SB Nation - Mike Hartline

Postseason in the the SEC

Acid Reign — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:00:21 -0000

3rd team All-SEC?

War Eagle, everybody. The postseason of 2009 is on us, and the regular season is over. This time last season, I think most folks were glad it was over. Of course, December 2008 would turn out to be a terribly tumultuous month! We ran a head coach and staff off, at a cost of a cool $5 million. We hired a 5-19 replacement as the new head coach. The program was quite frankly in disarray! We were the laughing stock of the SEC, hands down.

A year later, how'd that work out for us? Against long odds, Auburn's football team won more than they lost, and they won the hearts of the fans. I don't think ANY of us are ready for the season to be over! In just one season, Auburn has vaulted to a New Year's Day bowl, and a winning record. A tremendous recruiting class seems to be in the making. There are 5 other 7-5 SEC teams, and I don't think they are laughing now!

This season, the SEC will send a record ten teams to bowl games. There are some tough challenges facing the SEC. I think most of the nation would love to see the SEC fall off its high-horse and lose big this bowl season. Texas will be a tough test for the SEC Champion, and the loser of the SEC title game will have to lick their wounds and get ready for another rough test. The Sugar Bowl is likely to match unbeaten Cincinnati against the SEC runner up, and if Cincy loses, then undefeated TCU. Penn State will be an extremely tough test for offensively-challenged LSU in the Capital One Bowl. Auburn's sometimes leaky defense will be tested by Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. Might be a record for points scored in that bowl! The Cotton will be a dangerous bowl, as both Ole Miss and Oklahoma State had hoped for much bigger things, this season. Likely bowl opponents in the second tier are Virginia Tech, North Carolina, U Conn, Texas A&M, and the Houston Cougars. SEC teams need to be on their games to match the success of the past three seasons. The SEC has won 19 of its last 26 bowl games.

The net yards per pass prizes, and ruminations on the SEC Championship Game, after the jump!

At the beginning of the season, I examined the net yards per pass of the projected starters in the SEC. Now that the regular season is over, let's see how they did:

SEC Eastern Division	Record	Record	Starting	Net Yards per pass	Net Yards per pass
Team	SEC	Overall	Quarterback	End of Season	Preseason
Florida	6-0	8-0	Tim Tebow	8.1	8.6
Tennessee	4-4	7-5	Jonathan Crompton	5.5	3.8
Georgia	4-4	7-5	Joe Cox	5.7	6.6
South Carolina	3-5	7-5	Stephen Garcia	5.8	3.5
Kentucky	3-5	7-5	Mike Hartline Morgan Newton Will Fiddler	3.4 4.1 3.3	3.9
Vanderbilt	0-8	2-10	Larry Smith Mackenzi Adams	3.4 3.8	3.4 3.8

SEC Western Division	Record	Record	Starting	Net Yards per pass	Net Yards per pass
Team	SEC	Overall	Quarterback	End of Season	Preseason
Alabama	8-0	12-0	Greg McElroy	6.8	8.1
LSU	5-3	9-3	Jordan Jefferson	6.1	5.1
Ole Miss	4-4	8-4	Jevan Snead	4.9	6.3
Arkansas	3-5	7-5	Ryan Mallett	8.4	4.6
Auburn	3-5	7-5	Chris Todd	7.0	4.4
Mississippi State	3-5	5-7	Tyson Lee Chris Relf	3.4 3.2	4.9 1.4

Only three quarterbacks managed to finish at 7.0 or above, but every bowl eligible SEC team finished with a quarterback over 4.0 yards per pass. Those that did not attain 4.0 are sitting home for the holidays. It's been an odd year, in that most of the very experienced returning quarterbacks actually had statistically worse years in 2009. Tim Tebow's numbers are still good enough for second place, but he's down a half yard. Mike Hartline and Tyson Lee declined, too. Jevan Snead plunged from pre-season All-SEC 2^nd team to 9^th place in the league. Snead paced the SEC with 17 interceptions. Long-time backups Joe Cox and Greg McElroy both saw their stats shrink, thrust into starting roles. The winners in the improvement department are Ryan Mallett, Chris Todd, Stephen Garcia, and Jonathan Crompton. Crompton survived a HORRID September, to finish with a respectable 5.5 net yard per pass.

Ryan Mallett performed well enough to cause All-SEC voters to do some head-scratching. Who IS the best SEC quarterback? If you were arguing on strictly an MVP-type basis, you'd have to give the award to Mallett. Without him, Arkansas easily finishes in the West cellar. Looking at what each quarterback brings to the field, Tim Tebow ALONE makes Florida two-dimensional. However, is Arkansas' one dimension better than Florida's two? Total yards tell the tale: Mallett has 3387, and Tebow has 2962. Comparing the teams, Florida put up 5416 yards, and Arkansas 5272. To me, it's a tough comparison. I think if Tebow has a good game in the SEC title match, he'll win the All-SEC quarterback sweepstakes. If Bama's defense makes Tebow look human, it's Mallett's prize. Number three in the league HAS to be a surprise to everyone: Chris Todd. In this context, he's had a pretty amazing season.

I don't have a strong opinion on who is going to win the SEC title game. Both teams sport awesome defenses and good depth. I think Florida is a little better on offense, and a little better on special teams. And, I think Florida has the best player in the league calling the signals. I see another close Florida win, but it's certainly not carved in stone. The DUI arrest of defensive end Carlos Dunlap could be a distraction factor for the Gators. Alabama received a serious wake-up call in the Iron Bowl against Auburn. It could play out differently on the field, than on paper. I can remember ten years ago, a heavily favored Florida team was dismantled by a more motivated Bama group, 34-7. There have been surprising SEC Title game results this decade, to be sure! There was LSU's stunning 31-20 win over UT in 2001, The 34-13 LSU blowout of UGA in 2003, and Georgia's blowout of LSU in 2005. I'll watch this one for fun, as just a fan of the game! And yes, I'd rather see the West win. But I can't bring myself to say the "RT" words...

Kentucky 24, Tennessee 30 (OT) -- Postmortem

Truzenzuzex — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:36:21 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

Montario Hardesty romped all over the Wildcats.

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Having just returned from a family meeting, it feels like a great burden to have to write this. Despite a game effort, Kentucky fell for the 25th straight time to Tennessee.

