ukcatfannfl
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posted 08-22-2010 07:12 AM
our team by Bleed Blue.
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Joker Phillips and “Coach-Speak”
by Aaron on Aug.21, 2010, under News
By Messenger
UK’s new head coach is already a skillful manager of information
Coach Brooks was notorious for disseminating misleading information. Brooks knew how to use the art of misinformation to force upcoming opponents to prepare for multiple contingencies. He closed his practices and gagged his coaching staff. All information about the team was channeled through Brooks himself, and some of it was not always the whole truth. Brook, an old NFL DC, was at his best when it came to misleading opponents about the weaknesses of his defense, such as his statements leading up to last October’s game at Auburn. Later in the fall, Brooks was still packaging Trevard Lindley as a lockdown cornerback when Lindley could barely walk. Prior to UK’s 2008 victory over UL at Papa John Stadium, Brooks made statements that seemed to indicate his defensive unit was virtually helpless against veteran UL QB Hunter Cantwell. When the game began, Brooks started Ventrell Jenkins at DE and Braxton Kelley at the “Will” LB, thus putting a big team on the field that beat Cantwell to a pulp and completely shut down UL’s offensive game plan.
But Brooks was not above trickery on behalf of his offensive unit either. Leading up to last November’s UK-Vandy game, Brooks had Bobby Johnson guessing whether Morgan Newton or Mike Hartline would start at QB even though, in reality, Hartline could not even walk without a pronounced limp at that stage in his rehab.
On balance, Brooks accomplished more with the talent on hand because he did not give his opponents much advance information to assist their preparations. The old man knew what he was doing.
Former Notre Dame and South Carolina coach Lou Holtz was one of the greatest managers of information who ever coached a D-1 football team.
Brooks and Holtz are Joker Phillips’ two most important mentors in the coaching business. And, keep in mind that UK AD Mitch Barnhart is a stickler for managing the flow of information.
As Joker approaches the first game of his D-1 head coaching career, we are watching Joker exercise the kind of information management that would make Brooks and Holtz proud. UK’s coaching staff is 90+% sure who will start at QB. But Joker still calls it a three-man race, and I frankly doubt the media will get a straight answer for another week. At this point, in fact, I believe Joker knows his offensive two-deep chart with more than 90% certainty. He knows his game plan for September 4, and he is ready for war. But he is talking to the media about Michael Harper, Aaron Boyd, and Jake Lanefski. This gives the kids some well-deserved public encouragement, while also misleading the media about his most immediate observations and priorities.
Late this week, Joker even told the media he doesn’t know yet who will be UK’s placekicker. For weeks and probably even months, Joker has known it will be Joe Mansour. But Joker isn’t going to reveal anything without a good reason.
Joker also knows that his defensive unit is in much better shape than he is letting on. His defensive line has played a lot better in practice than most people think. So far, UK’s defense has had the better of Joker’s offensive unit in camp. The staff is pleased with the conditioning of veteran DTs Ricky Lumpkin, Shane McCord, and Mark Crawford. Joker already knows freshman DT Donte Rumph will be an impact player this fall. Soph DE Collins Ukwu has had a breakthrough camp, and his competitor Taylor Wyndham is in better shape than they expected after missing spring drills. Freshman DE Nermin Delic has been the talk of camp, and will break the two-deep chart. The LB play has also been better than expected, and competitions are basically resolved now at the “Sam” and “Mike” positions. Meanwhile, the starting secondary (Burden, Neloms, Guy, Bailey) is coming together quickly, and will be the team’s strongest unit. Bailey, in particular, has dazzled the staff. But you aren’t hearing much about this. Instead, Joker is talking about Tristian Johnson and Anthony Mosley. And I don’t think Steve Brown has even made a significant public comment this summer.
This is a better UK football team than we thought. But Joker will let them prove their strengths on the field. He will not tip his hand in the media. He will not give Charlie Strong any help with UL’s preparation for September 4.
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This is why L-ville will have problems trying to figure out our game plan!!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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ukcatfannfl
Posts: 8771 | From: Inverness, FL | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 08-22-2010 08:05 AM
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