There's an article on wlex web site talking about Mike Leach becoming head man at UK. Check it out..... Thoughts?

There's an article on wlex web site talking about Mike Leach becoming head man at UK. Check it out..... Thoughts?

 

I was just thinking the same thing. The "Mad Scientist" is looking for employment and could be back in Lexington over the summer. I think they will fire Joker after the season. If they want to keep their receiver and QB recruits this would be a heck of a way to do so.

Anyone who wants Mike Leach must have forgotten what it was like with Mumme or is too young to remember. Leach's idea of defense is to score another TD. He would just assume to let the other team score so he could get the ball back. I would love to have him as an OC but as the head man would be a huge mistake.

I think there's reason to be more optimistic with Leach. The guy was 85-43 in 10 years with Texas Tech. In his last five seasons there he was 46-18 with 9 wins in three of those and 11 in another. It is also worth noting that he never finished .500 or worse. His worst season was his first when they finished 7-6.

 

Your point about defense is valid. But, I don't think it precludes him from being your head coach.

Anyone who wants Mike Leach must have forgotten what it was like with Mumme or is too young to remember. Leach's idea of defense is to score another TD. He would just assume to let the other team score so he could get the ball back. I would love to have him as an OC but as the head man would be a huge mistake.

 

Honestly, I'd prefer that to the current product on the field. If you're going to lose, at least have fun doing it.

 

Kentucky has given up over 40 points on average the last 4 games anyway.

Honestly, I'd prefer that to the current product on the field. If you're going to lose, at least have fun doing it.

 

Kentucky has given up over 40 points on average the last 4 games anyway.

Sorry but losing 45-40 gets just as old. It's fun at first but you get tired of losing all the close games. 5-7 is 5-7 not matter how you get there. How many bowl games did UK go to much less win under Mumme? And the 40 point avg doesn't tell the whole story. When the defense is on the field 75% of the game they are going give up points.

Sorry but losing 45-40 gets just as old. It's fun at first but you get tired of losing all the close games. 5-7 is 5-7 not matter how you get there. How many bowl games did UK go to much less win under Mumme? And the 40 point avg doesn't tell the whole story. When the defense is on the field 75% of the game they are going give up points.

 

You think they'll hit 5-7 this year? Me either.

 

The sad thing is that everyone is yearning for the "good old days" of last year with Hartline, Cobb, Locke, and Matthews. Joker managed 6-7 with that group.

 

And the defense being on the field for 75% of the game is directly related to how terrible the offense is.

You think they'll hit 5-7 this year? Me either.

 

The sad thing is that everyone is yearning for the "good old days" of last year with Hartline, Cobb, Locke, and Matthews. Joker managed 6-7 with that group.

 

And the defense being on the field for 75% of the game is directly related to how terrible the offense is.

Of course they won't hit 5-7 this year. That wasn't the point. They didn't hit 5-7 every when they were scoring 40 points a game. If you guys think no defense in the SEC is going to win you games good luck. Leach's offense isn't putting up 30-40 a week against UF, Bama, LSU, Auburn, ect...

 

As far as the bolded goes, thank you captin obvious, j/k. UK can have a good defense and offense at the same time. It doesn't have to be one or the other.

Anyone who wants Mike Leach must have forgotten what it was like with Mumme or is too young to remember. Leach's idea of defense is to score another TD. He would just assume to let the other team score so he could get the ball back. I would love to have him as an OC but as the head man would be a huge mistake.

 

Good points. If he could get Minter to stay, is he a better DC than what Tech had under Leach?

For all the people comparing Leach to Mumme, we must first realize they are completely different coaches. Also remember that Leach only served as offensive coordinator at UK for two seasons. But this post is about defense. Lets look at the stats from Mike Leach's 10 seasons at Texas Tech and compare them to what was happening at Kentucky at the same time.

 

Texas Tech (2000-2009)

Season/Record/POINTS ALLOWED/National Rank Defensive Scoring

2000 7-6 21.4 39th

2001 7-5 23.4 40th

2002 9-5 31.4 89th

2003 8-5 34.0 101st

2004 8-4 26.2 68th

2005 9-3 18.8 18th

2006 8-5 25.1 77th

2007 9-4 25.9 51st

2008 11-2 27.8 75th

2009 9-4 22.5 41st

85-43 25.7 60th

 

During Leach's tenure the overall record was 85-43, the defense allowed 25.7 ppg, and the average ranking was 60th (out of 120 teams).