Congratulations to the Volunteers, who now join UK at 7-5 for the season. Tennessee played a very good football game, and Montario Hardesty was the realization of my worst fears about Kentucky coming into this game. The Volunteers played determined, if not particularly inspired, football. In the end, they were just a little bit better than the Wildcats.

What we saw tonight is what we have seen for the last four years -- a lack of true depth at positions killing us. What killed us tonight was the injury to John Connor, which resulted in Moncell Allen trying to replace him. Moncell did his best, but when it comes to blocking, Connor is the very best in the SEC. That's why Randall Cobb was less efficient in the second half. That's why Joker Phillips went more to the pass. That's why Derrick Locke saw far less of the football. Without Connor to block for them, the going got much tougher.

I must say that I am quite depressed to have lost this game. I really thought we had a chance to win in overtime. But for one of the few times this year, UK could not avoid either penalties or turnovers, and as we all are aware, Kentucky has a relatively small margin for error against the more talented SEC teams, of which Tennessee certainly is one.

More after the jump.

Many of you will be jumping down Phillips' throat for not running more of the Wildcat, but it was far less effective in the second half due to the absence of Connor. My bigger complaint was that every Wildcat play seemed to be a Randall Cobb run, and you would think that Kentucky could mix that up with more Derrick Locke.

But truth be told, Randall Cobb was not at his best tonight. He made several questionable decisions with the football, and uncharacteristically fumbled the football twice. He did score a touchdown and made several big plays, but it just seemed to me like the edge was not really there for him. Maybe it was, and he just didn't play to the top of his ability, but in the end, the result was the same.

The real problem with this game was that Tennessee dominated both our offensive and defensive lines. Our defensive line has been weak all year, but tonight, it was simply not up to the task. Hardesty ran through them like a hot knife through butter. It has been a recurring problem for the Wildcat defense to be weak against the run, and given the talent we are graduating, I don't have much hope for a strong defensive front next year. But that is for later.

Here were my other observations:

Morgan Newton was simply not up to the task tonight. He did his best Mike Hartline impersonation by throwing the football over everyone's head.
Sam Maxwell disappeared after the interception. Where did he go?
Great game by Micah Johnson. He seemed to be in on every play. But he could not cover the tight end at all.
The pressure on Crompton was simply not good enough.
The defense, overall, was poor. Tennessee pretty much did what they wanted. The only way they didn't was when they got a penalty or a big negative play.
The Kentucky offense was very predictable, and I think we did not give Locke the ball enough in either half.
Special teams play was generally not very good. Tydlacka made a couple of very poor punts, UK kicked a ball out of bounds or line drives that could be returned on kickoffs, and just generally did not do that well. The only bright spot was Randall Cobb's punt returns.
UK's passing game was almost non-existent. I can remember Cobb catching a couple of balls, and Matthews catching one long pass. But did any of the other wide receivers ever catch a football?
How many times must Wildcat fan's hearts be broken before we dispose of this particular nuisance?

Well, that's about all I have for now. I haven't looked at the stats, and I haven't really looked at anything else. The game (what I saw of it) was largely lost on penalties and turnovers, something that Kentucky has feasted on for most of the year. It was bound to catch up to us sooner or later.

Kentucky Football: Giving Thanks to Those Deserving Much More

Ken Howlett — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:12:02 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks gives his thanks, now it's my turn.

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Still basking in the afterglow of unexpected victory after Kentucky's 34-27 triumph over the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, I suddenly find myself in a thankful mood. Thankful for not only the UK win, but upon reflection, thankful for those who have propelled the football program forward in 2009, instead of settling for a "rebuilding" year. It would have been easy for the team to call it a year after starting quarterback Mike Hartline was injured six games ago, but this squad has persevered.

We've settled for less than acceptable results in the football program for far too long around these parts, but now, with four straight bowl games imminent, and a possible 4-4 SEC mark (and gasp, second place in the SEC East) looking UK squarely in the face mask, it's time to give up the kudos for those who go to battle every Saturday ... to those who fight through pain and injury ... and to those who sacrifice. A little recognition for achievements not enjoyed at Kentucky in a very long time is also in order, so after the jump, join me in giving some props to the warriors who are right for the fight ...

