Kentucky 36, Louisiana-Monroe 13

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 24, 2009 10:43 PM EDT in Football Comment 17 comments

I just wanna see this guy with the football, m'kay?

Well, the score is much more impressive than the game. Yes, UK dominated this affair offensively, but the problem is, ULM managed to move the ball through the air very effectively against Kentucky.

Thanks to the Warhawks of ULM for coming up to Commonwealth and showing us why they are among the best teams in their league. Despite having their starting quarterback out with injury, they gave a fine account of themselves, and young Cody Wells was most impressive, both in ability and in bravery.

Cody Wells absolutely sold out against a powerful UK defensive line. Despite getting hit hard over and over and over again, Wells stood in the pocket and threw darts all night long. I was impressed with his effort, and if you were not, you must have been watching some other game.

While it's easy to criticize the Kentucky defense, the fact of the matter is, UK was just a little too quick to get on the board. That wound up being a problem, because Kentucky's defense is a bit depleted, and it showed. But at the end of the day, the 'Cats were way too much for their ~~CUSA~~ Sun Belt foe. That's good, considering that the 'Cats were so banged up (and even more so with Micah Johnson in a knee brace), but Brooks has plenty of things to criticize in this game, both offensively and defensively.

For my further thoughts, follow the jump ...

Randall Cobb was amazing. Why we don't get him the ball more is a mystery.
Derrick Locke played just the right amount of football -- enough to prove his leg was sound, but not enough to make it worse.
Cody Wells was amazing. He threw rocket shots to competent receivers who caught his footballs. Very impressive.
Kentucky's secondary was hapless. We are better than that.
Sam Maxwell -- linebacker!
Danny Trevathan is not bad, either.
The O-line and D-line were terrific.
UK's quarterbacking, with the exception of Cobb, just sucked. Period.
So much for the zero penalties, zero turnovers.
Nice pick six by Randall Burden. Very nice.
Special teams was sub-standard with the exception of Randall Cobb's remarkable punt return.
No matter how many things I find to criticize, Kentucky did not play bad at all. They won the game comfortably, and even though it sometimes got within two touchdowns, it was almost never closer.

This was a nice follow-on to our big victory at Auburn. No, it wasn't perfect or powerful. Yes, it was satisfactory and not embarassing. In the end, we beat a ~~CUSA~~ Sun Belt team exactly like we should have -- soundly, and without fear.

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I agree 100%

(but ULM is a Sun BElt team)

and this has to be a most unsatisfying 36-13 win.

But it’s a win and a big win. So I will take it, but Brooks needs to pick a starter and stick with them. Unfortunately we need to suck it up and stick with Newton….

http://wildcatblueblog.com

by PJordan32746 on Oct 24, 2009 10:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know about unsatisfying.

ULM had some talented athletes, and they are certainly far more capable than Miami of Ohio. I think shutting them out was never likely, and even though they gained more yards through the air than they should have, much of that was due to some remarkable throws from a young quarterback having a really good game. Many times, QB’s trying throws like that will get them picked.

I don’t want to say he was lucky, but let’s get real — threading the needle like he did is an extremely high-risk thing to do, and I doubt he is as good as he looked. That was really about the only thing that made the game look close at all —well, that and just way to little Randall Cobb in the second half.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 25, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

All in All.......the secondary is just missing Lindley too much

we need all 4 guys in there every week to get right…..but the effort was good…..just think that Coach is more willing to gamble than I am when the score is less than 4 TD’s apart…..lol….Cobb is now in need of a new name…..he should not have to share with Tebow……my nomination is Man-Beast…….

Conner was awesome as per usual……Locke played great for being injured…..QB’s still need work…..but one more in the W column is hard to argue with.

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Oct 24, 2009 10:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

winning the games you are suppose to win...

and winning them convincingly and despite making mistakes, injuries, etc, is the mark of taking a step forward.

only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team

by memphis wildcat on Oct 24, 2009 11:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cody was fantasic

He did an awesome job with some pinpoint rocket passes. Kentucky’s SEC athleticism was just too much for them. This game was a lot closer than it looked. Take away a couple of freak plays by the Randall boys (Burden’s awesome interception run back for a TD, and the Cobb punt return) and you get a game a lot closer than it was. But really, with all that passing that we forced them into, there is bound to be an INT or two. And sometimes when you’re an SEC team, you get a superfreak like Cobb who is just magical out there. So fun to watch!

And another shout-out to the O-line and D-line. They were great.

