SB Nation - Lones Seiber

Alabama & Florida Common Opponents: Kentucky

Year2 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:00:16 -0000

As a part of SEC Championship Game week, we're taking a look at Alabama's and Florida's common opponents in alphabetical order. Now up: Kentucky.

	Alabama	Florida
Game Number	5	4
Score	38-20	41-7
Passing Yards	148	133
Rushing Yards	204	362
Total Yards	352	495
Passing All.	168	93
Rushing All.	133	86
Total Defense	301	179
3rd Downs	8-17	5-13
3rd Down Def.	4-13	3-16
Turnover Margin	+4	+1

First, I just have to say poor Kentucky. The Wildcats had to play these two teams in back-to-back weeks. Someone who works on the SEC scheduling must not like UK.

Anyway, Alabama played the Wildcats a week after dispatching Arkansas with ease, but this one wasn't quite as much of a cakewalk as the game against the Hogs was. Kentucky hung in there for most of the first half, with Lones Seiber kicking a field goal as the first period expired to pull within a point at 7-6. The score remained there for the next 14:20 on the game clock, but Alabama scored 14 points in the half's final 40 seconds on a TD pass and a fumble return. Five minutes into the second half Alabama had scored another 14, and that was that for UK.

Florida was just coming off of its tough game with Tennessee, and the Gators were ticked off about hearing how they had not beaten the Vols by enough. Thanks in part to that, they actually one-upped their 28-0 first quarter in 2008's game by scoring 31 unanswered in the first 15 minutes. The Gators pretty much coasted after that, content to let the defense win the season's first road game. This one will always be remembered, though, as the game where Tim Tebow got a concussion.

It's quite telling that Alabama got 24 of its 38 points on short fields (38 yards or less from the end zone) thanks to turnovers or on the fumble return. Rich Brooks is a good defensive mind who knows how to stop pro-style defenses, and with Greg McElroy starting his October implosion, the Tide had just two sustained scoring drives. The 'Cats weren't a great matchup for Alabama in that respect. That Bama was able to run away with this one is a testament to the strength of the defense as it didn't just stifle UK for most of the game, but it set the table for the offense on several occasions.

Florida got a couple easy scores too, one on a 38 yard field after a punt and one on a blocked punt recovered in the end zone, but the Gators also had four scoring drives of 58 yards or longer. In this one, they played to their offensive strength—running option with their talented running backs and Tebow—more than any other game. As a result, the offense looked better in this one than against all other BCS conference foes. Tebow and John Brantley combined for 16 pass attempts versus 52 rushes on the ground. Five different Gators had five or more carries, and all but one (Chris Rainey at 4.0) had at least 6.5 yards per carry.

It seems somewhat futile comparing these two teams based on their performances against a 7-5 outfit, but four of the teams' seven common opponents were 7-5 squads with only LSU a better team. Both division champs ended up winning handily and for different reasons, but when one of them rolls up a 31-0 first quarter lead while the other was mired at 7-6 after the same span, it's fairly simple to call this one.

Better performance: Florida.

See also: Arkansas, FIU.

UK Football: Mid-Season Accolades

Ken Howlett — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:14:46 -0000

More photos » by Butch Dill - AP

Randall Cobb, doing it all.

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With Kentucky coming off a season-saving, come-from-behind 21-14 victory over Auburn on Saturday, we find ourselves at the mid-point of the season. The first six games of the 2009 season have regaled us with many great individual performances, several disappointing developments, and a record about where most (in the preseason), thought it would be. So, in keeping with the positive vibes surrounding UK athletics at the moment, let's honor those players and units that have achieved beyond the expected:

Most Outstanding Offensive Player: Randall Cobb (Sophomore Do-It-All Dynamo) -- The Alcoa, Tennessee native has simply been electric for nearly the entire season. Cobb has ran for 239 yards (7.5 yards per carry) and three touchdowns, as well as being a danger as a receiver; 24 catches for 322 yards (13.4 yards per reception), and another four touchdowns. In an effort to get the ball in his hands as many times as possible, the coaching staff has Cobb returning punts (although I'm not happy about it). He's hasn't broken-off a long one yet, but he's averaging a healthy 8.9 yards per punt return (3rd in the SEC). Cobb is also averaging 129.5 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, and returns) per game (5th in the SEC).

Not in recent memory has UK possessed such an extreme talent. Cobb is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, and with his exceptional speed, elusiveness, and explosiveness he has become option No. 1 in the Kentucky offense. Enjoy the "Cobbinator" while we have 'im!

Honorable mention goes to junior running back Derrick Locke. Coming off major knee surgery, there were question marks about his ability to maintain his incredible burst and overall speed, but Locke has posted some very strong numbers this season, rendering the medical questions null and void. Locke has rushed for 459 yards (4.6 ypc) and three touchdowns, and he's once again proving to be a real asset catching the ball out of the backfield with 16 receptions for 128 yards (8.0 ypr). In addition, he's returned 12 kick-offs for 385 yards (32.1 ypr), and a touchdown. Locke leads the SEC in all-purpose yards with 162 yards per game.

Locke does a splendid job of countering Cobb's "escapability" with a power/speed running game. Lucky us, Locke and Cobb have one more season together!

Outstanding Defensive Player: Micah Johnson (Senior LB) -- Johnson was thought to be the defensive leader of this team prior to the season, and he hasn't disappointed. He currently leads the team in tackles with 52 (5th in the SEC), to go along with 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

Solidifying himself as the best defensive player of the first half of the season, Johnson came up huge Saturday at Auburn. His 14 tackle effort was the impetus behind him being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Johnson's combination of size, strength, and quickness make him a ball-chasing holy terror, almost impossible to stop one-on-one. And when he locks his highly sensitive radar onto the ball carrier, it's time for the trainer.

Honorable mention goes to junior linebacker Sam Maxwell -- Maxwell has been excellent, especially on passing downs. He's recorded 36 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and an incredible five pass breakups, to go along with two interceptions.

Maxwell has shown Micah Johnson-type pursuit ability, and an uncanny knack for being around the ball.

Most Improved Offensive Player: John Conner (Senior fullback) -- Conner has been outstanding since arriving at UK, but I had to find a way to honor his dedication to perfecting the art of blocking. Conner's incredible effectiveness at providing room to run for UK's Locke, Alfonso Smith, Randall Cobb and Moncell Allen, makes him a valuable commodity to coach Rich Brooks. Conner, a 5'11", 240 lb wrecking ball of a fullback deserves much of the credit for the improved performance of the running game in 2009. He consistently clears a wide swath of turf for the ball-carriers, and has proved to be a reliable runner (15 carries for 47 yards) and pass catcher (11 receptions for 89 yards) out of the backfield.

