ABC-TV analyst Jesse Palmer saw things to like from quarterback Cutter Boley against Georgia but says UK has to have receivers who can make plays on the outside. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky’s offensive woes continued in last week’s 35-14 loss at Georgia and the question now is whether anything was done to fix the problems during UK’s second bye week before the Cats host Texas and then Tennessee.
“Kentucky’s margin of error is so small in a game like this (against Georgia). They can’t turn the ball over, miss field goals and have penalties,” ABC-TV analyst Jesse Palmer said about UK during its 16th straight loss to the Bulldogs.
That dropped UK’s record to 2-3 and 0-3 in Southeastern Conference play and put the Cats in danger of missing a bowl game for the second straight season after going to eight straight bowl games.
“I think for Kentucky if they are going to have any shot at going to a bowl game they have to discover some playmakers throwing the football,” Palmer said. “They are going to have to get more aggressive and just be willing to take those shots outside.”
Palmer said it didn’t matter who was playing quarterback for Kentucky that a playmaker or playmakers had to emerge who could make plays on the outside and downfield in the passing game.
“One of the problems for Kentucky is that they just have not been hitting on portal quarterbacks. Guys are coming in and only giving you a year and when you are not having that continuity and consistency it sets this offense back,” Palmer said.
“Another problem for Kentucky is not just at quarterback but with the lack of consistency with play callers (offensive coordinators). If you don’t have continuity with scheme and no continuity at quarterback it’s hard to create any rhythm.”
Palmer said he “felt sorry” for UK coach Mark Stoops because he had current Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen as his offensive coordinator but both times he left UK for the NFL after one season.
“Part of your job (as head coach) is not just recruiting but you have to hire your staff and he (Stoops) has had to do a lot of work each year,” Palmer said.
Kentucky is now 1-10 in SEC play the last two seasons.
8 Responses
What can you say that hasn't already been said?
It doesn't take an Analyst to know that. It also doesn't take an Analyst to know that no matter who the receivers have been or who the QB has been or who the WR coach has been, UK never has receivers that can consistently get space. The only receiver over the last several years that could do that was Wandale Robinson. And guess what, he learned that before he got to UK because he transferred in from Nebraska where they taught fundamentals. Look at what Dane Key is doing for Nebraska this year and he is playing for the same WR coach he had at UK.
Now tell me that Stoops is not the problem and that he lets his coaches coach without interference from him.
I agree the only consistently good receiver in the Stoops era has been Wandale Robinson and second place isn't even close but I would have to put Dane Key second and he transferred out in what's supposed to be his best season. He's putting up good numbers at Nebraska too. If he would have stayed his final year at Kentucky he would have smashed all the receiving records at Kentucky. Which to me is proof in itself that Dane Key didn't trust Stoops to find a QB who could get him the ball even more. Key and Brown also argued with Hamden a lot about being the only 2 receivers running routes. They both said they were both double covered which made it look like they couldn't get open but when you have a running back a QB 7 guys blocking including 2 tight ends staying home blocking. Whoever we played would get pressure on the QB just rushing 5 guys in at the QB that leaves 6 guys back guarding 2 wide receivers. I have no clue what Hamden sees but whatever he sees isn't there and it hasn't been there and it will never be there. The same way Boise is thriving after he left and was thriving before he got there but sucked with ol HAMDEN calling the plays. I do everything to try and like this guy I just can't do it. Watch any other team and the plays they run. Look at Tulane 5-1. Sumrall is 35-10 which is incredible. If he can win out which I think is very possible at this point he will be 41-10 at the end of the year. He will have his choice or what job is the best for him because they will all come calling after this year. He will be averaging 10.2 wins per year. Sunbelt Billy averaged 9.4 wins per year and Florida swooped him up from the sun belt conference. The conference Tulane plays in is much better than the Sunbelt and Sumrall is dominating. Tulane is fun to watch both on defense and offense. Everything flows perfectly. If we don't get Sumrall. He will be coaching at possibly Ole Miss or Florida next year. Maybe Kiffin takes the Florida job is and Sumrall takes the Ole Miss job. Is what I'm guessing is going to happen at the end of the year. I do believe Sumrall would take the Kentucky job first. Being his alma mater and he's coached here for Stoops.
When the receiver coach & dynamic receiver leave and go to another program to be successful, the picture is ever so clear. Very nice call OldFan!
A lot of you aren't old enough to remember when Ohio State fired (retired) Woody Hayes for the same reason Stoops is under fire. His brand of football did not stand the test of time and Ohio States was being left behind.
Not exactly the same circumstances as Woody Hayes was a wildly successful football coach and the term "3 yards and could of dust" was coined for his brand of football. Sadly, football is no longer pure and the run first and most offense has gone the way of real grass on the field of play. It amazes me that Barney never considered this when he locked Kentucky into that football strategy ad-infinitum. Clearly Barney is not a football historian.
Nice bit of history, RJohn. I remember when Woody may have realized his “3 yards & a cloud of dust” had blown away when he ran onto the field to try to stop an opponent running for a big gain.
Stoops has never know squat about offense, and even wanted the offense “not to score too fast.”
So he got his wish!
James Franklin would be welcome to Lexington.
Liam Coen was the answer to unleashing the UK offense but he obviously was too frustrated with Stoops to put up with his control of OC’s. Coen went from UK OC to NFL Tampa Bay OC to FL Jaguars HC and is in the process of making Jacksonville a competitor instead of a doormat.
UK had that winning OC and when he came to UK a 2nd time he said that he, his wife & entire family liked Lexington & wanted to make it their permanent home for years to come. It took something beyond an offer to get him out of Lexington and just look at every decent OC run off by Stoops.
Coen was too brilliant for Stoops to be comfortable around and surely feared Coen would soon be recognized the one who should be HC.
Now UK is stuck with another loser OC. Stoops either hires good OC’s who can’t coach under his control or bad OC’s who just want to get paid for being a yes man.
UK missed a real chance to have a future great HC already on the staff.
Comments are closed.