SB Nation - Trevard Lindley

Kentucky Football: Giving Thanks to Those Deserving Much More

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

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

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 Suffice it so say, a lot, but recently that phrase has been replaced by, "How 'bout them 'Cats"?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!

Kentucky 34, Georgia 27 -- Postmortem

Truzenzuzex — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:16:17 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

Derrick Locke with the go-ahead touchdown!

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It's time to party, Kentucky fans! The Big Blue Nation has pulled a notable upset on the road versus a Georgia team that absolutely shot themselves in the foot not once, but so often that they were operating on one leg and a peg from the knee down.

Georgia utterly dominated Kentucky in every respect except for the one that mattered -- the final score. Georgia played a beautiful first half, and came back in the second half and did nothing but turn the ball over. This was not a good game by the Dawgs after that first half, and they really lost their composure in the second. I want to thank them for the effort, and my understanding is that they treat visiting teams with the greatest respect and classic Southern hospitality. But today, the Red Clay Hounds were their own worst enemy.

The first half of this football game was one of the most frustrating I have ever had the misfortune to witness. The play calling was weirdly inept, the defense as desperately needing an intravenous infusion of Viagra to cure its impotence. Georgia was running, passing, and dominating Kentucky utterly.

The domination was particularly complete on the lines. UK's O-line could not keep Georgia out of the backfield. The UK D-line got pushed around like they had four 150 lb. guys instead of 300+, and Joe Cox had enough time to brew a cup of coffee before looking for his receiver. At halftime, I was beginning to fear that UK was going to be uncompetitive for only the second time this season.

But when UK came out and forced a fumble for an immediate score on the opening kickoff of the second half, I knew we were back in the ball game. I figured that a close loss was likely, but how wrong I was. UK came out and reversed the line domination completely on defense, and mostly on offense. Georgia got frustrated and began throwing the football to UK players, with disastrous results. In the final ignominy, the Dawgs turned the ball over on the Kentucky one-yard line.

More after the jump.

Part of me feels for Georgia fans. Georgia is a true, old-South SEC football school. They play other sports in Athens, but football is the only sport that matters. This win steals the hearts from hundreds of thousands of Georgia fans thinking that perhaps this team had turned the corner after defeating ancient rival Auburn last week.

My recollection is that that Georgia stole the heart from us last year in basketball on senior day in Rupp Arena, a sport that we Wildcat fans take pretty seriously. Now they know what that feels like, having your favorite team in your favorite sport lose on the day you celebrate the seniors in your home stadium. I know from personal experience that it feels really bad.

Vengeance aside, this win validates this Kentucky team, at least on paper. I would dispute that it was the kind of win you can hang your hat on because so much of it was facilitated by Georgia mistakes. But UK was able to capitalize on those mistakes, so that is a big positive.

It is also a big positive that UK came out so strong after the half, when they could have just folded their tents and got ready for Tennessee next week. Instead, they came out and, with help from the Dawgs, found a way to steal the game and go to 7-4, 3-4 in the SEC.

As I write this, I am trying to watch the basketball game I missed earlier on replay, and finishing up the last tiny bit of a bottle of Four Roses I have had for quite some time. So I'll get to my observations now:

Randall Cobb is indispensible to this team. Even injured, he affected the game.
Trevard Lindley had the worst game I can remember for him. Cox threw some really good balls, as well as bad ones, and a lot of the good ones were in Lindley's direction.
Wow, the turnovers. Great job by UK for being opportunistic.
La'Rod King only had one catch, but what a catch it was!
Locke is scary when he gets any space between him and the defense. Scary.
It's been a long time since I've seen two teams reverse roles like that after the half.
Our special teams were very good today. I think it's time we cut Ortmayer some slack.
Joker Phillips called an okay second half. The first half was really bad.
Arm tackling. Lots of it in the first half, not so much in the second.
Tydlacka always seems to throw in a clunker, but that kick from the end zone might have been the difference in the game.
I'm sorry Uga died. I hate it when dogs die.
Who were these game announcers? I have rarely been more annoyed by two people announcing a football game.
Morgan Newton is still a freshman, but he made better decisions in the second half.
Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke may be two of the most underrated football players in America. But if they keep this up, it won't stay that way.
One guy I forgot in my original post was Sam Maxwell. What a game by Sam! Game ball. He was everywhere, and the INT in the second half was the difference. What a great season he is having.

Okay, I'm done. Had a good day at the track, the basketball 'Cats finally played well, we beat Georgia between the hedges, and I have a few sips left of a lovely drop of bourbon.

This was a good day.

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!

Kentucky 24, Vanderbilt 13 -- Postmortem

Truzenzuzex — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:51:51 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

Derrick Locke's power and speed was critical to the 'Cats win over Vanderbilt.

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I am very, very happy to report that Kentucky has won their second SEC road game this year and is now eligible for a bowl for the fourth straight year. Congrats to the football Wildcats on a big win at Vandy today.

Vanderbilt was a very, very tough and determined opponent, but their problem today was the same as it has been all year -- they have not been able to put enough points on the board. Vandy's defense was extremely tough today in the passing game, but they were vulnerable over the ground as they have been all year. Kentucky finally figured that out and exploited it to great advantage in the second half.