Honorable mention goes to the offensive line -- Left tackle Zipp Duncan, left guard Christian Johnson, center Jorge Gonzalez, right guard Stuart Hines, and right tackle Brad Durham have paved the way for UK's talented ball carriers like a bulldozer clearing powdery snow. The penetration the linemen have gained, has at times, been almost comical ... at least to UK fans. They have collectively cleared a path for the fifth ranked rushing offense in the SEC (186.5 yards per game), and in UK's two most recent contests (versus South Carolina and Auburn), the O-line allowed Kentucky to rush for a combined 487 yards. Additionally, UK ran for 133 yards against an Alabama defense giving up an average of only 63.3 rushing yards per game. On the season, UK's backs have rushed for 1,119 yards (4.5 ypc) and 11 touchdowns, and just as importantly, UK's quarterbacks have been sacked only six times ...

... Saaaalute! To Kentucky's "big-uglies."

Most Improved Defensive Player: Danny Trevathan (Sophomore LB) -- Last season in mostly special teams duties, Trevathan accounted for five tackles and a blocked kick (versus Georgia), but this season the sophomore has made the most of his opportunity while playing alongside Micah Johnson and Sam Maxwell. Trevathan is third on the team with 39 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup. In UK's last outing versus Auburn, Trevathan did his finest MJ impression, recording 14 tackles.

We said in the preseason that this kid could be the next great UK linebacker, and thus far, he's on the fast track.

Pleasant Surprise of the Year (Individual): Lones Seiber (Senior Kicker) -- Seiber came into the season having made less than 60.0% of his field goal attempts for his career, but in '09, he has made 5-8 field goals (62.5%), with one block, and a miss from 49 yards. So, overall he's been much improved from the inconsistent kicker he has been over the last three years. And with all of the criticism he has received (me included), he deserves some kudos.

Pleasant Surprise of the Year (Team): The running game -- Derrick Locke, Alfonso Smith, Randall Cobb, Moncell Allen, John Conner and the offensive line are of course responsible for the incredible, season-saving success of the Kentucky's running game. It has been powerful, elusive, and overly effective ... let's keep it up. (See running game stats above)

Biggest Negative Play of the Year: The failed two-point conversion attempt versus South Carolina -- I don't want to belabor a point that has been beat to death by everyone from myself, to the mainstream media, but if I could ask Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips one question regarding that decision it would be, "Why?" The staff's decision to allow Will Fidler to quarterback on the play didn't cost UK the victory, but it cost the 'Cats the chance to win. I could keep going, but ... well, let's leave the unpleasantness where it belongs. In the past.

Biggest Positive Play of the Year: Randall Cobb's 61-yard scamper (or did he run about 80-yards?) to set up the winning touchdown versus Auburn -- Cobb, in that one play, displayed why he is considered such a dangerous weapon: He broke a long run, he evaded several would-be-tacklers, and he did it with the game on the line. Pressure? Cobb has pressure for breakfast.

Honorable mention goes to Louisville's Trent Guy for his fumble late in the fourth quarter of the UK vs. U of L game. If Guy doesn't put the ball on the turf on his attempted catch of a UK punt, Big Blue's chances of winning diminish exponentially.

Most Outstanding Performance of the Season: The defense in the Auburn game -- Without UK's smothering defense for the entire game, Cobb's 61-yard run would have been for naught. Kentucky's defense held Auburn to 170 fewer yards than the Tigers average on the year, and gave up only a single touchdown. This against a team that averaged nearly 39 points per game.

Thoroughly frustrated is the most appropriate term to describe Auburn quarterback Chris Todd. Coming into the game the Elizabethtown native was the SEC's second leading passer, averaging nearly 227 yards per game, while completing 57.8% of his passes. UK held Todd to 10-24 passing for 80 yards and only his second interception of the year. Kentucky's rush defense was nearly as impressive -- Auburn running back Ben Tate was averaging 6.1 yards per carry coming into the game, but was held to only 4.3 yards per carry. Tate's running mate, Onterio McCaleb, averaged 6.0 yards per carry, but MJ and his Crew held him to only 22 yards on seven carries (3.1 ypc).

Coming into the Auburn game, I wasn't sure UK could keep up with the Tiger's rapid fire offense, how silly of me. Hats off to the D! The Auburn victory belongs to you.

Feel free to condemn, but as always,

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!

UK Football & Basketball: The Fairly Obvious Observations + Landon Slone Edition

Ken Howlett — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:25:34 -0000

More photos » by Mary Ann Chastain - AP

"What am I going to do now?"

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University of Kentucky sports are entering the time of year where the hotly anticipated basketball season overlaps with football season, leaving us with much to discuss. So, in an attempt to kill four birds with one stone, here are my four topics of the day:

The Failed Two-Point Conversion

Like most everyone else who roots for UK, I found the decision to utilize Will Fidler at quarterback and Randall Cobb at receiver, for Kentucky's attempted two-point conversion to tie on Saturday, a puzzling one, at best. Although I felt UK lost the game because of dropped touchdown passes (of which there were two) and poor special teams play (with the exception of Lones Seiber), one has no choice but to question why the UK coaching staff opted to have an inexperienced signal-caller under center for the most crucial offensive play of the game. Couple the facts that Fidler had been occupying space on the bench during the Cobb-led drive for six immediately prior to the conversion attempt, with Fidler's lackluster performance in the second half, and it only causes my head to ache even more enthusiastically.

To continue reading, please send $15 to the Couri ... oops, I forgot, A Sea of Blue's opinions are free ... after the jump.

It seems to me that Cobb at quarterback, with the option to run or throw, would have been the most advantageous decision in that spot -- Run a two-tight end set (one a receiver, one a blocker), roll Cobb out, with the option to run, or, pass to Chris Matthews or Gene McCaskill in end zone.

The second best option, in my view, was to call on Derrick Locke, Moncell Allen, or John Conner. All three of those backs have displayed the ability to gain tough yards, and yards are no tougher to gain than on the goal line. In addition, Locke could have been used as a pitch option for Cobb, if a run play were desired.

No, I'm not a coach, and I didn't stay at Holiday Inn Express last night, but Vince Lombardi one not need be, to plainly see the above options as more desirable than having a cold, inexperienced, unsure quarterback with the ball in his hands at the most critical juncture of the game. Partial proof: Chris Matthews was open in the end zone, but Fidler never looked his way.

