SB Nation - Tony Dixon

... And the celebration begins!

Truzenzuzex — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:54:20 -0000

First off, a big acknowledgment for the excellent play of the East Carolina Pirates. They were all the team we could have handled, and we barely were up to the challenge. It was nip and tuck all the way, and the Pirates never gave up. Some very interesting circumstances made this one a game I will never forget. But the Pirates have no need to hang their heads -- they easily could have won this game, and arguably played better football overall.

But all that aside, this is truly a great victory for Kentucky, and it turned out to be one of the most exciting and ... well, wild games I have ever witnessed. Nobody who saw this game could have been anything but excited, and both teams played very hard. There were some huge hits in this game by both teams. It was a great college football game.

Regarding the return for touchdown by ~~Jarmon~~ Jenkins, I don't think you can be deemed to have possession while the ball is in contact with the ground, as it was when his knee was down. Not sure about that, so you armchair officials might need to correct me on that perception, but I believe that was why ~~Jarmon~~ Jenkins wasn't considered down on the fumble recovery. The Micah Johnson touchdown, in my view, was incorrectly called back. There was no way that the officials could conclusively determine whether the ball was still in Pinkney's hand when his knee hit the ground. Either way, it is over now.

In the end, I have to give Hartline a lot of credit. Despite having his usual problem throwing balls too high, he got that under control in the second half and made some great throws, really clutch. The one exception was that unacceptable throw into triple coverage on the ill-advised fleaflicker, especially when he had a man wide open over the middle.

Tony Dixon was just relentless, and he totally deserved his player of the game recognition. I thought he had poor vision in the first half and could have done more had he simply kept his head up, but in the second half he did a much better job. The punters for both teams were excellent, but East Carolina's punter was truly incredible, hitting some of the longest punts I have seen in many years in a college game.

For Rich Brooks, you can only praise the adjustments that the team made after the half. Of course, the remarkable David Jones touchdown return of the second-half kickoff had a lot to do with making Brooks look good, and completely reversed the momentum from the first half, which was clearly with the Pirates. I thought our defensive secondary was simply great in the second half, and Micah Johnson was a force of nature, flying around the field like a Tasmanian Devil.

I have to admit, I am much happier for this team than I was for the team last year. That team had no excuse to lose, and they didn't. This one had every excuse to give up and lose, and they refused to do so. That means a lot to me, and I hope to all of you.

Congratulations, Wildcats. Nobly won, and well earned!

Georgia Bulldogs 42, Kentucky Wildcats 38

T Kyle King — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:20:31 -0000

All right, let’s start with the good news.

The Bulldogs started strong by leaping out to a 14-0 lead on the road, converted 40 per cent of their third downs, averaged almost five yards per rush, rolled up 520 yards of total offense despite holding the ball for barely 25 minutes of clock time, incurred only five penalties for 58 yards, and scored 42 points on a Kentucky defense that had given up more than 24 just once all season long.

Matthew Stafford had statistically his best day as a Bulldog, completing 17 of his 27 pass attempts for 376 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Knowshon Rockwell Moreno averaged 5.6 yards per carry, rushed for 123 yards while hauling in three passes for 40 yards, and found the end zone three times. Mohamed Massaquoi snagged eight passes for 191 yards and a touchdown, A.J. Green went up and grabbed the game-winner in the back of the end zone, and Michael Moore once again proved reliable in the clutch with two catches for 68 yards.

Also, the Bulldogs won.

So we’ve got that going for us.

That brings us to the bad news.

The Wildcats, who are as injury-riddled as the ‘Dawgs (if not more so), held the ball for nearly 35 minutes, converted eight of 17 third downs (usually in short yardage situations) and two of three fourth-down tries, and scored 38 points, all with a wide receiver at quarterback. Randall Cobb---no, not Randall "Tex" Cobb; we’re playing S.E.C. football here, not searching for Nathan Arizona’s baby---ran the ball 18 times for 82 yards and three touchdowns while hooking up on 12 of his 20 passes for 105 yards and, mercifully, one crucial interception.

Of course, the fact that the ‘Cats did all this to the ‘Dawgs while amassing only 331 yards of total offense is more than a little telling. Due to the increasingly ludicrous offense-boosting kickoff rules, the Blue and White began their first scoring drive from their own 40 yard line after Blair Walsh’s kickoff went out of bounds. The second quarter possession on which Kentucky tied the game began at the home team’s 33 yard line when the Red and Black turned the ball over on downs.

The Wildcats’ third quarter field goal was set up by Tony Dixon’s 28-yard kickoff return out to the U.K. 35 to begin the second half. The home team took the lead when Danny Trevathan blocked Brian Mimbs’s punt to give the Bluegrass State Felines custody of the pigskin at the Georgia nine yard line. Mimbs’s next punt went just 18 yards, setting up Kentucky at the Bulldogs’ 29 yard line. The ‘Cats scored three plays later.

I’m not picking on Mimbs, I’m just saying. (Associated Press photograph by Mary Ann Chastain.)

After Georgia scored to reclaim a 35-31 lead, Winston Guy broke a 96-yard kickoff return to set up another three-play touchdown drive. The Red and Black’s next two drives appeared promising until Massaquoi fumbled in U.K. territory, but both turnovers could be classified as what appellate courts call "harmless error": Kentucky took over on Georgia’s 49 yard line and the Wildcats’ 38 yard line, respectively, yet those two first and tens turned into a fourth and 15 at the Kentucky 46 and a fourth and eleven at the Georgia 35, producing no points.

From there, Massaquoi atoned for his earlier miscues by taking Stafford’s first pass on the Bulldogs’ final drive for 78 yards to the U.K. seven yard line. A foolish (albeit apparently accidental) facemask penalty on what otherwise would have been a game-sealing fourth down stop by the Georgia D gave the Wildcats new life, which Demarcus Dobbs proceeded to snuff out with the pick that at long last ended all doubts as to the final outcome in the final minute.

Kentucky moved the football more than they should have, but they seldom had to move it much. As was the case in Jacksonville last weekend, the initial blame for the opposition’s unsightly point tally must be laid at the feet of the offense that gave the ball away and the special teams that set the other team up with good field position. There is plenty for which to blame the defense, but, when a new U.K. quarterback who hasn’t put a lot on film is set up with field position ranging from good to great in his home stadium all afternoon, even a solid defensive effort is going to be made to look bad.

