My ridiculously wordy post-game thoughts.
by CARD_G6 on Sep 6, 2009 3:11 AM EDT
Email
PrintSo I've got a lot to say, cause I've got a lot on my mind after that game. Whatever hopes or ambitions I had about this team a week ago are quickly fading, and it will take a mesmerizing performance at Commonwealth Stadium in 2 weeks to convince me we've got any shot at postseason play, and even then, if anybody says we've still got a chance, I'll look at them silly in public. Anyway, ridiculously, unnecessarily, over-the-top wordy analysis after the break.
Offense: Let’s face it; the offense looked horrible to start the game. Burke was throwing everything but a good pass, and the running game was decent, but couldn’t get a first down against a terrible team. But they settled down, and things finally started humming along. The running game was solid, and the receivers made some good plays, but they still had a problem with dropping passes on key possessions and downs (Beaumont in the end zone comes to mind).
But there were two major problems: penalties, and interceptions. While the first interception could be understood because this was still during Burke’s apparent “rust period,” the second was absolutely terrible, and for a guy as mobile as Burke to even be under the pressure that he was under by a team as bad as ISU is baffling. That whole play was a disaster from the moment Jurich said “Kragthorpe” three years ago, however, as I don’t understand why you don’t go for the field goal there. The way I see it, here are the possible outcomes in that situation: you get the touchdown (good), you throw the interception (bad), you get sacked and don’t have time to go for a field goal (bad), you throw short of the TD and don’t have time for a field goal (bad), or you get an incompletion but the clock runs out anyway (bad), or you get a quick incompletion and have a chance at a field goal (acceptable). Seems to me there’s more bad there than good, especially when you’re trying to get your kicker experience after last year’s field goal debacle.
The penalties were perhaps the worst part of this ridiculous game. 14-128? That’s absolutely atrocious, and only goes to provide further evidence of Kragthorpe’s apparent ineptitude at the game of football. This is the sloppiest game of football I can remember seeing the Cards play in a long time, and the fact that all the coordinators and trainers are now either Krag himself of “Krag’s guys” should tell you what the problem here is.
The only stat that I think is worse than 14-128, however, is 1-9. How can a team in the FBS possibly go 1-9 for third down against a team in the FCS? I have no idea, so I’m not even going to tackle that one.
Defense: I don’t know why everybody keeps saying “At least the defense was good.” Were we watching the same game? Sure, ISU only had 101 yards of offense. Only 19 of those came on the ground, and this is definitely where the Cards showed that they can be strong. They also managed to snag three interceptions and a fumble, which is great, but hardly unexpected against this team. But they also allowed 82 yards in the air, almost all on third down where ISU went 7-16. Man coverage is clearly not this team’s forte, but the linebackers also seem to be playing far too deep in zone coverage. I’m also not impressed at all with the new defensive coordinator’s play calling. Combining the talent that we have on the D-line and at linebacker with ISU’s middle-school offense of running between the tackles on first and second then throwing from the shotgun on third should have resulted in far more than one sack. There were very few blitzes, and there was much less pressure on the quarterback than there should have been with a team of this caliber. I can guarantee this: teams like UK, Cincinnati, and Rutgers will tear up this team through the air. Picture Rutgers last season, and expect to see that at least once this season.
Special teams: Trent Guy is back. That’s good. The rest: We were 3-4 on field goals, all within the 35, they were averaging as many yards per return as Trent Guy, and their punter had a higher average and long punt than ours. Superior talent what?
The Good: Victor Anderson not only doing the shuffle like always, but also showing his power by keeping his feet moving and getting extra yardage; Bilal Powell having a nice night and showing his obvious power; Burke making good plays outside the pocket (after the first quarter); getting some actual interceptions; we won by 20.
The Bad: Pretty much everything else besides the good, but in particular: penalties; third down conversions; penalties; QB pressure; penalties; Burke’s long ball; penalties; coaching and play calling; penalties; we won by 20. Did I mention penalties?
The Ugly: Besides the penalties and third down conversions? How about some of ISU’s throws? No wonder Wyoming dropped that guy like a hot potato.
Random thoughts: I still don’t understand this game. If you assume the first quarter was rust and that we didn’t really start playing well until the second quarter, then the stats look good: 419 offensive yards, 101 defensive yards, +2 turnovers. And yet you look at the score, and see just how many points we left on the field through bad decisions and penalties (like a pick-6 being called back and working your way out of FG position). These are simply the mistakes you can’t make if you want to pull some upsets. By the way, Burke: you need to cool it on the long ball. It’s not your thing. Stick to the short and intermediate passes for now, and we’ll come back to the airing-it-out when you get some more experience under your belt.
34 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
rust or no rust....
this game was against a team that has won 1 game in the past 5 seasons? Yeah we needed an ‘easier’ team to shake the cobwebs off, but these types of games are suppose to shake them off while still making the team look like King Kong. The team is suppose to be so overpowered that no one really thinks about the rust because we are manhandling them.
