Kentucky Wildcats 10 @ No. 13 Georgia Bulldogs 19: Postmortem (Lite)
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PrintIf you've read the basketball wrap-up, found just below this post, you know I did not see the football game (or basketball game for that matter), but I'll do a quick statistical recap of UK's 19-10 loss at the hands of the SEC East champion Georgia Bulldogs.
Turnovers were the name of the game on this day, with the two teams combining for eight miscues on the afternoon (four by both squads).
The 'Cats managed only 165 yards of total offense to UGA's 317. Kentucky rushed for a total of 23 net yards, with UGA's four sacks for minus-29 yards greatly impacting that number -- Raymond Sanders rushed seven times for 37 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and CoShik Williams carried the ball eight times for 11 yards (1.4 ypc). Additionally, Sanders caught two passes for 20 yards, and Williams chipped in with five receptions for 16 yards.
Even though UGA lost their leading rusher, Isaiah Crowell, on the Dawgs' first offensive series, and backup Carlton Thomas was not at the game (for some unknown reason), Brandon Harton, a third string tailback stepped in and made like Hershel Walker, running for 101 yards on 23 carries (4.4 ypc).
Kentucky quarterback Maxwell Smith didn't have his best day, throwing for 133 yards and one touchdown on 17 of 34 passing, and tossing two interceptions. Smith, facing the 4th ranked defense in the land, was sacked four times. UGA's Aaron Murray, the top rated pass efficiency QB in the SEC, was less-than-spectacular also, throwing for only 162 yards on 16 of 29 passing, one touchdown and one interception.
UK receiver Matt Roark continued his ongoing pass-catching resurrection with three receptions for 51 yards. Tight end Anthony Kendrick got in on the receiving act with three receptions for 22 yards. Fellow tight end Tyler Robinson caught UK's only touchdown of the day, a two yard toss from Smith.
Linebacker Danny Trevathan, for the THIRD TIME IN FOUR GAMES, recorded 17 tackles -- Trevathan, if nothing else, has proved he is a competitor with few peers --to go along with 3.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumblers and one sack. Mister Cobble pitched in with a sack, also.
How ironic it would be if UK, as poorly as they have played for most of the year, were to beat a nearly as bad Tennessee squad next weekend at Commonwealth Stadium? For me, at least, a win over the Vols would cast the memory of the 2011 football season into the depths of my quickly fading memory.
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Hey Ken, Trevathan didn't have 17 tackles last week.
I believe it is 17 tackles in 3 of his last 4 games. Good write up though for not seeing the game.
I hope you are feeling better.
The cats should help that today.
by Grasslands1 on Nov 20, 2011 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
The defense was heroic today, especially Trevathan. He was all over the field. Cobble made several plays, too, despite being banged up.
Color me meh on Harton. He got 100 yards because he carried so many times. 4.4 ypc is decidedly unspecial against UK. Murray had a very poor game, too. I actually laughed out loud when the TV crew gave Hartman player of the game; Georgia scored 5 times, all on drives starting in UK territory. The offense was accidental winners.
UK’s offense, on the other hand, was horrific. If you take out the first (admittedly excellent, especially by UK standards) drive, it may have been their worst offensive performance of the year, and that’s saying something. Sanders did look fairly good, and I shared the announcers’ befuddlement on why he didn’t get a little more run.
Of the many failings of this team this year, the one that bugged me the most this game (and has for several weeks, since Newton got hurt): How on earth do you go into a season with only 3 QBs on the roster, one of which you fully intend to redshirt? Can UK seriously not find a 3rd/4th string walk-on clipboard holder? The plays that Newton had to play might as well have been kneel downs; he obviously was too hurt to let him get hit, so it had to be either a run or an insta-pass, something of which Georgia was well aware.
There have to be 20 senior HS quarterbacks in Kentucky this year who are a) not going to play major college ball, and b) have good enough grades to get into UK if the football office says they want them in. Go out and recruit one, who I’m sure would be thrilled to go to UK, wear the uniform, and serve as a practice squad emergency backup for 4 years so we don’t ever have to watch something as embarrassing as a hobbled and sore-armed Newton out on the field again.
uh, the 'Cats have Patrick Towles coming in next year at the QB spot
And, take away Florida’s crazy good rushing day vs. UK, and the ’Cats are allowing 4.15 yards per carry on the year.
If we had anything resembling an offense
this game was ours to take. Georgia looked ridiculously bad. Bobo (Offensive Coordinator) made calls for the Dawgs that were every bit as questionable as anything I’ve seen on our side of the ball. Twice, when at 3rd and 10 they ran up the middle with Harton (120 pounds dripping wet).
Georgia should get smoked in the SEC Championship by LSU/Bama/Ark by 30 points.
Smith was off, at times way off. He missed King for a TD and a few others that were overthrown or wounded ducks; however, he still is showing flashes of incredible potential and his star should continue to rise.
Overall, a much more competitive game than I expected and maybe enough good things happened to instill confidence going into next week to put together a win.
(One more game and then on to basketball.)