Consequently, I’m more concerned about the kicking game than I am about the defense. The Wildcats began three of their five first-half drives at or in back of their own 30 yard line; that trio of possessions produced no points and, on average, lasted four plays apiece and generated fewer than 20 yards each.

I don’t have Willie’s back, necessarily, I’m just saying.

Kentucky never had to drive the length of the field. The Wildcats’ longest drive was 67 yards. Only two of their 13 possessions went for more than 50 yards. Just four U.K. offensive series covered as many as 35 yards of real estate. Had the Blue and White started in the neighborhood of their own 25 or worse as often as the ‘Dawgs did, Georgia would have won the game by at least two touchdowns.

As I noted earlier, the last two Saturdays have borne a disconcerting resemblance to the middle years of the 1990s, when beatdowns by the St. John’s River and shootouts in the Bluegrass State were the norm. I have to admit that it starts to look more like the rule than the exception when three straight opponents hang 38 or more points on the Bulldogs, but a couple of asterisks have to be appended to those tallies: Alabama hung 41 points on Georgia at home and every one of them accurately reflected the prowess of the opposing offense. The last three games were played in Baton Rouge, Jacksonville, and Lexington, and, in every one of them, the numbers artificially were inflated by garbage time yardage after the game was decided (at L.S.U.) or by offensive and special teams miscues (against Florida and at Kentucky).

There are problems in need of correcting; maybe there even are changes that need to be made among the members of Mark Richt’s coaching staff. Right now, though, we in Bulldog Nation have more immediately concerns. The Red and Black are 8-2, with two games remaining in which they may earn a New Year’s Day bowl berth, a top ten ranking, and a sixth ten-win season in a seven-year span.

Considering all of our lofty preseason expectations, that might not sound like much for which to play. I suspect a similar sentiment was heard in Tallahassee near the end of the 1992 season that was Florida State’s sixth straight ten-win campaign with nary a national championship to show for it . . . until the ‘Noles, with Mark Richt as their quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator, proceeded to finish No. 1 in the nation twice in the next seven years.

Forget about all that for now, though. Next Saturday, the Bulldogs will renew the Deep South’s oldest football rivalry when they travel to the so-called Loveliest Village to face an Auburn team that was tied with Tennessee-Martin---not Tennessee, but Division I-AA Tennessee-Martin---with just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter. Now, as ever, there is nothing wrong with being a Georgia Bulldog that beating Auburn can’t fix.

Go ’Dawgs! Auburna delenda est!

UK vs. Arkansas: For the 'Cats, as "must win" as it gets

Ken Howlett — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:38:17 -0000

With Arkansas riding high off of their 25-22 upset road win over Auburn, UK is once again catching an opponent feeling good about themselves (South Carolina had just won in Oxford). Victories like that tend to build confidence and team unity, especially in a team as young as Arkansas. Will Bobby Petrino's squad continue to improve, or was the Auburn victory more of a showcase for all that is wrong on the plains of Tubber-ville? I know that Bobby Petrino will have his group ready to play, so UK better bring the good stuff if they harbor any hopes at all of reaching six or seven wins.

Razorback Personnel

Quarterback Casey Dick: 6'2", 215 lb senior -- On the year Dick is 115-197 through the air for 1,411 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has started all six Arkansas games. Last year Dick started all 13 games and was 150-262 for 1,695 yards, with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Running back Michael Smith: 5'7", 173 lb junior -- Smith has 109 rushes for 599 yards, which is good for a 5.5 yards per carry average. He leads the SEC with 119.8 yards per game and he has ran for four touchdowns. Of course last year Smith played behind Darren McFadden and Felix Jones (both future NFL superstars), so he only garnered 46 carries for 303 yards (6.6 yards per carry) and three touchdowns.

Tight end D.J. Williams: 6'2", 250 lb sophomore -- Williams has made 28 catches for 315 yards (11.2 yards per catch) and two touchdowns (all three totals lead the team). He was selected to the All-SEC Freshman first team last year after making five catches for 94 yards.

Wide receiver Joe Adams: 6'0", 175 lb freshman -- The true freshman is second on the team with 22 receptions for 285 yards (13.0 yards per catch) and one touchdown. The multi-talented athlete is a converted cornerback. He was ranked the #12 best cornerback prospect in the country by Rivals, and the #2 overall prospect in the state of Arkansas. He's started in five of six games this year.

Wide receiver London Crawford: 6'2", 200 lb junior -- Smith has 15 catches for 163 yards (10.9 yards per catch). Last year he started the first six games at split end, making eight catches for 147 yards and a touchdown. He missed the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Wide receiver Greg Childs: 6'4", 205 lb freshman -- Childs has made 12 catches for 171 yards (14.2 yards per catch) and one touchdown. Another true freshman, the receiver was the #9 ranked recruit in Arkansas, and was the #72 rated receiver prospect nationally.

Defensive end Adrian Davis: 6'4", 238 lb junior -- Davis is second on the team with 35 tackles. He has also recorded three sacks (all versus Auburn), five tackles for loss and one interception. In '07 Davis made 65 tackles (10 tackles for loss), two interceptions and three sacks.

Linebacker Jerry Franklin: 6'2", 229 lb redshirt freshman -- Franklin leads the Hogs with 48 tackles. He also has 2.5 tackles for loss, and one interception. Franklin is another conversion; he was the #38 rated safety prospect according to Rivals and the overall #8 prospect in Arkansas.

Cornerback Jamar Love: 6'1", 197 lb senior -- Love has recorded seven pass-breakups, which is impressive considering the Hogs have only had to face 161 thrown passes by their opponents. He is experienced, having played in all 13 games last year ( 22 tackles and four pass break-ups).