Realistically I came into the game wanting to see two things.
1. No dumb mistakes on the part of the coaching staff. This team is not disciplined (at least in the game of football) and the amount of penalties we incurred will be our downfall. I won’t even go into the going for it when we should have gone for the field goal, Cards_G6 pretty much wrapped that one up.
2. Aggressive play by the team and coaching. I wanted to see our players flying around and our coaching staff to call a game where the team could get a little hyped. But no, same old same old, run off center then tackle, then try to pass for the 8 yards we need, then kick. In the Petrino era you would have seen a double reverse or play action end zone play to start the season. deffensive play calling was on the extra conservative side as well. This is ISU we should be able to blitz someone every down and still be okay (did I mention ISU won one game in five seasons?).
At this point I’m not even sure we will win more than 3 games this year. There is no excuse for last nights play that says the measly 30-10 final score is acceptable. It’s not. I feel bad for the players on this team, because deep down in my heart, I feel like this team is a talented team. Not 2006 talented, but talented enough to competitively play in a very hurting Big East.
I can’t remember the last game where the 95% of the student section was sitting down almost the entire game. Even the thrashing that Syracuse gave us at home, the students were still standing. It’s going to be a long season men. God Speed.
-Dustin
I'm too depressed to write anything this long.
But your points are all pretty accurate. I really couldn’t believe last night. I had low, low expectations for this season and for the O-line, but if you told me that we’d struggle against ISU in the first half and that our O-line would be unable to open up holes against the worst FCS team, I would have called you a crazy, pessimistic fool. I would have been very wrong.
I didn't have the heart...
…to do a write-up, so thanks everyone.
That was gross. UK is going to destroy us.
A couple of leftover thoughts I have
1, I think Vic was being rested for Kentucky the 4th quarter. I just looked it up, and yep, Bilal had more carries than he did.
2, I also don’t know why people are saying the defense did a good job. ISU went 7-16 on 3rd down, and let’s remember one of those was a qb sneak on 3rd and 7 with Tubbs McGee
3, If one more person says “why do you think they are gonna suck since they won?” I’m going to punch them in the face.
4, Positive note, 20 completions to 9 receivers is good.
5, Hartline to Cobb is going to be a nightmare
From reading the comments
Here the past week, I know you all expected more, but you did get a win.
Hartline to Cobb…that is not your only nightmare, We have a Juco transfer this year, Chris Matthews, he will be a nightmare too. He is BIG WR and very good.
Looking forward to the game in 2 weeks.
LOL
UL Football Fan/UK Basketball Fan ~ Okinawa, Japan
by The White Mandingo on Sep 7, 2009 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Resting Anderson?
My goodness, the game is in two weeks. That’s a long, long time to have to rest. Don’t think there’s any particular reason or logic behind game plan/substitutions/play-calling/coaching in general. Kragthorpe could be Ron Cooper’s assistant, and that’s saying something.
theoldman
I agree
Yeah if the game was next Thursday then okay I see that but geez our 1st string needs all the gametime they can get
UL Football Fan/UK Basketball Fan ~ Okinawa, Japan
by The White Mandingo on Sep 7, 2009 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions
And by the way,
that Matthews kid does look like a beast and the real deal. He’ll be hard to handle. Hell, they’ll all be hard to handle.
theoldman
toast
Don’t even care if it’s French toast. We are toast. Without serious improvement we don’t win another game. We were playing against the number something like 239th ranked team out of 239 teams in 1-A and 1-AA or the new fancy letters something.
We had third and one or less twice and failed both times. We kicked 3 out of 4 FG’s but why in the world should we even have to try 2 FG’s against #239?
I could go on but the bottom line is out of the 15 observations I have about the game 13 1/2 are bad.
I like my toast lightly buttered with really fruity preserves. And by now i guess with red and black sprinkles.
Hey, I got on the front page. That's cool.
Either way, glad to see I’m not the only one who feels this way.
Additional thoughts:
I apologize for the poor grammar… it was late and I was distraught.
I know I’m harping on penalties, but I have to say that after further thought, I have to wonder how many of those penalties were not legit. Not only did they not clarify several of the personal fouls (which seems to be common this season), but I definitely remember a holding call where there was no hold. Still, that doesn’t make up for the numerous formation issues and false starts, but still…
While we picked up 3 interceptions, I saw several other interceptions that were completely missed. This tells me we have a lot of unskilled guys in the secondary. They’re timing their jumps incorrectly and having a hard time reading not only the quarterback, but also routes and even the ball itself when it’s in the air.
We’ve got some issues tackling. It seems to me like these guys aren’t properly trained on body tackles. I see a lot of arm tackles, and that will need some work.
Hey Fellow Card fans...
Enjoy your work and am a fan. Please check out our new blog at www.cardinal-laws.com !
UK sucks
they are picked last in their div. in sec, and they are going to hurt us. Sad state of affairs.
Where was Darius Ashley????
I never saw him in the game. The stats show that he did not have a carry.
If he doesn’t play against Indiana State when will he play?
by RB in Bardstown on Sep 7, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions
just to devil's advocate a bit...
does anyone think that the coaching staff was going to go deep into the playbook against INST? that’s more film for the kay-uts to have on us before we play. they kept in pretty vanilla on purpose (i hope…)
that being said, UL should have won by 50, even with a vanilla playbook, and that doesn’t change the fact that i almost fell asleep on more than one occasion during the “game”. here’s to 4-8…
Just a reminder....
…. of how bad Indiana State was last year. A review of the perfect season.
0 – 52 Eastern Michigan
3 – 38 Eastern Illinois
3 – 48 Northern Illinois
21 – 24 Missouri State
6 – 57 Illinois State
7 – 60 Southern Illinois
0 – 56 Western Illinois
9 – 49 South Dakota State
7 – 34 North Dakota State
21 – 35 Youngstown State
0 – 28 Northern Illinois
24 – 27 Missouri State
They may have set a record for the most directional schools played in a season.
What we saw on on September 5th was a total embarrassment.
THEY LOST TO NAIA QUINCY COLLEGE LAST WEEK!
I do not think we could win the Missouri Valley Conference.
Our football program is falling hard and fast.
by RB in Bardstown on Sep 7, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions
Jay Gruden Should be the Next Cardinal Coach after we Jettison Krapthorpe
Jay Gruden for New Cardinal Head Football Coach….
1- Starting QB and Alum
2- Helped build the foundation of Cardinal QB success
3- Set all passing records that Redman broke
4- Won 3 arena bowl champioships as a player
5- Won 4 Arena bowl championships as a head coach
6- Has 10 years Head Coaching experience
7- Has 10 years NFL QB coaching experience at Raiders and Tampa Bay
8- Is a great student of the offensive game
9- Will throw the ball and run effectively
10- Father was head scout for the SF 49ers in their dynasty days
11- Brother was head coach and won a super bowl
12- Cares deeply about this university and this community
13- Is smart enough to hire a quality D-Coordinator and let him do his job, not like
Krapthorpe changing Mike Cassity’s defense completely and costing us 3 games
in 2007 because kids did not know where to line up.
14- Has run entire operations at Arena level including drafting/PR/books etc….
15- Will bring in a quality staff and let them do their jobs and not micromanage the
entire operation.
16- Once more with feeling….. He played and graduated from here… he cares more
by Squat Parallel or Don't on Sep 7, 2009 2:59 PM EDT reply actions
No His name is Jay Gruden
His name is Jay Gruden and I coached him here at the ’ville-I was his strength coach
by Squat Parallel or Don't on Sep 8, 2009 5:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I realized that.
I tried to cancel the post before it posted and it said it did, but apparently not. I had a brain fart.
Either way, I would prefer Jon, but that’s me.
Please Leave...
I love Louisville to death and never thought I would say this in a million years but I will in deed be cheering for the rival squad if that is what it takes to get this piece of shit out of the coaching seat in our football department. For the last 2 years you have gotten rid of football players and tried to turn these guys into nice,nice,nice guys.THEY ARE FOOTBALL PLAYERS!!!!! They need to walk around wanting to knock people on their asses.Please I am beggin you to leave….I’ll buy your plan ticket…Please leave…
Yes it is sick but...
if you polled college sports nation, UK would be at/near the top of examples of fans lobbying for their coach to be fired so don’t act like UK is blameless in this department.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Sep 11, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
give me a break
UK fans have no room to talk when it comes to supporting your team thru thick and thin….NONE.
Go Cards!
I was not part of
The “Fire Tubby” and “Fire Gillispie” crowd. But I would never cheer for a rival to win to get rid of a coach. What about all the hard work and effort the players put forth?
we understand your logic but our vitriol has nothing to do with the players' effort
but has everything to do with the players future, past players pride, future players opportunity.
Am I a selfish fan who wants my team to win every game? Yes, winning games will always silence the critics. But I’ll take a team that appears prepared who instills pride amongst it’s fan base and program and a coach that blames himself for obvious coaching definciencies (penalties, play calling, staff performance & turnover). Any program can provide such things without having to win every game. Its the next step to finding your identity as a team and returning to a program “on the rise” as Louisville was merely 2 years ago.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Sep 13, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Eliminate everyone
who in any way detracts from my warped sense of self-esteem.
This is my team, my university.
Me Me Me.
Daddy, I want: an another pony / oompa loompa / squirrel / goose that lays golden eggs / flying glass elevator / new coach / new players / new AD / new arena / bigger football stadium / better bowl tie-ins / lower ticket cost / higher ranked recruiting classes / more local players…
I want it all, and I want it now – Veruca Salt & Queen
ThreadKiller
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
