Say we get timmions and a couple other great recruits. We have bud Dupree and Avery Williamson back on d. Clemons is a healthy rb and we have a solid qb I think we can go 6-6 and be competive I'm every game with exception of bama

BeepThaCreep83 wrote: Say we get timmions and a couple other great recruits. We have bud Dupree and Avery Williamson back on d. Clemons is a healthy rb and we have a solid qb I think we can go 6-6 and be competive I'm every game with exception of bama

If Stoops and his staff can get these guys to buy into what they are selling,  I think you are correct.

Hard to tell.

A change in coching philosophies takes some time, usually. This team remains a 2 win team, regardless of the current excitement.

That said, I think they would have been far more competitive had Smith not been injured. He can make the throws and has a fast release. And, there is returning talent at WR, and RB. Josh and Turner, but Sanders should also thrive in this offense. Meyers or some little used OLineman needs to take over center.

The defense has raw talent up the middle. How quickly will they take to this new defense? And, who is going to anchor the ends?

6-6 would be huge!

With the returning young talent I'll be very disappointed if we don't go 6-6.

I don't any realistic goals (especially by fans) can be established for next season until 

1. Signing day has come and gone....have they been able to sign an instant impact DE? WR? LB?

2. At least 1/2 to 3/4 of spring practice is over....how well does the team seem to be learning the new systems?  what position changes have players made?  has anyone stepped up at the following positions especially - WLB, SLB, DE (both sides), and OC.
 I think there are enough players elsewhere to at least provide decent play, but these are definitely areas of major concern

So, it may be fun as a fan to talk about bowl games next year, but no REALISTIC expectations should begin to take place until the above happens.

UKSanders wrote:

1. Signing day has come and gone....have they been able to sign an instant impact DE? WR? LB?

I don't think that's realistic. The Johnny Manzells and Herschel Walkers aren't that plentiful. A kid out of HS isn't going to be as big and as strong as someone that has been in a program and in a weight room for two or three years. It's a big jump up from being the biggest and fasted kid on the field to being behind or on a similar level with everyone else.

In the big picture I think it serves him better to be redshirted as a Freshman.

Goal:  Give reason for hope that the 2014 season can be a big year.

A low tier bowl game/win should always be the minimum expectation.  The reality of having a coaching change is that it often, though not always, takes at least one year for the kids to start reacting instead of thinking.
 
IMO, if they show signs of potential, stay in games, make occasional big plays on both sides of the ball and win at least one game they should not win all would be signs of hope for the future. More than anything, I'd like to see a "knock the $%!##" attitude out of people on the defensive side of the ball.  During the Curci years, we had guys that seemed to want not only to tackle but lay people out.  That's what we need.

Believing the likelihood of being a bowl team next year is reasonably slim, I hope Stoops redshirts most if not all Freshmen.  In fact, I'd like to see some of those kids that played this year as freshmen to receive redshirt years.

ram1958 wrote: Goal:  Give reason for hope that the 2014 season can be a big year.

A low tier bowl game/win should always be the minimum expectation.  The reality of having a coaching change is that it often, though not always, takes at least one year for the kids to start reacting instead of thinking.
 
IMO, if they show signs of potential, stay in games, make occasional big plays on both sides of the ball and win at least one game they should not win all would be signs of hope for the future. More than anything, I'd like to see a "knock the $%!##" attitude out of people on the defensive side of the ball.  During the Curci years, we had guys that seemed to want not only to tackle but lay people out.  That's what we need.

Believing the likelihood of being a bowl team next year is reasonably slim, I hope Stoops redshirts most if not all Freshmen.  In fact, I'd like to see some of those kids that played this year as freshmen to receive redshirt years.

That's what I'm looking for/hoping for, blowing people up on defense gets the whole team excited and playing more aggressive. This year, I'm just looking for the team to become more disciplined and giving good effort on every play. We are still going to be young at some key positions this year so I not terribly concerned about how the record turns out. I am just hoping to see an aggressive attacking approach on both sides of the ball and I'll be happy.

Honestly, I think the folks expecting 6 wins and a bowl are out of their minds. We have a tough schedule and won only 2 games last season. A large percentage of our returning players are sophomores and juniors who do not know what it feels like to win in college ball and are at a developmental disadvantage because they did not get the benefit of a redshirt season. As a poster at another site stated very well... over the past few years the program has eaten its young to survive.