War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce
Oh Please
You played your best game all season and still didn’t stand a chance. Bobo got extremely conservative at the end, just like he did against Ole Miss, which is why UGA didn’t blow you out of the water. He knew that one, your offense is awful, and two, UGA’s defense is excellent. He had freshman RB Crowell on the sidelines, 2nd string RB Richard Samuel out for the season, 3rd string RB Carlton Thomas suspended…again. Brandon Harton and Ken Malcolme are 4th and 5th string RBs, and they were rolling the ball all over the field like they were 4th and 5th string too. He had 4th and 5th string RBs turning the ball over, Trevathan in Murray’s face all game, and a two score lead. Heck, he should’ve punted on 3rd down. I will give it to Danny Trevathan, he’s a ball player. Harton is a former walk-on, and you still couldn’t handle him. Georgia has the talent to beat anyone. That said, I will agree that if they turn the ball over like that again in the SEC Championship, they don’t stand a chance. The REAL RBs have to play, play well, and not turn the ball over. I have total confidence in the defense to keep them in the ballgame. But, the defense can’t fix turnovers and blunders from the offense and special teams. That was awful against UK, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina. UGA dominated South Carolina, but gave it away with scores off of special teams and turnovers. Bring on LSU or whoever. People said the SAME THING in 2005 when LSU was dominating. Georgia kicked the crap out them in ATL.
Lemme guess. You're a Dawg fan?? ;-)
I only disagree with your first statement. We did not play our best game and we did stand a chance because Georgia DID play bad. Turnovers, having backups at running back and Bobo were the reasons. Bobo was conservative the whole game – Very few downfield pass attempts against a questionable UK secondary, one of the 3rd and 10 runs was in the first half, virtually no counters (UK’s Achilles heel) and I don’t remember UGA ever rolling the pocket for Murray.
You seem to think a better backfield will answer last Saturday’s problems. You better hope your coaching staff doesn’t think Crowell is the magic elixir that is going to bring you a SEC trophy.
War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce
Of course I'm a dawg fan.
I’m a Dawg fan that lives in the Lexington area, and I keep up with the Cats a little too. I went to the UK vs Ole Miss game. They played well against Ole Miss, but Ole Miss is pretty bad this year. The issue with Bobo is that he rarely reacts to what doesn’t work. It’s like he sits down before the game and charts out the plays to be called, and by God he’s going to call them, in that order, regardless of the situation. When Crowell came out, he should’ve brought in a veteran blocking fullback and started throwing the ball. He thinks that he’s keeping the defense honest by running up the middle. A lot of times it’s like he’s beating a dead horse. Other games, like Auburn, he can do no wrong because everything fall into place. Believe me, I, along with most of Dawg Nation, wish that Richt would go back to calling the plays. But I’ve been around Richt coached teams long enough to know that he will not do anything with Bobo without being forced to do so. Some people point to stats that show that offensive production has increased since Richt handed the play calling to Bobo. But, those stats don’t take into account the points that the offense puts up on the board for the other side because of turnovers. I am definitely not one of those that thinks that Crowell is magic. He’s undisciplined, out of shape, and young. But, he’s the best they’ve got right now by a long shot. He still needs a breakout game…where he plays the whole game. I hope that he can do that in the SEC Championsip. The Dawgs are looking to get another top back next season that could compete to start. Hopefully the competition will light a fire under both. For now, with Richard Samuel out, and maybe Carlton Thomas off the team, Crowell is all they’ve got. He has to play well for them to have any chance. If the running game is on and productive, the passing game will be as well. This is a pro style, balanced offense. If one side doesn’t work, none of it will.
Crowell is going to be great with a little experience.
As to Bobo, your description of his as “…rarely reacts to what doesn’t work. It’s like he sits down before the game and charts out the plays to be called, and by God he’s going to call them, in that order, regardless of the situation.” – If you don’t copyright that, can I use it when I’m talking about UK’s offensive playcalling? ;-)
War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce
State of Ky
Great effort by defense, no offense, no quarterback protection, creative play calling in the first half, then back to the same ole’ same ole’ in 2nd half.
Watched Tennessee beat Vandy-don’t like our odds. Tennessee is still Tennessee.
Observation-Charlie Strong took over a sinking Louisville program, and in his 2nd year they are 6-5 with a chance to win the big east after a good conference road win. Joker took over a solid program, and in his 2nd year we’re just happy the defense played well in an all-too-familiar road loss. ’Nuff said.
SmokinDave
I’m somewhat on board with you about Strong. The only problem is that 6-5 in a conference that doesn’t deserve a BCS bid is not very impressive. Getting them to 7 wins in 2 years after the Kragthorpe train wreck would still be modestly impressive. I still think he was a better hire than Joker, primarily because hiring a top assistant says “we want somebody ambitious and we are willing to go after the best”. Hiring the assistant to somebody who turned around UK says “we are satisfied with how far Brooks took us; there is no need to attempt to aim higher”. Joker needs to be a part of the UK program, but he cannot be the face of the program for us to hope for more than 6 wins.
I also don’t have much hope for Tennessee.
Great Effort
I believe our great effort against Jawja was an anomaly due, to a great extent, because we have so many Georgia kids on the team that wanted to show the home state folks they can play. I could be wrong, but I fully expect to see us return to the same dismal performance we saw at Vandy against Tennessee.
Joker is way over his head and we need a change, but I don’t trust Barnhart to hire the next coach. We need a new AD.
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