Honestly, I think we've had better "Total Team Play" from a few other teams in the past. 1987 And 1988 teams come to mind. This year's team and last year's have done more and can be considered our best teams for accomplishments, but we're still a long way from being "A total package" yet. Our Offensive line still has some work to do to become as good as some of the Best O/Lines we've ever had, and to be ranked as "Good" among the rest of the conference today. Our secondary (getting much better each game IMO) still has some issue with man coverage. Not the best secondary we've produced in recent years. Our Kick coverage and our punting units on Special teams isn't even close to the best we've ever put on the field. Talent wise, I don't recall a team in my lifetime with the kind of speed an athleticism of the groups we've had the past two years, but that tells me that there is still a lot of potential in this year's team that we haven't maxed yet. (basically, we still have a LOT of room for improvment).
What is making this year's team (and last year's as well) so good is the total overall team play. Fewer mistakes and dumb penalties, not great but solid individual performances from the majority of players on almost every play, and just a lot more "smart" play from the entire offense and Defense. Removing the first half of last season, this team has become very good at executing the coaches gameplan and making adjustments as the game progresses, and Executing the adjusted plan. T
hat is something we've not done in decades. Example: take pretty much any team in the past 2 decades and put them in the place of our team two weeks ago. Kentucky comes out hot and dominates the game combined with our flat play and lack of concentration.... any of those teams in the recent history would have folded and UK would have taken that game. This year however, the coaches just decided to line up, go power football at the start of the second half and simplfy the gameplan to allow the team to settle down and focus. There was no panic from the team, they executed the adjust plan well, and halfway through the third quarter we had gone ahead of UK and never looked back. That is why this year's team can be considered the best we've ever had. Not necessarily better / more solid overall, but a team that is made up of highly talented athletes and "MUCH SMARTER ATHLETES" than any of those of the past. ..... and the best part about what I just said above
THERE'S STILL MUCH ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, and improvements are
made each week !
What is making this year's team (and last year's as well) so good is the total overall team play. Fewer mistakes and dumb penalties, not great but solid individual performances from the majority of players on almost every play, and just a lot more "smart" play from the entire offense and Defense. Removing the first half of last season, this team has become very good at executing the coaches gameplan and making adjustments as the game progresses, and Executing the adjusted plan. T
hat is something we've not done in decades. Example: take pretty much any team in the past 2 decades and put them in the place of our team two weeks ago. Kentucky comes out hot and dominates the game combined with our flat play and lack of concentration.... any of those teams in the recent history would have folded and UK would have taken that game. This year however, the coaches just decided to line up, go power football at the start of the second half and simplfy the gameplan to allow the team to settle down and focus. There was no panic from the team, they executed the adjust plan well, and halfway through the third quarter we had gone ahead of UK and never looked back. That is why this year's team can be considered the best we've ever had. Not necessarily better / more solid overall, but a team that is made up of highly talented athletes and "MUCH SMARTER ATHLETES" than any of those of the past. ..... and the best part about what I just said above
THERE'S STILL MUCH ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, and improvements are
made each week !
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