South Carolina @ Kentucky: Open Game Thread
by Glenn Logan on Oct 11, 2008 12:00 PM EDT
in Open Thread
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PrintSouth Carolina Gamecocks at Kentucky Wildcats, Oct 11, 2008 12:30 PM EDT
This is the official Open Game Thread for South Carolina at Kentucky.
As I said in the post just below,this is a really big game for UK in many ways. Not only are long losing streaks on the line, but if the Wildcats are ever going to become a factor in the SEC East, they must find ways to hold serve at home. The last two years, UK has pulled major upsets at home, and although this game wouldn't really be an upset since the two teams are so even, Kentucky has historically found ways to lose games it should have won. No other team represents this unfortunate fact better than the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Both these teams are known for their defense, and there isn't a dime's worth of difference between them. The team that wins this game will be the one that finds ways to move the ball, makes the fewest mistakes, and takes advantage of the mistakes the other team give them.
Five things UK must do to win:
- Put pressure on Smelley -- Despite the fact that South Carolina is not known as a great offensive team, Steve Spurrier is one of the great passing coaches in all of football. South Carolina's athletes will beat our DB's if we give them a ton of time.
- Win the turnover battle -- One of the reasons UK has been so competitive is that it takes the ball away more than it gives it up.
- Attack on offense -- If we play a shrinking violet-type offensive game like we did against Louisville, South Carolina will leave a lot of unhappy fans at Commonwealth today.
- Defend the run -- After the Alabama game, USC should believe that they can run the ball against us, and they have the backs to do it. Stopping that will make it very difficult for USC to move the ball.
- Capitalize on field goal opportunities -- Field goals are going to figure mightily in this game because of the quality of defense. Ryan Tydlacka will have a major opportunity to affect the outcome of this one, I believe.
Five things UK can do to lose:
- Turnover the football -- UK has not shown enough offense to outscore anyone, and the few fumbles they have had this year have been devastating.
- Fail to establish a passing game -- South Carolina's defense will stack the box unless we force them not to.
- Poor special teams -- Special teams play almost won the Alabama game for UK. We dominated them in that area. We must do the same to the Gamecocks.
- Miss tackles -- UK missed more tackles against Alabama than anytime this year. It must improve against the Gamecocks.
- Worry about the streaks -- Forget about them. The 'Cats need to play football like they are the better team.
This is a big one, ladies and gentlemen. We need this. Down with the Visor!
Go, Cats!
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Big hold ...
… for UK there. Now, if we can only avoid dumb penalties …
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
They'll never learn.
Lindley is just not the guy to throw at. Forget your top receiver. He is toast.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Unless you try to match up Robbie McAtee on McKinley.
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
That touchdown ...
… is on special teams. Unsatisfactory.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Peters was getting held
The SC O-line was holding on Corey Peters really bad on the pass that Braxton nearly picked. Had him hooked from behind, but no flag
Kentucky ...
… Really needs to get us six here.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Can we do scrimmage scoring?
UK can just play D and get points for stops, tackles for loss, and turnovers.
I really like that idea.
I would feel much better about our chances in that scoring system.
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Can we score despite our Offense?
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 1:26 PM EDT reply actions
Who was saying just play defense the whole game?
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 1:29 PM EDT reply actions
Special teams ..
… are killing us. For the first time this year.
Wow.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
I am witnessing Murphy's law on special teams.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Both.
New rule in college this year.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Joker Phillips
Could not be calling a worse game.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 1:36 PM EDT reply actions
Really?
I thought he has called about 3 really horribly conservative games this year. Exclude WKU and Norfolk
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Touche.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
The Battle of Who Could Care Less
Both teams must have listened to Ben Folds Five in the locker room
Third down conversions.
SC 4-7;
UK 0-6
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 1:41 PM EDT reply actions
Ouch
But that is what happens when you aren’t innovative on offense and leave yourself in 3rd and long.
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Awesome.
Our defense is frightening in it’s ability to take the ball away. We have a +5 turnover margin now, I wonder how high it can go after this game.
Great job by the offense finally capitalizing on a turnover. Finally.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
That's funny
Pretty awesome too when you can consider that a “disappointment”
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Randal Cobb
adds a whole element to the offense
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 1:56 PM EDT reply actions
simply put,
he’s the most explosive player we have on offense.
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
why change now?
It hasn’t worked all year, but its “what we do”
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
What a great turn around ...
… UK now finally has a bit of momentum back.
Surely we can play better than this in the second half, particularly on special teams.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
I know we can play better
Just a matter of getting out there and doing it. I still think the playcalling has to step it up too in order to help out the offensive players. Not being so predictable and easy to defend.
But should be good.
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Somewhat worrisome
Is that USC has played like crap. If they make any adjustments, we’ll be in a cockfight in the second half. UK has been a second-half team all year and they can extend the lead by just taking care of special team assignments.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
On playcalling
It seemed like UK rushed better in the latter part of the 2nd quarter. I hope we can combine that with some shots downfield.
I agree.
Seems like once Dicky Lyons was injured they seemed to do better. Curious….
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Our D-line ...
… has not gotten enough pressure on Smelley. We have been fortunate that USC has as many drops as they do.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
I've been surprised at this
I saw the one blatant hold that didn’t get called, but outside of that not much. SC has been giving up sacks at a pretty good clip this year too, So I am definitely a bit disappointed.
And it isn’t like they have a running threat at QB where you need to play more containment
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
About par for the course
When you only throw three yards downfield
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Ouch.
Yes it is bad, but not quite back to those days.
Those were run off tackle, run off guard, screen pass for 4 yards, punt.
Now we are pass incomplete, run for few yards, complete pass over the middle for 5 yards.
Subtle difference I know.
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I am still sore about that tackle on Lyons...
that should have been a horse collar resulting in a first and goal inside the 5. But no it was a blocked FG for a TD….grrrrr
Flipping to other games?
From what I’ve seen, both Oklahoma and Texas look better than any SEC team this season.
Things I'd like to see in second half
Offense:
Take more chances.
Good downfield
Some trick Play
Randall Cobb more snaps under center
Defense:
Better third down efficiency
More pressure on Smelley
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 2:24 PM EDT reply actions
a look downfield!!!
Wow, been a while since I saw that. Didn’t hit it, but at least it backs the coverage up a little. Helps the running game too.
Y'know I hadn't thought about it
But maybe it is Hartline being gun shy. TV coverage is bad at showing routes, so maybe there have been more called but he isn’t throwing them. Hard to tell.
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I was wondering that
after the dump off to Locke at the end of the 2nd quarter. Announcers said a screen was setup, but Hartline appeared to look long first.
Most screens have one or more deep routes
if for no other reason than to pull defenders away from the screen. Most of the time, they aren’t a main option.
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Better playcalling
Just need better execution. Would really like to score first. I don’t want to have to come from behind without Dicky.
Short of personal tragedy,
I don’t see much of anyone feeling sorry for Spurrier in anything on a professional level.
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Two TVs, my friend.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Guess his ankle is ok
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Joker is starting to move the ball better
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 2:41 PM EDT reply actions
followed by a missed FG
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Capt Hook
Pulls Smelley
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 2:47 PM EDT reply actions
We could be in trouble
He can’t suck worse than Smelley right?
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
wow
do you think spurrier will pull his kicker now too??
I didn't know UK had traded Lones Sebier to South Carolina
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 11, 2008 2:53 PM EDT reply actions
I almost typed something to the same effect then decided not to.
But I was definitely thinking it
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Love that it was the young guys too
McCord and Lumpkin
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm nervous too.
I’m actually wondering if it isn’t yet an other defensive or special teams play that decides this one
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
That's the only way to score on this passing game
(don’t forget Ernest Simms too)
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Jeez
Everytime brooks calls a timeout on a SC 3rd down it just gives spurrier time to set up a nice little play. Stupid.
UK's offense has some soul seraching to do here...
they need to wake up and figure out a way to tie this up….the defense cant win every game
They are very good,
but they have done very little compared to what we did to ourselves.
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
And schooling Shomari Moore & Robbie McAtee. Just pickin' on them.
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
They've played better competition than us so far.
I’m not saying we’d win the award but considering the caliber of teams (read: Not good excluding Alabama) we are certainly in the conversation. BTW, I actually think Miss St is the worst.
by lacrosse_cat on Oct 11, 2008 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
cant believe...
im no coach but i cant believe you dont put cobb in at qb for more than one snap
" I believe in pipedreams"
Hartline
isnt going to get the job done..atleast not this year…give it to cobb and “just see” what happens..again im not the coach but just my opinion. If somethings not working..you gotta try something else..or expect the same results…so i guess your right khlim2..learn to live with it
" I believe in pipedreams"
the offense needs to improve several things
better passes,
better receiving,
better running,
less turnovers,
perhaps better playcalling,
did I leave anything out?
improvement...
i thought we might be a better team than last year but that was a mistake…defense got better?..offense went sout on everything…im just really bummed. i dont see us beating anybody left on the schedule unless are defense does the job completely.
" I believe in pipedreams"
spellings...
sorry..that should be offense went south…and unless our defense does the job..sorry
" I believe in pipedreams"
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