Kentucky Blog

January 13, 2011

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
BBVA Compass Bowl Recap
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats wrapped up their 2010 season in disappointing fashion in Birmingham, falling 27-10 to Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl.  The loss gives UK their first losing season since 2005, and marks their second consecutive postseason loss after winning their first three appearances under former coach Rich Brooks.

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:

5.9 - Morgan Newton YPC

One of the biggest concerns entering the bowl game was how the Cats would play without senior QB Mike Hartline, who was suspended for getting arrested in December.  Newton, who saw extensive action as a freshman in 2009, was mostly ineffective in a game where UK didn't score a touchdown until late in the third quarter.  The sophomore will be in a heated battle with Ryan Mossakowski entering next fall to see who will take the reigns from Hartline under center.  If the Cats hope to boast another strong offensive attack in 2011, Newton will need to make progress in throwing the ball downfield.

261 - Pitt rushing yards

Teams have shredded the Cats on the ground all year, and the bowl game was no different.  Dion Lewis ran for 105 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, Ray Graham for 90 yards on 17 carries, and Tino Sunseri for 53 yards and a touchdown on four carries.  New defensive coordinator Rick Minter has his work cut out for him in the offseason, and must improve a front seven that ranked near the bottom of the SEC in rushing defense, sacks, and tackles for loss.  The UK defense surrendered 24 or more points nine times in 2010.

85 - Randall Cobb total yards

The do-it-all junior WR failed to make much of an impact in what could potentially be his last game in a UK uniform.  Cobb, who will weigh his options and decide whether he wants to enter the NFL draft in the coming months, only managed 23 yards on three carries and 62 yards on five carries.  With the Cats losing Derrick Locke and Chris Matthews to graduation, the loss of Cobb would be devastating to the offense entering 2011.  Cobb fell just short of winning the 2010 Paul Hornung Award for the nation's most versatile player, losing to Stanford's Owen Marecic.

7 - UK losses in 2010

Despite making a return trip to the postseason, many around the program would deem the 2010 season a disappointment.  With plenty of experience on offense and a manageable schedule, 7-8 wins certainly appeared possible entering the fall.  However, a struggling defense and blown opportunities in losses to Ole Miss and Auburn inevitably plagued the Cats, who only managed two wins in SEC play and two wins over teams with winning records.  After seeing UK win seven or more games in four consecutive seasons under Rich Brooks from 2006-09, fans will not be pleased if Joker Phillips' teams continue to underachieve in Lexington.

January 5, 2011

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
BBVA Compass Bowl Preview & Links
By: Matt Lindeman

 

The Cats will wrap up the 2010 season by heading to Birmingham to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers in the BBVA Compass Bowl.  UK will be participating in the postseason for the fifth consecutive season, and will also attempt to finish with their fifth consecutive winning season.

Pitt has had a disappointing season after winning 10 games in 2009, finishing 7-5 and missing out on a chance to play in the BCS after an ugly lost to rival West Virginia in late November.  Head Coach Dave Wannstedt was fired following the win over Cincinnati, and his replacement - Miami Ohio's Mike Haywood - was fired last week after being arrested.  The Panthers did win four games over teams who have since won their bowl game, however, beating FIU, Syracuse, Louisville, and South Florida.

Sophomore QB Tino Sunseri leads the way for Pitt, and has thrown for 2476 yards, 15 TDs, and 8 INTs on the year. The Panthers have a two-headed monster in the backfield with sophomores Dion Lewis and Ray Graham; Lewis led the team with 956 rushing yards and 12 TDs, while Graham wasn't far behind with 832 yards and 8 TDs.  Junior WR Jon Baldwin is Pitt's main receiving threat for the second straight year, leading the team with 810 yards and 5 TDs.
 
UK will look to win their fourth bowl game in five years despite losing senior QB Mike Hartline to a suspension.  Hartline was arrested in early December, and sophomore QB Morgan Newton, who saw significant playing time in 2009, will get the start.  The bowl will be senior RB Derrick Locke's final game in a UK uniform, and could be the last time Cats fans get to watch do-it-all star WR Randall Cobb suit up as well.  The line currently sits at Pittsburgh -3.5, with the over/under set at 52.5.
 
Bowl Links:

Dave Wannstedt has elected not to coach in the bowl for Pitt

 
The Cats are glad they have one more shot to go out winners


Morgan Newton is looking forward to the chance to shine in the bowl game

 
Players are still learning the ways of new defensive coordinator Rick Minter

December 2, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Tennessee Recap
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats fell short to Tennessee once again last Saturday, fumbling away a strong start and losing to the Vols 24-14 in Knoxville.  UK still remains winless against UT dating back to 1984, and finished the regular season at 6-6 with the loss; they'll now look ahead to the postseason, where they'll be making their fifth consecutive appearance.

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:

354 - Tyler Bray passing yards

UK struggled mightily in slowing the freshman QB who has helped the Vols finish the season strong, as Bray carved up the secondary most of the game.  The Cats did manage to pick off two passes in the red zone, but surrendered multiple big plays in the passing game, negating the fact they held UT to 76 rushing yards on 2.9 YPC.  One could have expected a big passing day from the Vols after Bray's success in the previous three games, and the Cats were unable to slow UT through the air.

3 - UK turnovers

The Cats shot themselves in the foot with turnovers, fumbling the ball twice and throwing an interception while trying to rally late.  The game's turning point was when UK, up 7-0 and looking to punch the ball in from the 1-yard line, gave up the ball when Derrick Locke fumbled it into the end zone and UT recovered.  Despite finally forcing a few red zone turnovers of their own, UK let the game slip away mostly by not taking care of the ball.  The Cats rank 10th in the SEC in turnover margin this season.

116 - Randall Cobb receiving yards

The Tennessee native did not disappoint in his return, racking up 13 receptions and running the ball five times for 25 yards.  Cobb failed to find the end zone, however, and was 0/2 passing out of the Wildcat formation.  The junior WR is now 0-3 against the Vols, despite a few gritty performances in the past two meetings, and will have one last shot in Lexington next November if he chooses to stay in school and pass on leaving early for the NFL.

26 - Consecutive losses to Tennessee

As the streak continues and the Cats blow away golden opportunities every year against UT, the team and fans grow more frustrated by the absurdity of a losing streak that spans over the past three decades.  Even more frustrating is the fact that UK has not capitalized on the Vols' recent struggles, and has somehow found ways to lose games they should have won in the series.  If Joker Phillips hopes to have a successful tenure in Lexington and UK wants to take the next step as a program, they must overcome this burden and finally knock off the Vols in the coming years.

November 27, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Tennessee Preview & Weekly Links
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats will look to break the nation's longest active losing streak to a single opponent this Saturday, as they head to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium.  UK has dropped 25 in a row to the Vols dating back to 1984, and has lost two of the previous three meetings in overtime.

Tennessee has struggled in Derek Dooley's debut season, sitting at 5-6 and needing a win over the Cats to gain bowl eligibility.  The Vols have lost all but one of their games by double digits, and have lost three games by 27 or more points.  They have heated up in November, however, winning three straight after starting the season 2-6 and 0-5 in SEC play.  Freshman Tyler Bray has taken over under center, and has thrown for 1,183 yards, 12 TDs, and 5 INTs on the season; RB Tauren Poole leads the way on the ground with 935 yards and 10 TDs, and Denarius Moore is the leading receiver with 707 yards and 8 TDs.

In last year's meeting, the Vols pulled off a 30-24 overtime win in Lexington.  The Cats recovered a fumble and hit a FG late to send the game into OT, but a 20 yard run from UT's Montario Hardesty in overtime sealed the win.  In the last meeting in Knoxville, the Vols sent former head coach Phillip Fulmer out a winner with an easy 28-10 victory over the Cats.

UK has a chance to match last season's win total and move up in the bowl pecking order with a win, but more importantly, is focused on putting an end to a streak that has haunted the program for nearly three decades.  The line currently sits at Tennessee -3, with the over/under set at 58.5.

Weekly links:

Tennessee native Randall Cobb is ready to play after spending the week at home
 
Cobb is trying to downplay the importance of the Tennessee game


Both UT and UK will be without defensive tackles this Saturday


The Tennessee-Kentucky streak has grown a life of its own

 
UK players and coaches have kept quiet about wearing 517 shirts all week

November 15, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Vanderbilt Recap
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats obtained bowl eligibility for the fifth consecutive season Saturday, overcoming a 13-10 halftime deficit to beat Vanderbilt 38-20 in Commonwealth Stadium.  The win is UK's third straight over the Commodores, and improves them to 2-5 in conference play and 6-5 overall.