Arkansas Related Statistics

Arkansas scores only 18.7 points per game, while giving up 35.3.
Arkansas averages 3.8 yards per rush, while giving up 4.8 yards per carry.
Arkansas has turned the ball over 14 times (five fumbles and nine interceptions), compared to only six takeaways (five interceptions and one fumble recovery). The 'Backs have had 10 opportunities to recover fumbles but gathered in only the one.
Arkansas quarterbacks have been sacked 21 times.
Arkansas has been outscored 48-3 in the fourth quarter.
Arkansas averages 362.8 total yards per game, but they give up 355.5 yards per game.
Arkansas is 13-16 (11 touchdowns) in red zone scoring opportunities. Their opponents are 18-22 (14 touchdowns) in the red zone.
Opponents are converting 41% of their third downs against Arkansas.
Arkansas opponents are averaging 183 yards rushing versus the Razorbacks.
Alabama running back Glen Coffee ran for 162 yards versus Arkansas ('Bama had 328 total rushing yards). By way of comparison, Coffee ran for 218 yards on 25 carries versus UK, and Alabama had 282 total rushing yards.
The University of Texas recorded seven sacks versus the Razorbacks.

The Razorback Schedule

Arkansas has defeated Division I-AA Western Illinois 28-24, Sun Belt member La.-Monroe 28-27, and Auburn 25-22. They've lost to #9 Alabama 49-14, #7 Texas 52-10, and #12 Florida 38-7.

Which one of these doesn't belong? Think Sesame Street.

Never have I been so surprised than to see Arkansas beat Auburn, on the road. Their other five games are rather uneventful; the 'Backs were soundly defeated by the big boys, and they beat a couple of teams that they should have, but sticking out like P Pat's new coif is the Auburn game. We all know that the Tigers have had trouble scoring, so much so, that they ('they' being Tommy Tuberville) fired new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin after only five games. To say that things are in disarray in Dixie would be an understatement.

A closer look at the Arkansas vs. Auburn game revealed a few revelations of note:

Auburn couldn't run the ball -- The Tigers ran for only 56 yards, which was good for only a 1.7 yards per carry average.
Arkansas could run the ball -- Tailback Michael Smith had a career day; rushing 35 time for 176 yards and a score. As a team the Razorbacks ran for 188 yards (4.3 yards per carry).
Since Auburn couldn't run the ball, Arkansas controlled the clock -- The Razorbacks won the time of possession battle 35:02 to 24:58.
Auburn quarterbacks Kodi Burns and Chris Todd were atrocious -- The two combined to go 10-28 for 137 and three interceptions.
Auburn had their chances to put the game away, but failed to deliver -- The Tigers were only two of five in the red zone. In the three unsuccessful trips they threw an interception, turned the ball over on downs (they had the ball 1st and Goal from the five yard line), and missed a field goal.
Arkansas converted their third downs -- The 'Backs were 8-17 on their attempts, while Auburn, unable to run or throw, converted only 4-15.
Both teams turned the ball over three times.
Total offense=total domination -- Arkansas 416 yards, Auburn 193 yards.
Casey Dick was serviceable -- The Razorback signal-caller was 17-32 for 222 yards and two interceptions. Well, on second thought, 'serviceable,' is being kind.

UK and Arkansas -- An SEC Stat Comparison

Scoring -- UK averages 26.2 points per game (6th in the SEC), Arkansas averages 18.7 (10th).
Scoring Defense -- UK allows 10.5 points per game (1st), Arkansas gives up 35.3 points per game (12th).
Total offense -- UK gains 317 yards per game (8th), Arkansas gains 362.8 (6th).
Total defense -- UK holds opponents to 274.2 yards per game (5th), Arkansas gives up 355.5 yards per game (12th).
Rush offense -- UK averages 129.2 yards per game (8th), Arkansas averages 115.2 (11th).
Rush defense -- UK gives up 108.2 yards per game (6th), Arkansas gives up 183.0 yards per game (12th).
Pass offense -- UK throws for 187.8 yards per game (7th), Arkansas throws for 247.7 yards per game (2nd).
Pass defense -- UK gives up 166.0 yards through the air (4th), Arkansas gives up 172.7 yards per game (5th).
Kick-off returns -- UK averages 29.4 yards per return (1st), Arkansas averages 21.9 yards per return (8th).
Punt returns -- UK averages 11.5 on punt returns, Arkansas averages 5.7 yards per return (11th).
Kick-off coverage -- UK nets 46.4 yards per kick-off (2nd), Arkansas nets 36.8 yards per kick-off (12th).
Sacks against -- UK has allowed four sacks (1st), Arkansas has allowed 21 sacks (11th).
Opponents third down conversions -- UK allows a 29.3% conversion rate (4th), Arkansas allows a 41.0% conversion rate (11th).
Third down conversions -- UK converts 30.1% of their third downs (11th), Arkansas converts 39.8% of their third downs (7th).
Turnover margin -- UK is +7 (t2nd), Arkansas is - 8 (12th).

What Must Happen Offensively

Kentucky has to win this game. They just have to. But how ...

In order for UK to come out victorious Saturday night they must run the ball better than they have all year. With Tony Dixon out with an injury, Derrick Locke and Alfonso Smith will be receiving the bulk of the carries. Locke will also be on the receiving end of his fair share of passes, considering the loss of Dicky Lyons leaves him the leading receiver on the team (22 catches for 189 yards and one touchdown). But, the game-plan needs to be run, run, run. Because what happened last week can't happen again ...

Last week versus South Carolina, UK threw the ball twice as much as they ran the ball (44 passes, 22 rushes). That's a ratio designed for failure, and it has to change, pronto. I realize Brooks can't run if they aren't gaining positive yards, so Locke, Smith and Moncell Allen have to find what it is they have been looking for all year, and that might be ...

With the addition of Randall Cobb to the starting lineup (he'll play wide receiver), one can at least hope for a more productive vertical game (actually, the mere existence of a vertical game would be news we can use). His athleticism and evade-ability make him a very dangerous weapon when healthy. UK fans will be watching every cut and catch, waiting for him to break a long one for six. But if he doesn't, always remember this ...

Simply Cobb's presence on an every-down basis will quite possibly loosen up the defenses UK faces, because now the defense has a definite play-maker they must keep one eye on at all times. The offensive possibilities are limitless when a coach possesses a talent like Cobb, lets hope we witness a healthy number of those possibilities versus Arkansas. He's not only talented, he's a good teammate ...

Classy move; the freshman displayed real leadership with his decision to wear Dicky Lyons' #12 Saturday. Dicky, we all wish you well, and only the best.