My goals for the season are the following:

1. Beat WKU and go 3-1 at worst in the non-conference portion of the scheodule. The WKU game will set the tone for the season IMO. If we lose, a lot of the air will be sucked out of the fanbase. If we win, it instantly builds momentum going forward.

2. Do not go winless in the SEC for the second year in a row. I know this is not a lofty goal at all, but we got demolished in every SEC game last season except against a sleepwalking UGA team. If we can get even just one, no matter the opponent, its an improvement to build on.

3. Look competitive against the teams we should be competitive against. I'm not going to be dejected if we lose 42-7 to Bama or Florida. But we should be right there against Vandy, MSU, UT, Louisville and Missouri.

4. Tackle effectively. For the past few years, going as far back as Micah Johnson and Ashton Cobb, the defense has been plagued with guys who go for the ESPN highlight reel hit rather than wrapping up and bringing down. I want to see guys putting the ball carrier on the ground the old fashioned way, not staring back lying face-down on the ground as he streaks down the field for big yardage.

You apparently have a good coaching staff coming in and unquestionably you have some good players.

But you are thin, you are young, and you play in the SEC.

If the mindset at the university changes and the football program starts getting some serious help you have a chance to become competitive in SEC football. 

But it will not be next year.  Give them time and do not expect instant results.

mcg48 wrote:
But it will not be next year.  Give them time and do not expect instant results.

Nothing so definitive, mcg, can be projected at this time.

DKingsland967 wrote: Honestly, I think the folks expecting 6 wins and a bowl are out of their minds. We have a tough schedule and won only 2 games last season. A large percentage of our returning players are sophomores and juniors who do not know what it feels like to win in college ball and are at a developmental disadvantage because they did not get the benefit of a redshirt season. As a poster at another site stated very well... over the past few years the program has eaten its young to survive.

My goals for the season are the following:

1. Beat WKU and go 3-1 at worst in the non-conference portion of the scheodule. The WKU game will set the tone for the season IMO. If we lose, a lot of the air will be sucked out of the fanbase. If we win, it instantly builds momentum going forward.

2. Do not go winless in the SEC for the second year in a row. I know this is not a lofty goal at all, but we got demolished in every SEC game last season except against a sleepwalking UGA team. If we can get even just one, no matter the opponent, its an improvement to build on.

3. Look competitive against the teams we should be competitive against. I'm not going to be dejected if we lose 42-7 to Bama or Florida. But we should be right there against Vandy, MSU, UT, Louisville and Missouri.

4. Tackle effectively. For the past few years, going as far back as Micah Johnson and Ashton Cobb, the defense has been plagued with guys who go for the ESPN highlight reel hit rather than wrapping up and bringing down. I want to see guys putting the ball carrier on the ground the old fashioned way, not staring back lying face-down on the ground as he streaks down the field for big yardage.

Agree whole-heartedly.  4-8 would be quite satisfactory given the mess Stoops was left with by Joker & Barnhart.  For 6-6, he should be NC of the Year.

Badinage wrote:

mcg48 wrote:
But it will not be next year.  Give them time and do not expect instant results.

Nothing so definitive, mcg, can be projected at this time.

I just don't want you guys to fall into this trap: "...The WKU game will set the tone for the season..."

mcg48 wrote:

Badinage wrote:

mcg48 wrote:
But it will not be next year.  Give them time and do not expect instant results.

Nothing so definitive, mcg, can be projected at this time.

I just don't want you guys to fall into this trap: "...The WKU game will set the tone for the season..."

mcg,
Though wku will have a good team, I don't believe they will win the game.  This year's loss to them was a result of a combination of factors that should not be issues in next year's game.  Both teams will have completely new approaches, thus neither will be 100% efficient.  I am usually a "glass is half empty" guy, but in this case, I'm cautiously optimistic about next year's wku game.

I expect the offense to be pretty dang good but expect the defense to take a couple of years.

I do not want you guys to expect a win at Commonwealth (or maybe I do).

mcg48 wrote:

Badinage wrote:

mcg48 wrote:
But it will not be next year.  Give them time and do not expect instant results.

Nothing so definitive, mcg, can be projected at this time.

I just don't want you guys to fall into this trap: "...The WKU game will set the tone for the season..."

If the Western KY game sets the tone of our season, we should hang up our cleats.  I would hope this new staff, one of their priorities is to makes sure we don't lose to a Sun Belt team again.