Derrick Locke was absolutely awesome, and his running mate Randall Cobb was almost his equal. We saw trick plays, circus catches, and two tipped interceptions. As usual in the Vanderbilt game, we found that the foe was much tougher than we expected, and that was very nearly the Wildcats' undoing.

But at the end of the day, Kentucky was superior offensively. The 'Cats also made some nice halftime adjustments defensively, and Steve Brown & Co. held the Commodores without a score the entire second half. I was taking Brown's name in vain at halftime, but he made up for all that with a well-played second half.

My observations follow the jump.

Special teams was fantastic today in almost every respect. The one problem was two blocking in the back calls that wasted two fine returns by Randall Cobb. A-
What a difference a half makes! Vanderbilt absolutely dominated Kentucky in time of possession in the first half, and ground the Wildcat defense down to a nub. But in the second half, it was almost exactly reversed.
Joker Phillips called a weak first half, and a strong second half. I'll give him a B for this game, and a star for realizing that Vandy could not stop us on the ground.
Brooks gets a B also, and a star for whatever it was he said at halftime.
Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke are like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid -- two different players who achieve nearly identical results. Locke gets his with speed and power, and Cobb gets his with remarkable shiftiness. A+ for both.
The halfback pass was a nice wrinkle. We should dust that off again. Locke threw a nice ball.
Morgan Newton played a very poised game, and I hope the Hartline experimentation is over for this year. I like Hartline's experience, but he is clearly not ready to play and Newton improves every game. Let's hope Brooks hitches his wagon to Newton's star. That rocket he threw over the middle to LaRod King was a big reason we won this game. I'm not sure Hartline could have made that throw. B for Newton.
Speaking of LaRod King, was he a great find for Brooks or what? B+
Where the heck was Chris Matthews? C- After further review, B. Matthews made more good blocks on the outside than I gave him credit for.
Why don't we get John Connor a few more carries?
Ryan Tydlacka was simply awesome today. Best game as a Wildcat, by far. A+
Memo to Joker Phillips -- remember the offensive line you have is great. Let them help us win games.
The D-line was not good today, but the secondary was incredible in the second half.
Please let Trevard Lindley be OK. Cobb too.

Next week -- The Dawgs and 'Cats duke it out between the hedges in Athens.

Go, Cats!

Kentucky 37 EKU 12: After-Action Report

Ken Howlett — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:54:02 -0000

More photos » by James Crisp - AP

Kentucky's Morgan Newton made strides in UK's 37-12 victory over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.

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The Kentucky football Wildcats (5-4, 1-4 SEC) proved to be resilient in today's 37-12 victory over their Richmond neighbors, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels (5-4, 5-3 OVC). With Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks deciding just before the game that UK's man-on-a-mission, Randall Cobb, would sit this one out due to a thumb injury, rookie quarterback Morgan Newton put together his best effort to date. Greatly aiding Newton in his quest for consistency were a group of formally inconsistent receivers -- Led by Chris Matthews' seven catches, eight different 'Cats caught passes today. And with star running back Derrick Locke sidelined with a bum knee, Kentucky's back-up runners plowed through the Colonel defense to the tune of 5.3 yards per carry.

I do want to add a hardy congratulations to the EKU Colonels. They represented their school well today with tough, clean play. I wish them well for the remainder of their season.

For a more detailed look at the points of interest for UK partisans, join me after the jump:

As noted, UK quarterback Morgan Newton played a solid, some might say, excellent game today. Newton was 20-29 through the air for 187 yards, and threw his first two passing touchdowns as a Wildcat. Coach Brooks had this to say about UK's star-in-early-development:

"Newton has improved a tremendous amount each week in practice. Eastern is not an SEC defense, but he showed he has the ability to read through his progressions, and protect the football."