Here's a quick look at the remaining UK receivers and their numbers:

Derrick Locke -- 22 catches for 189 yards, one touchdown.
Randall Cobb -- 11 catches for 84 yards.
T.C. Drake -- 8 catches for 121 yards.
Kyrus Lanxter (will not play versus Ark.) -- 7 catches for 89 yards.
Maurice Grinter (questionable) -- 7 catches for 76 yards, one touchdown.
E.J. Adams -- 6 catches for 59 yards.
Aaron Boyd (he may start versus Arkansas) -- 4 catches for 30 yards, and ZERO DROPS.
Eric Ademyemi -- 4 catches for 24 yards.
Gene McCaskill -- 3 catches for 27 yards.
DeMoreo Ford -- 1 catch for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Matt Roark -- 1 catch for 6 yards.

In case you're counting, that's six freshman (and only three touchdowns).

What Must Happen Defensively

UK cannot allow running back Michael Smith to have a big day on the ground. The 'Cats have already fallen victim to running backs Glen Coffee ('Bama) and Bobby Rainey (WKU). Smith going for more than a-buck-twenty-five will lesson UK's chances at winning this game, and as we all know this is a "must win" for the boys in blue. At only 5'7", perhaps a brain-rattling hit from Micah Johnson is what our Mr. Smith needs to readjust his goals for the day. How they do it is of no consequence to me (that sounds harsh), as long as UK doesn't allow Smith to do his best Barry Sanders impression.

Razorback quarterback Casey Dick is only average. If Kentucky can get pressure on him, the likelihood is high that somebody will make a play on the ball (if he throws Lindley's way I'll be surprised). He's apt to throw picks, and UK's secondary is one of the best he'll face this year. UK must capitalize.

This is a tough one to predict, but since it's a "must win" I'll go with UK - 23 Arkansas - 14.

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

UK vs. Alabama: 'Bama Skynard's the 'Cats ... but barely

Ken Howlett — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:14:33 -0000

Coming into this ballgame, I didn't think UK could win. My prediction was 23-13 'Bama, but in my heart I thought it possible that the Tide could run away and hide. After-all, this same 'Bama team had just destroyed Georgia between the hedges, and Kentucky's offense was mostly, well, offensive. I knew UK's defense was good, but I wasn't sure how good; they simply had not played anyone in the same solar system as Alabama. Put it this way; if someone would have told me before the game that UK would hold Alabama to one offensive touchdown, and a field goal, I would have directed that person to the nearest mental health care specialist. 'Bama had just neatly hung 41 on the 'Dawgs, UK surely couldn't hold them to under 28-30 points, or so I thought. Add those feelings to my total lack of confidence in UK's offensive unit ( versus 'Bama, anyway ), and one can see why I thought, deep down, that Alabama might send UK home 'talkin' to themselves.'

Well, what I thought was wrong. Yes, UK's offense was as anemic as a supermodel in the first half ( they gained a middle school-like 60 yards ), but they rebounded nicely, gaining 216 total yards in the second half along with two touchdowns, and the defense held 'Bama to only 137 second half yards. Down 14-0 at the half, the 'Cats didn't fold, they didn't hang their heads, they came out in the second half and played the #2 team in the country as tough as anyone has, or will.

It just took UK a half to shake the 'Curse of the Bear.'

I nearly threw my television out into the street in the first half, though:

Dropped passes -- This game, instead of the freshman, two upper class-man ( Tony Dixon and DeMoreo Ford ) let their teammates down with a couple of careless drops. Saturday the drops were even more harmful than the seemingly hundreds of other drops this year, because two of the five drops kept UK from making first downs, and on a day when first downs came at a premium, every opportunity needs to be well executed. Dropping first down passes is simply inexcusable.
Mental mistakes -- Penalties negating first downs, or putting UK in 2nd or 3rd and long situations; against a defense as formidable as 'Bama's, UK cannot afford negative yardage plays.
Giving up big plays -- The defense allowed a 78 yard rushing touchdown to Glen Coffee. At that point I thought, "Oh no, here we go." They also allowed a 40 yard pass completion to Julio Jones ( if any of UK's young receivers were thinking that they were the 'cats meow', take a look at Jones, now that guys a pass-catching freak ).
An inability to run the ball -- 16 yards on 12 carries in the first half, pathetic. It is truly perplexing that UK's O-line can protect Hartline so well, but can't open holes for the runners to scamper through.
Hartline gift-wrapping a 'Bama touchdown -- That's the third time this year that Hartline has dropped the ball while attempting to pass ... the problem needs to be remedied, stat. After the game Rich Brooks pointed to that play as easily the biggest play of the game.

But through all the stroke-inducing misplays and mistakes, the team came out in the second half focused on playing better, and convinced that they could play with 'Bama. They didn't back down, and they didn't play as if they were intimidated ... they competed:

The defense was nothing short of spectacular: For the first 12 minutes of the third quarter, UK's defense held Alabama to 24 total yards ( those yards came on four possessions ). They harassed Tide signal-caller John Parker Wilson ( three sacks and countless hurries ) to the point of him having to roll out of the pocket, where he performs as a below average college quarterback ( he was 7 of 17 for 106 yards and a pick ). The secondary blanketed the 'Bama wide-outs ( Trevard Lindley set the UK record for most career pass breakups ) making the road even more difficult for Wilson to navigate.
Offensively, UK didn't set any records in the second half, but they did score two touchdowns, and gained a respectable 216 yards. At least one aspect of the offense shone brightly in the Alabama sunshine; the pass catching of Derrick Locke ( he lead UK with eight catches for 81 yards ). We heard talk before the game that Locke might be utilized more as a pass catcher, and after seeing the results Saturday, one would think that that offensive innovation will continue. No, he didn't record a single drop. I also like what Joker Phillips has been doing with tight end Maurice Grinter over the last couple of games. My only complaint is that the offense doesn't utilize Grinter's talent enough.
Mike Hartline, I thought, performed adequately, especially considering he had never played in that type of environment before. The fumble and interception ( which he floated ) hurt the team, but he made several nice throws ( his 23 yard pass to Grinter was a thing of beauty ), ending up with 241 passing yards and two touchdowns ( he would have had at least another 30-40 yards if not for having to suffer through five dropped passes ). My, and many others hope is that at some point Phillips will let Hartline throw long, or at least longer than 20 yards. UK needs to stretch the field a bit or the abysmal running game will continue to disappoint.
Tim Masthay continues to impress. His booming punts lead to many of 'Bama's drives starting deep in their own territory, and probably saved UK from giving up more points.

The Worm Turns both Ways

Both teams certainly enjoyed some good fortune:

UK fans got to see the opponents suffer from wanna-kill-the-kicker-itis ( two missed field goals ), that's six points right there.
UK was also fortunate to recover a 'Bama fumble, just as the Tide were going in to score.
I also question the offensive pass interference call versus Julio Jones ( which negated a long gain ); the contact looked pretty benign to me.

Conversely, Alabama enjoyed the gift that keeps on giving:

A four yard fumble recovery for a touchdown; it doesn't get any easier than that.
I consider UK's dropped passes another stroke of good fortune for 'Bama.
UK NOT recovering 'Bama's fourth quarter fumble on the UK two yard line was most a most fortuitous break for the Crimson Tide.

Going Forward

Lost opportunities, but also a reason to believe, is what I take away from this game; when one considers that UK was a botched on-side kick away from potentially tying the game, one has to give credit to UK for playing with the #2 team in the country, on their turf. But since the game was only lost by three points, it's the nature of the sport fan to say 'what if.' Instead of asking myself that question, I choose to look ahead. And looking ahead I see a schedule full of teams that aren't nearly as good as Alabama.

It remains to be seen if UK will continue on their current growth arc, but if they do, I like their chances of winning at least three or four more games.

That's what I take away from the 'Bama game.

Thanks for reading, congratulations Alabama, and Go 'Cats!

Playing catch-up

Ken Howlett — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:45:26 -0000

Having been away from the computer for the last week or so, I thought I would emerge from my beach dwelling lifestyle to "clean house" on a few items.

The Middle Tennessee near-disaster

Going into UK's contest versus Middle Tennessee there were warning signs that the Kentucky football team wasn't a completely focused group. The rantings of Rich Brooks about the unacceptable practice habits of the team leading up to the game is not what fans want to hear, and should have served as a foreshadow that the game wasn't going to be the easy win ( if there is such a thing ) it should have been. Make no mistake, the MTSU game should have been an opportunity for some of the younger players to enjoy some valuable game experience, as well as the Commonwealth faithful to enjoy a relaxing route prior to the beginning of the rugged SEC schedule.

Along those same lines; let's very quickly put to rest the talk of MTSU being a very good football team, a football team that had every right to be in the game in the fourth quarter. They did beat Maryland who then beat Cal, but with the exception of USC, the Pac 10 looks dreadful, and the entire ACC looks to be just as incompetent. And oh by the way, MTSU lost Saturday to Arkansas State by a score of 31-14; Middle was outgained by 125 yards for the game. So, no, MTSU had no business being within three feet of defeating Kentucky.

Kentucky nearly beat Kentucky, as evidenced by Rich Brooks and Joker Phillip's words after the game:

"We had way too many people, particularly on offense, not knowing what was going on, not running the right routes, missing checks. There were a lot of things Hartline was doing, getting us in the right play, and then all of a sudden the receiver wouldn't complete a route, wouldn't run the right route. Right now our quarterback goes back where, he's not sure what he's going to get on those routes. It was very disturbing."

Joker was a bit less verbose, but just as crystal clear:

"Here's what's discouraging to me. You see guys in the pre-game singing Kanye West songs. How can they freaking understand every word that he sings and they can't understand the freaking signals. That's what's frustrating."

You play like you practice. Rinse and repeat.

I realize the UK receiving corps is littered with youngsters ( who probably think they are the next Jerry Rice ), but what they evidently don't understand is that Jerry Rice worked his tail off becoming Jerry Rice. Just as Tiger Woods works harder than any other professional golfer, just as Walter Payton worked harder than any other NFL running back, just as Michael Jordan worked harder than any other professional basketball player.

It's not a happy accident that Rice, Woods, Payton and Jordan are considered by many to be the unrivaled athletes in their chosen sport. They are all considered to be the hardest, most focused and driven performers of their time; Tiger Woods will practice putting for eight hours a day ... eight hours! Yet many of UK's football players find it challenging to practice at an acceptable level for eight hours a week.

Why is that? I surely don't have the answer, but I have the juice, and here it is; if Kentucky's players don't discover the fact that you get better in practice, that a team plays like it practices ( a fact I learned in high school ), then they are in for a long and winless SEC schedule.

As it stands right now, there isn't an SEC team that UK can beat:

They won't be able to score on Mississippi State.
Vanderbilt is capable of lighting up the scoreboard bulbs at a frightening pace, UK won't be able to keep up with them.
As bad as South Carolina is, Steve Spurrier is much too football smart to lose to this group.
You can bet your parking pass that Bobby Petrino will have Arkansas ready, because I guarantee he's getting the effort out of his group in practice.
Forget about being competitive with 'Bama, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. Squads that don't take practice and getting better, seriously, don't beat teams of that caliber.

And let me add; thank gawd UK doesn't have to play U of L again, because the Cards looked like an improving club Wednesday night in their beat-down of Kansas State.

My advice is that somebody wearing a uniform needs to step up and kick some ass. The coaches can scream and berate all day long, but if their is a lack of player leadership, a lack of accountability among the players themselves, then many times the coaches "vocal encouragement" goes unheeded, especially among the young and the clueless.

Running backs and offensive linemen

Kentucky's ability to run the ball was touted as a team strength a mere three weeks ago, but presently the ball carriers in blue have been the most profound disappointment for the 'Cats. The four primary running backs: Tony Dixon, Derrick Locke, Alfonso Smith, and Moncell Allen are averaging 2.9 yards per carry in their two Division I games. They have accumulated 171 yards on 59 carries. That is simply pitiful.

I place most of the blame on the offensive line. I don't care if Barry Sanders is running with the pigskin, if he gets hit two yards behind the line of scrimmage, he's not going to run for a lot of yards, and that's what is happening to UK's corps of fleet-footed backs. The penetration the opponents D-line is getting on running plays is not conducive to large ground gains, but Hartline has for the most part enjoyed adequate protection. That tells me that the offensive linemen can stave off a rush, but they aren't strong enough, or fundamentally sound enough to impose their will on opponents, in order to open up holes to run through ... in other words, they can't move 'em.

That's a problem.