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:

170 - Randall Cobb rushing yards

The star junior WR put the team on his back against Vandy, racking up a career-high 170 yards on only 10 carries.  Cobb scored twice on the day, the second touchdown being an impressive 73 yarder early in the third quarter; he also had three catches for 56 yards on the day. Cobb ranks first in the team in receiving (with 839 yards) and second in the team in rushing (with 376 yards) on the season, and can certainly expect All-SEC honors once the season has concluded.

6.6 - Derrick Locke yards per carry

In his first game back from an injury and playing his final game at Commonwealth, the senior RB shined by running for 145 yards and 2 TDs on 22 carries.  Locke also busted a big run in the second half, breaking away for an 83-yard touchdown to all but seal the win late in the 4th quarter.  The Cats have sorely missed Locke in the past month, and his presence should help the offense find a much-needed balance in the season finale against Tennessee and their eventual bowl game.

28 - Second half points

Slow starts have plagued the Cats all year, as they've trailed by multiple scores going into half in a few games and been unable to overcome large deficits.  They trailed going into the locker room again Saturday, but with bowl eligibility on the line and a chance to send the seniors out winners, they turned it up in the second half.  The defense slowed down the Vandy attack after struggling in the first half, holding them to seven second half points that came on a late touchdown.  If the Cats can find a way to play with that intensity for a full four quarters, they'll be tough to beat.

202 - Vanderbilt rushing yards

One discouraging stat to take from the win was that the Cats allowed over 200 rushing yards and nearly five yards per carry to a Vandy team decimated at running back.  With their top two rushers out for the game, VU still found a way to move the ball with ease on the ground; senior Kennard Reeves led the way by running for 105 yards on 19 carries.  UK's porous run defense continues to haunt them, and if they want to have any hope of ending the long losing streak to Tennessee, they must shut down a Vols rushing attack that ranks last in the SEC in yards per game.

November 11, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Vanderbilt Preview & Weekly Links
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats will look to secure bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive season this Saturday, as they host the Vanderbilt Commodores on Senior Day at Commonwealth Stadium.  UK will be looking to pick up their second conference win of the season and move above .500 for the first time since early October.
 
Vanderbilt has struggled in their first season under new coach Robbie Caldwell, currently sitting at 2-7 and the losers of four straight.  The Commodores were embarrassed at home against Florida last week, falling 55-14; VU was outgained 480-109 and trailed 41-0 at halftime.  They are led by junior QB Larry Smith, who has thrown for 1058 passing yards, 6 TDs and 4 INTs on the year. Leading rushers Warren Norman and Zac Stacy have both suffered season-ending injuries, leaving the Dores thin at running back, and junior TE Brandon Barden is the leading receiver with 281 yards and 3 TDs.

In last year's meeting in Nashville, the Cats pulled out a 24-13 win, racking up 308 rushing yards and holding the Commodores to 209 yards total offense. The road team has won three straight in the series, and Vanderbilt secured a bowl bid for the first time in 26 years by upsetting UK in Lexington in 2008.

The loser of the game will fall to last place in the SEC East, and with a loss, UK will need to knock off Tennessee for the first time since 1984 to keep their bowl streak alive.  The line currently sits at UK -14.5, with the over/under set at 54.

Weekly links:

Derrick Locke expects to return against Vanderbilt after missing the last four games

 
Joker Phillips is looking to carry the momentum from last week's win


The Cats have no intentions of looking past Vandy


Heading into the bye week, UK hopes to secure bowl eligibility


The showdown against Tennessee in Knoxville may be the Cats' true bowl game

November 9, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Charleston Southern Preview
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats moved back to .500 on the season Saturday, taking care of FCS opponent Charleston Southern 49-21 in Commonwealth Stadium.  UK is now 5-5 heading into their final two games, and finished non-conference play unblemished for the fourth consecutive season.

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:

228 - Rushing yards

With Derrick Locke and Raymond Sanders both out due to injury, reserves CoShik Williams and Donald Russell were given an opportunity to shine in the Cats' break from SEC play.  Russell ran for 110 yards and two TDs, while Williams ran for 95 yards and three TDs.  UK ran for 8.4 YPC on the day, and appear to have plenty of depth in a banged-up unit that has been missing Locke for nearly a month.

2 - Morgan Newton passing yards

Fans who clamored for Newton to start in the preseason were unable to see the sophomore QB get much action Saturday, attempting only four passes and completing one of them for two yards.  Mike Hartline played into the second half as the Cats maintained only a two-touchdown lead going into the fourth quarter, and struggled to put the game out of reach.  With crucial tilts against Vanderbilt and Tennessee as the only games left on the schedule, it appears highly unlikely fans will see Newton or redshirt freshman Ryan Mossakowski again this season.

141 - Malcom Dixon total yards

The Cats struggled to slow a mobile QB once again Saturday, as the freshman Dixon was highly effective in moving the ball.  Dixon ran for 96 yards on 19 carries, and completed 7/8 passes for 45 yards.  CSU managed only 269 yards on the day, and the Cats held the team to 2.9 YPC, but still showed vulnerability against a QB who can move the ball on the ground.  Starting QB Andrew Trudnowski was held to three carries for -14 yards.

20:00 - Time of possession

One of the more bizarre stats in the win was CSU holding the ball twice as long as the Cats, as UK only maintained possession for 20:00 despite winning by 28.  The Buccanneers had 48 rushing attempts to the Cats' 27, and did not turn the ball over in the game.  With a less-than-capacity crowd and an early kickoff, UK seemed disinterested from the start and did not pull away until late; the same CSU team that lost 66-7 at Hawaii earlier this season only trailed 35-21 going into the fourth quarter on Saturday.

November 4, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Charleston Southern Preview
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats will take a break from conference play this weekend as they take on the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Commonwealth Stadium.  After losing four of five games in October, UK will look to get back on track with a win and move closer to bowl eligibility before finishing up the season against two conference rivals.

Charleston Southern, an FCS team who is a member of the Big South conference, is 2-6 thus far in 2010.  They're 0-4 in conference play and the losers of five straight, with their last win coming on September 18th. In their only meeting against an FBS team this year, CSU lost 66-7 at Hawaii, getting outgained 583-227 against the Warriors.  In last week's game against Stony Brook, the Buccaneers gave up 34 unanswered points and lost 41-21.

UK has not lost a regular season non-conference game since 2006, and held one of the nation's longest non-conference winning streaks before falling to Clemson in last year's Music City Bowl.

Weekly links:

Derrick Locke will play against Charleston Southern if he feels ready
 
The banged-up Cats look forward to a break from conference play


UK has become realistic about their prospects for the rest of the season


The physically and emotionally drained Cats cannot look past Charleston Southern


Joker Phillips is getting tested in his first season as head coach

November 2, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Mississippi State Recap
By: Matt Lindeman

UK fell under .500 for the first time this season, losing a tight contest to Mississippi State 24-17 in Starkville Saturday.  The Cats are now 4-5 on the season and 1-5 in conference play, and will need to win two of their final three games to make their 5th consecutive trip to the postseason.  The Cats are winless on the road in conference play after winning three SEC road games last season.

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:
 
214 - Rushing yards allowed

Mississippi State entered the game with a top 15 rush offense nationally, and the Cats struggling front seven appeared to be looking at a long day ahead against the Bulldogs.  Led by Vick Ballard's 103 rushing yards, MSU racked up 214 yards and 2 TDs on 5.5 YPC.  QB Chris Relf also ran for 79 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, and UK again looked hopeless slowing their opponent on the ground.  Entering November, the Cats rank last in the SEC in rush defense, allowing 180 YPG.

3 - Mike Hartline interceptions

After playing extraordinarily well in the Cats' three-game homestand, Hartline struggled to take care of the ball down in Starkville.  The senior QB entered the game with only four turnovers on the season, and nearly matched it with three picks in the game - the final coming on UK's last offensive play on the game, as Hartline had his pass picked off at the goalline on 4th down.  The Cats outgained their opponent once again, finishing with 347 yards offense to Mississippi State's 325, but coughed the ball up four times.
 