Newton, instead of locking onto his hot read, scanned the field for his open receiver, which paid huge dividends with his 16-yard touchdown pass to under-used (and second option) tight end Maurice Grinter. All day Newton read his routes much more effectively than he has all year -- That's called progress.
Chris Matthews, who is still adjusting to the speed and intensity of major college football, replaced Cobb with aplomb this afternoon, nabbing seven passes for 56 yards (8.0 yards per reception) and one touchdown -- A touchdown where Matthews made a serious play for the ball. There is simply no excuse, other than inexperience, for Matthews to not excel at the SEC-level. He has the size, and physical attributes to be a go-to receiver, and hopefully today he took a positive step toward that end.
North Hardin alum LaRod King showed he just may be ready to make a difference in UK's offense. The freshman receiver caught four passes for 41 yards (10.3 ypr). He has played well when asked, I say he should be asked more often.
The magical disappearing/reappearing act of receiver Gene McCaskill made a timely breakthrough today with four catches for 33 yards (8.3 ypr).
Filling in admirably for Derrick Locke, capable running backs Moncell Allen and Alfonso Smith ran a combined 26 times for 122 yards (4.7 yards per carry). Each back recorded a touchdown.
Causing Commonwealth to buzz with excitement in the fourth quarter was the electric play of freshman running back Donald Russell -- Russell caught the Colonels napping with his 79-yard touchdown scamper (the longest UK rushing touchdown since 1998). Most impressive to coach Brooks, though, was Russell's 13-yard gain later in the fourth quarter, in which the talented tail back displayed a real ability to change directions while running at full speed. Russell is a down-hill runner with power. A dangerous combination for future UK opponents.
Linebacker Sam Maxwell continued his great play with yet another interception (which set-up the Newton to Matthews touchdown toss). That makes a team-leading four picks for Maxwell on the season. I sense an All-SEC nod for the senior LB.
Sophomore defensive back Cartier Rice also posted an INT today, picking off a Colonel hail Mary.
Junior defensive end DeQuin Evans led the 'Cats with 3.0 tackles for loss. The JUCO transfer continues to improve.
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Taiedo Smith led the team with 6.0 tackles.
UK's heralded offensive line held strong today, giving Newton time to throw, and opening holes for the running backs.
After being bullied last week by Mississippi State, Kentucky's defensive line recovered nicely this afternoon. They pressured EKU quarterback T.J. Pryor into only 9-28 passing for 137 yards. The Colonels gained 127 yards on the ground, but rushed 32 times (4.0 yards per carry) to attain that number.
Overall, EKU gained only 264 total yards on 14 first downs, compared to UK's 27 first downs and 444 total yards. Even considering the talent difference, those are numbers most UK fans should be happy with.
Kentucky was 9-17 on their third down conversions, while EKU was only 6-15. Those stats are as they should be -- A big, Big Blue advantage.
UK's special teams continue to hand out head-aches like Halloween candy -- A missed field goal (which was tipped), and a Colonel score on a fake field goal.
Kentucky set a school record today for most consecutive non-conference wins with 18.

After an understandably slow start , the 'Cats, behind the play of Morgan Newton, put away the Colonels with 30 points in the final three quarters (as they should have). Now, the goal is to get healthy. Vanderbilt on the road is UK's next test, and UK's next must-win.

Injuries coming out of today's contest look like this -- Tight end T. C. Drake has a serious groin injury; Linebacker Sam Maxwell has a thumb injury (x-rays negative); Cornerback Trevard Lindley "tweaked" an ankle late in the first half. Brooks theorized Lindley may have tore some scar tissue; we'll know more tomorrow.

The word from Rich Brooks on Cobb and Locke -- Locke should be ready to practice on Tuesday, making him likely to play next week versus Vandy. Cobb's thumb injury (he's in a cast), along with the fact that he's considerably bruised-up, portends a Cobb-watch for 'Cat fans in the upcoming week.

Mike Hartline update -- Hartline participated in practice last week (in limited duty), and coach Brooks will be looking this week at Hartline's maneuverability within the pocket. The junior signal-caller may see action next week at Vandy.

Newest Wildcat Fan

My wife Jennifer gave birth Monday to Carly Nicole, our third girl. All are doing well!

Thanks for reading and Go 'Cats!

The LSU Preview

outsidethesidelines — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:16:56 -0000

No smoke and mirrors needed this week. No clever turn of phrase needed to build drama and intrigue with this game. Nope. To paraphrase what they say in the sales business, this is simply a game that sells itself. It's 'Bama v. LSU. Saban Bowl III. National championship implications clearly on the line. The entire country turning its eyes towards Tuscaloosa to play close attention at this contest. Again, this one sells itself. Let's look closer at the match-ups:

Alabama Offense v. LSU Defense

After putting up points and yards by the bushel in the first month of the season, the once prolific Alabama offense has slowly ground to a virtual halt over the course of the past five weeks. The vertical element of the passing game went into the Witness Protection Program in early October, and we still haven't seen any signs of it returning as of this writing. Mark Ingram has been nothing short of phenomenal -- sans the fumble against Tennessee -- but the lack of a vertical element to the passing game, combined with untimely penalties, questionable playcalling, and struggles in the red zone have kept the Tide offensive attack at bay and off the scoreboard.

Admittedly, the level of competition has been high the past several weeks. Kentucky has a good defense, and Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Tennessee rank in the top 25 nationally of more statistical categories than not. But such is life in the SEC... it's a brutal gauntlet of quality opponent after quality opponent, and there will be no rest for the weary this weekend when the Bayou Bengals come to town. Alas, when LSU arrives in Tuscaloosa, they will bring with them a defense that is as good as those we saw in October, if not better.

And unfortunately, injuries continue to take a toll on the Tide. Colin Peek looks to either miss this game or play nowhere near 100%, and that's a very big loss for the Tide. Michael Williams will likely play better than he did two weeks ago against Tennessee because he will be more prepared, but Peek is a critical element of our offense, and unfortunately Williams is an imperfect substitute.