Allow me to state that I do not hold Fidler responsible for the failure. He was put into a position to fail. That isn't his fault.

UK's Quarterback Quandary

With Mike Hartline sidelined at least four weeks, the quarterback situation in Lexington suddenly becomes fluid. Rich Brooks has stated that Fidler, and freshman Morgan Newton will battle for the starting job, with a high likelihood that both players will see time on The Plains, versus Auburn this weekend. Brooks has also said Randall Cobb might see increased time at QB out of the "Wildcat" formation.

I'm a firm believer that coaches, regardless of sport, are interested in winning. Ergo, for the most part, coaches are going to give game reps to the players most likely to lead the team to victory (there are exceptions, particularly coaches from Texas). Because of this, and the fact that UK football practices are closed, we have no choice but to trust that Brooks, head coach of the offense Joker Phillips, and quarterback coach Randy Sanders, will select the quarterback that gives UK the best chance of winning football games.

Those who espouse that Newton is a better choice than Fidler, or visa versa, are simply whistling in the wind. I don't know, they don't know, the coaches probably don't know at this point, or a starter would have already been named. But, considering Fidler has been in the program for three-plus years, and Newton since only June, one has to think Fidler has a firmer grasp of the offense. But does having a firmer grasp of UK's offense make Fidler the better option? That question, I cannot answer, because there is something to be said for the most gifted player being given the chance, regardless of experience. But, that most important of decisions lies with the UK staff.

Whoever wins out, I know this -- Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke must have the ball in their able hands for a considerable number of snaps. Obviously, both players represent UK's most potent offensive threats, and in the SEC, a team's chances at victory relies heavily on the best players having the ball in their hands a high percentage of the time. In an average game Kentucky will run 65 (or so) offensive plays. At minimum, 40 of those plays should be geared toward Cobb and Locke, with the remaining 25 plays revolving around the other backs and receivers.

Of course there are unforeseen game situations which might dictate play calling, but UK's base offense should be centered on getting the ball to Cobb and Locke in space.

Tempering Expectations, John Calipari Style

I have to laugh every time I read or hear coach Calipari, or anyone else for that matter, attempt to tamp down UK fans' expectations for the upcoming basketball season. The line is usually the same: New coach, new system, new players = struggles, especially early in the season.

All of that might be true, but it doesn't matter. The UK faithful are so "geeked" about the upcoming roundball season, anything short of an outbreak of cat-astrophic injuries will result in stratospheric expectations. Telling UK fans not to expect immediate and long-lasting success this season is akin to telling the starving man not to eat too fast -- UK fans are famished for a legitimate national contender, and at long last that yearning will be fulfilled.

Furthermore, with John Wall being touted by some as the preseason national player of the year, along with the lofty rankings UK is receiving from the preseason prognosticators, throwing cold, or even lukewarm water on UK fans' hopes seems like an exercise of the most futile nature. So, go ahead UK fan, expect great things, I'm right there with you. And remember, coach, no amount of subterfuge, no matter how well meaning, will dissuade the hungry masses from exercising their right to great expectations.

I'll give Calipari and "A" for effort on this one, even if the effort was ineffective

Landon "Rudy" Slone

The movie "Rudy" has always been a favorite of mine. Rudy's courage, conviction, and hustle endeared him not only to his teammates, but two decades later, to the movie-watching American public. His story is one of the underdog winning out in the end, and American's, being underdogs once upon a time ourselves, appreciate dedication even in the face of long odds.

As the tale goes, Rudy Ruettiger, a walk-on football player at Notre Dame, was promised by legendary Irish coach Ara Parseghian a chance to dress for one Notre Dame home football game in Rudy's senior year. This was Parseghian's way of rewarding the nonathletic, yet fiercely competitive Ruettiger for his never-ending, give-up-the-body attitude during practice. Of course, as fate would have it, Parseghian resigned prior to the start of the season, and evidently did not let incoming Irish coach Dan Devine in on his plan to allow Ruettiger to dress for one home game. So, prior to Notre Dame's final home contest, knowing Devine was not going to let Rudy dress, the entire Irish squad offered to give up their spot on the team, in order for Rudy to dress for the game. Devine relents, and allows Ruettiger to dress for the game, a game in which Rudy was lucky enough to play in. Of course, in the end, Rudy the conquerer was carried off the field on his teammate's shoulders, after the final horn.

Former UK walk-on, Landon Slone, is in a similar position. After being told by Billy Gillispie that he would be awarded a scholarship for the '09-'10 season, Gillispie was terminated, and now John Calipari has the opportunity to do the right thing.

I know Calipari has an aversion to walk-ons, a stance I have no real problem with, but this situation begs for special consideration. After all, Slone is not without talent; He scored over 3,000 points in his illustrious career at Paintsville High School, and wanting to play for UK so badly, turned down several scholarship offers. He was a member of the team last season, and by all accounts, played as hard as one would expect a boy from the mountains of Kentucky to play.

Is it Slone's birthright to walk-on at UK? No, it isn't. A love for UK doesn't qualify one to play basketball, or any other sport for Kentucky, but a combination of Slone's A.) talent, B.) desire, and C.) the fact that Calipari (mistakenly) did not clear 10 minutes in his schedule to sit down with the young man months ago, leads me to respectfully request of coach Cal ...

... At minimum, give the kid half-an-hour to convince you that he would be a positive addition to this year's basketball 'Cats. Half-an-hour, that's all. You spent an entire night outside Memorial Coliseum with the Midnight Madness maniacs, why not listen for a few minutes to what Slone has to say?

You might not be aware, coach, but there's just something unspeakably special about a Kentucky kid wearing "Kentucky" across his chest. Even if the player isn't the most talented, and sometimes, because the player isn't the most talented. Simply put, sometimes the Kentucky underdog will inspire those gifted with exceptional ability ... Sometimes the Kentucky underdog will show the diaper dandy what it means to give it his all ... Sometimes the Kentucky underdog, through his love for the University, will stimulate the pampered to fight for victory, instead of settling for defeat ... Sometimes the Kentucky underdog is carried off the field of play on the shoulders of his teammates, to the cheers of those who wish they were him.

Give 'em a chance, coach, he deserves at least that much.

Maple Street Press Wildcat Tip-Off Annual

As Tru reported in an earlier post, the Wildcat Tip-Off preseason basketball magazine can be found, around October 20, at the following retail outlets: Wal Mart, Kroger's, Target, Meijer, CVS Pharmacy, Rite Aid, Walgreen's, Food Lion, Food City, Sam's Club, and the University Bookstore on campus.