2.1 - Yards per carry

The UK ground game continued to struggle with the absence of Derrick Locke, failing to top 100 yards on the night.  Raymond Sanders got a bulk of the touches, but only mustered 71 cards on 24 carries, and never found the endzone.  MSU does boast one of the SEC's tougher run defenses, but the Cats continue to lack balance with Locke missing time due to injury, and shouldn't rely on Hartline and the passing game nearly as much once he's healthy again.

171 - Randall Cobb receiving yards

UK's star wide receiver shined once again, catching 12 passes and putting UK on the board with a 48-yard score in the first half.  Hartline found Cobb in many crucial situations down the stretch, converting numerous third downs to the junior wide receiver in the game's final drive.  Cobb now has 682 receiving yards and 6 TDs to go along with 206 rushing yards and 3 TDs, and continues to remind everyone that he's one of the most versatile players in the country.

October 28, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Mississippi State Preview & Weekly Links
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats will travel down south to play their second game in the state of Mississippi this month, as they head to Starkville to take on the 23rd ranked Misssissippi State Bulldogs this Saturday.  This is UK's first road game since playing at Ole Miss in early October, and they'll look to rebound from a disappointing performance against Georgia and move back above .500 on the season.

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has pumped life back into the program after it had struggled in recent years, leading the Bulldogs to a 6-2 record, national ranking, and bowl eligibility in his second season.  Perhaps no win was bigger than MSU's upset of Florida in the Swamp two weeks ago, as Mullen knocked off his former team in a defensive struggle, holding on for a 10-7 win.  The Bulldogs also handled Georgia at home earlier this year, and dropped a close contest to Auburn in the season's second week.  Junior QB Chris Relf leads the way with 815 passing yards and 6 TDs on the season, and is also the team's second leading rusher with 428 yards and 2 TDs.  Junior RB Vick Ballard heads a strong rushing attack with 516 yards and 11 TDs; sophomore Chad Bumphis is the leading receiver with 461 yards and 4 TDs.

The visitor has won the last four games in this series, with UK pulling off narrow victories in their last two trips to Starkville.  In last year's meeting, MSU knocked off the Cats 31-24 behind 252 rushing yards and 2 TDs from RB Anthony Dixon.  The Bulldogs outgained UK 493-308 and were able to overcome an early 14-3 deficit in the win.

If the Cats hope to bounce back from a poor outing against UGA and pick up their first road win in conference play this season, they'll have to find a way to stop a rush offense that ranks 2nd in the SEC and 15th nationally with 219 YPG.  History favors the road team in this series, and the Cats will look to spoil a promising start to MSU's season as the Bulldogs did when they pulled a huge upset over UK in Lexington in 2007.  The line currently sits at Mississippi State -6.5, with the over/under set at 57.
 
Weekly links:

With the Cats out of contention in the SEC East, they now look to reach the best available bowl


Derrick Locke's status remains uncertain for the MSU game


The Cats hope to regain the road magic that led them to three SEC road wins last season


UK's run defense faces a tough task in slowing the MSU ground attack


Mike Hartline has been added to the Manning Award watch list

October 26, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Georgia Recap
By: Matt Lindeman

Turnovers plagued the Cats from the start and they were unable to overcome their second 18-point halftime deficit in as many weeks, falling 44-31 to Georgia at Commonwealth Stadium.  Mike Hartline and the offense turned in another strong performance by UK, but despite outgained the Dawgs by 133 yards, they were unable to get within single digits after falling behind by 25 midway through the second quarter.  The loss dropped the Cats to 4-4 on the year, and 1-4 in SEC play.

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:

5 - Washaun Ealey touchdown runs

Georgia went to the ground early and often against the Cats, riding the sophomore back for 157 yards and 5 touchdowns on 28 carries.  Ealey scored all five touchdowns from three yards or less, and contributed more than half of the Bulldogs' total offense.  Freshman QB Aaron Murray only made 12 passing attempts as UGA worked on a short field most of the game and moved the ball with ease on the ground.  The Cats continue to get gashed on the ground, and rank 89th nationally in rush defense; things will not be any easier next week as they take on the SEC's second-best rushing attack in Mississippi State.

17 - Georgia points off turnovers

The Cats dug a big hole early thanks to three costly turnovers that led to 17 UGA points.  Mike Hartline fumbled at the UK 23 on the third play from scrimmage, setting up the Dawgs first touchdown; LaRod King then fumbled late in the first quarter, and Donald Russell set up another UGA score by coughing it up on UK's own 5 yardline.  A week after being +4 in turnover margin and keeping themselves in the ballgame by forcing South Carolina mistakes, the Cats took themselves out of contention by giving the ball up.

28 - First half points surrendered

For the third week in a row, UK allowed at least 28 first half points and was faced with a three-score deficit heading into the locker room.  The Cats were outscored by a combined 87-34 in the first halves of their three-game homestand, and have appeared significantly outmatched in each.  If they hope to avoid a similar fate in future games, the red zone defense will have to improve, and the offense must take care of the ball in their own territory.

353 - Mike Hartline passing yards

Yet again, one of the bright spots for the Cats was the play of Hartline.  The senior threw for 353 yards and four touchdowns, to go along with an INT and fumble.  UK only mustered up 70 rushing yards with RB Derrick Locke still out, but Hartline generated plenty of offense through the air.  After struggling mightily the past two years, the Cats now have a top 25 passing offense nationally, and rank second in the SEC behind Arkansas. Hartline could be looking at All-SEC honors if his strong play continues.

October 21, 2010

It's Football Time in the Bluegrass!
Georgia Preview & Weekly Links
By: Matt Lindeman

UK will look to build off their come-from-behind win last week in another big SEC tilt this Saturday, as they host the Georgia Bulldogs in Commonwealth Stadium.  Both teams have an opportunity to move into the thick of the division race position themselves nicely for a return trip to the postseason with a win, despite getting off to 0-3 starts in league play.

Georgia has shown a resurgence since the return of star WR AJ Green, winning their last two games in convincing fashion over Tennessee and Vanderbilt.  The Bulldogs seem to have moved past their early struggles, which saw them start 1-4, and will be looking to win their first road game of the season in Lexington.  Redshirt freshman QB Aaron Murray has seen all the snaps under center this year, throwing for 1,653 passing yards, 12 TDs and 3 INTs.  Sophomore RB Washaun Ealey leads the way on the ground with 369 rushing yards and 2 TDs, and senior WR Kris Durham has been Murray's top target with 453 receiving yards and 2 TDs.

The Cats have played well against UGA since 2006, when they pulled off an upset win over the Dawgs in Lexington before reaching the Music City Bowl and winning eight games.  UGA snuck out a narrow 42-38 victory in their last meeting at Commonwealth in 2008, and UK pulled off a stunner last year, winning 34-27 for their first win in Athens in over 30 years.  UK outscored UGA 28-7 and forced four turnovers in the second half of the upset win.

Both teams have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, and are hoping to make a run at Florida and South Carolina atop the SEC East. If the Cats hope to pull off another upset, they'll have to find a way to slow the UGA offense that has scored 40+ points each of the past two weeks; they'll also need to avoid the slow start that has led to large halftime deficits in recent weeks.  The line currently sits at Georgia -4, with the over/under set at 58.

Weekly links:
 
UK believes they have a shot at the wide open SEC East

 
Mike Hartline's perseverance is paying off for the Cats


UK must shore up their red zone defense if they hope to compete for the division title


The UK defense seems to shine after halftime


A frustrated Randall Cobb and Cats fans share the same goal

October 19, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
South Carolina Recap
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats battled back from an 18-point halftime deficit to pull a shocking upset Saturday, knocking off 10th ranked South Carolina 31-28 in Lexington.  The win was UK's first in conference play this season, moving them to 4-3 and giving them their first win over the Gamecocks since 1999.  It also marks the first time the Cats have beaten Steve Spurrier, who held a perfect 17-0 career record against UK entering Saturday's contest.

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:

349 - Mike Hartline passing yards

The senior QB had a career game Saturday, throwing for 349 passing yards and four touchdowns without an interception.  Hartline completed 32/42 passes, none bigger than his 24-yard touchdown pass with 1:15 remaining, as he withstood South Carolina pressure to find a wide open Randall Cobb on 4th and 7.  With Derrick Locke out due to injury and the running game struggling to move the ball, Hartline led the offense on three second half scoring drives to complete the comeback.  Hartline was named the SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, and has emerged as one of the conference's top QBs in his final season.

