How many quick series did we have in the second half where Towles either didn't move the chains or threw a pick? The other team makes adjustments- new running QB opened up their run game. I'm not saying the D was great tonight, but the way the offense played forced them to be out there a lot more than in the first half, where the defensive performance was much better. I'm putting that squarely on Towles.

 

This ^

Boom actually went out limping and missed some carries while he was out. Horton needs more touches than he got though. Boom came back but wasn't the same. I'm pretty sure he tweaked an ankle and had it re-taped.

Towles missed on 3 wide open TD's in the second half. If he completes 2 of those this thread and the overall mood of the fan base would be much different this morning.

Towles missed on 3 wide open TD's in the second half. If he completes 2 of those this thread and the overall mood of the fan base would be much different this morning.

 

I could be mistaken but I think he missed a TD or two in the first half also.

Towles missed on 3 wide open TD's in the second half. If he completes 2 of those this thread and the overall mood of the fan base would be much different this morning.

But he didn't and is why this thread is what it is.

 

If Dalton would have connected with a couple wide open receivers the last couple years in the playoffs the Bengals would have made it out of week 1 in the playoffs. Yes, my aunt is my uncle.

I was there and seeing all the people leaving in the 3rd quarter and even leaving after we pulled ahead by 16 really irked me. About 3/4 of the students left at halftime. New stadium but same fans. Guy sitting beside me was playing on his phone all night and even complained I was standing up too much when he never got up to cheer once. Need to keep winning to have a complete culture change. I'll take a win any way I could get it right now.

I think what you are describing with the fans is dead on. I also think the same thing happened to the players. After the score in the 3rd quarter, the whole place exhaled relaxed and started thinking about what they are doing after the game, how do we match up with South Carolina, and this will be fun when Florida comes to town. The atmosphere in the stadium completely changed, the air was out of the ballon. For a program that hasn't had a lot of success, it must learn how to play a full game not matter what the score, this includes the fans!

 

IMO, just a complete lack of energy and focus took over the whole stadium!! Everyone from the ushers to the last player on the bench need to stay on point, stay focused, don't relax, and maximize each moment.

He also had a completion percentage below 50%, threw a pick on a play that should have been a TD pass and mismanaged the play clock leading to at least one unnecessary timeout in the second half.

What I didn't like was a couple of times we are taking shots way down field on 3rd and about 2. Let's just move the sticks.....

It's really hard for me to get too worked up about this game either way. It's the first game of the season and you just never know. it definitely showed them some things to work on but I'm not going to write the season off on one game. Towles has got to improve his accuracy or they will have to make a change.

Kentucky just isn't there yet. They are getting there. This is an 'L' in past years (see Western Kentucky). Three starters out on defense screws with rotations and schemes.

 

ULL has four straight nine-win seasons with bowl wins. They aren't Tennessee-Martin.

 

Kentucky ran the ball when needed at the end and scored the winning TD by running effectively.

 

ULL's switch at QB I think threw off what UK's defense had prepped for.

 

In the grand scheme of things, it was a good win for UK. However, it was a few plays away from being a devastating loss.

I think fans in Knoxville should be more worried about their defense than fans in Lexington

What I didn't like was a couple of times we are taking shots way down field on 3rd and about 2. Let's just move the sticks.....

This.

However, it was a few plays away from being a devastating loss.

It was also just a few plays away from being a VERY comfortable win.

The receivers did a GREAT job of catching balls that they would have dropped last season.

I could be mistaken but I think he missed a TD or two in the first half also.

 

He missed at least one in the first half that I remember but we scored a TD on a long pass on that drive, so I am willing to give him a bit of a pass on that one.

 

I am only counting the ones he missed that he threw to the open receiver and that were certain TDs if Towles completes it to the receiver on the move. I remember two throws in the game, but others may remember more.

ULL has four straight nine-win seasons with bowl wins. They aren't Tennessee-Martin.

 

ULL's switch at QB I think threw off what UK's defense had prepped for.

 

Your first point is a great one. Louisiana will likely be a bowl team this season. They are not an easy out. That being said, we let them stay in the game and should have blew them out of Commonwealth if we execute. I know folks are putting a lot on the defense, but I think that Towles inconsistencies in the second half put the defense in a bind. We had three drives at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth that were 4 plays or less and we had the ball for a little over a minute, then a little over 40 seconds and finally a little over 30 seconds. We need to see first half Towles more often.

 

To the second point, I agree that the change at QB threw the defense off. I know that Louisiana has a QB battle going late into camp, so I think UK would have prepared for both guys. The issue, rather, was playing against the pocket passer for two and a half quarters and then having the runner come in with fresh legs. It is hard to play the option stuff on the fly when you haven't been worried about it all game.

 

Both really good points- just my opinions on those.