The magazine can also be ordered on-line from Maple Street Press.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!

Around the SEC East- Week 5

BrianWalker'sElbow — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:00:41 -0000

More photos » by John Raoux - AP

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2009 file photo, Florida quarterback John Brantley warms up prior to an NCAA college football game against Troy in Gainesville, Fla. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow isn't cleared to play Saturday at LSU, the top-ranked Gators would turn the offense over to John Brantley. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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The goings on of the rest of the SEC are somewhat difficult to truly follow. Because of the number of times that Juco and I have seen uninformed fans make sweeping judgments of opposing teams based solely on their quarterback and halfback, we decided to start a segment where, though we will talk about halfbacks and quarterbacks, we'll also talk about the other players on teams that are succeeding or failing.

FLORIDA: 4-0 (2-0 SEC)

All eyes on Tebow. The biggest story that has been on the news since September 26th is whether or not he'll play against LSU. Long time back-up John Brantley has been preparing for action. He's been pretty good thus far as he filled in well after Tebow went down with injury. According to Meyer, Tebow will be a gametime decision. They were off last week, so there are no new players to bring up in cup coverage (or cup'erage if you will). They will face the Bayou Bengals in Death Valley at 7 p.m. The game will be aired on CBS.

GEORGIA: 3-2 (2-1 SEC)

LSU? Really? Georgia, quit blaming the excessive celebration penalty for your loss and man up. UGA really fell in my personal power rankings after last week. LSU's D held the Dawg offense to almost nothing until the end of the game. One bright spot for the Georgia D was LB Rennie Curran who had a career high 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a half-sack. A.J. Green did his usual thing with 99 yards and a td. How good is this Georgia team? We'll find out more as they travel to Tennessee this weekend. Game airs at 11:21 a.m. CDT on the SEC network.

KENTUCKY: 2-2 (0-2 SEC)

Ken-sucky just cannot compete with the big boys. If they do look like they are keeping their heads above the water, they'll find a way to tie bricks to their feet. In the final minutes of the 2nd quarter against Alabama last week, they went from trailing 7-6 to trailing 21-6 at the half. The bright spots? Umm... Umm... PK Lones Seiber who had two 49-yard field goals. Cobb only gained 21 rushing yards, but Derrick Locke gained 75 yards on 20 carries to lead the Cats. They travel to Columbia to take on the 'Cocks of SC. The game will be on FS South at 11:30 a.m. CDT.

SOUTH CAROLINA: 4-1 (1-1 SEC)

SC had a little bit of a hangover the game last week against South Carolina State. They ended up winning 38-14, but it was a bit close with a 10-0 score at the half. One of the offensive leaders was WR Moe Brown with 6 catches for 100 yards and 2 td's. RB Jarvis Giles, the freshman, rushed for 74 yards on 11 carries. SC probably deserves more respect for beating us on that Thursday night, and they are looking to earn it heading into Saturday's game with Kentucky. As noted above, FS South at 11:30 a.m. CDT.

TENNESSEE: 2-3 (0-2 SEC)

Oh, boy. It seems like so long ago when everyone was giving Lane Kiffin brownie points for his performance in the Swamp. Now, it seems like Girl Scouts could do a better job on offense as they lost 26-22 to Auburn. One of those touchdowns came as the time expired, but it was an overall atrocious performance. Monte Kiffin's defense allowed 459 yards. Ouch. It seems like nothing is right in TN. The future may be bright as RB Montario Hardesty rushed for 90 yards on 21 carries for 1 td. Kiffin gets a chance for a big win with Georgia coming to town. Who knows what this 11:21 a.m. CDT game on SEC Network has in store.

VANDERBILT: 2-3 (0-3 SEC)

The good news: RB Warren Norman had a great performance against us gaining 241 all-purpose yards, including 86 rushing, 143 on kick returns, and 12 receiving yards. The bad news: Vandy still lost. Despite picking off Snead 3 times to gain good field position, the offense only got into the end-zone once. The once dependable Vandy pass defense surrendered 237 yards and 3 td's through the air. Rest is in store for the weary as the annual game against Army comes this week. They'll travel to West Point and play at CBS College Sports at 11 a.m. CDT.

Alabama at Kentucky in the Rear-View Mirror

Truzenzuzex — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:29:59 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

Randall Cobb -- football player.

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Looking back at this game, and what people are saying about it, there are a few surprises. Early reports primarily looking at the score saw this as the Tide coming in and crushing a hapless Wildcat team pretty much like Florida did, but just allowing a few more points.

But more detailed looks, and even (rather surprisingly) the comments from the Alabama coaching staff paint a slightly different picture. But in the end, we have to look at it for what it is -- a loss at home. Granted, this was a loss against the third (and maybe the first) best team in the country, but moral victories are for people who don't care about a sport. Yes, Kentucky is a basketball school, but we do care about football. We don't care about football like Alabama or Auburn or Florida, but we really do expect to compete in every game, and have a chance to win.

Kentucky actually came close to meeting that low bar yesterday, but were victimized by a bit of a freak play that got Alabama a touchdown late in the first half that made it difficult for Kentucky fans to have hope. A 14-6 hole is one thing, but a 21-6 hole against a defense like the Tide is a spirit-crushing deficit.

In spite of that, UK did some good things. Led by Derrick Locke, the Wildcats gashed the Tide defense for an impressive amount of yardage, and without all those turnovers, it is entirely possible that Kentucky could have taken the Tide to the wire. But the turnovers can't be wished away like that, and they were brutal, resulting almost in the margin of victory.

So in the end, Kentucky is left angry and unhappy once again, and the fact that we moved the ball well on one of the most highly-ranked defenses in the land is lost among the recriminations of foolish turnovers and squandered opportunities. It is the nature of fans to see more negative than positive in losses, and I think that's right -- after all, we expect and want victories, even in unlikely scenarios like yesterday.

But we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge that Kentucky's offense, if you can somehow eliminate the turnovers, looked quite competent, even if Mike Hartline didn't. I think that is largely due to the fact that unlike the Florida game, the Kentucky coaching braintrust had a solid gameplan coming into this game and stuck to it, even when the going got tough. The result was the second-highest point total against the Tide defense this year, and enough respect from Saban (depending on what you want to believe) that he felt running a late punt fake and taking a shot at the end zone was necessary.