Defensively, the weakness for LSU starts up front at the line of scrimmage. Shocking as though that may be -- I imagine I need remind no one that LSU's defensive line ate us for dinner from 2003-2007 -- it is nevertheless true. To be sure, it's certainly not a bad group, but it isn't a dominating one and it is not up to the level that we have come to expect the past several years out of LSU. Inside, seniors Al Woods and Charles Alexander are good players that any team would love to have, but they probably aren't to the level that we saw the past several years out of LSU with Kyle Williams and Glenn Dorsey. Likewise, the rotation isn't what it has been in previous years in terms of quality depth.

The real weakness for LSU on the defensive line largely comes outside at end. Senior Rahim Alem has been a bit of a disappointment this year. He was always a liability against the run -- which is why, despite leading the SEC in sacks in 2008, he wasn't a starter -- but he hasn't rushed the passer as well this year, generating only three sacks in the first eight games (only one of which came in conference play, and that was against Vandy). Opposite Alem, Lazarius Levingston hasn't exactly played poorly, but he hasn't really made an impact either. He has yet to generate a sack, and only has ten tackles on the year. Making matters worse, they are somewhat undersized, and mixed with their lack of a consistent pass rush, that generally explains why LSU's run defense has been somewhat middling, and also explains why they are at the bottom of the SEC in sacks.

Unfortunately, the rest of the LSU defense is significantly better. The linebacker corps struggled greatly in 2008, but they have made tremendous strides in 2009 under new defensive coordinator John Chavis. There is not one standout at linebacker like Alabama has with someone like Rolando McClain -- or had with Dont'a Hightower -- but it's a good group that gets the job done. Perry Riley, Kelvin Sheppard, Harry Coleman, and Jacob Cutrera are all good football players, and they are in many ways unique players that give Chavis a lot of options. Riley is a big, physical player who excels against against the run, and Coleman's past as a former safety makes him a very versatile player, particularly in passing situations. Kelvin Sheppard is probably the best all-around player of the bunch, and while Cutrera isn't a standout, he's a senior who can really play whatever position they need off the bench. Again, it's not a group that has the one rockstar standout like you find with a guy like Rolando McClain or Brandon Spikes, but it's a good group of players that have produced at a high level for John Chavis.

The real strength of the LSU defense, however, comes in the defensive backfield, where the Bayou Bengals have an absolutely ridiculous collection of talent. Just look at the names and their recruiting hype... Chad Jones, #1 safety prospect in the country in 2007. Jai Eugene, #1 cornerback prospect in the country in 2006. Patrick Peterson, #1 cornerback prospect in the country in 2007. And guys like Chris Hawkins, Brandon Taylor, Karnell Hatcher, Ron Brooks, and Danny McCray? Yeah, they were generally "only" four-star recruits who could have had pretty much their pick of any school in the country.

Not surprising given that collection of talent, LSU's defensive backfield has led the way. Patrick Peterson is the best cornerback in the conference now that Kentucky's Trevard Lindley is slowed by an ankle injury, and Chad Jones is every bit as good of a safety as Eric Berry. And, obviously, the rest aren't too shabby. These guys have been the key for the LSU defense this year. The defensive line has struggled and frankly been very bad in terms of rushing the passer, but the back end has covered so well that LSU still fields one of the best pass defenses in the country.

Coach Saban and company have talked about stretching the field vertically this weekend, and that is almost certainly something that we will have to do in order to breathe life back into our deceased offense. LSU does not have the great run defense that they have sported in years past, but it's far from a bad unit, and you can rest assured that they will be able to limit Alabama's running game well enough to force the Tide to do something in the passing game in order to score a lot of points. Keep in mind that, as I mentioned in the Radio Hour, if you are unable to throw the football, then defensively you don't need to stop the run, you only need to somewhat limit the run. In other words, you just have to make sure that the opposing offense doesn't run it down your throats to the tune of 250+ rushing yards. Rest assured, LSU is likely more than good enough to do that up front.

Offensively, Alabama faces the same dilemma that it largely faced against Tennessee. Greg McElroy and the passing attack have struggled to move the football, and the opposing defense will look to limit Ingram and company and force McElroy and the wide receiver corps to beat them. Unless we can be more consistent and explosive in the passing game, the end result looks to be very similar to what it was against Tennessee.

Alabama Defense v. LSU Offense

For all of the strength of the LSU defense, the LSU offense hasn't been anywhere near as good, and if you look closely this is a group that ranks near the bottom of the country in most statistical categories.

At the skill positions, at least, this is an extremely dangerous offense. Without doubt the LSU wide receiver corps is easily the most talented that the Tide will face all season, and literally every single LSU wide receiver that will touch the football this Saturday will be a truly elite athlete in every sense of the phrase. Brandon LaFell will be a first-day draft pick next April, and both Terrance Toliver and Reuben Randle are physically impressive players who were the #1 wide receiver prospects in the country when they came out of high school. Richard Dickson is a good tight end in his own right, and he too will probably play on Sunday. Furthermore, Charles Scott is also a future NFL player, and while Keiland Williams never really lived up to his five-star status when he signed with the Tigers in 2006, he's still a fine player in his own right. And finally, while Russell Shepard and Trindon Holliday are somewhat of one-trick ponies, both have such ungodly speed and athleticism that they can present major challenges to a defense once they get the ball in their hands. Bottom line, struggles or not, if you look at the quality at talent at the skill positions for LSU, you would swear this is an elite offense.