I'm thankful that Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart didn't fire Rich Brooks after year three, even though nearly the entire fan base, along with the bulk of media members, were calling for his termination -- Love Barnhart, or hate him, that decision alone will forever keep him in my good graces. Take a bow, Mitch.
I'm thankful UK has learned the art of the comeback victory -- Since mid-season of 2006, a total of 42 games, Kentucky has orchestrated 12 fourth quarter comeback victories. This season alone the 'Cats have comeback three times to win games: Louisville, Auburn, and Georgia. Prior to mid-season of '06, one has to go back to 1991 to find 12 more UK fourth quarter comeback victories ... a span of 170 games -- How many times over the last couple of decades have I uttered, "Only at Kentucky," after the 'Cats let another sure victory slip away? Suffice it so say, a lot, but recently that phrase has been replaced by, "How 'bout them 'Cats"? Thanks to the UK web-site, "Cat Scratches," for the great info!!
I'm thankful Derrick Locke wears the blue and white -- Coming off what can be a career-ending ACL injury, Locke has been nothing short of phenomenal for the 'Cats this year. The Hugo, Oklahoma native is racking up yardage in nearly every offensive category: 821 yards and five touchdowns rushing the ball; 221 yards and two touchdowns catching the ball; 518 kick-off returns yards, and oh yeah, one touchdown. That's 1,560 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns. Take a bow, Derrick.
I'm thankful Philip Fulmer didn't decide to recruit Randall Cobb until it was too late -- Cobb has been equally fabulous for the Wildcats this season. Also accustomed to remaining in motion during football games, Cobb has racked up 436 yards and nine touchdowns rushing the ball; 403 yards and four touchdowns catching the ball; 292 punt return yards, and one touchdown; 302 kick-off return yards; and finally, 46 passing yards -- Cobb's totals come to 1,479 yards and 14 touchdowns. Does anyone really believe if Cobb had not played on this year's team, that the 'Cats would be sitting on seven wins? Take a bow, Randall.
I'm thankful linebacker Sam Maxwell patiently waited his turn -- Maxwell, a senior stuck behind a litany of superlative linebackers over the last three years, has taken the UK defensive stalwart mantle as his own. All Maxwell does is lead the team in interceptions with five; lead the team in solo tackles with 41; he's second on the team with 73 tackles; he has 5.5 tackles for loss; seven pass breakups; and two forced fumbles. He is ubiquitous, he is omnipotent, he is First Team All-SEC in '09, or I want somebody's head on a big blue platter. Take a bow, Sam.
I'm thankful for the Kentucky offensive line -- Zipp Duncan, Brad Durham, Justin Jefferies, Christian Johnson, Stuart Hines and Jorge Gonzalez have been nothing short of season-saving. This group of fighters have paved the way for Kentucky's 2,158 total yards on the ground this season. The six primary ball-carriers for the 'Cats - Locke, Cobb, Alfonso Smith, Moncell Allen, Donald Russell, and John Conner have rushed for a combined 1,975 yards on 376 carries, good for a 5.2 yards per carry average. And make no mistake, a considerable amount of the credit goes to UK's veteran trench warfare practitioners. They have also done a remarkable job of protecting the UK quarterbacks, allowing only 14 sacks through 11 games. Outstanding considering the youth and inexperience of the Kentucky signal-callers. Gentlemen, take a well-deserved bow!
I'm thankful for junior college transfers --- Defensive end DeQuin Evans is second on the team with 10.5 tackles for loss, and he leads the team with five sacks. Replacing suspended All-SEC performer Jeremy Jarmon, Evans was placed firmly on the hot seat with expectations of greatness following him onto the field. Evans, while not "great," has been a very solid addition to the UK defensive line ... and I'm satisfied that we haven't seen the best he has to offer. Also, coming to Lexington via the JC route was wide receiver Chris Matthews. The highly rated Matthews was thought to be the potential savior of the receiving corp, and after a rough start, including a demotion, Matthews has played very well, along with earning praise for his blocking ability. He's second on the team with 29 catches for 299 yards, and two touchdowns. JUCO guys, take a bow!
I'm thankful linebacker Micah Johnson didn't heed the beckoning call of the NFL -- Johnson, while playing with plantar fasciitis for most of the year, leads UK in tackles with 84 (36 solo). He's also contributed 4.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and one sack. Take a bow, Micah.
I'm thankful linebacker Danny Trevathan has two more years of eligibility remaining -- Trevathan, billed as the next great UK linebacker, has not disappointed. The youngster is third on the team with 69 tackles (36 solo), and four tackles for loss. Take a bow, Danny.
I'm thankful defensive lineman Corey Peters has taken his turn to shine -- All Peters has done is lead the 'Cats with 11 tackles for loss, and six quarterback hurries. He's also contributed four sacks. UK fans were expecting Peters to be good, and after a "middling" start to the year, Peters has come on strong of late. Take a bow, Corey.
I'm thankful freshman receiver La'Rod King has such soft, supple hands -- The North Hardin product has leap-frogged over several more experienced receivers to earn starting time, mostly due to his ability to catch the ball, and run the right routes. He's made only 10 catches on the year, for 142 yards and one touchdown, but he's made those receptions recently, and he's snagged a few off-target throws which changed the complexion of the game. Most recently, his one-handed (and left-handed) 21-yard touchdown reception against Georgia on Saturday. "Stickum", he don't need no stinkin' "stickum". Take a bow, La'Rod.
I'm thankful freshman quarterback Morgan Newton opted for the 'Cats, instead of the Cards -- After the injury to Hartline, UK fans were frothing at the mouth to see the high school All-America lead the 'Cats, and while expectations were waaaaay overblown for what the young man could accomplish, Newton has played solidly. The Carmel, Indiana native has thrown for 539 yards on 52-90 passing (57.8%). He's limited mistakes, i.e. turnovers (only three interceptions), and led the 'Cats to three tough SEC road wins (Auburn, Vandy, and Georgia) for the first time since Jesus was preachin' in Omaha. Take a bow, Morgan.
I'm thankful running back Moncell Allen got his academic house in order -- Allen's skull-rattling hit on Georgia kick returner Branden Smith to begin the third quarter, and the resulting Matt Roark fumble recovery, turned the tide in UK's favor Saturday. Allen has been excellent for UK all year, but his finest moment came on that play. Take a bow, Moncell.
I'm thankful Georgia coach Mark Richt turned a blind eye to UK players, and Georgia natives, defensive backs Trevard Lindley and Randall Burden; linebackers Sam Maxwell and Shane McCord (he of the game-clinching INT); and wide receiver/special teams performer Matt Roark -- Not good enough for the 'Dogs ... read the scoreboard, coach.
And finally, I'm thankful head coach Rich Brooks has stuck around Lexington long enough to record a 30-20 won-loss mark over the last four years, the best four year record for any UK football coach since 1950-'53 (Paul Bryant). Brooks has also deftly directed the 'Cats to four straight seasons of at least seven wins for the first time since the 1909-'12 seasons. A win over UT on Saturday and he's SEC Coach of the Year, at least in my book. Take a bow, Papa Brooks.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats, beat the Vols!

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Weekend Happiness Hangover Edition

Truzenzuzex — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:54:51 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

Was that thump some people heard on Saturday the sound of Uga VII rolling over in his grave?

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And what a weekend it was. The Gridiron Felines show that they are not going to look gift horses in the mouth this year, as they took advantage of a 4-0 turnover margin to upend the Dawgs in Athens.

Then the basketball team showed why almost everyone has them in their top five by effortlessly handling Rider, 92-63, in a game that was arguably not as close as the score. This Kentucky team is only limited by their own willingness to learn and work hard, and as the competition gets tougher (beginning tomorrow night), we will see if Calipari's coaching and system will take hold early, or late.

Returning to football, it is simply beyond belief that UK managed to pull out a victory in Georgia on Saturday if you look at the box score. But one thing that deserves further highlighting is just how well UK's special teams played. Kentucky got outstanding field position on every kickoff. A missed PAT and a poor Ryan Tydlacka punt were really the only blemishes on an otherwise sterling special-teams performance.

Another point that needs a little extra emphasis is the ridiculously outstanding play of Sam Maxwell. Who would have believed that Maxwell would come into the starting line up this year and outshine Micah Johnson? True, Micah has suffered from a turf toe injury that has limited his mobility the last few games, but Maxwell has stepped it up to a very high level.

The news follows the jump.

