Arkansas @ Kentucky: Open Game Thread
by Glenn Logan on Oct 18, 2008 6:30 PM EDT
in Kentucky Wildcats Football
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PrintArkansas Razorbacks at Kentucky Wildcats, Oct 18, 2008 7:00 PM EDT
This is the official A Sea of Blue Open Game Thread for the Arkansas Razorbacks vs. the Kentucky Wildcats.
As Ken said in his game analysis, this is as close to a "must win" as Kentucky has had since it began its SEC season. Lose this game, and the road to bowl eligibility becomes much more difficult, not to mention opening the SEC season with a Tennessee-like 0-3. This is a game Kentucky should win at home, and there are no real excuses available to them if they fail to fire.
Here are five things that should result in a UK win:
- Exploit turnovers - UK has a very favorable turnover margin against the Hogs, and the Hogs have been very careless with the football all year long. But just getting turnovers is not enough -- UK must turn them into points.
- Protect the quarterback -- Hartline is due for a good game, and UK has done a great job protecting him all year. If they can continue, our QB and receiving corps are eventually going to start getting it right.
- Defend the run -- Arkansas has one of the leading rushers in the SEC in Michael Smith, and we can't afford to let him run up and down the field like he did against Auburn's formerly highly-ranked defense.
- Put pressure on Casey Dick -- Casey Dick is quite capable of delivering the ball to some dangerous receivers if the 'Cats don't get in his face.
- Get back to solid special teams -- Last week's game was a debacle from a special teams standpoint, surrendering a touchdown and a long runback, on a kickoff, as well as two very poor punts.
Here are five things that could skin the 'Cats:
- Allowing Arkansas to isolate Smith on linebackers -- Smith is extremely fast and elusive, and if we let him get the ball in the secondary, it will be ugly.
- Giving Dick time to throw the football -- Our pass defense is excellent, but no defense is good enough to play SEC receivers man-to-man for 15 seconds.
- Give up the big play -- Kentucky has been struggling with this in the last two games, and it has cost them mightily.
- Gain less than 150 yards rushing -- Locke & Co. have not been helping the passing game by getting it done on the ground. Arkansas does not have an imposing run defense, and if we can't run against them, we can't run against anyone.
- Get confused on defense -- Last week, a confused defense was not ready for a play that resulted in a Gamecock touchdown, the winning score as it turned out. That needs to stop right now.
Here it is, Cat fans -- they one we really need, right now. Let's bring 'em home.
Go, Cats!
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Really?
We have to watch the end of this Duke-Miami blowout? Thanks, ESPN.
C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!
Honestly
Where were you throwing that, Mike? Did you really think that was a good idea?
C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!
Hartline ...
… was hit just before the release. Clearly affected the pass. Good D by Arky.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
I'm convinced our defense...
is going to have to score for us to win. If they do not, we are lost. I keep waiting for that one series that will herald the arrival of the UK offense for this year but so far, it’s not happening.
Xbox Live Gamertag: hoopchi
Derrick Locke ...
… has most likely suffered the same injury as Lyons. I saw that hit, and knees are not designed to go that way.
Damn. Can it get any worse?
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Be careful what you wish for.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 18, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Kentucky's offense
has now failed to score any points in the last 4 quarters. In contrast, the offense’s turnover’s have lead to all of Arkansas’ points. I am, to agree wholeheartedly with NYCCats, so disheartened.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 18, 2008 8:33 PM EDT reply actions
I don't want to watch either.
But I guess I’m a glutton for punishment. I still hope that somewhere, somehow we find a spark on offense and come around. And sometimes I wonder what this team would be like if we had last year’s offense and this year’s defense…
Xbox Live Gamertag: hoopchi
Frankly...
…this is not a bowl team, certainly not on offense.
Root for them, love them, but Hartline is not a strong QB at this stage.
The Heart & Mind of the Big Blue Nation ...
Stats
Net yards — UK 176, Ark. 177
Rush yards — UK 75, Ark. 121
Pass yards — UK 101, Ark. 56
Hartline — 8-17-1 56 yards
Cobb — 2-3 45 yards
Allen — 7-46 yards
Locke — 9-34 yards
Michael Smith – 16-113 yards, one TD
Casey Dick – 6-13-1 56 yards, one TD
Derrick Locke taken to the hospital.
Per Dick Gabriel.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 18, 2008 8:48 PM EDT reply actions
I suppose...
… this is just one of those games.
My prayers go out to Locke.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Let's not ...
… give up on our team. We have messed up a lot, and I think Brooks has no choice now but to let Cobb win or lose this game for us. Hartline’s confidence is in the cellar, and won’t be coming back for a while.
Time to put it in the hands of your best athlete, however young, and pray for divine intervention.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Or ...
… we could let Hartline hit Alfonso Smith underneath for a 70 yard touchdown.
:-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Who's back?
On defense next year, what do we lose (assuming no early entrants)? This year’s toast, but is there reason to hope for next year (when we have some seemingly competent QBs arriving)?
C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!
Well ...
… Locke is definitely not at the hospital.
I saw him on the sideline on crutches.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Feels good to get a score!
I knew Hartline was the answer! Never wavered! Ha!
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 18, 2008 9:09 PM EDT reply actions
Well ...
… I think Smith may deserve just a tiny bit of credit on that one.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Start of the Fourth
It will be difficult for UK to win without a defensive score
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 18, 2008 9:34 PM EDT reply actions
Yessir.
If this is Old Kentucky, we’ll find a way to lose. Let’s hope not.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 18, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions
YESSSSS!
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 18, 2008 10:35 PM EDT reply actions
Most important stat of the game?
5-2! One more to bowl eligibility. Good to get a “W”! This calls for a victory drink…or two.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 18, 2008 10:38 PM EDT reply actions
Great comeback
Cats! So proud of those guys.
Nice win for UK and DLJ. I know he is proud of the Cats!
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