The real problem with LSU offensively has been in the trenches and, perhaps not surprisingly, at the quarterback position. Struggles in those two areas have largely grounded the LSU offensive attack, and have turned an offense that should be high-powered based solely on its skill position talent into a unit that has greatly struggled to move the football and score points.

Ciron Black at left tackle for the Bayou Bengals is a four-year starter who will likely be a first round NFL draft choice next April, and at right tackle Joseph Barksdale -- a five-star recruit in 2007 -- is one of the best right tackles in the SEC. Unfortunately for the Tigers, however, the performance of the centers and guards has dipped significantly. The loss of starting left guard Herman Johnson and starting center Brett Helms have been felt all season, and the replacements just aren't in the same league right now. Josh Dworaczyk took over for Johnson, and the replacement starter for the gargantuan comes in at barely 280 pounds. Likewise, sophomore T-Bob Hebert hasn't necessarily been bad, but again he's just not in the same league as Helms right now. Right guard Lyle Hitt looked solid enough when sandwiched between Helms and Barksdale, but he too has seen his performance dip by having to take on greater responsibilities with Hebert alongside him. As a whole, the performance of the center and the guards just hasn't been anywhere what it was a year ago.

The struggles on the interior offensive line have effectively proven fatal to the LSU rushing attack. I've long said that the biggest impact on your rushing attack comes from the play of your center and your guards, and 2009 Tigers would prove to be a fine case study in that regard. The tackles are there, as are the backs, but LSU has struggled on the interior in the running game, and that has largely killed their rushing attack. The once potent Scott and Williams are averaging only about 4.8 yards per carry now, and prior to facing Tulane and their god awful run defense they were barely averaging 4.0 yards per carry.

The other problem for LSU offensively is quarterback Jordan Jefferson. While clearly an intriguing prospect with a great upside -- Jefferson has a good frame, a big arm, and is a legitimate dual-threat -- Jefferson is really playing out of necessity right now, and it shows. Truth be told, if the LSU coaching staff really had their druthers, Jefferson would probably be riding the pine this year while watching fifth-year senior Ryan Perrilloux run the Tiger offense, but alas the Football Gods would not cooperate. As a result, Jefferson has been forced to make the best of a bad situation, and he has clearly had his growing pains. He holds onto the ball entirely too long which creates a lot of sacks -- which explains why LSU is near the bottom of the conference in sacks allowed despite having the best tackle combo in the league -- often struggles to work through his progression, and does struggle at times to get the ball to his talented wide receivers. Combined, this has largely grounded what should otherwise be an explosive passing attack.

In all fairness, though, what Jefferson has done is manage the game and not get his Tigers beat. For all of the criticisms that you can make regarding his performance to date, he has protected the football, which is clearly priority number one for the LSU coaching staff. Jefferson has thrown a mere four interceptions this year on roughly 200 passing attempts, and has allowed the LSU defense to lead them to victory in close games. If nothing else, that is far more than could ever be said for the man that Jefferson replaced.

Defensively, Alabama brings the attack that you all know so well, and there will probably be little changes this week. Charles Scott and Keiland Williams had great success running the football against us a year ago, but with a healthy Terrence Cody this time around, plus Herman Johnson and Brett Helms playing on Sunday, the Tide ought to shut down the LSU rushing attack. If Charles Scott and company have a good deal of success come Saturday, it will legitimately come as a bit of a surprise.

The real key for the Alabama defense will be containing big plays in the passing game. For lack of a better way of putting it, the skill position players for LSU are unreal good, and they will stretch us to the absolute maximum this weekend. Our defensive backfield, collectively, will have to play the game of their lives this weekend, and to make matters even more worrisome we will also have to make sure that Russell Shepard or Trindon Holliday also don't beat us with a long run out of the backfield. Given the way we have struggled offensively the past several weeks, even giving up only one or two really long plays can easily be the difference between victory and defeat, and unless the offense improve, our defense has effectively zero margin of error.

Going a long way towards preventing those big plays to the skill position players will be effectively rushing the passer. Jefferson isn't a world-beater at quarterback, but his receivers sure as hell are, and he has the arm to make all of the throws. If Jefferson consistently has time to throw the football, we're in big trouble defensively. The LSU skill position players are simply too good to expect any defensive backfield to keep covered for any real length of time.

Putting It All Together

All in all, these two teams match up closely. If the Alabama offense were producing like it did earlier in the year, the Tide could be reasonably expected to win this game with relative ease, but with our offensive struggles of the past month and no definite sign of improvement, this game figures to be a close one that goes right down to the wire. Unless we can significantly improve offensively, the LSU defense is good enough to keep our offensive attack at bay, and while the LSU offense probably won't score a lot of points against our defense, they clearly have another skill position talent on the outside to make a few big plays to squeak out a close victory in a low-scoring game

And do look for this game to be a close, low-scoring game, no two ways about that. Neither team looks to score that many points, and expect the coaching staffs of the respective teams to play accordingly. LSU almost lost to the Tide in 2007 when they chose to kick to Javier Arenas late, and their loss last year was fueled by a slew of costly turnovers. Expect Les Miles and company to avoid both this weekend with a struggling Alabama offense. LSU will kick the football away from Arenas, and play safe on offense so that -- even if they don't score a lot of points in their own right -- they won't take the risks that could result in several costly turnovers. We're struggling greatly on the offensive side of the ball, and when facing a team of that nature you make sure that you do not allow cheap points. Expect LSU to force the Tide's offense to consistently move the ball 60+ yards to get points.

