Why I think our Dawgs are okay.

Was looking at DawgNation saw an article Tallinn about areas that needed fixing before Kentucky. Some I agree with and some I completely disagree with. Here is my top three:

1. Offensively and defensively we were not physical enough. On defense we were back on our heels and if you watch, most of the time we would when we would make contact and move backwards. That’s not something we’ve seen from our defense since before the Auburn game last year.

You could even see our lack of physicality on the first offensive possession. When you watch Nick Chubb run for our first TD, Solomon kindley getsbmet at the line by a LB he easily outweighs by over 75lbs.

For whatever reason we were on our heels, playing slow and playing soft as a team. This will be corrected, IMO.

2. Somehow, we forgot our responsibilities. Our “Wolfpack” played like lambs are forgot that their main responsibility is to contain the football. They let to much stuff get to the perimeter. If the ball is bouncing outside without pursuit and our Corners are being forced to contain you know we are in trouble. We also, did a horrible job of getting off of blocks.

3. I don’t have a number three. I’m not going to criticize play callling because if our Line executes and plays faster with more physicality we are gashing their defense. I really don’t see this being the faults of our coaching staff. Sure it’s the coaches job to get the kids ready to play, but if you poke an ox and it doesn’t move, are you supposed to kill it? That’s not realisitic. Would we have liked to have seen more stretch plays, of course! Would we have liked to see more quick passes, absolutely. Would we have like’d to have seen some screens, maybe. However, when the line isn’t executing in the run and they can’t protect the passer what are we supposed to do. Over 75 percent of our playbook was rendered unexecutable.

Overall, I really felt like our team played either scared or had a rocky 3 moment and became satisfied as if their ranking and resume would win the game for them. As a coach, you can do everything you want to try to prevent that mentality in your team but reality is if it gets in their heads, your team is screwed. From a mentality perspective, this might have been the best thing that could have happened because our kids will want another shot at Auburn and if they get it, Auburn better watch out. I believe our team will have that chip on their shoulder again and we will get back to playing down hill Football again on both sides of the ball.