So here is the Alabama game in the rear-view mirror. The Gamecocks loom in Columbia:

20/20 Hindsight: Alabama vs Kentucky - Roll 'Bama Roll
20/20 Hindsight: A look at what the boys of the press are saying in the wake of the Alabama/Kentucky game.
Daily Independent (Ashland, KY) - Cats can't hang with big boys
The Wildcats won’t give up, but they won’t live up either, not if Kentucky fans are expecting a win like the school experienced two seasons ago, when it upset No. 1 LSU, or a better bowl game than the Independence Bowl or Liberty Bowl for that matter.

The SEC is just too tough.

* Sigh * This has the unfortunate ring of truth.
'It's a win,' though it was anything but commanding - al.com
Saturday's game was essentially a statistical toss-up. Kentucky tallied more first downs and passing yards, but the Wildcats (2-2, 0-2 SEC) couldn't recover from a 107-second stretch that spanned into both halves and featured two turnovers and 21 points for the Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0).

Hope springs eternal.
al.com: Sports
Alabama coach Nick Saban said Saturday's game was "the most physical, toughest game we've had to this point." While Virginia Tech fans may beg to differ, many of the numbers bear him out.
WILDCATS PAY PRICE FOR WIDE-OPEN PEEK - al.com
Two times, Alabama tight end Colin Peek was so wide open it was as if the Kentucky defense was afraid he had swine flu.

Kentucky needs to work on the zone defense. It's was clear that we don't play it much, but injuries forced us into it a lot yesterday, and Peek took advantage.
Tide does enough to take down ’Cats | TideSports.com | The Tuscaloosa News | Tuscaloosa, AL
"That was really a tough game," Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said.

"(Kentucky) was physical, probably the most physical team we’ve played. They ran the ball pretty well against us, better than teams usually do, and we had to overcome some adversity."
Hartline knows it's time to respond | KentuckySports.com
"The thing about quarterback is, you have four or five bad plays and you played terrible," Phillips said. "For the most part, he played good. But it's those four or five plays your quarterback is judged on."

Exactly right. SEC quarterbacks cannot afford four or five bad plays against top competition. You get maybe two or three, and the difference is the difference between W and L.
Notes: Seiber goes long to set UK scoring record | KentuckySports.com
Not only did senior place-kicker Lones Seiber break the Kentucky career scoring record Saturday, but he did it in style.

Seiber has been much-maligned at UK, but he is off to a good start this year. Congrats to him for the record, and he earned that record the hard way.
Turnovers doom UK in 38-20 loss to Alabama | KentuckySports.com
"We managed to turn a pretty good football game into a terrible football game in a matter of six minutes," UK head coach for offense Joker Phillips said.

No wonder they call him "Joker," he's a master of the obvious.
UK receivers not catching on | KentuckySports.com
But UK was done in largely by four mistakes — three interceptions and a fumble after a pass reception that was returned for a touchdown — in its passing game.

Story goes on to question the receivers, and I think he is right to do so. Hartline doesn't get off, but he is getting help in underachieving. Which begs other questions... like why?
One bad play rains on Locke's big day | KentuckySports.com
"They played with a lot of toughness," Saban said of Kentucky. "They ran the ball on us as well as anybody probably has for a while, and I think they deserve a lot of credit."

I think Saban is right. This Kentucky team is tough physically, but mentally they are wanting.
Melick: Alabama avoids being bitten by 'Cats in sandwich game | X's and Uh-oh's - al.com
"It's all about being patient," said Ingram, who finished the game with 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns. "Our coaches are going to find the adjustments to be successful. It's all about being patient and not getting frustrated."
Another Alabama romp
Things got a little edgy late. The Crimson Tide was trying to milk the clock late in the fourth quarter with an 18-point lead when Kentucky started to call timeouts.

Oh, so the punt fake and shot at the end zone was in response to UK trying to save time to run another series? Really? With an 18 point lead? Please.

Alabama 38, Kentucky 20 -- After Action Report

Truzenzuzex — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:56:33 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

We saw just a little too much of this guy (Ingram) today.

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Congratulations to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Just as most Kentucky fans suspected (judging from the remarkable absence of people in the open game thread), Kentucky was not up to defeating the talented, powerful Crimson Tide. Alabama played nearly mistake-free football, having relatively few penalties and no turnovers. Just as I explained earlier this week, Alabama does not get it done with smoke, mirrors, or deception. They are just a talented football team that beats you in a completely conventional, straightforward way.

For Kentucky, it was a comedy of errors, just as it was last week -- 7 penalties for 78 yards, many of them personal fouls. One or two personal fouls per game is understandable, but five is unacceptable. I call that very nearly dirty football, or at least unacceptably poor judgment. Kentucky also managed to turn the football over four times to Alabama's zero, which was kind of important considering that two of them resulted in touchdowns.

Well, here are my observations:

I sure hope Lindley is not hurt badly. He apparently has a sprained ankle.
Mike Hartline was not an SEC quality quarterback today. I am becoming more and more convinced that he never can be. But this year, I guess he's all we can expect.
Some may have thought the fake field goal and shot at the end zone at the end of the game was unsportsmanlike, but with all the personal fouls we committed on Alabama, we have absolutely zero moral authority to be critical. That's football. Move on.
Gotta love Randall Cobb. Too bad he can't play quarterback and receiver at the same time. But if anybody could, it would be him.
I am, at this moment, unhappy with Rich Brooks. This team's execution sucked out loud. In fact, it was an absolute embarrassment on offense at least half the time, and the 'Cats allowed too many big plays on defense. Take away a great play by Cobb and Mike Hartline's only really good throw, and you have an embarrassing margin rather than a merely pitiful one.

But I also must give the staff credit for a pretty good gameplan. I liked the fact that we utilized our running backs so well in so many ways. It might have even worked if Alabama had given UK a few turnovers, and if UK's offensive execution hadn'd been so feast-or-famine. Alas ...
Derrick Lock needs to get more passes thrown his way, wherever he is. When he gets the ball, good things happen. But Hartline is so sensitive to accusations that he can't throw the ball downfield (which he can't) and locks in so hard on his receivers that it isn't likely to happen. Frustrating.
This team showed it had enough offensive talent to at least give 'Bama a game, and the UK defense was fairly stout overall. Unfortunately, turnovers, 3 by Hartline, killed any chance we had.
If it seems like I am on Hartline's case, it's because I am.
Special teams played pretty well except for the first play, and that was enough of a breakdown to cost us an easy seven points.
Overall, the defense is really close to being good. There's just that whole tackling thing that seems to have them flummoxed.
Julio Jones was not a factor. That says a lot about our secondary.
Peek killed us. That says a lot about our linebacking corps, and not what we want to hear.
Great job by Lones Seiber. That's two games in a row he has played well.
Great job by Ryan Tydlacka. Maybe our kicking game is not as bad as Brooks feared.
What a great stable of running backs Alabama has. UK's is not bad, but dang...
The better team won. No doubt about it.

