UK football assessment after week 3

Since you beat me to it (I was too pissed off to start one last night), here's the box score.

I couldn't be more proud of how that young group of guys played in a clearly hostile environment, against the stripes, and on the road in a SEC East game. I think sometimes, and rightfully so, we forget just about young this team still is in Stoops' second year. That it would've been very easy for them to buy into the defeatist attitude regarding the streak. The team did exactly what we wanted to see in year 2, begin to compete with the top teams in the East.


The Good:

- Towles played as well as a RS could possibly play at QB in just his third start on the road in the SEC. Patty Ice is appropriate. The kid was straight ice water when the game was on the line. Does he still have some accuracy issues? Sure. But as said, two of those INTs were butterfingers by our WRs (and that happens as well).

- That defense. Man. They put it all out there when they were gassed and tired and cramping. They were nasty, didn't back down, and showed that they are at the very least one of the better defenses in the East. Forrest's name continues to get called and that's always a pleasant surprise at LB. Our front 7 is just physical and fast.

- Preparation by the staff was top notch. This is something we've lacked in the past, coming into games unprepared. We threw the kitchen sink at them on defense with multiple sets and schemes. And the guys handled it like a well coached team should. Very proud of this staff for that. It's not easy with a bunch of first and second year guys to have them playing like experienced players.

- WRs played like upperclassmen. Made some BIG BIG catches on those sidelines, feet dragging in the grass. Despite the two bobbles that led to interceptions, their night was really good. Those other catches will become more consistent with experience.

The Not So Good:

- Our secondary is just not good. And I hate it because it's not a current coaching issue and it's not a current player issue. It's that the cupboard was left so bare that we were converting WRs last season to that secondary and bringing in JUCOs to start. This is where the West injury hurts us the most because he would've provided some depth and some talent. It'll get better with recruitment and I think last night's game goes a long way to opening some eyes as to the potential if you come to UK. We were a few overthrown Driskel balls from a bad situation. But I think those kids play really hard, they just have a low ceiling.

- frick the refs. I don't need to say anything else.

- Special teams hurt us last night. I'm really hoping MacGinnis' issues are just that he's a really young leg. He hit some big ones last night but he also missed a very big one and could've missed another without the craziest knuckleball I've ever seen. We've gotta get that cleaned up knowing we could very well have some chances to win some we shouldn't by a thin margin. We also struggled in coverage on punts/kickoffs.

- Brown's conservative playcalling early on put us at a disadvantage IMO. It may have just been he needed to earn that confidence in Towles in that situation. But it was really frustrating to see some plays called like trying to run a guy to the edges when we all know Florida's defense is fast enough that it's usually a minimal gain at best. The playcalling improved quite a bit later in the game when he decided to start taking some chances in the air. But there were definitely some headscratchers last night.

All in all a lot of things to be excited about after last night when it comes to this team and it's future under Stoops.

Prayers sent to Vandy though. The boys are going to have two weeks to sit and stew over this loss before getting them at home. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want blood after some of those games under Franklin.

I fear that special teams will cost us another game this year. Worried more about them than the DB's.

The one thing Stoops can't fix this season is the depth chart. That will have to wait till next year.

I thought mac did fairly well. He did miss that fg in OT but he hit a LONG one to tie the game up in regulation. Inconsistency is normal for freshman.

We had a couple of shots to finish them off. Just couldn't execute on those plays sadly.

All in all:

Was pleased by our play for most of the game. First half our offense struggled outside that last drive of the first half. But our d shined. Complete opposite 2nd half. Tiller missing that sure pick 6 and the ball going right into the hands of Robinson killed us. That was the gator's first touchdown drive that game against us. 17-6 in favor of us> 13-10 in favor of them. Not too mention Timmons dropping the damn ball late in our last drive of regulation, that turned into a pick. Could've put us on the cusp of field goal range with 28 seconds and 2 timeouts remaining.

Garrett Johnson was named SEC Freshman of the Week.