Back-to-back 5-7 seasons may not have Kentucky coach Mark Stoops on the hot seat just yet, but another losing season will surely put him there.

This offseason is barely six weeks old, and already Kentucky has had high-profile transfers and changes to its coaching staff. With so much turnover, the 2016 season is already starting to feel a bit like a make-or-break campaign for Stoops and company.

There were bright spots in 2015, but ultimately, the Wildcats fell short in the most crucial moments. Here are five areas in which they need to improve next fall:

Finishing — Josh Forrest had just taken an interception back 81 yards for a touchdown, and with a little less than five minutes left in the first quarter, Kentucky had a 21-0 lead on Louisville. The Wildcats looked well on their way to bragging rights and bowl eligibility, but instead were outscored 38-3 the rest of the way in a 38-24 loss.

The games against Florida, Auburn and Vanderbilt also turned out to be near-misses for a team that just couldn’t make the big play when it needed one.

Turnovers — Only three teams in the SEC turned the ball over more often than Kentucky last season. Those 22 giveaways led to a minus-2 turnover margin, a ranking that would have been far worse had the defense not forced 20 turnovers. It goes without saying that taking better care of the football enhances a team’s chance of winning.

Wide receivers — On the surface, Garrett Johnson, Dorian Baker and Jeff Badet put up solid numbers. What Kentucky needs is that same sort of production without the untimely drops that plagued the unit last season. “You talk to them about the same thing,” new co-offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw said. “When the ball’s in the air, it’s your ball. Quarterback’s not meaning to throw a bad ball and if you go in with that mentality, that that ball is my ball, I must go get it and then how do you catch the football.”

Quarterback — Patrick Towles regressed a bit in his junior season, throwing for nine TDs and 14 interceptions in a disappointing season. He left for Boston College and Reese Phillips, who would have competed with Drew Barker for the starting job, transferred out of the program as well. That leaves Barker (364 yards, one TD and two interceptions) and  junior-college transfer Stephen Johnson II as the favorites to win the job next fall. Regardless of which player lines up at the position, more production is a must.

Defensive line — The Wildcats were last in sacks with 17 last season, and eight of those came from linebackers and defensive backs. They were also 12th against the run, which speaks to the need for serious improvement up front. Junior-college transfer Naquez Pringle will add depth, but this is a unit that needs more help from new recruits to turn these numbers around.