Tobias Harris signs with Tennessee - Rocky Top Talk
Rivals' #1 power forward and #5 overall player has signed with Bruce Pearl and the Vols, arguably the biggest recruiting get in the history of Tennessee Basketball.
Kings Of New York: Syracuse 87, North Carolina 71 - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Syracuse crushes North Carolina. The way to 2000 wins just got a little easier.
This Isn't Exactly The Start The SEC Had In Mind - SB Nation
The SEC is off to a slow start in the non-conference season.
Caribbean Kings: Puerto Rico, Paradise Jam Tournaments Highlight Sunday In NCAA Basketball - SB Nation
Louisville has a much closer than expected game against Morgan State.
Paradise Jam: Tennessee 57 DePaul 53, Vols play for title Monday - Rocky Top Talk
Remember that 129-49 throttling of UNC Asheville by the Vols? Depaul was having none of that.
UK showed its better half in upset | KentuckySports.com
"We're not getting style points," Brooks said after the game. "It's not always pretty and this one wasn't pretty, but it looked like Bo Derek running down the beach to me late in the fourth quarter."

Brooks is hilarious. Great win, no matter what it looked like.
UK Recruit Brandon Knight Scores 28 in First Game
I'd like to see Knight take Wall's place next year.
Orlando Sentinel - Gators juniors already thinking about NFL draft by
Florida will be a much different team next year. Can Urban resist the siren call of the Big Golden Dome?
Charleston Classic Finals, South Carolina vs. Miami: A Quick Recap - Garnet And Black Attack
More bad news for the SEC. Dominique Archie may have torn his ACL.
Villanova stops Mississippi to win Tip-Off | Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/23/2009
Ole Miss tries, but fails, to handle #5 Villanova.
Wildcats finally conquer Athens | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
It was UK's first win in Athens since 1977 — the year the Cats' current coach, Rich Brooks, took Oregon to Sanford Stadium in his first game as a collegiate head coach.

In that game 32 years ago, Brooks' team held a late lead and lost.

What is the old Klingon proverb about revenge being a dish "best served cold?" "I said (to the team) I've been waiting a long time — long before they were born, and most of them before their parents even met and married — and we finally got one back for the old man today," Brooks said. "It's a great win."
No. 10 Wildcats fall in volleyball | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
Hoops hall another link for Bird, Magic - KansasCity.com
But they [Larry Bird and Magic Johnson] liked even less — and this was saying something — how little playing time they received on that all-star team. Joe B. Hall was the coach, and he played his guys, a Kentucky squad that had won the national championship the year before, over the two Midwestern kids.

Via Rush the Court.
IRON BOWL: Alabama focused on task at hand | montgomeryadvertiser.com | Montgomery Advertiser
"It's the type of game where you can't give a pep talk before the game," said Tide senior cornerback Javier Arenas, a native of Florida. "It takes care of itself. If you can't get yourself fired up to play in this one, there's something wrong with you."

The Iron Bow. In my opinion, the most intense rivalry in all of sports, college or professional. I watch this game every year, and it rarely disappoints. But on Friday? I wish it were on Saturday.
Kicking Off Week 13 with Rivalries and Trouble in Athens // 11.23.09 - Team Speed Kills
This might be humorous if it were gallows humor, But I'm pretty sure the Senator was being serious when he said this:

I’m being a little unfair to Kentucky with this. There’s a clear talent gap between the ‘Cats and the Dawgs – Georgia’s coaches aren’t as good as Kentucky’s at getting their charges prepared to play hard for sixty minutes.

To recap: A Georgia fan thinks his coaches were outdone by a centenarian, a man named Joker and a defensive coordinator whose name know one knows. This movie doesn't end well.

The Georgia faithful are not happy.
Kentucky Wildcats 34, Georgia Bulldogs 27: Chicken Little Was an Optimist - Dawg Sports
Statistically, Kentucky never should have been in this game. The Bulldogs outperformed the Wildcats in passing yards (291-137), rushing yards (196-123), first downs (22-15), and time of possession (33:13-26:47). That ought to be a recipe for success, particularly for a team that has home field advantage on its side. The usual suspects reared their ugly heads, however, as two interceptions, two lost fumbles, and five fifteen-yard penalties, almost all of them at the most inopportune times imaginable, doomed the ‘Dawgs.

If you didn't see this game, there is no way you would believe that UK had won. Georgia dominated every statistic except two -- turnover margin and final score.
Les Miles Denies Calling for a Spike; Video Evidence Proves Otherwise - And The Valley Shook
Heh. Ouch.
Charlie Weis says indeed, 6-5 not good enough for Notre Dame Fighting Irish - ESPN
"If they decide to make a change, I'd have to say I'd have a tough time arguing with that. If they decide to make a change, I'd have a tough time arguing that because 6-5 is not good enough," the Fighting Irish coach said Sunday. "Especially when you've lost five games by a touchdown or less and several three-point games that went right down to the wire.

Is this coach arguing that he should be fired?
Bobcats end 7-game slide - CharlotteObserver.com
To paraphrase the Dean Smith/Michael Jordan line, only Larry Brown could hold Nazr Mohammed to 18 points.

Good for Nazr. Via Walter's Wildcat World.
European influence has lasting effect on U.S. basketball -- chicagotribune.com
My, how the world has changed since Wildcats last beat Vols on gridiron - Kingsport Times-News Online
Week 12 in Review - AthlonSports.com
How about the job Rich Brooks is doing with Kentucky this year? The Wildcats lost starting quarterback Mike Hartline to a knee injury, but freshman Morgan Newton has played well and was a big reason why the Wildcats scored a huge 34-27 upset over Georgia. Don’t be surprised if the Wildcats give Tennessee all they can handle this Saturday.
Is this Kentucky's year? | When You're Strange | GoVolsXtra.com
No streak lives forever and this may be the week Tennessee's domination of Kentucky finally comes to an end. The Vols have found a way to beat the Wildcats 24 consecutive years, the longest streak in any major college football rivalry. Usually, UT had better players up and down the line.

It's time for the streak to die.
Kentucky Wildcats Arrive in Cancun, Mexico
UKCoachCalipari All checked in. Will practice in an hour or so. The place seats about 1300 fans and I hear Kentucky fans will be close to half of them.

I know how it was in Vegas last year. Tons of Kentucky fans, and a few of every other team.
Kentucky Sports Radio "Stacey Poole Discusses HS Basketball, Why He Chose the Cats and Improving
Q&A with Kentucky’s John Wall | Vaught's Views
Adams: UT, Kentucky treading on similar path " GoVolsXtra
The same Rich Brooks, who was on the brink of being fired a year later, is now an established SEC coach with two dazzling rebuilding jobs on his resume, first at Oregon, and now at Kentucky. And UT’s Lane Kiffin is the first-time head college coach who is just getting started.

