Kentucky Wildcat Football: Is it coaching or playmakers?

Jody Demling over at C-J put up an interesting news snippet a couple days ago about Auburn commit Zeke Pike forgoing his last semester of high school (and who wouldn’t want to? tests, senior pictures, and the ever so pleasant prom night, awkward pictures included) and enrolling at Auburn early, presumably to accept that big bag of cash he got for going there. This is not a new concept, as players have done this for decades in order to gain a better competitive edge and more time with the playbook/coach/team. But with things they way they are over at Nutter fieldhouse today, it got me thinking: What if we could bring some players in and have them play right now?

These thoughts started after Joker’s press luncheon, when he made the comment and implied several times that we simply don’t have the playmakers to succeed. This is particularly troubling, because prior to this point all the deflections were valid; his players weren’t executing, quarterback play was putrid, or injuries preventing units from developing chemistry. I even bought it during conference play when we were getting trounced by NFL D-league teams. But now I can no longer eat that pie and like it, because last Saturday I saw a man simply get outcoached. Over the last 365 days Vanderbilt had a head coach abruptly quit, and bringing in a new HC very late in the process.

By comparison, our coaching change was the exact opposite, with a planned and patient exit strategy leading into a very smooth transition; but the result has not even been close to what fans were hoping for. Looking at those two facts alone, you would have thought the stat lines were backwards; that kind of domination simply shouldn’t happen from a program that hasn’t even brought Franklin’s first recruiting class (which is ranked in the Top-25). So it brought me back to the question: If we don’t have the speed and playmakers this year, who should we bring in by thursday so they can memorize the playbook by Saturday and give us a chance?

DeMarcus Sweat- The only remaining offensive skill player still committed (after the recent decommitment of Shadrach Thorton), ranked at three stars by  ESPN and two by Rivals. The Stone Mountain, Georgia product has five special teams touchdown’s this year, three on punt returns and 2 on kick returns. Despite not having many recpetions this year, he is averaging 30 yards per catch and has clearly been Stephenson’s deep threat this year. Hey, we might actually be able to use him.

Fred Tiller- Technically signed as an athlete, which is why I could make the above claim of Sweat being the only offensive skill player. Tiller, however, has nine touchdowns and almost 800 yards receiving this year and honestly, doesn’t have measurables or stats that put him far and above anybody we have this year.

So…that’s it. We have those two guys coming in next year and no one else on the offensive side of the ball. Besides some guy named Towles. But the fact is, if we don’t have the playmakers this year, then there’s not too much that two freshman that aren’t exactly world beaters can do. Joker, it is time to put up the excuses and start outcoaching people. Because one of your biggest defenders is starting to lose faith, and I can only take so many more lame excuses before I switch to team “Joker wasn’t the guy”