12 - Chris Matthews receptions

Hartline's favorite target was the senior WR, who tied for the second-most single game receptions in UK history.  Matthews hauled in 177 receiving yards and a touchdown, and cut the South Carolina lead down to five early in the fourth quarter with a 38-yard score from Hartline.  Matthews had his second game with more than 100 receiving yards, and has emerged as a dangerous offensive threat, compiling 482 yards and 6 touchdowns on the season.  The 6'5" wideout has posed major matchup problems for opponents, and should continue to see plenty of targets with attention focused on slowing Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke.

369 - South Carolina first half total yards

It appeared the Cats had no prayer of slowing USC early on, as the Gamecocks racked up 369 first half yards on the struggling UK defense.  Freshman RB Marcus Lattimore found the endzone three times early on, with two touchdown receptions from Steven Garcia and a 10-yard run early in the second quarter.  For the second consecutive week, UK has dug themselves in a significant hole by struggling to slow the opponent in the first half; they trailed Auburn by 17 after surrendering 31 first half points a week ago.  UK will be hard-pressed to win games if they continue to start slow out of the gates defensively.

0 - South Carolina second half points

The tide turned in the second half, as Lattimore was ruled out with an ankle injury and the Cocks showed signs of complacency after moving the ball with ease early on.  USC failed to move the ball much until their final drive, and the UK defense clamped down once again, not surrendering a second half touchdown for the second straight week.  Steve Brown and the defense appear to be making the necessary adjustments in the locker room to slow their opponents down, which will bode well for the Cats if they can show more defensive competitiveness at the start of games.

+4 - Kentucky turnover margin

Turnovers helped keep the Cats in the game early on, and sealed their fate at the end of the game.  Three first half turnovers kept South Carolina from extending an even larger lead on UK going into half, as all 10 points came off two USC turnovers and the other kept the Gamecocks from widening the margin late in the second quarter.  The final turnover came with four seconds remaining, as Anthony Mosley picked off Steven Garcia in the endzone to secure the victory.  The UK defense had struggled to force turnovers entering Saturday's game, and an opportunistic unit could lead to much more success in the second half of conference play.

October 14, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
South Carolina Preview & Weekly Links
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats will look to break a long series losing streak and pick up their first conference win this Saturday, as they host South Carolina in the second game of a three-game home stand at Commonwealth Stadium.  UK has dropped three straight and will try to get back on the right side of .500, but must face their third top 10 opponent in four weeks.

USC is fresh off an upset of #1 Alabama, as they knocked off the Tide 35-21 in Columbia last Saturday.  The win vaulted the Cocks into the top 10 and they are now atop the SEC East standings.  Steve Spurrier's squad is 4-1 in 2010, with their lone loss coming at Auburn in late September.  Junior QB Steven Garcia leads the way with 944 passing yards, 8 TDs, and 3 INTs on the season; true freshman Marcus Lattimore has emerged as a star running back with 459 yards and 8 TDs, and sophomore WR Alson Jeffrey is USC's leading receiver with 625 yards and 4 TDs.

UK has dropped 10 straight games in the series dating back to 1999, many of which have come down to the wire. In last year's meeting, a failed two-point conversion was the difference, as USC pulled out a close 28-26 win in Columbia.  QB Mike Hartline put together a strong first half performance before being knocked out of the game early in the second half, and will be looking to have similar success against the Gamecock defense after playing well in the Auburn game.

This game has serious implications for both teams, as it will determine whether USC is a true contender in the SEC, and will go a long way in determining UK's postseason fate. The Gamecocks have not won an SEC road game since beating the Cats in Lexington two years ago, and will be searching for their first road win of the season off their biggest win in school history; UK will be hungry to steal their first win in SEC play. The line currently sits at South Carolina -4.5, with the over/under set at 54.5.

Weekly links:

The Cats are suffering from deja vu after letting another game slip away


Star running back Derrick Locke appears doubtful for the USC game


UK remains confident after the close Auburn loss


Chris Low gives a midseason review of the Cats


The backup RBs will be ready to roll if Locke can't play against USC

 
It's hard to bet on the Cats pulling an upset with USC's recent success in the series

October 12, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Auburn Recap
By: Matt Lindeman

Cam Newton and 8th ranked Auburn proved too much for the Cats on Saturday, as UK fell to the Tigers 37-34 in Commonwealth Stadium.  The loss was the Cats' third in a row, bringing them to .500 on the season at 3-3.  UK is still seeking a win in SEC play, and has dropped eight straight to Auburn in Lexington dating back to 1966.

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:

408 - Total yards from Auburn's Cam Newton

The story of the night was the play of Auburn QB Cam Newton, who has emerged as a Heisman candidate in his first year under center for the Tigers.  The junior racked up 210 passing yards on 13/21 passing, along with 198 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries.  Newton accounted for 74 of Auburn's yards on their final drive, which resulted in a game-winning Wes Byrum field goal as time expired; the 19-play drive Newton engineered lasted over seven minutes.  For the second time in three weeks, the UK defense had no answer for a mobile QB, and the Cats have now surrendered at least 37 points in every SEC contest.

31 - Auburn first half points

Newton and the Tigers did most of their damage in the first half, racking up 31 points and building a seemingly insurmountable two touchdown lead over the Cats.  All four of Newton's rushing touchdowns came in the first half, and Auburn moved the ball with relative ease for the entire first half.  The defense showed significant improvement in the second half, keeping the Tigers out of the endzone - but, for the second week in a row, the Cats fell short of overcoming a double digit deficit.

121 - Total yards from Randall Cobb

Nearly as impressive as Newton's performance was that of Randall Cobb's, who accumulated 121 yards of total offense and scored four touchdowns.  Cobb ran for the game's first score early, then threw a six yard touchdown pass to Jordan Aumiller in the second quarter; he then caught a 16 yard touchdown pass from Mike Hartline in the third before tying the game with his second rushing touchdown.  With Derrick Locke limited due to an injury, Cobb was sorely needed in order for the Cats to overcome a 17-point halftime deficit, and the junior WR did not disappoint.

159.93 - Mike Hartline's QB rating

QB Mike Hartline posted strong numbers yet again for the Cats, going 23/28 for 220 yards and a touchdown passing.  With the running game struggling to move the ball, Hartline was efficient and successful in beating the Auburn defense.  The senior has now accumulated 1,442 yards passing through the Cats' first six games, and has yet to throw for under 200 yards in a game.  Although UK continues to struggle defensively, they are getting their best production from the QB position since the days of Andre Woodson.

October 8, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Auburn Preview & Weekly Links
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats will play host to an SEC school for the first time this Saturday, as 8th-ranked Auburn comes into town.  UK will look to pick up their first conference win of the season, and knock off a top 10 team for the first time since 2007.  The Tigers have won seven straight games in Lexington.

Junior QB Cam Newton has led AU to an outstanding 5-0 start, which includes close wins over Mississippi State, Clemson, and South Carolina.  In last week's game against UL Monroe, the Tigers cruised to an easy 52-3 victory while racking up over 500 yards of total offense.  Newton leads the way with 928 passing yards, 12 TDs and 4 INTs on the year, along with 474 rushing yards and 5 rushing TDs.  RBs Onterio McCalebb, Michael Dyer, and Mario Fannin have also combined for 784 rushing yards 5 TDs thus far.  Auburn currently ranks 11th nationally in total offense, averaging 475 YPG.

In last year's meeting, the Cats pulled off an upset in Jordan-Hare Stadium, beating AU for the first time in 43 years. With starting QB Mike Hartline out with an injury, UK racked 282 rushing yards in a 21-14 win.  The Cats had three different QBs find the end zone for rushing touchdowns in the game.

UK will need to shore up their defense against a potent Tiger attack if they hope to pull off another upset this year.  Auburn has big home games against Arkansas and LSU on deck, and can't afford to sleep on the Cats if they plan on keeping their SEC title hopes alive.  The line currently sits at Auburn -6.5, with the over/under set at 57.5.

Weekly links:

Randall Cobb is tired of losing and is ready to take on Auburn


Joker Phillips says the Cats must start winning games prior to game day

Cameron Newton presents a monster challenge for the UK defense


Craig McIntosh has stepped it up as the Cats' placekicker

 
Mark Crawford adds the emotion that the UK defense needs

October 5, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Ole Miss Recap
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats failed to rebound from their first loss of the season on Saturday, falling to 3-2 on the season with a 42-35 loss at Ole Miss.  Despite a signficant edge in yardage and Mike Hartline's first 300-yard passing game of 2010, UK could not dig themselves out of a 22-point fourth quarter deficit, and dropped to 0-2 in SEC play.  They have now surrendered more than 40 points in two consecutive games.