I'm not going to pretend to know all the answers to the myriad of questions surrounding their unexpectedly poor performance ( except to say that they obviously miss the injured Garry Williams, along with the graduated Jason Leger and Eric Scott ), but they must begin to play better, or we're going to witness negative rushing yardage games in the very near future.

Lones Seiber

I'm not going to recount all the negative stats relevant to Seiber's perfomance that have been printed in the papers and on-line this week. My stomach couldn't take it.

I know the kid is trying, and I know he feels bad. But a tough-love benching is called for, in my opinion. I realize Brooks has said there will be an open-competition in practice for the starting place-kicking job, but that competition should not include Seiber. He has been given many chances, and it's time to see what Ryan Tydlacka or J.J. Housley can do under the pressure of the spotlight.

MIke Hartline

A hearty congratulations goes out to the UK quarterback for being selected the SEC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the MTSU game ( 28-47 for 254 yards and two TD's ).

I hope the boo birds are sufficiently ashamed. The young man is growing up right before our surprised eyes.

Western Kentucky

With the WKU game coming up Saturday, I'll have much more on Western and the contest itself, but for now, let me leave you with this scary thought ... the Toppers are better than Middle.

Thanks for reading, and practice like you mean it!

UK vs. Middle Tennessee: Will MTSU raid UK's (football) field party?

Ken Howlett — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:33:02 -0000

What are the players thinking?

After defeating their chief rival, and FCS member Norfolk State, UK's football team decided to take the week off. Was this a scheduled week off? No.

OK, so they didn't literally take the week off, but Rich Brooks has indicated through his rather emphatic words that the UK football team took a figurative day off this week. To write that the UK head coach was upset would be an understatement, squared.

Asked Wednesday after practice how the team was progressing, Brooks had this delightful ditty:

"We're not practicing well. We've got a lot of work to do. We better understand that we've got to work a lot harder than we are in practice. It was a lack of energy, lack of effort, focus, you name it. We're not getting a lot of leadership in practice, and this is very, very disturbing. We've got a lot of guys talking the talk, abut they're not walking the walk. I'm not very happy."

Thanks for your honesty, coach.

I don't understand this. How a team with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity collectively decides that they are going to let up in their practice effort, after only two games, is beyond my comprehension ability.

It's not as if they have actually accomplished anything meaningful. Coach Brooks agrees:

"What have we done? We haven't done anything."

Call that my favorite quote of the year ( I'm certain Brooks did not intend to deride U of L's football program with his statement, but I thought it was funny ... well, actually hilarious ).

More to the point; what is this group of players thinking? My father would respond, "They aren't thinking." And he would be right.

UK has proved nothing ( other than they have an improved defense ) to this point in the year. They should be focused on getting better, in order to be able to compete once the SEC season starts. That should be their sole goal. For the players to relax, and presumably rest on their laurels at this point in the year is ludicrous, and inexcusable.

Where exactly is Dicky Lyons, Mike Hartline, Trevard Lindley, Jeremy Jarmon, Tony Dixon, and Braxton Kelley? Why aren't they kicking some tail? Why aren't they motivating ( to put it politely ) the younger, dumber guys? There was one area I thought UK would be strong in this year, and that was in the leadership department. They have so many returning players who have vast amounts of experience. There is simply no excuse for there to be a leadership vacuum.

Steve Brown feels the same as Brooks. He cites a lack of leadership as a major problem for the defense:

"All you hear is my voice screaming. I'm tired of screaming. You'd think you'd hear a couple of guys saying, 'Let's go! Let's Go!'. But we're not getting it. No one's assumed the leadership role."

The only thing one can say to the team; "You've been called out men. Will you rise to the challenge, or will you fold like Tony Soprano's 'Benjamins'?

MTSU -- Here comes the 'spread'

Tom Leach told Brooks last week in his post-game interview that Middle Tennessee had beaten Maryland 24-14; the coach responded, as I did, with a "Wow!" Suddenly this game with MTSU, a Sun Belt Conference member, loomed a much tougher task than originally thought.

As the Herald-Leader's Chip Cosby points out in his excellent column on UK's history versus the spread offense ( "Dread the Spread " ), the Wildcats haven't exactly enjoyed great success in stopping the highly fluid offense. Vandy and Florida are two teams that UK has played recently that run the spread, or some variation of, and both teams have lit up the scoreboard with alarming regularity.

So at first blush, this game seems to be a legitimate test of UK's improved defense. But a closer look at MTSU"s "vital stats" tells a slightly different story:

Blue Raider QB, Joe Craddock -- The fifth-year senior has been pretty good through the air; 48 of 72 with one interception and three touchdowns. He's averaging 228 yards passing per game. On the ground, though, he has struggled, rushing 20 times for a net 14 yards. Last year versus U of L ( a 58-42 U of L win ) Craddock was 14-26 for 290 yards and two touchdowns. He has played in 10 career games, starting eight.
Running back Phillip Tanner -- The junior has struggled at times this year, averaging only 3.2 yards per carry ( 38 carries for 122 yards ). He is a physical load, though; he comes in at 6'0", 205 lbs. This is Tanner's first year as a starter.
Running back Desmond Gee -- Also a junior, Gee's yards per carry average is lower than Tanner's, 2.8 ypc to be exact ( 26 rushes for 73 yards ). The 5'8", 165 lb all-purpose back is a two year 1st Team All-Sun Belt performer. Last year he amassed 1,323 all-purpose yards -- 382 receiving, 162 rushing -- the rest of his yards came returning punts and kick-offs. This year he has five kick-off returns for 111 yards ( a respectable, but not great 22.2 yards per return ). He has yet to return a punt ( teams are punting away from him ).
The receiver that stands out to me is freshman Sancho McDonald -- He has 10 catches for 80 yards and one touchdown ( he leads the team in receiving yards and catches ). The 6'3", 197 lb wide receiver is a 3-star recruit out of Miami. He was ranked in the Top 100 recruits in the state of Florida, and was also rated the #15 dual-quarterback threat in the nation by Rivals. As his 8.0 yards per catch average will attest, he has yet to "break-out", but he is a tremendous athlete who poses a very real danger every time he touches the ball, because of his speed and athleticism.
The other wide-out is Wes Caldwell -- Caldwell has made 10 catches for sixty yards.
MTSU, as a team, averages only 2.2 yards per carry, while giving up 5.1 yards per carry, and 5.6 yards per play.
In their 31-17 loss to Troy, MTSU gave up 164 rushing yards on 36 carries ( 4.6 yards per carry ). MTSU ran for 84 yards on 50 rush attempts.
MTSU ran 20 more plays than Troy, but gained 16 less yards.
Middle was down 27-3 going into the fourth quarter of the Troy game.
In their defeat of Maryland, MTSU had three sacks.
Craddock was 28-40 for two touchdowns versus Maryland.
In the Maryland win, MTSU scored on three of their first four possessions. Their sustained drives break down as follows: 10 plays for 80 yards ( TD ), 13 plays for 55 yards ( missed FG ), 17 plays for 59 yards ( made FG ). The other drive was 7 plays for 33 yards, but ended in a lost fumble. The next eight MTSU possessions ended in four punts and one turnover on downs.
One of MTSU's touchdowns versus Maryland came off of an interception returned to the Maryland 10 yard line.
Maryland rushed for 146 yards on only 25 carries ( 5.8 yards per carry ).
MTSU intercepted the Maryland quarterback three times.