 

Kentucky (2000-2009)

Season/Record/POINTS ALLOWED/National Rank Defensive Scoring

2000 2-9 34.8 106th

2001 2-9 33.4 99th

2002 7-5 25.1 52nd

2003 4-8 26.8 69th

2004 2-9 31.0 86th

2005 3-8 34.1 109th

2006 8-5 28.4 99th

2007 8-5 29.6 81st

2008 7-6 21.5 35th

2009 7-6 22.7 43rd

50-70 28.7 78th

 

During the same time period in Lexington the overall record was 50-70, the defense allowed 28.7 ppg, and the average ranking was 78th (out of 120 teams).

 

To extend it further, in the 1.25 seasons under Joker Phillips Kentucky's defense is allowing 28.9 ppg and has an average defensive ranking of 79th.

 

**********

 

By looking at the numbers, Leach's defensive units were never great at Texas Tech, but they were annually better than Kentucky. Kentucky's best defense during that ten year period would have only been the third best in Lubbock. And Leach's defense was playing schools known for high scoring/passing attacks, where the SEC has a tendency to be more run oriented with stronger defenses.

 

So while some people's idea of an upgrade at Kentucky might not necessarily be Mike Leach, you can't use quotes like these to justify it:

 

-"Sorry but losing 45-40 gets just as old"

 

-"He would just assume to let the other team score so he could get the ball back."

 

Because if you check out the real numbers and real facts like we did in this post, you might be pleasantly surprised at the overall success of Leach and the lack of real defensive prowess at Kentucky during the supposed "glory years" of the same time period.

If things keep progressing the way they have been I would be very open to brininging in someone like Leach. I think Towles could do some big things in Leach's system.

I say bring in anyone who knows anything about an offense.

For all the people comparing Leach to Mumme, we must first realize they are completely different coaches. Also remember that Leach only served as offensive coordinator at UK for two seasons. But this post is about defense. Lets look at the stats from Mike Leach's 10 seasons at Texas Tech and compare them to what was happening at Kentucky at the same time.

 

Texas Tech (2000-2009)

Season/Record/POINTS ALLOWED/National Rank Defensive Scoring

2000 7-6 21.4 39th

2001 7-5 23.4 40th

2002 9-5 31.4 89th

2003 8-5 34.0 101st

2004 8-4 26.2 68th

2005 9-3 18.8 18th

2006 8-5 25.1 77th

2007 9-4 25.9 51st

2008 11-2 27.8 75th

2009 9-4 22.5 41st

85-43 25.7 60th

 

During Leach's tenure the overall record was 85-43, the defense allowed 25.7 ppg, and the average ranking was 60th (out of 120 teams).

 

Kentucky (2000-2009)

Season/Record/POINTS ALLOWED/National Rank Defensive Scoring

2000 2-9 34.8 106th

2001 2-9 33.4 99th

2002 7-5 25.1 52nd

2003 4-8 26.8 69th

2004 2-9 31.0 86th

2005 3-8 34.1 109th

2006 8-5 28.4 99th

2007 8-5 29.6 81st

2008 7-6 21.5 35th

2009 7-6 22.7 43rd

50-70 28.7 78th

 

During the same time period in Lexington the overall record was 50-70, the defense allowed 28.7 ppg, and the average ranking was 78th (out of 120 teams).

 

To extend it further, in the 1.25 seasons under Joker Phillips Kentucky's defense is allowing 28.9 ppg and has an average defensive ranking of 79th.

 

**********

 

By looking at the numbers, Leach's defensive units were never great at Texas Tech, but they were annually better than Kentucky. Kentucky's best defense during that ten year period would have only been the third best in Lubbock. And Leach's defense was playing schools known for high scoring/passing attacks, where the SEC has a tendency to be more run oriented with stronger defenses.

 

So while some people's idea of an upgrade at Kentucky might not necessarily be Mike Leach, you can't use quotes like these to justify it:

 

-"Sorry but losing 45-40 gets just as old"

 

-"He would just assume to let the other team score so he could get the ball back."

 

Because if you check out the real numbers and real facts like we did in this post, you might be pleasantly surprised at the overall success of Leach and the lack of real defensive prowess at Kentucky during the supposed "glory years" of the same time period.

So including UK's rebuilding / probation years is a fair comparison. Let's look at the last 4 on your list. UK's avg is 25.6 and TTU's is 25.3. Let's also figure the difference in the recruiting pools. What state would you rather recruit in?

So including UK's rebuilding / probation years is a fair comparison. Let's look at the last 4 on your list. UK's avg is 25.6 and TTU's is 25.3. Let's also figure the difference in the recruiting pools. What state would you rather recruit in?

 

But the point is that their defense was as good as anything UK ever did have. You said they gave up 45 points a game (making it hard to win) and that wasn't necessarily true.

I can't imagine him giving up on Joker after only 2 seasons. I think he gives him another year. I like Joker, he seems like a great guy, and he's UK through and through. However, he clearly seems a bit overmatched as a HC in the SEC. :idunno:

 

I tend to agree with this.