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:
 
21 - Ole Miss points off turnovers

Turnovers plagued the Cats in the first half, as they gave the ball up three times and the Rebels punched it in for three scores directly thereafter.  A Randall Cobb fumble deep inside the Cats' own territory led to a 4-yard touchdown run to tie the game at seven, then a Hartline interception set up a score to tie the game at 14; Chris Matthews then lost the football on the ensuing drive and Ole Miss capitalized with another touchdown.  Two impressive scoring drives to start the game were negated by mistakes that led to Rebel points, and rather than taking care of the football and having a comfortable lead at half, the Cats trailed 21-17.

100% - Ole Miss redzone conversion rate

Equally as frustrating as the Cats' inability to take care of the football was their inability to slow the Rebels once they got inside the redzone.  Ole Miss scored touchdowns all six times they got within the UK 20, and the Cats took themselves out of the game by failing to force turnovers or holding the Rebels to field goals.  Only two of the Rebels touchdown drives were more than eight plays, with the other four touchdown drives all coming in two minutes or less; Jeremiah Masoli threw three passing touchdowns despite completing only nine passes for 90 yards.

147 - UK's 4th quarter yards gained

One of the positives taken from the game was the Cat's resilience once they fell behind 42-20, as they mounted three impressive fourth quarter drives.  UK cut it to a 14-point deficit with a 3-yard touchdown run from Derrick Locke, which capped a five play, 45-yard drive.  Hartline then led the Cats downfield before eventually turning it over on downs, as wide receiver Chris Matthews was ruled out of bounds on a reception in the endzone.  The Cats found the endzone again late in the game, as Hartline completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Matthews.  After struggling to move the ball in most of the second and third quarters,  the UK offense showed signs of life as time was running out.

2/2 - Craig McIntosh field goals made/attempted

It appears the Cats may have found their answer at placekicker, as Craig McIntosh was impressive in knocking down two field goals on the road.  The first was a 50-yarder as time ran out in the first half, and the second came midway through the 3rd quarter, as McIntosh hit it from 42.  McIntosh also converted on all three of his PATs, and appears to have a stranglehold on the job for the time being.  He is currently 4/6 on field goals and 9/10 on extra points for the year.

September 30, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Ole Miss Preview
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season on Saturday, as they travel to Oxford to take on Ole Miss.  The two teams haven't met since the 2006 season, when UK beat the Rebels 31-14 in Lexington.  UK is 2-8 all time against Ole Miss and hasn't won in Oxford in their last four tries.

Ole Miss has struggled to start the season, dropping two home games as heavy favorites against Jacksonville State and Vanderbilt. The Rebels did rebound with a 55-38 with over Fresno State last Saturday, led by junior RB Brandon Bolden, who ran for 228 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Bolden leads the way on the ground with 410 yards and four touchdowns, while Oregon transfer Jeremiah Masoli has thrown for 733 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions as the starting QB.
 
UK won three of their four road conference games in 2009, including wins at Auburn and Georgia that snapped 30+ year road losing streaks in the series.  The Cats will hope to bounce back from an ugly performance against Florida with a win in their conference road opener, but will need to put out a better defensive effort if they hope to pull it off.  The line currently sits at Ole Miss -2.5, with the over/under set at 58.5.
 
Weekly links:

The Cats' defense is trying to tackle the art of tackling

 
UK is looking to contain Jeremiah Masoli after struggling against Florida


Glenn Logan examines how the Cats have looked through the first third of the season


The Cats received a reality check in Gainesville last weekend


Joker Phillips is trying to soothe the team's confidence after the ugly loss

September 28, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Florida Recap
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats dropped their first game of the season in rather ugly fashion Saturday, falling 48-14 to Florida in Gainesville.  After an impressive 3-0 start in non-conference play that led to top 15 rankings in both total offense and defense, UK failed to do much of anything on either side of the ball early on, and were never within single digits after the Gators jumped out to a 14-0 lead.  They are still winless against UF since 1986, marking the nation's second longest active losing streak in a series (UK's also holds the record for the longest losing streak in a series, against Tennessee).

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:

6 - Number of touchdowns for Florida's Trey Burton

The story of the night was do-it-all backup QB Trey Burton, who torched the Cats for 119 yards and 6 touchdowns, setting a Florida freshman record.  Burton scored on all five of his rushing attempts, finishing with 40 yards on the ground; he also had 37 receiving yards and a touchdown, along with a 42-yard pass completion.  It was evident UK didn't gameplan for the seldom-used Burton, but his success raises a big question mark on whether the Cats are capable of stopping a dual-threat QB.  UK will likely see more of the same against future SEC opponents, and will need to do a better job of containing the threat.

466 - Florida's total yards

UK's defense had question marks entering their toughest test of the season, and didn't silence any doubters with their poor performance.  While Burton accounted for 119 of UF's yards, several others got in on the act as well; John Brantley threw for 248 yards, one TD and one INT on 24/35 passing, and the Gators racked up 176 yards on 5.3 YPC.  UF will certainly be one of the more talented teams UK faces in conference play this year, but the Cats cannot afford to surrender points at will if they want to pull off an upset in the future.

2 - Mike Hartline interceptions

Much had been made of the fact UK hadn't turned the ball over entering Saturday's game, and Hartline had been praised for his decision-making and ability to take care of the ball through the Cats' first three games.  Then the senior QB threw two first-half interceptions, the second of which resulted in a 52-yard return for a touchdown.  The Gators have been great at forcing turnovers so far in 2010, but hanging onto the football was a necessity if the Cats hoped to pull the upset on the road, and they failed to do so.

114 - Chris Matthews receiving yards

The lone bright spot for the Cats was the play of Chris Matthews, who hauled in six catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns.  The first score came on a fake field goal pass from Randall Cobb late in the first half, and Hartline hooked up with Matthews for his second score midway through the third quarter.  UK has desperately been seeking someone to step up and take the attention off Cobb and Derrick Locke on offense, and it appears Matthews may have the potential to do so, with four receiving touchdowns already on the season.  The Cats should be very tough to stop if the senior wideout can continue to post strong numbers.

September 23, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Florida Preview & Weekly Links
By: Matt Lindeman

UK will look to start conference play with a win and break a long series losing streak this Saturday, as they head to Gainesville to take on the 8th ranked Florida Gators.  The Cats haven't beaten the Gators since 1986, and haven't won in the Swamp in 31 years.  Both teams enter the game at 3-0 on the season.

Florida hasn't overwhelmed thus far in the post-Tim Tebow era, struggling in the first half of all three games against Miami (OH), South Florida, and Tennessee. A year after finishing 6th nationally in total offense, the Gators rank 92nd in 2010, and don't rank in the top 100 in passing offense.  Junior QB John Brantley has thrown for 452 yards, 5 TDs, and 0 INTs through UF's first three games, and junior RB Jeffrey Demps has led the way on the ground with 310 yards and 2 TDs.

The Gators picked up a win in their road opener last week, pulling away in the second half to beat Tennessee 31-17.  UF only amassed 317 total yards in the win, and continued to struggle with taking care of the ball, as they lost two fumbles.  However, they forced three Tennessee turnovers, and rank 2nd nationally in turnover margin heading into this week's game.

If there's any hope of the Cats' first win over the Gators in 25 tries, they will need to jump on the Gators early and take care of the football.  UF has started slow in each of their games, but has capitalized on takeaways to win each by two touchdowns or more.  UK took a beating in their last trip to Gainesville in 2008, falling behind 42-3 at half before losing 63-5, and will need to be more competitive this time around if they hope to start SEC play on a positive note.  The line currently sits at Florida -14, with the over/under set at 50.5.

Weekly links:

The Cats look to remain turnover free against the Gators

Taylor Wyndham looks to continue his strong play a year after knocking out Tebow
 
A win this weekend is needed to change the perception of UK football

UK expects Florida to bomb away

The Cats are ready for their real season to start

September 20, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Akron Recap
By: Matt Lindeman

 
The Cats took care of business again this past Saturday, advancing to 3-0 on the season as they rolled past Akron 47-10.  UK has posted their two highest point totals since 2007 in consecutive games, and will head to Florida next weeked umblemished.  They now rank 13th in the FBS in total offense and defense.