For Alabama, the path to victory is clearly in the trenches. We hold a fairly significant advantage in both match-ups at the line of scrimmage, and there is where we must win this football game. We must stop the run defensively and rush Jefferson, and offensively establish the running game and make like easy for McElroy and the Alabama passing attack. If we can do that, we win this football game. On the other hand, if LSU can fight us to an effective draw in the trenches, then this game will be decided by the skill position players, and that's a losing proposition for us. That's not to say we absolutely cannot win a game of that nature, but LSU does have more raw talent at the skill positions than we do, and that is a game that will clearly favor the Bayou Bengals. Again, our path to victory lies in the trenches. We have to dominate this game at the line of scrimmage. Period.

One way or the other, look for this to be an absolutely brutal game. The stakes are extremely high for both LSU and Alabama, and their respective players will perform accordingly. Les Miles, regardless of whether or not it is fair, will forever be judged relative to Nick Saban, something that is clearly not lost on Miles or his team. This is their biggest game of the year, and clearly the biggest game of the year for their fan base as well. Truth be told, they have been preparing for this game for two weeks now. Making matters more interesting, this game determines the SEC West, LSU is still technically alive in the national championship race, and they are clearly looking to make a definitive showing that they are still at their 2003-2007 form. On the other sideline, Alabama has been staring this one down for two weeks. We control our own destiny in the national championship race, and we know full well that this is now effectively a one-game season. If we want to get to where we want to go, we all realize that we must directly go through LSU. And, also, don't think for one second that it is lost on our team that they need to win this game in the trenches. Expect these two teams to line up and wage absolute war. There will be blood.

Hope for the best.

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***.

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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.

Kentucky 24, Mississippi State 31 -- After Action Report

Truzenzuzex — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:42:16 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

Dan Mullen, thinking. Why is Rich Brooks & Co. not here? Well, uh ...

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First things first. Congratulations to Mississippi State for an outstanding game. They were determined, they were strong, and generally, they were just better than Kentucky. Anthony Dixon was just too much for us, and Kentucky's defense never could figure out how to contain him. Not only that, MSU made big plays on the downfield passing game, something that they have rarely been able to do in SEC play.

Give a lot of credit to the MSU offensive line, which dominated Kentucky's d-line all night long. Kentucky was never able to get good penetration, and it was almost like UK was playing seven down linemen instead of six, partially because of the inexplicable decision by Steve Brown to go with the nickel package all night against a team that is not exactly strong in the passing game.

I could rant and rave about this game all night, but in the end, it boiled down to game plans -- MSU had a far superior game plan on both sides of the ball, and UK was unprepared and unable to adjust. It was essentially a case of two equally talented teams, only one had better coaching. Tonight, that team was not Kentucky.

My observations follow the jump.

Morgan Newton did the best he could. He is a case study in why you don't succeed in the SEC with a freshman QB. It isn't that he was bad, he wasn't, and in some cases, he was downright great. But the little things -- the unwanted timeouts, the poor decisions, the really bad decision that forced the interception -- those things are the kind of things more experienced quarterbacks don't do often. Morgan was great -- except when he wasn't, and that was more often than not.
Too little Randall Cobb in the Wildcat. It is not rocket science to know that Cobb prefers to run, but Phillips insisted on calling running plays from the Wildcat instead of the passes that MSU was not ready for. It was something so obvious even a guy who last played organized football at QB 38 years ago could see it.
Kentucky's offense was as predictable as the sunrise. So was MSU's, but for some reason, UK couldn't figure it out. Example -- on the long MSU pass play for a touchdown, I looked over to my wife and said, "They will take a shot downfield on this play, just watch." Oh, to be wrong...
Derrick Locke continues to impress despite his fragility.
Our defensive line was pushed around from the first snap to the last.
Our offensive line was adequate, but little more, and we did a poor job picking up the blitz.
How do you have a player like Randall Cobb and fail to get him the football even once on the final drive of the game? I'm just askin'...
When it counted, T.C. Drake dropped a football that anybody could have caught.
Anybody but me missing Mike Hartline?
Injuries were a big factor in this. Micah was a shadow of his former self, and Trevard Lindley would have spared us the nickel package on most downs.

This was a loss that we will regret. Big time. UK may still make a bowl, but it will likely be nearby, and minor. I am extremely disappointed in both the team and the coaching staff, the latter in particular. They had been doing so well, and then this.