That's about it. It was what we expected, but I would say that UK was at least competitive in this game, and even though there is less positive to take away than I would like, it was not all negative like last Saturday. Alabama played pretty much mistake-free football, even if their execution was a little off today. You almost never beat a team as good as they are without mistakes, and they simply never gave UK a chance.

Next week, the road beckons. It couldn't be any less friendly than Commonwealth Stadium has been over the last fortnight, could it?

Florida at Kentucky -- Pre-game Statistical Breakdown

Truzenzuzex — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:45:27 -0000

More photos » by John Raoux - AP

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Tonight's game against the Florida Gators represents the second time in three years that Kentucky has faced the #1 team in the nation in Commonwealth Stadium. That is a testament to just how tough the SEC has been lately, and no matter what the outcome of tonight's game, it is a testament to the quality of football we have gotten used to in the SEC.

Some fun (and not so fun) facts about tonight's game, before we get into the hard-core stats:

Series history: Florida leads 42-17.
Cumulative score in the last 5 meetings: Florida: 203 UK: 80
UK leads the nation in QB sacks allowed, and has not allowed one this year.
Randall Cobb leads the SEC and is tied for 23rd in the nation in receptions per game.
Trevard Lindley is second in the nation in passes defended.
This is the 60th meeting between UK and Florida.
Joker Phillips and Urban Meyer were both offensive coordinators at Notre Dame.
Lones Seiber needs one point to tie Joey Worley for the UK scoring record.
Trevard Lindley needs one INT to tie for second on UK's all-time list.
Derrick Locke needs 43 yards to reach a career 1000 yard milestone.
Kentucky is 3-8 all time against #1 ranked teams.
UK is 38-172-5 against ranked opponents.
Rich Brooks is currently 5th all-time in wins at UK.
Derrick Locke ranks 9th nationally in all-purpose yards.

More after the jump.

The statistical comparison:

Team Statistics	Kentucky	Opponents	Florida	Opponents
Scoring: Points/Game	36.5	13.5	47.0	7.3
Scoring: Games - Points	2 - 73	2 - 27	3 - 141	3 - 22
First Downs: Total	47	29	78	39
First Downs: Rushing - Passing - By Penalty	24 - 20 - 3	12 - 14 - 3	43 - 33 - 2	17 - 19 - 3
Rushing: Yards / Attempt	5.04	3.15	7.06	3.03
Rushing: Attempts - Yards - TD	82 - 413 - 5	62 - 195 - 1	123 - 868 - 10	94 - 285 - 1
Passing: Rating	141.13	94.87	175.27	77.73
Passing: Yards	421	371	742	387
Passing: Attempts - Completions - Interceptions - TD	59 - 40 - 1 - 3	63 - 28 - 3 - 2	82 - 57 - 1 - 8	92 - 47 - 4 - 0
Total Offense: Yards / Play	5.9	4.5	7.9	3.6
Total Offense: Plays - Yards	141 - 834	125 - 566	205 - 1610	186 - 672
Punt Returns: Yards / Return	7.60	9.33	3.40	0.00
Punt Returns: Returns - Yards - TD	5 - 38 - 0	3 - 28 - 0	10 - 34 - 0	1 - 0 - 0
Kickoff Returns: Yards / Return	42.33	22.25	38.13	16.82
Kickoff Returns: Returns - Yards - TD	6 - 254 - 1	12 - 267 - 0	8 - 305 - 1	22 - 370 - 0
Punting: Yards / Punt	40.14	38.00	41.50	40.43
Punting: Punts - Yards	7 - 281	12 - 456	6 - 249	21 - 849
Interceptions: Returns - Yards - TD	3 - 84 - 1	1 - 0 - 0	4 - 0 - 0	1 - 0 - 0
Fumbles: Number - Lost	4 - 2	2 - 1	7 - 4	5 - 2
Penalties: Number - Yards	11 - 115	11 - 75	22 - 155	15 - 131
Time of Possession / Game	31:56.50	28:03.50	28:56.33	31:03.67
3rd Down Conversions: Conversion %	58.62%	34.38%	66.67%	31.25%
3rd Down Conversions: Attempts - Conversions	29 - 17	32 - 11	36 - 24	48 - 15
4th Down Conversions: Conversion %	50%	50%	50%	20%
4th Down Conversions: Attempts - Conversions	2 - 1	2 - 1	2 - 1	5 - 1
Red Zone: Success %	77.78%	57.14%	87.5%	66.67%
Red Zone: Attempts - Scores	9 - 7	7 - 4	16 - 14	6 - 4
Field Goals: Success %	50%	50%	75%	100%
Field Goals: Attempts - Made	2 - 1	4 - 2	4 - 3	5 - 5
PAT Kicking: Success %	100%	100%	94.7%	100%
PAT Kicking: Attempts - Made	10 - 10	3 - 3	19 - 18	1 - 1
2-Point Conversions: Success %	-	-	-	-
2-Point Conversions: Attempts - Made	0 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0

I've highlighted the items that I think are significant, the light blue for UK and the light orange for the Gators.

Analysis

For UK to beat Florida would be a major upset, no matter what the condition of the team vis-a-vis the flu. Florida is the fastest team in the nation, having a number of athletes on their team with world-class speed -- Jeffrey Demps immediately comes to mind. They also have a presumptive Heisman trophy candidate in Tim Tebow, which would be his second. Florida also has one of the best linebackers in the nation in Brandon Spikes, and a very solid defense all around.

Kentucky, on the other hand, has a few of these things -- one of the best linebackers in the SEC in Micah Johnson, arguably the best cover corner in the league and one of the best in America, and the most experience offensive line in the SEC.

Florida offense vs. Kentucky defense.

The Florida offense is one of the most high-powered in the nation. Florida attempts to isolate athletes in space by using a variation of the Spread Option offense, and because their athletes are so explosive, they are deadly when they achieve that objective. Florida's offense did not perform particularly well against Tennessee's defense, but they performed well enough to win the game, and Tennessee's defense is very stout.

