UK's last sucess came without injuries No?

[Levi]

The two seasons that Morris was here and coincidentally two classes unaffected by probation on the field were as I recall relatively injury free. Whether this was simply coincidence or better athletes and better depth translating into fewer injuries is debatable. However I can't help but believe that this year is the first year that Brooks has been able to field a team with comparable depth and talent which Morris had.

I am hoping that with the double infusion of depth and talent provided by probation free recruiting and the returning scholarship players from injuries last year allows us to avoid injuries a great deal better than last year, thereby getting an extra boost to overall team depth and performance for the entire season.

I don’t think a fair evaluation of Brooks can be made until that issue of having a full roster of players can be made. I am looking forward to this year with great anticipation of improvement while at the same time tempering all expectation with the painful memories and experience of being a UK football fan for decades.

[RV]

I know you're wanting to talk about depth and injuries on this thread so here' my take. I believe that they're directly related. We had more injuries cover the past couple of years than anyone and we had fewer players than anyone as well. Case closed.

You bring up another interesting point however and that is talent comparison. Do we have as much talent on this team compared to the 2002 team that went 7-5 under Morri$$? Furthermore, if you agree with me that the talent is comparable then why would it be so unthinkable for this team to equal that 7-5 record this season?

[Athens2005]

It's not unthinkable at all to believe that this team coud go 7-5.



It would certainly represent a turnaround from year's past, as it would require the team to not blow any must-win games, and grab 1 or 2 toss-up games.



But, the schedule is in place, and the talent is better.

If these guys can mentally put the past behind them, then 6-6 is clearly attainable, and at that point, 7-5 is well within reach.

[CATHYnKY]

I'm MORE than ready to go bowling. I'd love to go back to Nashville. I know it isn't a major bowl. It is a bowl, close to a lot of UK fans (in contrast to going to Idaho in the middle of the friggin' winter ;)). Just for fun and my info...what other bowls would be possibilities if we go 6/6? I know we haven't played the first game yet, just curious.

[CatFanInGtown]

Liberty Bowl in Memphis. C-USA champ vs. 7-8 place SEC finisher

[Levi]

I think the one thing that Morris had that we do notand itwas a huge plus for him is we do not have an Abney. That guy was lightening in a bottle. His Jr. year was unreal and as good as we had on the kicking game last year I'm not sure we have a playmaker on special teams as prolific as Mr. Abney was for us back then.

[trublue4life]

The 7-5 year had fewer injuries than any season in my lifetime. It was unbelieveable how we got through that season without ANY major injuries that cost any key performers any lost time at all. We also had the leading rusher in the SEC, a record setting year by Derek Abney and one of the best year's by a punter in school history (Glen Pakulak). The real wonder is why we didn't win 9 games (remember the LSU game?). If we got those kind of breaks again I would feel very confident about 7 wins this year, but I don't think you can count on too many injury year's like that one, ever.

[Levi]

trublue4life wrote: The 7-5 year had fewer injuries than any season in my lifetime. It was unbelieveable how we got through that season without ANY major injuries that cost any key performers any lost time at all. We also had the leading rusher in the SEC, a record setting year by Derek Abney and one of the best year's by a punter in school history (Glen Pakulak). The real wonder is why we didn't win 9 games (remember the LSU game?). If we got those kind of breaks again I would feel very confident about 7 wins this year, but I don't think you can count on too many injury year's like that one, ever.
Yeah it was like karma balanced the ledger last year.:shrug:

[trublue4life]

Levi wrote: trublue4life wrote: The 7-5 year had fewer injuries than any season in my lifetime. It was unbelieveable how we got through that season without ANY major injuries that cost any key performers any lost time at all. We also had the leading rusher in the SEC, a record setting year by Derek Abney and one of the best year's by a punter in school history (Glen Pakulak). The real wonder is why we didn't win 9 games (remember the LSU game?). If we got those kind of breaks again I would feel very confident about 7 wins this year, but I don't think you can count on too many injury year's like that one, ever.
Yeah it was like karma balanced the ledger last year.:shrug:
You are correct. Last year was freaky for the total opposite reason. So many injuries and of the bizarre variety. Let's hope the injury pendulum swings back this year to the healthy side.

[poodoo]

trublue4life wrote: Levi wrote: trublue4life wrote: The 7-5 year had fewer injuries than any season in my lifetime. It was unbelieveable how we got through that season without ANY major injuries that cost any key performers any lost time at all. We also had the leading rusher in the SEC, a record setting year by Derek Abney and one of the best year's by a punter in school history (Glen Pakulak). The real wonder is why we didn't win 9 games (remember the LSU game?). If we got those kind of breaks again I would feel very confident about 7 wins this year, but I don't think you can count on too many injury year's like that one, ever.
Yeah it was like karma balanced the ledger last year.:shrug:
You are correct. Last year was freaky for the total opposite reason. So many injuries and of the bizarre variety. Let's hope the injury pendulum swings back this year to the healthy side.