The spread offense has been very good to a lot of football teams over the last few years: Utah, Florida, Vandy, Oregon, and West Virginia have all won playing the spread, but MTSU"s numbers just don't add up. They haven't overpowered anybody with their team rushing attack, and the passing numbers are adequate, but not scary good.

This is a game that UK should win, and win easily.

I mean that as no disrespect to MTSU coach, and Georgetown native Rick Stockstill, he's done a good job since taking over the program three years ago ( they went to the '06 Motor City Bowl ), nor do I intend to disrespect the MTSU players, but that doesn't change the fact that UK should dominate this football game. If a team running the spread offense can't average over 2.5 yards per rush, then something is not right within that offense. Let's just hope Stockstill hasn't solved the puzzle in this week's practice.

Miscellaneous stats

Rushing averages -- Derrick Locke - 8.1 yards per carry, Moncell Allen - 7.5 ypc, Randall Cobb - 5.6 ypc, Alfonso Smith - 5.3 ypc. As a team, UK is averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Considering how weak MTSU is against the run, these guys should be salivating.
UK is only 8 for 28 on third down conversions.
UK's opponents are averaging only 2.1 yards per rush.
UK has intercepted four passes, but the offense has produced only one passing touchdown.
Dicky Lyons has returned 10 punts for an exceptional average of 11.7 yards per return.

Brooks on the quarterback situation

Coach Brooks had this to say Thursday about the continuing quarterback battle:

"We'll play both quarterbacks in the first half, and depending on who's moving the ball the best, that one might play more than the other one."

Mike Hartline must begin to move the team, and the team could benefit him by aiding and abetting his efforts by catching his passes, and running the ball a bit better when he is manning the quarterback position. Randall Cobb must cut down on his mistakes, i.e., no more 'thread the needle", Brett Favre impersonations.

I'm rooting for both to experience wild success.

Wildcat's response

How will the football 'Cats respond to the very public criticism directed their way by Brooks? Frankly, I have no idea, but if I had to wager, I would bet that the team will play well. Most know that I am generally optimistic, and I believe in Brooks, but anything less than a three touchdown win will be cause for concern, in my view; Alabama is only three weeks away.

I'm taking a short vacation from my slave-driver cyber-boss, Tru :) I'll return next Friday.

Thanks for reading, and Go Cats!

Kentucky's keys to continued Governor's Cup ownership

Ken Howlett — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:41:14 -0000

As unpredictable as the upcoming Kentucky versus Louisville game seems, I feel there are a few key battles that UK must win in order to secure a victory in the war. Looking at positional comparisons, UK seems to have an edge all over the field, except at quarterback. And of course U of L has the good fortune of hosting this years contest. Other than those two areas, which are important, Kentucky has the competitive advantage.

Competitive advantage, though, is not what I'm looking for. I'm looking for what UK has to do in order to win ... period. As I see it, if Kentucky executes the following aspects of the game plan, they will spend Sunday evening happily retelling their family, friends, and media members how they beat the University of E - Ville.

Dominate with Defense Part 1 -- Bringin' the heat

The number one key to this game is not Hunter Cantwell, the running game, the receivers, Rich Brooks, or Steve Kragthorpe, it's UK's defense. Kentucky's defense must live up to the hype it has received from the coaching staff, and eternally optimistic folks like me.

UK defensive tackle Corey Peters has definite ideas about how he plans to attack:

"I think pressure is very important, especially in the first game of the season. They're probably not going to be completely in sync right off the bat. I think it's important to not let them get into that ( rhythm ). I think it's very important to get pressure with the front four so we don't really have to blitz."

Hunter Cantwell must feel the Blue heat. I want him to be reminded of the hell Dave Ragone went through in 2002 ( 14 - 39 for 193 yards ). Ragone ( who was thought to be a candidate for the Heisman ) left that UK victory in dire need of medical attention, and thoroughly familiar with the alignment of the stars in the sky. He was battered and beaten, and looked it, especially late in the game. Young Mr. Cantwell needs a refresher course in what Myron Pryor, Braxton Kelley, Corey Peters, Micah Johnson and Company are capable of putting a quarterback through. If not, Cantwell is certainly talented enough to find and hit his receivers with strikes, which then puts the pressure to perform on the secondary, which always makes me nervous ( flashes of '02 LSU dance through my head ).

Kentucky's defensive line ( it's best unit ) must gain penetration on U of L's offensive line. "Well, that's no problem," the uninformed UK fan may think. But, Louisville is returning two very important cogs off of last years O-line: Center Eric Wood ( 1st Team All-Big East, he's also on the Outland and Remington Trophy watch lists ), and OT George Bussey, himself an Outland candidate. The rest of the O-line is makeshift and inexperienced, but they aren't going to just roll-over by themselves, they're going to need a little help.

Since I question whether Cantwell will be taking many seven-step drops, scanning the field for open receivers, UK's line must pressure him quickly. Hopefully the results are hastily thrown balls, which are much more likely to be off-target, and/or intercepted. Give him time, or relax on the rush, and he's capable of executing the pin-point pass to a covered receiver.