To succeed today, Florida's offense must:

Get the ball to Demps early and often, particularly on the pass;
Keep Tebow protected in the pocket so he can work his magic, either with his feet or with his arm;
Avoid throwing the ball at Trevard Lindley;
Let Chris Rainey run the ball and force UK to stop him;
Riley Cooper and Aaron Hernandez are averaging 16 and 12 yards/reception respectively. Tennessee held them down a bit, but can Kentucky?

This will be a big test for the UK defense. Against the only BCS team it has faced so far, Kentucky's defense was anything but impressive. Of course, the three turnovers in a row that kept the defense on the field for the entire third quarter of the Louisville game does not really give us a fair read, but it is safe to say that the biggest concern. Kentucky's biggest concern right now is pressure from the defensive line -- they were able to get very little on Louisville's mobile quarterback, and that is not an encouraging fact when facing the much more accomplished and highly mobile Tim Tebow.

To succeed today, Kentucky's defense must:

Force Tebow to throw the ball on the run;
Contain Tebow and Demps on the outside;
Minimize the yards after reception. Florida killed UK last year with yards after the catch;
Make solid tackles, particularly on Demps and Tebow.
Take chances. Kentucky cannot beat Florida by playing conservative, their athletes are too good.

Kentucky offense vs. Florida defense

Kentucky's offense is clearly better than it was last year with a more mature Mike Hartline and Randall Cobb, the addition of Chris Matthews at wide receiver and the return of the dangerous Derrick Locke. Kentucky has enough offensive weapons to do some damage against Florida, and if it can manage to keep the defense on the field with long drives that result in scores, UK could threaten Florida if they are not having a great offensive game.

To succeed today, Kentucky's offense must:

Get the ball to Randall Cobb early and often;
Continue to give Hartline time;
Throw the ball downfield some;
Establish a running game to keep Florida from teeing off on Hartline;
Avoid third and long.

Florida's defense is a very strong unit, but interestingly enough is currently ranked only 3 spots above Kentucky in the run. Florida has not been particularly strong against the running game this year, and with a healthy Derrick Locke and Alfonso Smith, UK could do some damage by reeling off a few good gains. Brandon Spikes, Florida's All-American candidate linebacker, will probably be able to prevent big gains over the ground.

To succeed today, Florida's defense must:

Deny Randall Cobb the ball wherever possible, even double-team him at WR;
Force UK to throw the ball underneath, where Florida's speed can be used most effectively;
Keep UK from running the ball effectively;
Find a way to get some pressure on Hartline.

Summary

Overall, Florida is deeper and more talented than Kentucky at most positions, but not ridiculously so at most of them. UK has seriously upgraded its talent overall, and even though Florida will be prohibitive favorites to win, it won't take much in the way of missteps of poor play on the part of the Gators to turn this into a football game. Urban Meyer knows this well, so he will not be cocky or careless against the Wildcats, and will likely force Kentucky to take most of the chances.

Obviously, if UK collapses on special teams like they did last year, or allow too many early big plays, they will fold like a house of cards versus the Gators' superior speed and talent. But if UK can hold in tight for the first quarter or so, the game could get interesting real fast. The Gators have a number of players who are feeling ill, and forcing sick guys to play in a competitive football game would give UK a shot at winning. The Gators will want to jump on the 'Cats early, and try to get at least a 21-point cushion before halftime. That way, they can play safe and smart, and avoid exhausting their ailing players.

Predicted score: Florida 38, UK 24

Kentucky 31, Louisville 27: Threepeat, Baybeee!

Truzenzuzex — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:52:50 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

The Burner, burning.

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Wow. Just wow.

I believe I warned you, ladies and gentlemen of the Big Blue Nation, that rivalry games were dangerous. Of course, this one was made much more dangerous than it needed to be by three turnovers in a row, which gave Louisville the football for the entire third quarter. I have never seen that before, a quarter in which one team ran maybe one or two offensive plays.

Nice effort by Louisville. They are a rather more dangerous team that I even imagined, and Justin Burke is a much better quarterback thank I expected. He has a strong arm and great feet. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they were unable to handle Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke, and despite being forced to defend a ridiculous number of snaps, the Kentucky defense was up to the task. It was a stronger than expected showing by Louisville, though, and even though there is no such thing as a moral victory, I think it is possible for this Louisville team to build on today's effort.

For Kentucky, well, a victory over a rival is always worth being happy about, even if the 'Cats did not seem to bring their "A" game today. More thoughts follow the jump.

Here are some observations and a few questions that we will be discussing more in the coming week:

Derrick Locke is back. There is no longer doubt.
Randall Cobb is simply an incredible football player. Now, everybody knows it.
Mike Hartline did some very good things, and some very bad things. I am reserving judgment on him, but that last drive was a thing of beauty.
Our defensive secondary was unacceptably poor. I was very disappointed in the long, downfield throws they allowed.
Our special teams did not kill us. Lones Seiber actually played very well, and Brooks has to be sort of happy about that.
The first turnover was a great play by Louisville. Locke did all he could to protect that football, but the Louisville player found purchase and was able to bring much more leverage to bear to pry it loose.
The second turnover was a good defensive play, but it was a bad play call. I though UK was way too conservative in the passing game. Louisville was sitting on that out route and jumped it perfectly.
The third turnover was a brain-dead, inexcusable play by Hartline. If he is going to be an option on the option, he had better learn to tuck the ball away.
At least two of Joker's calls were just plain stupid. Why the heck do you throw a 5-yard out when you need ten? I don't get it.
I was really worried about Winston Guy. I am still worried about Trevard Lindley.
DeQuin Evans made some big plays today, but Corey Peters was the reason we won the game.
The clock operator needs to get another job. Maybe he can work for the Louisville Cardinals, I'm sure they'd hire him after today.
Wildcat package?
Our D-line was not up to SEC standards today. Our O-line was very good. Hartline didn't get touched all game. Pretty impressive.

Well, that's about all. I can say that if we bring a game like this against Florida, 63 points might be what they score in the first half. Brooks has his work cut out for him this week, the 'Cats have a lot of things to fix. The D-line must get pressure on the QB more consistently, and the defensive backfield has to occasionally stop downfield passes.

But this is a big win that I am celebrating with a smile. Threepeat against the Cards! Who would have thought that back in 2003?

Kentucky vs. Louisville -- What Makes Me Confident, and What Makes Me Nervous

Truzenzuzex — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:01:59 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

Victor Anderson could give us some serious trouble tomorrow.

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I see a lot of confidence in Kentucky fans regarding the Governor's Cup tomorrow, and I see an awful lot of pessimism in Louisville fans. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at either, but perhaps Kentucky fans should be a little cautious with their optimism and save the smack-talk until after the game is over. There is nothing less tasty than ~~Cardinal~~ crow after an upset.