I am in total agreement with both of your posts, trublue4life. Like you, I don't remember a UK football season with as few injuries as during Morris' 7-5 season (besides our having the SEC's best offensive performer Pinnerand punter Pakulak,and also having a record-breaking kick returner like Derek Abney and defensive tackle Dwayne Robertson, the fourth player taken in the NFL draft). Like you and Levi, I saw last season as the direct opposite, the most key injuries I have ever remembered (and to a squad without depth because of probation, most unfortunately).

Absolutely, let's hope "the injury pendulum swings back this year to the healthy side." If it does, yes, I think weCANGOBOWLING, and little would make me happier. :)

[RCS]

The staff noted that they played quite few players way more than they wanted. Several of those players ended up with injuries.It stands to reason that you are more likely to get hurt the more you play, both because you are tired and simply the wear and tear on your body that comes with playing football. I think you will see the staff sub much more frequently this year, both because they have more depth and because they may have been their own worst enemy last year by playing kids so many minutes.

Even with that said, that Morris year was unbelievable. Other than the LSU debacle, everything went UK's way. We beat Ark. on special teams alone. We did not even play well but returned 2 kicks for TDs which proved to be enough. That was a whole lot of fun that year. I sure hope we can get close to that this year. 6 or 7 wins would do a lot to start healing the wounds of the past few years and at least makes all of us UK fans feel a little better.

[SBCatMan]

First, I DO think we go bowling this year.; I am counting on it.



But, Levi and RCS are correct. While the talent on this team and MOrriss' last team is comparable, the one big difference, as of now, is Abney and the Special Teams. ST played a HUGE role on that team.

The other thing Morriss had going for him was an established QB in Lorenzen that he knew how to use.

I think we have MUCH better depth this year and comparable if not better talent. But, someone must establish themselves as THE QB. And, we need to improve EVERY aspect of the kicking game.

[Levi]

We were better at special teams last year than one might think, at least offensively. There is still much room for improvement defensively but consider last years performance:

Punt returns---------------------3rd in the country

Kickoff returns-------------------4th

Punt defense--------------------40th

Kickoff defense------------------85th

Net punting-----------------------77th

Our overall team speed should be better and that should show up on special teams first. If we can improve the defensive special teams we could plug a large hole we would not need to dig ourselves out of so much.

[Blue Heaven]

Posted by Levi: I think the one thing that Morris had that we do notand itwas a huge plus for him is we do not have an Abney. That guy was lightening in a bottle. His Jr. year was unreal and as good as we had on the kicking game last year I'm not sure we have a playmaker on special teams as prolific as Mr. Abney was for us back then.

Glen Pakulak didn't hurt either! The special teams play that year was, IMO, the reason we were 7-5. We need MUCH better special teams play, along with defense, to even sniff the possibilities of a 6-6 season.

[BigblueDrew]

CATHYnKY wrote: I'm MORE than ready to go bowling. I'd love to go back to Nashville. I know it isn't a major bowl. It is a bowl, close to a lot of UK fans (in contrast to going to Idaho in the middle of the friggin' winter ;)). Just for fun and my info...what other bowls would be possibilities if we go 6/6? I know we haven't played the first game yet, just curious.
A Nashville bowl would be great, LOTS of Uk people in town, seeing the tight strained looks on the Vandy people as we swagger by in our blue, works for me.

[trublue4life]

BigblueDrew wrote: CATHYnKY wrote: I'm MORE than ready to go bowling. I'd love to go back to Nashville. I know it isn't a major bowl. It is a bowl, close to a lot of UK fans (in contrast to going to Idaho in the middle of the friggin' winter ;)). Just for fun and my info...what other bowls would be possibilities if we go 6/6? I know we haven't played the first game yet, just curious.
A Nashville bowl would be great, LOTS of Uk people in town, seeing the tight strained looks on the Vandy people as we swagger by in our blue, works for me.
And since filling up with gas is almost like making amortgage payment these days a short drive to Nashville sounds good. Of course, I would be willing to break the gas budget for an Atlanta trip too.

[boomdaddy]

Blue Heaven wrote: Posted by Levi: I think the one thing that Morris had that we do notand itwas a huge plus for him is we do not have an Abney. That guy was lightening in a bottle. His Jr. year was unreal and as good as we had on the kicking game last year I'm not sure we have a playmaker on special teams as prolific as Mr. Abney was for us back then.

Glen Pakulak didn't hurt either! The special teams play that year was, IMO, the reason we were 7-5. We need MUCH better special teams play, along with defense, to even sniff the possibilities of a 6-6 season.


Artose Pinner, the best runnung back in the SEC his senior year, was a huge factor as well. The O line wasn't that great, but Pinner would get 5 yards after getting hit at the line of scrimmage.

Guy Moriss would not have kept winning, had he stayed. One only has to look at his lack of recruiting linemen, to see just how bare the cupboard was after the 7-5 season. I, for one, am glad that Guy Moriss is gone.