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:

6 - UK points in the game's first 25 minutes

After posting 20 first-half points in the season and opener and 42 first-half points a week ago, the Cats got off to a sluggish start against Akron.  UK failed to find the endzone until the 4:14 mark of the second quarter, settling for two Craig McIntosh field goals prior to Mike Hartline's touchdown pass to Randall Cobb.  Turnovers weren't an issue early on; the Cats just simply could not finish drives.  After a horrendous start led to a 42-3 halftime deficit and 63-5 loss to Florida in Gainesville two years ago, the Cats must come out firing if they want to have any chance against the Gators next Saturday.

0 - Mike Hartline Turnovers

The senior QB continues to take care of the ball for the Cats, and has now made it through three contests without an interception or lost fumble.  Hartline entered 2009 with a career 15/16 TD/INT ratio, and has now thrown five touchdowns without a pick to start 2010.  On Saturday, he was 21/29 for 250 yards and two touchdowns.  His ability to make the right decisions against tougher defenses will be vital to the success of the offense in conference play.

166 - Rushing yards for Derrick Locke

Locke ran for a career-high 166 rushing yards on 17 carries, finding the endzone twice in the win.  The junior became the 7th player in UK history to rush for 2,000 career cards, and appears well on his way to his first 1,000 yard rushing season, rushing for 124 YPG thus far.  UK racked up 290 total rushing yards in the game, running for 7.6 YPC and scoring four times.  If Locke continues to run this well in conference play, All-SEC honors appear in his future.

1.8 - Akron's rushing YPC

UK's run defense struggled in the first two contests, surrendering long runs and big plays to both Louisville and WKU in the running game.  The front seven looked must stronger Saturday, holding Akron to 67 yards on 37 carries, and keeping the Zips out of the endzone on the ground.  UK also limited the big run, as Akron failed to break one for more than 20 yards.  The Cats still rank 63th nationally in rush defense, but appear to be making strides as they enter the smash mouth football of the SEC.

September 16, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Akron Preview and Weekly Links
By: Matt Lindeman

 
The Cats have taken care of their first two non-conference opponents in 2010, and will be looking to advance to 3-0 with their third non-conference win of the season against Akron this Saturday.  UK will play host to the Zips in the schools' first ever meeting, marking their final tune-up before SEC play starts next week, when they head to Gainesville to take on Florida.

Akron has struggled out of the gates this season, dropping their first two games.  In their opener, the Zips fell 29-3 to Syracuse, getting outgained 431-166 and failing to ever threaten despite a +3 turnover margin.  In last week's home game against FCS's Gardner-Webb, Akron fell 38-37 in OT, as a blocked extra point made the difference.
 
Sophomore Patrick Nicely leads the way at quarterback for the Zips, and has thrown for 276 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the first two games.  Seniors Nate Burney and Alex Allen split carries in the backfield, and combined for 229 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries in the loss to Gardner-Webb. Akron ranks 110th in total offense and 95th in total defense through their first two games.

For the second consecutive week, the Cats are expected to take of business in relatively easy fashion, as Akron appears to be one of weakest teams in FBS so far this year.  They must be careful to not look ahead to their SEC debut against Florida, and must shore up the run defense after struggling in the first two weeks; but Akron shouldn't be a serious threat to pull the upset.  The line is currently sits at Kentucky -25.5, with the over/under set at 50.5.

Weekly links:

After struggling the past two years, the Cats' offense is becoming much more diverse


Joker Phillips wants to see UK play a "mature, 60-minute game" against Akron


The Cats are looking for more than just a dynamic offense

Joker hopes the Cats can shore up their run defense against Akron


Quarterback Mike Hartline is becoming much more than a game manager in his senior season

September 14, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Western Kentucky Recap
By: Matt Lindeman

UK improved their record to 2-0 this past Saturday, as they cruised to a 63-28 victory over Western Kentucky in Lexington.  The 63 points was the highest offensive output in eight years for the Cats, and they recorded their second win in three years over the Hilltoppers.  Western Kentucky dropped their 22nd straight game, marking the longest active losing streak among FBS teams.

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:

80 - Mike Hartline's completion percentage

The senior QB followed an impressive season debut with another strong performance, going 16-20 for 213 yards and three TDs, along with a rushing TD.  Hartline didn't throw his first incompletion until late in the second half, and was highly effective with a 10.7 YPA and a 218.96 QB rating.  Hartline will face his first stiff competition in two weeks when the Cats take a trip to the Swamp, but has had a promising start to his senior season, and is leaving no questions as to who the starting QB should be thus far.

207 - All-purpose yards from Randall Cobb

Cobb rebounded from a mediocre week one performance with a huge game, finding the endzone three times and burning WKU in a variety of ways.  The junior WR ran back a 50-yard punt return for a TD early in the 2nd quarter, then threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Moncell Allen late in the half; he then hauled in a 35-yard touchdown from Hartline late in the third quarter.  Cobb finished with five receptions for 98 yards, and four carries for 26 yards, and reminded everyone why he is the Cats' most dangerous offensive weapon.

184 - Rushing yards from WKU's Chris Rainey

UK was hoping to shore up their run defense after a poor effort in week one, but struggled once again, as Rainey ran for 184 yards on 8.4 YPC.  WKU's star busted a 59-yard TD run on the game's first possession, and finished with all but three of the Hilltoppers' rushing yards.  Rainey is proving himself to be one of the Sun Belt's best backs - he ran for 155 yards in a loss to Nebraska the week prior - but the Cats front seven failed to show much improvement stopping the run.

91 - Total points

The 91 combined points between UK and WKU marked the Cats' highest scoring regulation game since a 48-43 win over Vanderbilt in 2005.  After two years of being a defensive football team and showing incompetency offensively, it appears the Cats are on their way to returning to the days of high-scoring football.  A dynamic offense could make the Cats a dangerous team in conference play, but they can't regress significantly on defense if they hope to achieve their highest regular season win total in over 25 years.

September 9, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Western Kentucky Preview & Weekly Links
By: Matt Lindeman

After opening the season with a win against one in-state rival, the Cats play host to another this Saturday, as Western Kentucky comes to Lexington for UK's home opener.  These two have only met once, when the Cats took care of the Hilltoppers for an easy 41-3 victory in 2008.  WKU, now in the Sun Belt conference, is still looking for their first win since becoming an official FBS team at the beginning of last season.

WKU fell 49-10 to Nebraska in Lincoln last week, extending their losing streak to 21 games.  Despite the lopsided score, the Hilltoppers still managed nearly 300 yards of total offense, and ran for 179 rushing yards on 4.5 YPC.  Junior RB Bobby Rainey, who received 1st team All-Sun Belt honors in 2009, led the way with 155 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries.  Kawaun Jakes will take the snaps under center, a year after starting eight games at as a freshman; he is a dual-threat QB who ran for over 300 yards and 5 TDs last year.  Western returns a majority of their starters on both sides of the ball, but ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in numerous statistical categories in 2009.

In the last meeting, UK outgained 398-157 en route to an easy victory.  Mike Hartline, then in his first year as a starter, threw for 172 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, and the Cats racked up 216 rushing yards.  Rainey ran for 99 yards on 9 carries, but the Hilltoppers only managed 15 passing yards in the loss.

The Cats are expected to take care of business this week and advance to 2-0, as they have the advantages in every facet.  If Western hopes to keep it close, Rainey must post a big day; however, the odds are stacked against them coming up with their first win since 2008.  The line currently sits at Kentucky -24.5, with the over/under set at 54.

Weekly links:

Joker Phillips announces that Brad Durham will start at right tackle against WKU


The Bleacher Report reviews the lessons learned from The Louisville game


After seeing Ole Miss upset, UK remains mindful that "anything can happen"


Joker Phillips wants the Cats to finish off opponents after a narrow victory in the opener


UK is looking to eliminate the mistakes that plagued them in the UL game


The Cats insist they're not looking past WKU

September 6, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Louisville Recap
By: Matt Lindeman

The Cats started the season on the right track and Joker Phillips took home a win in his career debut Saturday, as UK prevailed over Louisville for the fourth consecutive season with a 23-16 win.  Despite only managing three second half points against the Cards, UK was able to hang on, as the offense showed impressive balance and the defense limited UL to only one touchdown.  The Cats have now won 16 consecutive regular season non-conference games.

