 at 7:04 am
Fake Gimmel rules. A Kids in the Hall video to start off this blog is ACE!
November 1st, 2009 at 9:05 am
The coaching staff deserves all the criticism and then some. An inept performance by Brooks, Phillips, and Brown. If Joeker isn’t a MUCH better head coach than he is an offensive coordinator / play caller, then there are dark ties ahead indeed. Having said that, I am ready for the Joker as head coach experiment to begin. The sooner it starts, the sooner we’ll know. And while Brooks deserves a hell of a lot of credit for moving the program ahead this far, he has run his course. I hope he retires after the season and bows out gracefully.
November 1st, 2009 at 9:07 am
* dark days ahead . . . I’m still to upset to type
November 1st, 2009 at 9:28 am
I was telling my husband last night (he missed the game) about those two last play calls…the quarterback sneaks with Newton…and how COBB wasn’t used…I was b*tching about Joker and I was mad to say the least….. He said that he thought Joker was a great recruiter and would be a good coach…..and I said fine as long as he doesn’t call the plays….coming from a Louisville fan (husband) and he was dead serious about it…..made me feel a lot better about the idea of having Joker as our next coach…..AS LONG AS HE DOESN’T MAKE THE PLAY CALLS!!!
November 1st, 2009 at 9:48 am
I was at the game and like everyone, very disappointed with the loss. Again, like everyone else the next to last drive play calling on the goal line was very questionable. You put the ball in Cobb’s hand at least a couple of times. However, the better team did win and Kentucky was lucky to have a chance. I love being a Kentucky football fan and it can be very frustrating at times. Few would argue that we are exactly where we thought this team would be after eight games, 4-4. I think 7 wins will be necessary to get a bowl bid this year looking at the SEC teams and their records. This is possible and we must stay positive. Beat EKU & Vandy and go to 6-4. Win one of the final two and finish season at 7-5. That with a win over Tennessee would be a tremendous season. Don’t give up!! Please don’t call me crazy for being hopeful.
November 1st, 2009 at 9:49 am
At least we didn’t have one of these:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=314_1257030236
November 1st, 2009 at 9:52 am
I think that Steve Brown’s coaching performance last night earned him the right to change his first name to Mike.
November 1st, 2009 at 9:55 am
Maybe papaw will blame their “fat little girlfriends.”
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9cd_1256940369
November 1st, 2009 at 10:17 am
Nine bowl bids for the SEC assuming Florida and Alabama go to the BCS which I think is safe to assume. Vandy is out so that leaves 11 teams for nine spots. Six wins equals bowl bid possibility, seven will get you in.
November 1st, 2009 at 10:21 am
Don’t know where this came from but everyone should check it out!!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=30356467&id=1424282908
November 1st, 2009 at 10:56 am
You guys are nuts… and quite frankly it’s embarassing to go to the games and hear supposed UK fans boo a FRESHMAN quarterback. Rich Brooks told us.. he wasn’t ready, but the fans just had to have him.. I think Morgan has done great with what he has been given. The problem is we have a “coach” who can’t call an offensive play to save his life and another “coach” who can’t adjust his defense. You have to put your team in a position to win. Last night our “coaches” did not do that. It seems to me they are to stubborn to realize somebody might actually be able to stop something they game planned and change it. Im sure all the fans will get blasted this week by the coches, ecspecailly joker for saying we don’t know football like him.. blah blah blah.. the thing is.. we dont get paid six figures to do it.. do your job and earn your check!
November 1st, 2009 at 10:59 am
Joker in The Courier says something like “Newton is just like Cobb, only with more beef”. What? There’s your problem. No player on UK (or few in the SEC) is like Cobb and if the Coaching staff would realize that they would win more games (that Joker comment was actually insulting to Cobb too).
November 1st, 2009 at 11:02 am
The D let UK down tonight.
Dixon looked like Jim Brown
November 1st, 2009 at 11:13 am
Fake Gimel…
If you were to break down all of Hartline’s miscues like you did Newton.. the whol page of KSR would be full. Just thought I would enlighten you on that.
#15 give me a break. This is Newton’s 3rd game. He had to sit behind Harline until he got hurt. Newton should of started all year. He is still better than Hartline and Hartline is a RS Jr. When Newton is a JR he will be one of the top QBs in the SEC and maybe nation.
He is not the reason we lost “fans”. We lost b/c our JOKE of a OC is vanilla as ice cream and our DC could not stop one RB who is all MSU had. And said RB rushed for 252 yards.So shut it
November 1st, 2009 at 11:18 am
I’m not defending the play calling, because it is suspect to say the least at times. But that is far from our only problem. For one, we have ZERO tight end play, I’m talking non-factor. They keep saying that Joker is managing the game for Newton, in other words, calling plays he can handle. Everyone knows that a good Tight End is the biggest safety valve a Q.B. can have, and we don’t have one that could stick their finger of their a$$. If you can’t throw the ball vertically you are sitting ducks. And last night by the end of the game, we were doing some serious quacking.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:22 am
I still like Newton’s upside, but upset with the fact, that Cobb should have had the ball when the game is on the line. They should have tried the Wildcat on several of the first and second downs at the LEAST. Now Spurrier isn’t the only coach happy to see Cobb out wide instead of under center. Two games coaches, that’s two games. I understand their play call for Newton, but you gotta use Cobb when it counts.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:23 am
You guys forgot to fall back. Unless I’m reading posts from the future.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:23 am
Actually, we frequently walked Guy or Burden up into the box, so it’s not quite correct to say we only had 6 in the box. The golden rule of rush defense is to always bring one more than the offense can block. Last night, our line could not penetrate, which left it on the linebackers and safety. They, unfortunately, were either frozen or misplaced by Miss. State’s keys and were not in position to make a tackle. Credit Miss. State’s offensive coordinator for altering the keys he anticipated our defense to use.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:24 am
MSU’s running back is definitely the reason we lost this game. No question.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:29 am
Why weren’t we playing a 4-3 the whole game? If you aren’t stopping the run, then you have no chance. Lexington Catholic wouldn’t have given up that many yards.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:34 am
24 points should be enough to beat Mississippi State.
This one falls on the defense.
They ran that little counter with Dixon probably 30 times and he never gained less than 9 yards.
The D-Line got blown off the ball, which made it harder for our LB’s to make the proper reads. Even when they did make the proper reads, they were way too slow to the ball.
There’s no excuse for a defense that held Bama’s running game largely in check to get gashed like this.
UK has laid their yearly egg. Let’s hope there’s not another one up the chicken pooper.