Interesting.
" BBL: What they said from Athens on the UK football win John Clay’s Sidelines
John Clay's Big Blue Links.
Brooks’ priority is finishing 2nd in SEC East | Vaught's Views
Column: UK’s best perimeter ‘D’ found underneath | The Kentucky Kernel
"I know they have taken a bad rap for some of the 3-pointers that have gone in against them, but I watched every game and a couple of kids went nuts against them," Rider coach Tommy Dempsey said. "They gave up open shots, but you can’t expect them to not give up open shots in the course of the game, especially when they are pressing, jumping in passing lanes and trying to create offense with their defense."
Rick Bozich | UK's front line looks top of the line | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
It was delivered by DeMarcus Cousins, a UK freshman forward. It was accepted by Daniel Orton, another UK freshman forward. It was the result of Cousins, a guy who had started the first half as well as the Wildcats' first three games, suggesting to coach John Calipari that Orton should take his starting spot for the second half of Kentucky's 92-63 victory.

This group is showing signs of becoming a real basketball team.

SEC Power Poll, Week Eleven

mlmintampa — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:15 -0000

Our SEC Power Poll ballot. Final results at Team Speed Kills.

1. Alabama: Like the Gators, Alabama gets everyone's best shot. The difference is that Bama knocks out their opponent and UF goes 12 rounds and leaves in the judges' hands.

2. Florida: Like 2006, it is the defense that gives the Gators a chance to win.

3. LSU: Why is LSU so much better than in 2008? Their defense is only allowing 14 points per game; a 10 point improvement over last season.

4. Mississippi: When he gets the carries, Dexter McCluster is a monster. In his first five games, he had 38 carries for 173 yards. In his last three games, McCluster has 69 carries for 602 yards.

5. Georgia: With a win against Kentucky and in their bowl game, UGA will finish 8-5. It's a down year, but it could have been far worse.

6. South Carolina: They have lost 4 of 5 games, but three of those were road losses. They get Clemson next week at home in a very winnable game.

7. Auburn: I'm glad that the Auburn segment last week on "Outside The Lines" profiled people who tattled on rule breakers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Now we know who are the least fun fans in the SEC.

8. Arkansas: Ryan Mallett is third nationally in passer rating with an average of 10 yards per completion and completing 60% of his throws. Maybe Arkansas will have to worry about him leaving early next season?

9. Mississippi State: Their last two games at Arkansas and home to Ole Miss can have a huge impact on the off season. If they split, especially with a win over Ole Miss, Dan Mullen Year One has to be a huge success.

10. Tennessee: Nu'Keese Richardson should get a second chance some place. 18 year olds can be stupid, but stupid can be fixed.

11. Kentucky: The loss of Mike Hartline hurts, but they can lean on Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke to carry the load.

12. Vanderbilt: Only Tennessee stands between Vandy and 0-8 in the SEC.

Vanderbilt in the Rear-View Mirror

Truzenzuzex — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:01:55 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

Derrick Locke -- 5'9" of determination, power and speed.

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Kentucky is now assured of its fourth .500 or better regular season in four years, and is bowl eligible for the fourth straight time. That's a good feeling for Wildcat fans who have suffered through the unfortunate loss of Jeremy Jarmon, the mid-season loss of Mike Hartline, the long absence of Trevard Lindley, and various injuries to Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke which cost the Wildcats.

Did I say a good feeling? It's a great feeling.

Looking back at the game, Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal says the Vandy win was unconvincing.

Unless something surprising happens over the next two games, that's going to be the story of the season: a team that did what it was supposed to do but nothing more.

Given the inordinate and costly injuries, I'd say Kentucky deserves more credit than that, but from a macro standpoint, you have to say that Crawford isn't far off. Chris Low of ESPN, however, has an alternative viewpoint more favorable to the Wildcats:

It's no secret that Rich Brooks has done a terrific job in elevating Kentucky's program to a level of respectability, but this may be one of his better jobs when you consider all the injuries the Wildcats have endured this season.

More after the jump.

John Clay thinks that UK has what it takes to win out:

Second half on this Saturday, the Cats outgained the Commodores 225-31. The visitors had 13 first downs the final two quarters, the home team had one. Vanderbilt did not convert a single third down.

It is remarkable what the defense was able to do in the second half, and it was laudable that Brooks & Co. made the decision to stick with Morgan Newton. It required Cobb and Derrick Locke to sacrifice their bodies with a bunch of carries, but Vandy simply wasn't able to stop the Wildcats' running game, and the coaching staff decided that they were going to run it until Vandy stopped them, which did eventually happen. Then Newton was able to find some open receivers and put the game out of reach.

Finally, it seems that Mike Hartline is done for the season, which is probably good for him and the team, under the difficult circumstances:

Brooks says the speed of the game injured the knee enough to warrant surgery. True freshman Morgan Newton will remain the starter, while receiver Randall Cobb will continue to take between 10 and 20 snaps a game in the spread offense formation.

I wish Mike well, and a quick recovery. Now, the quarterback controversy is over and done with. Newton is the man, and we will live or die with him taking the lion's share of the snaps this year. Hartline will have a chance to win the job back as a senior, and if his recovery from surgery is as strong as Derrick Locke's, I think he will.

This was a big win for a banged-up UK team trying not to take a step back, and it is a credit to their determination that they refused to give up in a hostile arena when giving up would have been easy. I credit the leadership of Cobb, Locke and Newton, who played football like full grown men. Congratulations to them.

Now, on to Athens!

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Morehead State Edition

Truzenzuzex — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:16:05 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

We'll be looking for some of the Bad Cuz tomorrow.

Browse more photos »

Tomorrow, we have the season opener against Morehead State University, a game I know that many of us have been really looking forward to. Unlike the cannon fodder that was our exhibition teams, the Eagles made the Big Dance last year (unlike Kentucky), and impressed everyone with their gritty play versus Louisville. These guys will be ready to give us a game, but we'll have more detail about that later.

John Clay has a video post up with John Calipari talking about the Morehead game, and the comment that struck me was, "This is not football. In football, you lose your first two and you're out of the race for the national title. That's not what this is." Well, coach, all I can say is this -- going 0-2 may not put us out of the race for the national title, but you can believe me when I say it will give you (and us) a lot of headaches, nonetheless. We have been there and done that, and we didn't like it.

Of course, Coach Cal obviously doesn't believe this is likely, and neither does anyone else with a brain. But it is just a tiny bit over the top to downplay expectations that much. That may work at Memphis, but this is not Memphis.

But just in case we have forgotten Gardner Webb and VMI, Bret Dawson reminds us that neither of those worthies were as good as the Morehead State team we are likely to see tomorrow, and they are. But I am confident, and I think everyone else in the Big Blue Nation should be as well.

Now, for the news

Brooks says, "Hartline and Newton to Play on Saturday" | straitpinkie.com
No surprise here. I don't care who plays as long as the offense moves the football and puts it in the end zone.
Tailgate in Nashville with UK Fans - KENTUCKY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
Saturday, November 14, 2009
9 a.m. CT, 10 a.m. ET
Kickoff set for 11:21 a.m., CT and 12:21 p.m., ET.
Parking Lot of Regions Bank
3021 West End Ave.
Nashville, TN
(next to Stoney River Restaurant, approximately a 5 minute walk from the stadium.)
SEC Basketball Preview: Kentucky Wildcats : RollTideBama Blog
Bilas likes UK’s talent, wonders about defense | Vaught's Views
I think our defense will be spectacular.
Morehead State vs. Kentucky preview: At #5, UK plans season-long success
Morehead State stands to become the first victim of the Wildcats in their season-long journey to a Final Four, but the Eagles of Morehead State wouldn’t let you think that. They come in with a distinction of having made the NCAA Tournament last season something UK cannot say they did. Kentucky must take this into account no matter how highly people think of them early on in the season.

Indeed. Not a team to take for granted.
Men's Tennis Inks Top Local Recruit - KENTUCKY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
" It’s CSI: Knoxville after Tennessee football arrests John Clay’s Sidelines
The learning curve: Calipari places emphasis on improving, not record
"The issue becomes 'You better learn quick, son.' But the only way you can learn is against teams that you risk losing games to. It's the only way," Calipari said. "Our first two games we could be 0-2 and me feel wonderful that I've learned enough to know what I've got to do."

Heh. You don't know this place very well yet, do you coach?
Tom Leach - Kentucky Football, Kentucky Basketball, UK Football, UK Basketball
Calipari talks to media, Brooks, Hartline interviews, much more.
2010 Basketball Recruiting.... No Need To Worry.
Reassurance, for those who were worried.
Rush The Court " Blog Archive " The Race For 2,000 Wins
Terrific analysis as always from Rush The Court. He says the fat lady is in the wings, and warming up.
Tobias Harris Journal: Some Shocking News Today
Bluegrass State Basketball is journaling UK recruit Tobias Harris.
Columnist Eats His Words about Joakim Noah
I can't stand Noah, and I won't eat my words even if he turns out to be the second coming of Mother Theresa.
SEC Power Poll, Week 10 - Team Speed Kills
Arkansas players have a problem with authority - Storming The Floor
To call John Pelphrey's second season at Arkansas a nightmare would have be putting it kindly. After making it to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2007, Pelphrey and his squad hit the proverbial wall in 2008 -- losing 14 conference games after starting the season 12-1 with key non-conference wins over Texas and Oklahoma.

Man. Maybe Pel is destined to coach some other team. Talk about a tough ride...
The BCS' Worst Nightmare - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
The BCS Doomsday Scenario. You BCS haters out there ought to enjoy this one.
Calls for Steve Spurrier’s departure are unrealistic and premature | greenvilleonline.com | The Greenville News
Ouster? Really? It suggests collective amnesia for any group of people to maintain that Spurrier, toward the end of his fifth season, has outlived his usefulness at South Carolina.

You did know this was coming, didn't you?
UK’s inexperience doesn’t worry Vitale | Vaught's Views
Forde: Louisville being left out of ESPN's Top 65 a "glitch" - Card Chronicle
ESPN The Magazine''s college basketball preview issue hit stores this week and caused quite a stir in the Derby City when it was discovered that the publication left the Louisville Cardinals out of its "Top 65" team rankings.

I don't really blame the Cardinal faithful for being outraged. But part of me wants to laugh a little ...\
Saban not ready to 'give up day job' - SEC - ESPN
Several current and former SEC coaches will make their acting debuts in the movie. Nick Saban, Houston Nutt, Ed Orgeron, Lou Holtz, Tommy Tuberville and Phillip Fulmer all played themselves.

Heh. The trailer for "Blind Side" looks great.
Apparently, the SEC controversies are about to disappear. (And other things we know). | SEC Football Blogger
Wildcats Thunder Blog: The UK Football Coaching Staff--Should they Stay, or Should They Go?
Should we agree with every decision that this current regime has made during its tenure? No. In fact, there may need to be two or three changes made to the current coaching staff. This would bring in a freshness to the program and allow us to get at least 2 more recruiters who can produce better recruiting results than the ones currently on staff.

A very sensible look at the question, "Should UK replace its football coaching staff."
Vandy football player sees parallels between UK, Commodore programs | Vaught's Views
We owe the Commodores one. I hope we can live up to it.
UK Wildcats' roster plagued by injuries | InsideVandy
"I just hadn’t seen as long of a list as that on a Sunday as we had," said Brooks yesterday at his Monday press conference. According to The Courier-Journal, Brooks spent two and a half minutes outlining his team’s injury list, which included sophomore playmaker Randall Cobb, starting running back Derrick Locke, and starting quarterback Mike Hartline.

Hopefully, we will be in better shape when Saturday gets here.
Bud Withers | Pac-10 should go back to playing eight conference football games | Seattle Times Newspaper
Last week in the Southeastern Conference, Auburn stepped out and played Furman. Georgia played Tennessee Tech. Kentucky hosted Eastern Kentucky. Mississippi welcomed Northern Arizona. Tennessee invited in Memphis.

When's Furlough Week in the Pac-10?

This guy is making a convincing argument. Pointing at the rest of the leagues and claiming the moral high ground may feel good, but it is arguably hurting the league.

Homecoming Week Around the SEC

Acid Reign — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:20 -0000

(Green Auburn safeties will have to keep an eye on Mims!)

