Kentucky has thus far avoided the sort of pratfalls skeptics like myself have come to portend for them, blitzing opponent No. 1 EKU 50-10 and then pulling away impressively in the second half to crunch Kent State 56-20.
Thus far, it's been Andre' Woodson's steadying presence guiding the Cats. With their first major competition looming next Saturday in the Louisville Cardinals, it's time to take a step back and ask what exactly the Cats are doing well, what they are not doing well and where they go from here.
Jeff Sagarin's USA Today ratings have the Cats at #30 (and 2-0 UL at #47). It's hard to imagine Kentucky getting much in the way of media recognition for pounding a pair of teams they are expected to beat.
One nice thing is that expectations are raised enough that Wildcats fans are looking past such common barometers of years past as "winnable games for bowl eligibility" and actually believe something more is possible.
The offense has lived up to billing, with Heisman-mentioned QA Woodson ranking in the nation's top 15 in passing efficiency and the team averaging a robust 526 yards per game. These are the numbers you hope to put up against beatable opposition.
Interestingly, it's not just the passing offense that's made things happen thus far, as the rushing attack ranks 10th overall nationally at 277 yards a contest thus far.
But the defensive numbers are a little more complicated. The passing defense has stayed above water, holding the first two opponents to just 100 yards average. The run defense -- last year's bugaboo as well -- has struggled against inferior talent already, allowing an average of 227 yards.
That said, a "bend but don't break" quality continues to keep the Cats in positive territory, with just 30 points being scored against them.
Louisville's offense will enter the game ranked No. 1 in the country in scoring and passing, and will likely cause a banged up UK defense fits. I'm not sure, even with Woodson & Co. playing well, and with the Cardinals playing miserable defense themselves, that a shootout with the nation's best attack is a good plan. I'm guessing that Rich Brooks knows this, right?
All in all, with the exception of some key injuries dragging things down, it's hard to see too much wrong with the Cats thus far. Better run defense is a must in the SEC, of course, and the offense can't score 50 a game against the LSU, Florida or South Carolina defense, but with Louisville showing weakness on the defensive side of the ball, the stars could align.
Anyone feeling lucky?