Let's take a look at the game by the numbers:

135.49 - Mike Hartline's QB Rating

Only once in Hartline's career has he played an entire game and posted a higher QB rating - in last year's opener against an eventual 0-12 Miami (OH) team.  The senior looked the part after narrowly winning the starting job a few weeks ago, throwing for 217 yards and completing 17 of 26 passes.  Hartline didn't find the endzone as the Cats rushed for three touchdowns, but also didn't turn the ball over, a year after having two critical second half turnovers against the Cards.  When UL brought pressure, Hartline was able to make the right reads, and occasionally came up with the big throw that was never made in past years.  Improvement was evident in the opener, and if Hartline continues to play with confidence, the Cats should have a strong offensive attack in 2010.

6.2 - Kentucky's Offensive YPC

The Cats mustered up 230 rushing yards on 37 carries, running for 6.2 YPC on the Cards.  Leading the way was junior Derrick Locke, who ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, and put the Cats on the board with a 32-yard TD run on the second play from scrimmage.  Randall Cobb also broke free on a 51-yard TD run out of the Wildcat formation, and finished with 80 yards on four carries.  While Louisville may not boast the front seven of future SEC opponents, the running game appears to be the strength of the offense once again, and the Cats may not suffer much of a drop in production despite losing four starters on the offensive line.

161 - Combined receiving yards for LaRod King, Chris Matthews, and Matt Roark

Outside of Randall Cobb, production at the wide receiver position has been a major issue over the past two years, but the Cats' other weapons showed promise in the season opener.  King came through with a big 38 yard reception on the game's first play, and Matthews and Roark both picked up big gains with catches on broken plays.  With defenses keying in on Cobb and the running game, it will be essential for the Cats to develop other threats downfield.  Matthews shows the potential to breakout as former JUCO transfer Steve Johnson did in his senior season in 2007, and King figures to become more of a factor in his sophomore season.
 
190 - Rushing yards allowed defensively

The Cats struggled to slow UL on the ground defensively, as the Cards racked up 190 yards and 5.9 YPC.  Bilal Powell ran for 153 yards, with an 80-yard run that gave UL their only touchdown of the day.  The front seven will have to toughen up and limit big plays; surrendering nearly 200 yards a game on the ground will make things difficult in SEC play.  The defensive line also must generate more of a pass rush, as UL QB Adam Froman did not face much pressure and was only sacked twice in the game.

11 - Number of Kentucky Penalties

While the offensive line pass protected well and paved the way for a big day on the ground, penalties were a major issue for the inexperienced group up front.  Multiple second half drives were killed by penalties, including a crucial false start on the goalline which led to a missed field goal rather than a potential game-sealing touchdown.  The defense also kept UL on the field late with a roughing the passer penalty on 4th and 17, allowing an eventual field goal to keep it within seven.  If the Cats hope to make strides in the SEC, these mistakes must come to an end.

2 - Kicks missed by Ryan Tydlacka

One glaring weakness was the kicking game, as two missed kicks cost the Cats four points.  Tydlacka, who handled the punting duties in 2009, missed an extra point after UK's touchdown on the opening drive, and later missed a 25-yard field goal in the 4th quarter.  Tydlacka did knock down a 41-yard field goal in the third quarter, but the missed kicks kept the game in reach for the Cards.  If Tydlacka continues to struggle in the coming weeks, freshman Joe Mansour may take over the job.

September 2, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Louisville Preview & Weekly Links
By: Matt Lindeman

The Joker Phillips era will get underway this weekend, as the Cats travel 80 miles west to Louisville to take on the Cardinals in the Battle for the Governor's Cup.  UK has won three straight against the Cards, including a nail-biting 31-27 victory in last year's game in Lexington, but trail the series 9-7 since it was renewed in 1994.  The Cats will hope to continue their recent success against Louisville as Phillips and new Cards coach Charlie Strong face off for the first time.

Both squads made the decision to go with experience in their quarterback battles, as UK senior Mike Hartline and UL senior Adam Froman will start under center.  UK appears to have the advantage offensively with more talented skill players, but UL boasts the more experienced offensive line.  Both teams have questions on defense, as the Cats lost their key stoppers and the Cards must replace their top four tacklers.

Over the past 10 years, the team to finish with the most rushing yards has gone home with the win.  In the past five years, the underdog has gone 4-1 ATS, including an easy cover by the Cards as 13.5 dogs last season.  UK has the advantage in experience and talent, and has taken three straight in the series, but the outcome is certainly up in the air as both teams usher in new coaches and have questions to address on both sides of the ball.  The spread currently sits at Kentucky -3.5, with the over/under set at 49.5.

Weekly links:

Chris Low talks about Joker Phillips being eager to take the next step


The Bleacher Report gives five players to watch against Louisville

 
Phillips claims to have no jitters for his coaching debut on Saturday

 
Despite winning three straight against the Cards, the Cats won't be overconfident in the opener


Phillips and Strong, rival coaches and old friends, face each other in the season opener

August 25, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Weekly Notes & Links
By: Matt Lindeman

News around UK football this week:

- Senior Mike Hartline has been named the starting quarterback for the third consecutive season, winning a close race that included sophomore Morgan Newtown and redshirt freshman Ryan Mossakowki.  Joker Phillips said that Hartline was "slighly ahead at all times," but the gap between him and the other two quarterbacks wasn't wide enough to make an immediate decision.  Hartline is 2-0 against rival Louisville, who UK plays in the season opener on September 4.

- The Cats have added two offensive linemen to the 2011 class this week in Zach West and Nick Martin. West, out of Lexington Christian High School, is a 4-star recruit according to ESPN.com and the 16th ranked OL according to Scout.com.  Martin, who comes from Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis, is a 3-star recruit according to ESPN and Scout.  UK now has 18 commitments for the 2011 class.

- Joining the Cats as a late addition to the 2010 class is DT Elliot Porter, a 3-star recruit from Marrero, LA who was denied a scholarship at LSU after the Tigers failed to make room for him this season.  Porter declined the option of grayshirting for Les Miles in Baton Rouge, and is expected to be eligible for the 2010 season, adding much-needed depth on the DL for UK.

- Junior wide receiver Gene McCaskill is out for the season after tearing his ACL in a scrimmage.  McCaskill was expected to be the Cats' third wide receiving option behind Randall Cobb and Chris Matthews, a year after bringing in 17 receptions for 163 yards.  Sophomore LaRod King is most likely to replace McCaskill on the depth chart.

- Attendance figures were released for the 2009 season, and UK ranked 22nd nationally in average attendance.  Only 12 teams averaged over capacity nationally, with UK being one of them; Commonwealth Stadium ranked 8th with an average of 1,652 over capacity.  Six of the seven schools ranking above the Cats in over capacity numbers have been to a BCS bowl in the last five years, with the exception being Nebraska.

Weekly links:

Mike Hartline isn't the popular choice at quarterback, but is ready to move forward

John Clay believes Hartline needs to not only start the season at QB, but finish it.

Chris Low proclaims Hartline as "the right call" for the Cats

Joker Phillips believes in order to win the state, the Cats must have a presence in Louisville
 
Randall Cobb embraces the role as the face of UK football

August 18, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Breaking down the Cats: Special Teams
By: Matt Lindeman

Last season, UK was forced to replace their top special teams weapon in punter Tim Masthay, who was essential in helping the Cats win the field position battle in 2008. Now they must replace the school's all-time leading scorer, kicker Lones Seiber, who was a 4-year starter and the beneficiary of some high-octane offensive attacks during his time in Lexington.  Despite the loss of Seiber, the Cats still boast a solid special teams unit heading into 2010.

Greg Nord has taken over for special teams coach Steve Ortmayer, who was with Rich Brooks since Brooks took over at UK in 2003.  Nord spent 15 years at rival Louisville before taking the job as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Illinois this past winter.  Nord will have two dangerous return men at his disposal in Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb; the two will likely both return kicks while Cobb takes the duties as punt returner.  With Locke's speed and Cobb's versatility, the two have the potential to be the most dangerous return combo in the SEC.

Junior Ryan Tydlacka was placed atop the depth chart at both kicker and punter heading into the fall.  Tydlacka was the Cats' punter last season, and led UK to a ranking of 5th in the SEC in net punting.  Sophomores Pat Simmons and Craig McIntosh are also in contention for the job, and freshman Joe Mansour has made a splash after coming onto campus as one of the top kicking prospects in the 2010 class.  Mansour has a strong leg and the ability to knock down field goals from 50+ yards, but will need to improve his accuracy if he hopes to win the starting job.