Good summary by Tru. Great win for the cats!

by EEWildcat on Oct 25, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Only one run call

for Newton. They will need to increase that against Miss. St. That is a big part of his game and they have not unleashed it yet. Is everybody convinced yet that Hartline gives us the best chance to win. Hopefully he makes it back by the Georgia and Tennessee game. If he doesn’t, at least we have him next year while the two freshmen learn the game and get comfortable by the time 2011-2012 comes around.

by Grasslands1 on Oct 25, 2009 1:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah ...

… I don’t get that.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 25, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Conference

As has been said before, ULM is not in C-USA, but the Sun Belt Conference.

by Jon_E on Oct 25, 2009 1:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

Brain fart. Thanks.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 25, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Quarterbacks.

It is quite apparent that Brooks and company were in the know by starting Hartline despite many fan grumblings and desires to see Newton. He’s going to be good but neither he nor Fidler are currently capable of providing the leadership we need at the position. I for one will be glad to see Hartline back in the lineup. I think this is good experience for both Fidler and Newton but if Hartline is under center last night, I think we add a couple of more touchdowns to the total.

Let’s hope Newton matures quickly, however. He’s got a great arm and scrambling ability to boot. Imagine him comfortable in the offense with Cobb and Locke.

Xbox Live Gamertag: hoopchi

by hoopchi on Oct 25, 2009 8:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I only have one problem with that assessment....

Newton is not Hartline, although Fidler is somewhat the same. Newton is more like Randall Cobb. He needs the staff to let him run, to move the pocket for him, run the option, etc. Newton does not appear to be a pocket passer…..so the coaches must adjust to that to allow hi to develop quicker in this case…..we can teach him to be one(maybe) over time……we do not have that luxury right now. He needs to be mobile, and he needs them to shorten the field for him…..then every once in a while, he can let go a deep ball to keep the D honest.

If they want to use a pocket passer, they have to use Fidler. Problem is that Fidler does not appear to be comfortable making mid-range and long range throws. He is handling the underneath stuff and screens fine, but he needs to be able to mix that up. His running with the ball last night showed me he doesnt mind taking off if he has to, but he didnt look like he really wanted to be doing that, maybe more time will help.

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Oct 25, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Happy to have a win

I agree that this win was somewhat unsatisfying, but it is nice to watch with a little confidence that we would pull out a win. What is up with Chris Matthews? I have been waiting for a break out performance after all the rave reviews from the preseason reports.

by rodoc on Oct 25, 2009 10:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well ...

… he has been good, but not great. I guess that’s about what you can expect from a guy’s first year in a system. But we sure do need to see more of him.

Part of it has been the balls thrown his way have been pretty poor with our revolving-door quarterback, and part of it is the tendency for Fidler and Newton to look for Cobb first. But he did make a nice catch for major yards yesterday, so maybe we will start getting the big fella more balls.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 25, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good point

I guess my expectations are a little high, and I have been hoping for some dazzle to help Cobb out, I thought this game could be his chance to bring it. Overall the team has a lot heart and that does go a long way in making me proud of them week to week.

by rodoc on Oct 25, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep, Matthews needs work.

He disappointed me on a few plays last night. He doesn’t seem to make adjustments to the ball when its in the air. One time in the end zone he was about 5 feet to the left of where the ball came down on a long pass; catchable if he adjusts to the ball. He’s done that on several occasions over the season.

On Fidler’s interception he made a shoulder move to the outside, Fidler threw to the move, then Matthews went back inside putting the defense in perfect position for the interception. You don’t do that to a new quarterback.

by hoboat33 on Oct 25, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice Practice UK

I thought UK played well at least in the first quarter. They got the lead from good play from Conners and Cobb and went into relax mode and played as if it was a practice. It looked as if UK used the game for practice for the QB’s on passing. I know we have to be able to throw the football and also that Locke was kind of hurt, but if we had ran a little more we would have scored more.
I say the coaches did the right thing by practicing the passing game after all it was just a Sun Belt team and we had the lead. As far as picking a QB and just using him, I think would be a mistake.
Newton has a arm but isn’t accurate one bit. His balls are always over thrown.
Fidler is a little more accurate but isn’t consistent enough to be the only QB playing.
Deep balls are overthrown by Newton and underthrown by Fidler.
If only one QB could play I would go with Cobb, his passes looked the best to me.
I agree Hartline was the right choice among the group.

by UKFever on Oct 25, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs