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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Everything I’ve seen regarding the public opinion on UK’s coaching staff has been mostly negative. In fact, I haven’t heard one single person say “everything is going to be ok. The coaching staff is doing a fine job”. It seems no matter how bad it gets the “new guy” always gets the benefit of the doubt…at first. Joker’s particular honeymoon ended last year after UK lost to a Pittsburg team that didn’t even have a head coach. Some coaches get an even longer honeymoon, no matter how bad they perform their job.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Billy Gillispie was given wayyyyy too long of a grace period. In all honesty, Billy should have been fired after his first year. Aside from losing to terrible teams like Gardner Webb, he treated his players (and basically every human being he ever met) like they were dog crap stuck on the bottom of his shoe. I remember one time specifically after Billy lost his 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] straight SEC game, I went on a message board and stated “Billy G. is coaching his way out of Lexington”. Much like the comment sections here at NOB, I was called a turncoat, an idiot and a Cardinal fan (still reeling from that last one). Sometimes, our fandom gets in the way of truth. In this case people were so happy to get rid of Tubby, they refused to admit how terrible his replacement was.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]So now that we all admit that Joker’s grace period is in fact over, lets evaluate what he has done this year so far. UK fans stated last year the defense was terrible, so Joker hired a great defensive mind in Rick Minter. Whether that was the correct choice or not, he at least listened and tried to make a change. UK fans wanted to see Josh Clemmons start and get the bulk of the carries. Due to Raymond Sanders’ injury, Clemmons starting became a reality. UK fans screamed that Matt Roark should be benched, thus Joker benched him. And recently at LSU after being shut out in the first half, fans screamed for a change in the offense and Joker complied by putting another QB in.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]I’d like to focus on that last point. UK’s offense did look terrible and an adjustment was needed, but the coaching staff made the wrong one. [B]Putting an inexperienced qb against the #1 team in the nation on the road who is also an immobile quarterback solves nothing[/B]. UK’s receivers won’t be able to magically catch the ball if someone else is throwing it to them as Newton’s passes have been fairly accurate. And Smith at qb won’t make the offensive line protect any better. So what is the last chance for [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]If UK’s offensive line and receivers continue to suck, I see no other option than to go all in with the true freshman Theltus Cobbins. Don’t listen to anyone who says this change won’t make a difference. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Look no further than Teddy Bridgewater. He is the sole reason UL beat UK this year. [B]His offensive line sucks too, but his scrambling ability keeps the chains moving[/B]. Against Marshall (who by the way changed their motto to “We are…terrible at football and still beat Louisville”) Bridgewater threw for over 200+ yards, one touch and scrambled on a broken play for another touchdown. He also had 2 INT’s, but this was his first ever career start. While Louisville and Bridgewater aren’t blowing away teams right now, they do at least have hope for the future. That’s something UK fans do not have right now.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]So this last chance I am giving the coaching staff is contingent on them eliminating Bookie’s red shirt and playing him at qb every game from here on out. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Not necessarily starting, but playing some. If anything, this would be a nice change of pace from Newton standing in the pocket until it collapses getting sacked for 15 yards. [B]The ingredient for what this team needs is a mobile quarterback who can extend plays[/B]. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]UK won’t make a bowl this year, but they would have something to build for the next year. Otherwise I don’t see this coaching staff still being intact after next year.[/SIZE][/FONT]
