Kentucky Wildcats Football-Thoughts on a Tuesday

by Alex Scutchfield on Nov 8, 2011 5:02 PM EST in Kentucky Wildcats Football

Before we get to this week's game against Vandy and Kentucky's exciting 30-13 win over Ole Miss, I'd like to take a minute to say how sickened I am by what is going on at Penn St. right now. If everyone, from the University President on down, does not lose their job over this, it will be a travesty. Anyone sticking up for Joe Paterno in this situation needs to take a look at the facts. That is if reading them doesn't make you sick at your stomach.

1. The Vanderbilt Commodores are 13 point favorites. What's up with that? I realize that Vandy has played tough in losses to Florida (26-21), Arkansas (31-28) and Georgia (33-28), but their only SEC win (like ours) is against hapless Ole Miss, and they certainly haven't looked like world beaters at any other point in the season. The Vandy offense is now a different breed with Jordan Rodgers under center, but Rodgers hasn't been perfect. His numbers, in fact, aren't all that different from Max Smith's. Do I agree that Vandy should be favored. Absolutely. But by double digits, when they haven't beaten us at home since 2003? I dunno.

2. Max Smith. Of course, Smith was the story of this weekend's win against the Ole Miss Rebels. Starting his first game as a true freshman, Smith shook off some early dust to throw for 286 yards in a comeback win. Mary Story said it best in the Herald Leader on Sunday. Smith's performance finally gave UK fans some hope that we have something to build on going forward. I agree, but I'd add one caveat. As I watched on Saturday, one factor in the game stood out among all others. Ole Miss is epically, historically, unmistakably bad. That might be one of the worst SEC teams I've ever seen play, worse maybe than last year's Vandy squad. As far as Smith goes, I wouldn't get too fired up yet. Lets see how he does this weekend before we go crowning him a savior.

3. Believe. It's funny how things work out. I have to admit, at some point during Saturday's game, I gave up all hope. Ole Miss looked like the Keystone Cops, yet were holding a 6-0 lead. Kentucky had one defensive play where despite quadruple coverage and seemingly no fewer than 8 Kentucky players batting the ball down, the Rebels still came up with a first down catch. UK scored on an 80 yard drive running nothing but effective counter plays, THEN DIDN'T RUN ANOTHER COUNTER FOR TWO QUARTERS. Punts from the Ole Miss 38, 38(again) and 41 drove me bananas and it was all cascading down on me. I swear I was done.

Then a funny thing happened. The fourth quarter came, we went for it near the 40, ran a couple more counters successfully and La'Rod King got loose. Now, all of a sudden I'm right back in. I'm heading down to Nashville on Saturday in hopes that we can pull off this win and at the very least be playing for bowl eligibility when UT comes to town on November 26th. When it comes to UK football, I can't help myself.

4. Picking nits. If there is a gripe about Saturday's game it has to be the total inability of our defensive backs to make plays of the football. For the second week in a row, our guys covered their men very well, but either got turned around, our jumped, or simply didn't put their hands up. It is maddening. With Winston Guy moving essentially out of the secondary, we had to expect a dropoff in our playmaking ability. But guys like Anthony Mosely, Cartier Rice and especially Randall Burden have seen a lot of snaps against a lot of very good receivers. If the Cats are going bowling, those guys are going to have to ball out from now on.

5. Cats' Bowl Prospects. When I renew my SEC Bowl projections later this week, the Cats will not make the list. But a bowl isn't out of the question. Presuming a loss at Georgia, Kentucky can still make it with wins this weekend and against Tennessee. The possible destinations? About what you'd expect. I'll go over it in more detail as it gets closer, but a 6-6 Kentucky would likely land in the Music City or Liberty , with a outside chance at a Gator invite if everything breaks perfectly. If UK beats Vandy Saturday, I'll bust out all the scenarios playing in my head.

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I wish I could be more optimistic about our chances - but I can't

I watched Vandy against Arkansas and their kicker lost the game for them. Vandy has a good team and playing them at their home is just too much. I love Max and am excited about our chances next year if we can get a few good recruits in here to help out. I think our only shot for another win is at home against UT. This may be the only year in recent memory were we have a real shot to break the streak. No bowl this year – sorry fans.

A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!

by KansasUKCat on Nov 8, 2011 5:26 PM EST reply actions

I think I could live

with no bowl and a win over UT. :)

I woke up feeling BLUE this morning. It's gonna be a great day.

by kywineman on Nov 8, 2011 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

I think a huge amount of fans would agree with that!

Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!

by a2d2 on Nov 8, 2011 10:21 PM EST up reply actions

The Penn State issue is so sickening that the man should be strung up by his private parts and lashed to death

A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!

by KansasUKCat on Nov 8, 2011 6:35 PM EST reply actions

sick, sick, sick!

Bad enough to find out about the sickening behavior of Jerry Sandusky, but such people are slaves to their sick compulsions. What is truly inexcusable is the ‘inaction’ by all those who could have acted, but didn’t, all to “protect” the name of the program. And by so doing they have ruined the program’s name, and the reputation of all who are involved is forever tarnished.

Sandusky should be locked up and the key thrown away, for there is no known dependable “cure” for his illness. The punishment you suggest would be most suitable for those who stood by and worried about the “program”. and thereby condemned countless other young children to having their lives warped. {Just between the announcement of the charges, and today the number of known victims more than doubled. And there will be plenty more who will never step out of the shadows, for the shame it would cause them.]

As I have mentioned on another post, the local Detroit sports talk station callers were in three main groups: 1. a small group who wanted to ignore the story, 2. a large group who debated whether “Joe Pa” whether would be gone before or after the Nebraska game this weekend, and 3. a small but vocal group who held that held that Penn State should be read out of the Big Ten. With Michigan, Michigan State, and OSU this is B10 territory and the fans here are not “amused”.

by blenheim bard on Nov 8, 2011 8:36 PM EST up reply actions

13 point favorites?

Vandy should be favored but I agree the 13 points seems excessive, but my judgement is clouded by favoritism. I’ve watched a few of the Vandy games and they play much better than their record. Rodgers is a talent and the offense has really come into their own after relying on the defense for the first part of the year.

I didn’t have the loss of hope Saturday since a busy day had me catching the game on DVR after I knew the outcome. As such, it gave me an opportunity to watch the demise of Nutt, you could see him watch his time as coach dangle in the wind.

The biggest problem I see this weekend is scoring enough to beat the Dores. As you say, our secondary continues to have problems of the most basic kind and Rodgers could well pick them apart. Our only salvation in slowing them down will be for the front line to keep the pressure on and maintain gap defense. The offense is going to run into a different beast in the Vandy game. They play a very tight coverage defense and gamble quite a bit to keep opposing quarterbacks guessing. If Smith can play beyond his years we have a chance but it really is going to be a challenge. Perhaps his best help will come in the form of having success with the run.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Nov 8, 2011 9:58 PM EST reply actions

13 points is unbelieveable-

Vandy may very well win this game, but a 13 point spread is a slap in the face. I hope the football team really takes it to heart, and comes to Nashville and pulls out a win. Vandy has been in almost every game they’ve played this season, but can find more ways to lose than anyone in the country. I have to work, but hope they have this game on the breakroom tv…GO CATS!!!

"You are what you are and you ain't what you ain't"

by iam4ukintn on Nov 9, 2011 12:41 PM EST up reply actions