Now, don't count me among the pessimistic -- I'm not. On paper, Kentucky has a number of advantages over Louisville, and Mike over at the Card Chronicle has done a pretty fair job of detailing them. So what I propose to do here is detail the things that make me feel confident, and nervous, about tomorrow's contest.

Confident

The Kentucky offensive line. UK has one of the most experienced lines in the SEC, and they get Jorge Gonzalez back at center for tomorrow's game. Kentucky was 5th in the nation in sacks allowed last year, so if the line comes to play, Hartline will get all the time he needs to find receivers.

Nervous

Trent Guy. Trent Guy is a gamebreaker, a lightning-quick athlete that, if he gets the ball in space, will leave UK defenders trying to tackle his vapor trail. This kid is fast, and reminds me a lot of Florida's Jeffrey Demps -- small, quick, and if he gets a step, gone.

Confident

Our "in the box" guys. Louisville has some very solid backs, but with the exception of the edges, Kentucky has a very experienced and talented defensive front. Even if Victor Anderson or Bilal Powell get loose a little, I think the 'Cats have the speed and athleticism to tackle them.

Nervous

Kentucky's kicking game. I think our punting game is OK, but kickoffs make me nervous. We simply do not have anyone with enough leg to get the hang time we need, and Tim Masthay is not walking through that door. With dangerous returners like Trent Guy and Doug Beaumont, I have nightmares about kickoffs to the Cardinals.

Confident

Kentucky's secondary. I think that the 'Cats are going to intercept passes from Louisville if they try to throw it downfield. UK has Trevard Lindley, but the other guys in the defensive backfield are also high quality -- Paul Warford, Calvin Harrison, Winston Guy, Randall Burden and Matt Lentz all represent major threats to an untested QB.

Nervous

Justin Burke. After a pedestrian outing against Indiana State, I fear that this kid will suddenly wake up and play over his head in a rivalry game. If he is able to get the ball to guys like Beaumont and Guy in space, Louisville could move the football. And if the kicking game is as bad as Brooks' fears, the Cardinals will be starting from less than 60 yards from our end zone.

Confident

Rich Brooks. I love what Papa Brooks has done over the last few years, and I am becoming a believer in his judgment, game management and experience. Brooks is the kind of coach that if you give him enough talent, he wins, and I think the Wildcats have plenty of talent for the Cardinals.

Nervous

Field Goal kicking. Lones Seiber has been anything but consistent, and if the game is closer than expected, he could be the difference between a win and a loss. I don't feel good at all about having Seiber as the bulwark against a close defeat.

Well, those are the things that make me puff my chest out, and the things that make me toss and turn in the bed at night. Feel free to chime in with your observations, I'd love to hear them.

Kentucky 42, Miami (OH) 0 -- After Action Report

Truzenzuzex — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:47:40 -0000

More photos » by Al Behrman - AP

Randall Cobb was the Cat Daddy today. Frighteningly good.

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Well, that was impressive, save for the first quarter.

Congratulations for the Miami Redhawks for giving it their all, and making us sweat in the first quarter. Miami has a new coaching staff and a bunch of new players, so they can be forgiven for struggling in the first game of the year. I appreciate their effort, and applaud the clean game that they played with very few penalties and good sportsmanship.

What was good

Offense --The offense, from the second quarter on, was incredibly impressive. The o-line started opening up holes, and protecting the quarterback the way that a senior-dominated O-line should.

Mike Hartline was very impressive. He was poised, he was efficient, and he made good reads after he got a feel for the Redhawk defense. His deep ball was much improved, and even though he still threw a couple of those nasty floaters that I really hate, most of his throws were on target and in good spots.

Randall Cobb was simply terrific. It has been a long time since I have seen a player with such incredible economy of motion. He isn't that quick or that fast, it's just that his body and mind seem to be in such perfect harmony that no effort is wasted, no motion is discordant, no move is ineffective. He is an unusual player, gifted with almost perfect body control. Every move he makes is graceful and efficient. It's almost like everyone else around him is moving in slow motion, or is somehow seeing two of him.

Cobb was indomitable today, and the rest of the SEC should fear him.

Chris Matthews had a great first game, and is just the kind of big target UK need. TC Drake also played well, as did Ross Bogue.

The running game, particularly Derrick Locke and Moncell Allen, was great. A lot of that was due to some gaping holes opened by the o-line, but Locke's speed is undiminished despite a serious knee injury and Allen is just a bruising runner who made a lot of yards all by himself. Alfonso Smith also had a good game, but he was less impressive than the other two.

Defense -- The defense was sound, and even though they allowed a few big plays, they weren't bad. They did, after all, achieve a shutout, and I don't recall (and don't feel like looking up) when the last time UK shut out anybody.

I liked what the secondary did after the first half, and the defensive line played very well against the run, as did the linebacking corps. Micah Johnson made an impressive pass breakup in the second half, and overall, I was very happy with the defensive effort. Of course, Trevard Lindley was what he is expected to be -- an All-American. He could have had three picks today, but wound up with only one, and scored a touchdown off that one. Hard to complain much about the two that got away.

What was not so good

Special teams -- Special teams scared me. Kickoff coverage was pretty good, but the kickoffs themselves were not great. Once again, Lones Seiber missed a ~~short~~ 43 yard field goal. That has got to be corrected.

Punt coverage was not as good as kick coverage, although Ryan Tydlacka kicked the ball very well, including a clever short-field kick that pinned the Redhawks inside their 20.

The defensive line, particularly on the edges, did not impress. UK did not get enough pressure on the Redhawk quarterback, even though the Miami o-line was very young and inexperienced.

The offense did a very poor job of picking up blitzes, which is a problem Rich Brooks identified about a week or two ago. That is a disturbing blind spot, and if UK can't get that problem solved, Hartline is going to have to throw a lot more balls away than anyone wants.

Overall

Overall, I was very pleased with the offense, and happy (but less so) with the defense. Hartline has clearly improved a lot, and Randall Cobb has become a major threat no matter where he is on the field. Chris Matthews is looking like the kind of player that can help us become a serious threat in the SEC east. If Hartline can learn to keep the ball down a bit and the offense can pick up blitzes better, this is a team that could make some noise in the SEC this year.

One thing I can say with confidence -- Kentucky is much, much better, overall, than last year. I know this is just the first game, but it is clear to me that this is a team which is competent, and deserves to be in the SEC.