War Eagle, everybody! It's a lot more fun to talk football after a big win, isn't it? We've reached the home stretch of the 2009 SEC season, and much of the league is hosting FCS and mid-major conference cupcakes, this weekend. Auburn hosts Furman, Kentucky hosts Eastern Kentucky, Georgia hosts Tennessee Tech, Tennessee hosts Memphis, and Ole Miss hosts Northern Arizona. None of those games should even be close, although we'll keep a sharp eye on the Georgia game, scouting the Bulldogs. Will the much maligned Bulldogs struggle against Tech?

There is an important matchup in the early SEC network game, this week. Arkansas hosts South Carolina, and it's a critical game for both schools. Whichever team loses that one will be saddled with the "bust" label, big-time. I'm looking out my window, and yes, I do see red and yellow leaves! That means it's time for South Carolina to start losing games in earnest. For much of the past decade, South Carolina has had fast starts, then major losses in late October and November, to finish as a third-tier bowl team or worse. Arkansas was expected to be a dark horse division contender, and much improved, this season. Alas, entering November, Arkansas is 1-4 in the league. With South Carolina, Troy, Mississippi State, and LSU left on the schedule, the Razorbacks will have to split those games to finish ahead of last season's record.

The headlining matchup this week is LSU at Alabama. Alabama can clinch the Western Division with a win. Only LSU could catch them in that event, and Alabama would own the tie breaker. LSU can take command in the division race with a win, but would likely have to win out the remainder of their schedule to actually win the division. With Ole Miss and Arkansas closing out the end of LSU's schedule, it's do-able, but it won't be easy. Ole Miss or Mississippi State COULD conceivably finish the SEC season at 5-3 and get a share of the division title, but it's unlikely, at best. Auburn could also finish at 5-3, but to catch Alabama, the Tide would have to drop all three of their remaining league games. And if the Tide does that, LSU would get a 5^th win, and LSU owns the tie-breaker against Auburn. So essentially, the SEC West is a two horse race at this point, and everyone else is jockeying for bowl position.

Incredibly, every team in the West might go to a bowl, this season! The two Mississippi teams have the hardest road. Mississippi State would have to win two of their last three, against Alabama, Arkansas, and Ole Miss. Ole Miss needs a win over either Tennessee, LSU, or Mississippi State to become bowl-eligible. The Egg Bowl may well determine who sits home for bowl season, this year. Arkansas needs a split in their remaining schedule to make it to a bowl. I think the Razorbacks can do it. Alabama, LSU and Auburn are already bowl eligible.

Net Yards Per Pass revisited, after the jump! (Plus a small Furman preview!)

Into the last stretch of the season, let's revisit SEC net yards per pass, see how the teams are doing, and how it correlates to winning. Vanderbilt's Larry Smith has joined Kentucky's Mike Hartline on the sideline for the rest of the year, so I've included some backups on those two teams.

SEC Eastern Division	Record	Record	Starting	Net
Team	SEC	Overall	Quarterback	Yards per Pass
Florida	6-0	8-0	Tim Tebow	7.3
Georgia	3-3	4-4	Joe Cox	5.0
South Carolina	3-3	6-3	Stephen Garcia	6.0
Tennessee	2-3	4-4	Jonathan Crompton	4.7
Kentucky	1-4	4-4	Mike Hartline Morgan Newton Will Fiddler	3.9 2.0 3.2
Vanderbilt	0-5	2-7	Larry Smith Mackenzi Adams (in limited action.)	3.4 6.5

SEC Western Division	Record	Record	Starting	Net
Team	SEC	Overall	Quarterback	Yards per Pass
Alabama	6-0	8-0	Greg McElroy	6.4
LSU	4-1	7-1	Jordan Jefferson	6.3
Auburn	3-3	6-3	Chris Todd	6.9
Ole Miss	2-3	5-3	Jevan Snead	4.2
Mississippi State	2-3	4-5	Tyson Lee Chris Relf	3.8 4.3
Arkansas	1-4	4-4	Ryan Mallett	8.4

Ryan Mallett continues to defy gravity, and tops the league. Despite that, Arkansas has not been able to win SEC games against teams not named "Auburn." Tebow is second, and Auburn's Chris Todd is third. At this point in the season, the critical thing in the above stat is taking care of the ball. Every one of the quarterbacks at 6.0 or better has not thrown many interceptions. Mallett has 3 picks, Tebow has 4, Todd has 3, McElroy has 3, Jefferson has 4, and Garcia has 5. By comparison, Jevan Snead has 13 picks, Joe Cox has 12, Tyson Lee has 11, and Jonathan Crompton has 10.

Shifting gears a bit, Auburn hosts Furman at 12:30 PM CST, on pay per view only. The Paladins will enter Jordan Hare Stadium with a 4-4 record. In their only previous game against an FBS opponent, the Paladins were pounded 52-12 by Missouri in Columbia. Furman has a respectable FCS offense that averages 27.6 points per game. In most Furman losses, the defense has been the real issue. Furman is giving up 30 points per game, and over 429 yards. The defense is playing bend but don't break, and has only generated 11 turnovers in 8 games. Teams are screening and drawing the Paladins to death.

Players to watch on the Furman offense include All-Southern Conference flanker Adam Mims, who has 55 catches on the season and a couple of TDs. The Paladins also like to run the reverse to Mims, and he's averaging 8.4 yards per carry. Furman likes get the ball into the hands of this 5'9" receiver. Senior Jordan Sorrells is the quarterback, a 6'2" specimen with a solid arm. Sorrells has 14 TD passes this season, against 6 interceptions. His net yards per pass is 5.7. Keep an eye out for change-of-pace quarterback Chris Forcier, a UCLA transfer. He has yet to complete a pass this season, but he averages 6.5 yards per carry on designed runs.

We'll have an open thread up Saturday, as always. Feel free to drop in and get fired up! There won't be the usual play by play, as I'm going to have to watch the game on the road, due to not having digital cable/satellite! I have to say, this new TV package has been inconvenient. I'm going to have to switch providers, or upgrade, before next season. It drives me crazy for Auburn games to be on TV, and not on channels I get! War Eagle, and let's pound the Paladins!

Overlooking Eastern -- Can UK Win Two More SEC Games?

Truzenzuzex — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:06:48 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

Rich Brooks thinks all this negativity is bulls***.