Well, I guess we should recognize that every team throws in a clunker now and then, and that includes the coaching staff. This wasn't exactly a clunker, I guess, but it sure was one of those games that you have to search to find excuses for. Make no mistake -- UK lost this game primarily because they were outcoached and outplayed by a team of similar talent, at home, where we should win against such teams.

On the bright side, think of all the tape that Brooks will have to show to illustrate what not to do. The problem is, he will be showing most of it to his coaching staff.

Know Your Opponent: Kentucky Wildcats

jeremyflint — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:50:58 -0000

The Bulldogs are on the road this weekend with a trip to Lexington to take on the Kentucky Wildcats. We sent some questions over to the fine folks at A Sea Of Blue to see what we could learn about the Wildcats going in to this game.

1. Kentucky seemed to surprise a lot of people with their win at Auburn. Have the wildcats been sort of under the radar this season?

Maybe a little. Kentucky's history in the SEC since the 1960's can probably best be described as "guaranteed win" to most of the top SEC teams like Auburn, especially at home. And it is also a fact that UK has not played well on the road in the SEC, even when they have been considered pretty good, so I'm sure it came as a surprise to everyone on the Plains when UK came in and played a pretty flawless game against the Tigers.

For me, I always saw this as a potential win. Very few teams with a new coach don't wind up with growing pains, and even though Auburn had been very successful up to the point of our visit down there, I thought it was always likely that the inevitable problems from a new coach would crop in. I think there was more of that going on that day than most people realize.

2. Aside from the win over Auburn, I don't really know much about Kentucky this year. Tell us who to watch out for on offense and defense.

On offense, there are really two names: Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke. Locke blew out his ACL last year, but has managed to recover almost all of his explosive speed. He was banged up for the last game and only played a few possessions but should see more snaps vs. MSU. Locke is devastating if he gets past the line of scrimmage. Locke can also catch the ball and is our #1 kick returner, and he was leading the league in all-purpose yards prior to last game, where he played sparingly. He is still #3 in that statistic.

Randall Cobb is one of the most devastating offensive threats in the league, because he can do everything. He was a high-school quarterback, and throws a beautiful ball. He is a remarkable runner, and in the Wildcat formation, he is a Tebowesque weapon with elusiveness rather than raw power. As a receiver, he is leading the team in both receptions and yards, and is the third-best punt returner in the SEC. Of all the players you should worry about on offense, Randall Cobb is #1.

Defensively, Corey Peters is really feeling his oats on the defensive line, and is getting good penetration. He will find a way to get into the MSU backfield. Micah Johnson, our leading tackler, will play but likely not start due to a slight MCL strain, so he won't be 100%. We are okay in linebacker depth, although at the Mike we are not as strong as elsewhere. Sam Maxwell has been picking up the slack from the Sam spot, and Danny Travathan from the Will.

Not that it would matter all that much against run-oriented MSU, but our all-American candidate cornerback, Trevard Lindley, is still down with a high ankle sprain. He will be capably backed up by Randall Burden, who is kind of feast or famine at that spot -- he had a pick six last game, but also was out of position several times and, if the ULM quarterback had been more experienced, he could have burned us for big plays.

3. Who will we see the most of at QB? Fidler, Newton or Cobb?

Probably something like this: Newton, 45%, Fidler 35%, Cobb 20%, although Brooks has been talking about upping the snaps for Cobb. The more MSU challenges Kentucky, the more of Randall Cobb you will see taking snaps.

4. Kentucky is giving up 174 yards per game on the ground. How will the defense match up against the Mississippi State running attack?

I wouldn't take too much heart in that statistic. It includes a 362-yard game by Florida and a 63 yard game vs. Miami. If you throw out the extremes, UK is averaging a much more respectable 159 yards/game, 8th or 9th vs. dead last. UK typically yields just a bit under average yards per game against opponents if you discount the Florida and Miami (OH) games. I think MSU will gain just under 200 yards on the ground versus the 'Cats.

5. Give me an outcome prediction for this game.

Being a homer, I will pick UK 28-21. It should be a close game, both teams are well-matched. If this game were in Starkville, I'm not sure I would pick the 'Cats to win.

In the Rearview Mirror: Kentucky at South Carolina

Truzenzuzex — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:55:55 -0000

More photos » by Mary Ann Chastain - AP

According to reports, Mike Hartline will be out for the season.

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Well, it happens most years to Kentucky, and it has happened again this year -- a major injury to a player will define the season, one way or the other. WHAS11 is reporting that Mike Hartline will be out for the season. Some are suspecting an MCL tear, but I can almost promise you one or both of the cruciate ligaments, the ACL or the PCL, are torn. Knees are not designed to move the way Hartline's moved. The MCL could also be damaged, but unlike the ACL or PCL, the MCL has a blood supply that allows it to heal without surgery, and heal even faster with it.

But this isn't an anatomy lesson, this is football commentary. Losing Hartline, according to Corey Peters, will make some fans happy, but I'm quite certain nobody is happy he was injured. It does not make me happy. Mike Hartline might not have been the kind of quality SEC quarterback a team needs for success in this league, but he was by no means lousy, and he was showing all his doubters, including me, just how good he could be yesterday. Unfortunately, football is among the cruelest of all college sports, and this is another example of just how mercilessly cruel it can be.