Furthermore, while I don't expect miracles this first season or even next season ie 2014, UK fans and seems like the team as a whole always seems to worry about what the other guy's record is and what they have done for 30 years.  Quit worrying about it, and go with the attitude we are gonna whip their assess and just get it done. We may or may not win the game when the buzzer clocks out zero, but by Gawd when its over, they'll know they've been in the fight of their life for that game. Do that for 12 games, then you've got everyone's attention.  I bet, just betcha you might win more games than you think were possible.

WKU also lost its experience poised senior QB.  I know they have some young talent, but I do not know that they will be able to protect him or if he will be as poised under attack.

ram1958 wrote:

mcg48 wrote:

Badinage wrote:

mcg48 wrote:
But it will not be next year.  Give them time and do not expect instant results.

Nothing so definitive, mcg, can be projected at this time.

I just don't want you guys to fall into this trap: "...The WKU game will set the tone for the season..."

mcg,
Though wku will have a good team, I don't believe they will win the game.  This year's loss to them was a result of a combination of factors that should not be issues in next year's game.  Both teams will have completely new approaches, thus neither will be 100% efficient.  I am usually a "glass is half empty" guy, but in this case, I'm cautiously optimistic about next year's wku game.

I just don't want you guys to point to one game and if you do not win it to then go jumping off bridges (figuratively).

Howard said it best:  "We may be behind at the end of the game, but we will not lose."  or something like that.

I see no downside to having two or even three strong football teams in this state.

^^^ not going to happen.

But, what would happen to UL fans if UK upset them next year?

But what happens if EKU beats UL next year? There is a refurbished bridge to jump from.

6-6 maybe 7-5 if UK is lucky.  If UK can pull in that one qb that Brown has interest in and the kid is good enough to start then I'm going to really be optimistic about things.  I don't have too much faith in any of the current qbs to really get things done and knowing that a Jonny Manziel can come in as a freshman qb and have that kind of season makes me want to go after that type of qb from the get go.

Badinage wrote: ^^^ not going to happen.

But, what would happen to UL fans if UK upset them next year?

I donno, but I have a whole reel of UL stickers for Ram's car, don't know what I will do with them.

Badinage wrote: ^^^ not going to happen.

But, what would happen to UL fans if UK upset them next year?

Not sure what they'd all do, but I certainly have plans for one of them.  Just biding my time.

There's no doubt that UK "could" upset UofL next season, but I don't really expect that to happen.  But if it did I'd continue to pull for my Cards and I don't believe anyone would need to reserve a spot for me on any ole' bridge.   Charlie will always have his kids ready for UK because he understands the rivalary plus we are returning a boatload of players from a 10-2 season and the expectations are high, maybe too high, but nonetheless a lot of those expectations are deserved because of kids like Bridgewater, Parker and others.  UK will be better because of the "new" environment a new coach brings to the table, but there is a talent difference between the teams and I say that with all due respect.  With today's "news" about the BE possibly breaking up I'm hoping that we'll be playing UK among an ACC schedule rather than the "weak" one we saw the other day. 

GO CARDS - BEAT EVERYBODY!!!                                        God Bless America!!!

I expect UL to have a battle on their hands. A full house and players out for revenge. UK missed opportunities in that first game, mainly because they were the younger team. UL will come in clinging to a dream, but with the memory of Southern Miss, UConn, Syracuse and others. They will question their ranking. It will not be easy.

I realize we are now taking this thread in a slightly different direction, but, since the topic has been raised, I feel UofL is a bit of an enigma.  I agree that UofL is a talented team and obviously, they "are returning a boatload of players from a 10-2 season ..."  But, despite that talent, they seem to be inordinately dependent upon Bridgewater.  Returning all due respect, how many games did Bridgewater win almost single-handedly?  Unlike many of you, I do not follow UofL all that closely, but it seems to me that 10-2 record could easily have been 6-6 without Bridgewater's heroics.

With that in mind, it is possible next year's game could be more in doubt than some might think.

^^ or worse than 6-6. He is the key. Now, they have an injured QB who should be able to hold down second string next year, but TB is the key to getting the other talent involved.

"I expect UL to have a battle on their hands."

I fully expect it.  On paper we may be better but the game is not played on paper.  The quickest way to lose is to expect you will win.

UL may not be better on paper.