Browse more photos »

I'm going to do something here, for the sake of discussion, that the team cannot afford to do -- assume a win versus Eastern Kentucky. If that assumption is wrong, the rest of this discussion is still relevant, and would become urgent. So let's do the uncharacteristic, just for the sake of conversation.

The quick answer to my lede is, "No." No because UK has to play perennial powerhouse Georgia on the road. No because Tennessee looks like it is rising, having played Alabama and Florida tough, beaten Georgia and South Carolina. No because Vanderbilt may be finding answers to season-long questions. No because, well, UK fans are all down in the mouth about the lousy, confusing performance against Mississippi State that took away any momentum that may have been building up in the program to that point. No, because UK is...well, UK.

But I refuse to accept that. This team has, as is usual this time of year, been riddled with damaging injuries including its only All-American candidate, Trevard Lindley, who has been out for a month. The starting QB, Mike Hartline is down and most likely out for the year, being replaced by true freshman Morgan Newton. Derrick Locke is likely out this week, and Micah Johnson is far from 100% and may also sit. Offensive lineman Jake Lanefsky is lost for the season. Kentucky is banged up big time.

In spite of all that, this team has shown a lot of potential this season, and the biggest problem has been continuity from game to game. Part of that has to do with the quarterback situation, but Lindley's absence has also been a big factor, especially when it comes to confidence in the defensive secondary. But despite all that, the Wildcats have not been out of any games this year except Florida, and have proven that they can play very clean and efficient football. That portends well for the rest of the season.

Kentucky must go down to Nashville to face Vanderbilt, and whether they go at 5-4 or 4-5, Vanderbilt looks to be a must-win. Vanderbilt has been vulnerable this year, and this weekend they have to go down to the Swamp to face Florida. Like Kentucky, Vanderbilt is getting banged up, as they have not had a bye week since the very first week of the season, and won't get one until the season is over. That's even uglier than UK's situation, which had the bye after its very first game.

Georgia is vulnerable. T. Kyle King of Dawg Sports explains, in numerous posts (all of which you should read, because he is one of the most knowledgeable football fans in the SEC) why the Dawgs have struggled so this season. In my opinion, Georiga and Auburn are virtually two sides of a coin with no tails on it -- they are the same (forgive me, Kyle, I am aware of your Auburn loathing). If UK can defeat Auburn on the Plains, they most certainly can do the same to Georgia between the hedges. It will be difficult, and require Phillips, Brown and Brooks to call a proper game (unlike the recent abortion vs. MSU), but Georgia is a game that we can, and arguably should, find a way to win.

Finally, Tennessee. Tennessee has had some good defensive games and is near the top of the league in defense, but they are only middle of the pack in offense. Now, if UK is going to let Montario Hardesty run amok on us like Antonio Dixon did, then we have no reason for optimism. But if Lindley and Johnson are back at or near 100% for that game, and we are other wise reasonably healthy, we have a shot at the Vols. Tennessee is very inconsistent this year, and is fully capable of throwing in a clunker. UK is also capable (although we have yet to see it at home) of playing really good football. I don't think this game is any less winnable than at Georgia.

So could UK win out? Well, yeah, I guess so, but I think beating UGA and UT back-to-back, even if Kentucky somehow manages to remain healthy, seems like a long shot. But I don't think beating Vanderbilt and one other SEC foe left on our schedule is all that improbable.

So I suggest we stop nay-saying, and get behind this football team. They deserve it, and they desperately want to earn the trust and respect of UK fans. A big part of that requires the fans to let go of the past and embracing a new way of thinking -- we demand the team have a winning attitude, yet too many UK fans refuse to have one as though it makes some kind of sense to demand an attitude of the team they are unwilling to embrace themselves. We ask these young men to put themselves out there on the line every weekend. Shouldn't we at least be willing to risk disappointment by staying positive?

Think of it this way -- unlike the players, at least you don't have to worry about getting your eye gouged out, and that should be worth something.

What Does November Have in Store for Alabama's Quarterbacks?

Year2 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:07:20 -0000

During the month of September, the quarterbacks of the Yellowhammer State were the toast of the SEC. Greg McElroy and Chris Todd were both in the top ten nationally in passing efficiency, and both were leading what looked like pretty fearsome offenses.

Here's their stats for the ninth month of 2009 if you need a refresher:

Player	Comp.	Att.	Pct.	Yards	TD	INT	Passing Eff.
McElroy	63	93	67.7%	938	7	1	175.15
Todd	62	106	58.5%	1,012	11	1	171.05

For perspective, last year's top three in the Heisman vote had passing efficiency marks of 180.84 (Bradford), 173.75 (McCoy), and 172.37 (Tebow). They were on pace to do some very special things this season. But then, the calendar turned to October, the breezes began getting cooler, and McElroy's and Todd's number began taking a turn for the worse. Much worse.

Here's how the Tide and Tiger signal callers did last month, keeping in mind for completeness's sake that McElroy played in four games and Todd played in five.

Player	Comp.	Att.	Pct.	Yards	TD	INT	Passing Eff.
McElroy	58	109	53.2%	507	2	2	94.67
Todd	64	120	53.3%	690	2	2	102.13

Some dropoff from September would have been expected for a number of reasons. Each's team played some cupcakes in September but were entirely in conference play in October. It's extremely difficult to keep up their paces from the season's first month; those who can usually get trophies and awards. As teams got more tape on them (mostly in McElroy's case) and on their offensive schemes (mostly in Todd's case), defenses were bound to make improvements.

Those reasons are all valid and aren't excuses for them. However, they went from playing like 2008 Heisman candidates to worse than 2008 Mike Hartline (104.71 passing efficiency on the year). That's pretty dramatic, and it's a greater fall than I think anyone would have expected. It showed up heavily in their team's performances too, as Auburn went 2-3 in October and Alabama's scoring dropped from 40.5 points per game in September to 23 points per game in October.

I don't know if you can pin it on one thing why the two declined so much, and perhaps it's just a coincidence that the two of them play in the same state. I can't tell you what it means for November, but things are looking up if you believe in signs. Todd's best game came during the second half of the last day of the month, notching a 150.49 passing efficiency total against Ole Miss' good defense. Each was also pretty good in the games they played just three days into the month as well.

Alabama is in the thick of the national title race, and Auburn has a big say in the bowl pecking order from here on out. To what degree Greg McElroy and Chris Todd bounce back from their bad Octobers will be a big story down the stretch in the SEC.