With perfect 20/20 hindsight, we can see clearly a number of missed opportunities Kentucky had to either win or put the game into overtime which were blown either by the players or the coaching staff. This loss was, as most are, a team effort, and the entire team lost this football game by making one too many mistakes.

So for the record, let's recount why Kentucky lost this game:

Inability to guard Alshon Jeffery --Gamecocks burn Cats' young corners
"It was a learning experience, and the thing we can build upon is that they were in great position," UK defensive coordinator Steve Brown said. "It's not like they were beat. Now we just have to teach them to look for the ball and have the confidence to try and make a play."

Yeah, Brown's right. It isn't as though the missed an assignment, or fell down, or were ten yards behind. They just didn't make the play, mostly because they did not know where the ball was until it was too late.
The Gamecocks planned to pick on UK's young cornerbacks --Gamecocks get Cats once again - Sports - The Sun News
Kentucky was without both of its starting corners, including All-American candidate Trevard Lindley, because of injuries. Garcia said the plan was to go after their replacements - sophomore Randall Burden and freshman Martavius Neloms, making his first career start. "We've been practicing all week, throwing fade routes and quick slants," Garcia said. "It worked out pretty well."

You have to give South Carolina props for doing exactly the right thing at the right time. The touchdowns to Jeffrey were no accident -- they were practiced.
The fake field goal gone wrong -- Wildcats lose QB, game " Evansville Courier & Press
"That fake field goal was a dumb call by me," Brooks said.

Indeed it was, coach. 'Nuff said.
Despite gashing the Gamecocks defense on the ground and through the air, UK had too many drives stall outside the red zone, and penalties that killed the drives.

Column: Mistakes cause disappointment week in and out for Cats | The Kentucky Kernel
Because that’s what UK always does. They challenge South Carolina and play them close every year. Every year they lose. It’s always something.

But usually, it’s because UK always causes that something. Sure, not having Hartline hurt, but was it the difference in the game? Not when UK showed it could still march down the field and score without him.
Despite the fact Randall Cobb moved Kentucky all the way down the field for their last touchdown, for some reason, Phillips decided he would rather have his second-string quarterback throw the football for the two-point conversion than let Cobb use his amazing, multiple skill set that piled up 229 all purpose yards.

I don't know about you, but I'm calling that a mistake. I'll even call it an inexplicably foolish one.
Two dropped touchdown passes, one by Cobb and one by T.C. Drake. Okay, I'll cop to the argument that the pass to Drake was not that great, and it would have been a really good catch. But it was plenty catchable, and against SEC teams on the road, you have to make those.

The Cobb drop was not really forgivable. It hit him right in the hands, and he just dropped the football. So as well as Cobb played, we see that he is mortal, after all.
Two huge special teams faux pas put South Carolina in scoring position.
The five-yard punt by Tydlacka really hurt us, and at a very bad time. It wound up in the end zone.

There were more, obviously. Corey Peters was out of position on a play that allowed a USC touchdown, several costly penalties, and more.

Despite all this, UK played well enough to win, and showed it could move the ball on almost any defense. It showed that last week versus Alabama also, so I think there is no real doubt that UK can score on almost anyone in this league. What UK has not proved it can do is play a mostly error-free game, and a team like Kentucky simply has to do that, because we are almost always going to suffer from a talent deficit, and even though the talent gap is much less against a team like South Carolina than a team like Alabama or Florida, it is still a factor.

But we can't just look at the bad. Kentucky played perhaps their most complete game of the season on both sides of the ball, despite the loss. The loss of three critical starters was surely a major factor in this game, and in spite of that, but for some inexplicable mistakes, Kentucky still would have likely won this game. If only one of the two dropped passes had been secured and everything else remained the same, the cats would have won.

Defensively, Kentucky did a solid job against the USC running game for three quarters. It's hard to sustain that all game, particularly with all the three-and-outs UK began suffering in the middle of the game, tiring the defense and opening up the run a little bit for the Gamecocks. The UK D-line got really good pressure on Garcia, and sacked him three times. The offensive line opened up holes for Locke, who seemingly couldn't stand up yesterday and tripped over his own feet half a dozen times. Still, he stumbled his way to 155 all-purpose yards. But even that pales compared to Randall Cobb's great game -- 229 all-purpose yards, all but 55 of them coming on the ground.

The loss of Hartline for the year (trust me, it will happen) is a big problem. It places UK pretty much back in the spot we were in last year when Cobb went down with injury -- without our best on offense. Will Fidler may step up and impress, and I am not ruling that out. I am not ruling out Morgan Newton, who seems to be the only other QB ready to take a snap, rising up from his freshman status to lead us to victory should Fidler falter. What I am saying is that history is against the likelihood of either scenario. More likely, UK will simply suffer offensively.

So now, it's on to Auburn Tigers. This game is past, and we must now go down to Jordan-Hare Stadium to face an angry Tiger team that is smarting from an emasculation in Fayetteville this past weekend.

Oh, goody.