UK defensive coordinator Steve Brown sounded cautionary regarding pressuring Cantwell:

"It's always important to get pressure on the quarterback, but you can't go into a game just thinking, 'Get a lot of pressure,' because they do an excellent job of running draws. You have to be smart, see what the tempo of the game is and at that point make a decision about how you want to attack him."

Coach, as long as you "attack him," I'm with you.

Dominate with Defense Part 2 -- Stopping the run

The U of L running game will be relying on one proven commodity in senior fullback Brock Bolen, and two less experienced, yet talented backs to run the ball ( Bilal Powell and Victor Anderson ). Once again, UK's defense must gain penetration in order to 'meet and greet' the Cardinal ball carriers in the backfield. All three of the U of L running backs are capable of having big games, with running back Powell ( 206 yards on 24 carries ) possessing the most speed of the three. I highly doubt that new offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm will be sending his backs up the gut of UK's D-line, so ends Ventrell Jenkins and Jeremy Jarmon, along with strong and weakside linebackers Johnny Williams and Braxton Kelley will be responsible for plugging holes before they open.

Containing Louisville's ground game does three things: It puts more pressure on Cantwell, it keeps U of L from controlling the clock, and most importantly, it makes Louisville's offense one-dimensional. And a one-dimensional offense is more often than not an unhappy offense, because they tend to lose more than they win. Just ask Barry Sanders.

Dominate with Defense Part 3 -- Embarrass the receivers

Cornerback Trevard Lindley had this thought when asked about covering U of L's young receivers:

"I think we've got to get on their receivers early so they don't have any confidence."

Louisville's starting receivers, Troy Pascley and Doug Beaumont have caught exactly zero passes at the collegiate level. Sophomore tight end Pete Nochta ( also zero career receptions ) will be replacing the excellent Gary Barnidge ( now with the Carolina Panthers ). Trevard Lindley, David Jones, Ashton Cobb and Marcus McClinton should be licking their chops in anticipation. I'm not meaning to imply that they should be over-confident, one must always respect ones opponent, but they have an opportunity Sunday to dominate a group of inexperienced receivers. Generally speaking, young receivers are trying to concentrate on running the right routes and being in the right spots, on time. If UK's Lindley and Jones get physical ( no, not the Olivia Newton-John type 'physical' ), and jam U of L's wide-outs at the line of scrimmage, that should throw off the rhythm of the young receiving corps, and it will also make them think, instead of react. And a thinking receiver, is usually a beat receiver.

There will be no more of a greater mismatch on the field Sunday than UK's secondary versus U of L's receivers. There simply will be no excuse for one of the Cards gettin' off like Harry Douglas did last year ( 13 catches for 223 yards ).

Field Position

Field position is determined by three factors; punting, turnovers, and returns. Last year U of L was overly generous early in the game by putting the ball into UK's hands, resulting in UK enjoying a short field; on the Kentucky kick-off U of L put the ball on the ground on their own 20 yard line, resulting in a UK field goal. A few minutes later a Brian Brohm interception gave UK the ball on U of L's 18 yard line, resulting in a touchdown. The best field position that U of L started with that lovely day was their own 37 yard line. Hence, the importance of field position.

Kentucky must hold on to the ball, and Tim Masthay must be consistent with his punts ( he allowed only a 6.0 yard return average last year ). Masthay pinning U of L deep in their own territory will only make it more difficult for the young Louisville offense to put points on the board. And if Kentucky's defense can hold them to short yardage in those situations, UK will be looking at getting the ball back with a short field themselves.

Masthay is the king of touchbacks, leading the SEC with 23 last year. One never knows when a break down will occur in special teams coverage allowing a long return, so that fact cannot be overstated. His continued strong-leg displays on kick-offs are vital to ensuring that U of L starts with the ball on their own 20, instead of up-field.

The return game is very unpredictable. Dicky Lyons and Randall Cobb will be handling most of the return work. My only anticipation is for them to not turn the ball over. Anything more than that, such as a long return, is gravy on momma's taters.

Lones Seiber

Since I anticipate a close game, Seiber is deserving of his own heading.

UK's kicker has not exactly enamored himself with Rich Brooks in fall practice. He's been inconsistent; missing chip-shots, but making a 52 yard field goal. Seiber performed well for most of last year, but he faltered at the end of the season, missing four of his last five attempts.

Nothing is more frustrating to a coach ( ask Bobby Bowden ), a fan ( ask me ), or a teammate ( ask Peyton Manning ) than an unsteady kicker. So in the interest of sanity in the Bluegrass, please Lones, be dead-eye.

Ball game givens

In my mind, there are a couple of aspects to UK's game that are givens:

Mike Hartline will be 'uneven': It's the kids first start, on the road, versus U of L, and he has only one experienced receiver ( plus tight end Maurice Grinter ). If he's anything more than 'uneven,' color me shocked. What he can't do though, is turn the ball over. All I'm looking for at this point in the season is for him to not hurt the teams chances at winning. If he can make the screen pass, and the 10-15 yard slant ( and the occasional deep ball ), do just enough to keep Louisville's defense from putting eight guys in the box, then he'll be doing his job.
UK's running game: Tony Dixon, Derrick Locke, Alfonso Smith and Moncell Allen should collectively, have a big day. They will be running against a defense that pined to be considered porous last year. They will also be facing three new linebackers, one of which is a freshman. There will be no excuses to be had if they fail to eat up chunks of yardage; they should control the clock, keeping U of L's defense on the field for extended periods of time. By the fourth quarter their legs should still be fresh, and easy yards should be there for all to enjoy.

Possible surprise

I think it is very possible that junior tight end Maurice Grinter could have a big day. He's experienced, has soft hands, can run well ( he was a basketball star at Fairdale ), and run over just about anyone who decides to take him on. Grinter is extremely athletic, and is capable of turning a short pass into a long gain. With an abundance of 'green' receivers, Joker Phillips may decide to utilize Grinter as a relief-valve for Hartline, as well as in goal-line situations as a change of pace from the running backs.

End Result

I think this game is tilted toward a UK victory. Kentucky's defense, if they perform up to expectations, should go a long way in securing victory.

Final score -- UK -- 27 U of L -- 23

Happy Birthday

Sunday is my mother, Linda's, 29th birthday ( or so she says ). So, Happy Birthday mom, I love ya!

Thanks for reading, Go 'Cats!, beat Louisville!