Cobb and Locke should provide the Cats with great field position and a few big plays on special teams, and Tydlacka will contend for All-SEC honors at punter.  Either Tydlacka or Mansour will need to emerge as a reliable option in the kicking game, but regardless, this will be one of the top special teams units in the SEC.

August 10, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Breaking down the Cats: Defensive Backs
By: Matt Lindeman

UK finished in the top 20 nationally in pass defense in 2009, thanks in large part to senior All-SEC CB Trevard Lindley and a solid supporting cast around him.  Lindley received preseason All-American accolades prior to the 2009 season, and was widely regarded as the team's best defensive player going into his final year in Lexington. Now, the Cats must replace Lindley, along with SS Calvin Harrison and the academically ineligible CB Paul Warford.  While UK lacks the experience they've had in the defensive backfield in previous years, this is still considered the strongest unit on defense.

Junior FS Winston Guy is expected to anchor the secondary, coming off a strong sophomore campaign in which he finished 5th in the team with 60 tackles.  Guy is one of the Cats' most gifted defensive players, with blazing speed and the ability to lay a big hit.  Expected to start alongside Guy at SS is junior Taiedo Smith, who recorded 20 tackles in two starts last year.  Junior Josh Gibbs is pushing Smith for the starting job, after posting two strong seasons at the College of the Canyons, a junior college in California.  Redshirt freshman Dakotah Tyler moved from running back in the spring and is expected to back up Guy.

Randall Burden has locked down one CB starting spot, a year after starting every game and posting 36 tackles and 2 interceptions.  The junior saw increased time last year with Lindley and Warford out with injuries in 2009, and solidified himself as the top CB in the spring.  Another position battle has ensued at the other CB spot opposite of Burden, as sophomore Martevius Neloms and sophomore Cartier Rice are trying to take the job.  Neloms was thrown into the fire mid-season in 2009, starting at CB against South Carolina as a true freshman due to injuries.  Neloms recorded 14 tackles in his first year on campus, and Rice recorded five tackles in limited action.

Also expected to see some time is freshman CB Jerrell Priester, who made a splash in UK's recent practice at Fan Day. Priester has been timed with a sub-4.3 40 yard dash time, and could see the field both defensively and in the return game.  Freshman CB Dale Trimble and junior CB Anthony Moseley, who made the transition from wide receiver to cornerback, will add depth for the Cats.

The losses of Lindley and Harrison to graduation certainly hurt the secondary going into the spring, and the unexpected loss of Warford now leaves this group just as inexperienced as the other units on defensive. However, this appears to be the Cats' most talented defensive unit, and stars could emerge in Burden and Guy.  Production will certainly drop with the loss of an All-SEC caliber player such as Lindley and two major contributors in Harrison and Warford, but this young group still has a chance of being a strength for the Cats.

July 29, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Breaking Down The Cats: Linebackers
By: Matt Lindeman

If there's one unit on defense that hasn't suffered from a lack of experience over the past four years, it's been the linebackers.  Wesley Woodyard was the leader of the defense in 2007, and Braxton Kelley and Micah Johnson led the team in tackles in 2008 and 2009, respectively.  Now, the Cats must replace 2nd team the All-SEC star Johnson and 2nd team All-SEC OLB Sam Maxwell, and have their most inexperienced group in some time.

Expected to lead the way is OLB Danny Trevathan, a junior who recorded 82 tackles a year ago.  Trevathan was the team's #2 tackler despite starting only six games, and will need to anchor the unit if they hope to avoid a serious drop in production.  Competing for the OLB spot opposite of Trevathan are senior Jacob Dufrene and sophomore Ridge Wilson.  Both Dufrene and Wilson saw limited time last year, combining for 13 tackles.  Redshirt freshman Ryan Mosby is expected to back up Trevathan and provide depth on the outside.

Redshirt freshman Qua Huzzie and Junior Ronnie Sneed are competing for the starting job in the middle. Huzzie missed last year with an injury, but was one of the Cats' top signees in the 2009 class.  Sneed saw time last year and recorded 14 tackles.  Junior Antonio Thomas figures to see playing time as well.

Replacing two All-SEC players at the position will be difficult, but the unit will need to find a way if the defense hopes to avoid a decline in 2010. If Trevathan becomes one of the team's top defenders and another solid LB emerges for the Cats, the front seven should be up to par.

Other news around UK football:

- Joker Phillips announced at SEC Media Day that senior CB Paul Warford has been ruled academically ineligible for the 2010 season. Warford started nine games in 2009, and recorded 32 tackles.  Redshirt freshman DT Mister Cobble is still working to become eligible for the fall.

- DT Donte Rumph finally has become eligible for the Cats.  A 2008 signee, Rumph failed to achieve eligibility for the past two seasons, and ended up at the Fork Union Military Academy.  Rumph provides much-needed depth at the DT position for the Cats, especially with the potential ineligibility of Cobble.

- Starting RB Derrick Locke endorsed Mike Hartline for the starting QB job at SEC Media Days.  Said Locke about the senior QB: “Honestly, I feel like Hartline is the guy.  When it comes to spring and stepping up, he had a great spring. He stepped up. He made plays. You could just look at him and tell how mature he is. You'd looked at him like, ‘Hey, he belongs back there.' That's just how I feel.”  Coach Joker Phillips said Hartline had a slight edge on Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski at the end of the spring, but not enough to pronouce him the starter.

- UK was selected to finish 4th in the SEC East by the coaches at SEC Media Days. Also, RB Derrick Locke and WR Randall Cobb received first team All-SEC selections.  DE DeQuin Evans was selected to the second team.

- The Cats first two home games will kick off at night.  The Western Kentucky game on Sept. 11 has been slated for a 7:30 PM kickoff, and will be televised by Comcast Sports Southeast.  The Akron game on Sept. 18 will kick off at 7 PM on Fox Sports Net.

July 22, 2010

It's Football Time in the Bluegrass!
Depth Chart Released
By: Matt Lindeman

Joker Phillips has released the Cats' 2010 depth chart at SEC Media Day.  A few things to note: the top three quarterbacks are listed in alphabetical order, not where they rank heading into the fall; also, cornerback Paul Warford is not listed on the depth chart, due to possible academic ineligibility.

Offense

QUARTERBACK
5 Mike Hartline, 6-6, 210, Sr-3L
7 Ryan Mossakowski, 6-4, 224, Fr-RS
12 Morgan Newton, 6-4, 235, So-1L
15 Tyler Sargent, 6-4, 217, Jr-Sq

FULLBACK
30 Moncell Allen, 5-7, 232, Sr-3L
37 Greg Meisner, 6-1, 236, Jr-1L
41 Brian Murphy, 6-0, 220, Jr-Sq
36 Andrew Joseph, 5-10, 226, Fr-RS

TAILBACK
20 Derrick Locke, 5-9, 190, Sr-3L
23 Donald Russell, 5-11, 209, So-1L
25 Jonathan George, 5-10, 204, Fr-RS
26 CoShik Williams, 5-9, 180, So-1L

TIGHT END
42 Nick Melillo, 6-2, 242, Jr-1L
82 Anthony Kendrick, 6-3, 252, Fr-RS
or 86 Jordan Aumiller, 6-4, 230, Fr-RS
84 Gabe Correll, 6-3, 231, So-Sq

WIDE RECEIVER
8 Chris Matthews, 6-5, 219, Sr-1L
87 Brian Adams, 6-4, 232, Fr-RS
27 Aaron Boyd, 6-4, 212, So-1L
49 Nathan Dutton, 5-10, 169, So-Sq

WIDE RECEIVER
18 Randall Cobb, 5-11, 186, Jr-2L
16 La’Rod King, 6-4, 204, So-1L
19 E.J. Fields, 6-1, 198, So-Sq
34 Ed Berry, 6-0, 155, So-Sq

WIDE RECEIVER
13 Gene McCaskill, 6-0, 192, Jr-2L
3 Matt Roark, 6-5, 209, Jr-2L
31 Michael Harper, 6-1, 182, Sr-Sq
88 Nik Brazley, 5-9, 162, Jr-Sq

LEFT TACKLE
66 Chandler Burden, 6-4, 291, Jr-2L
52 Billy Joe Murphy, 6-6, 294, Jr-2L
58 Sean Stackhouse, 6-4, 265, So-Sq

RIGHT TACKLE
75 Brad Durham, 6-4, 321, Sr-3L
74 Trevino Woods, 6-5, 290, So-Sq
83 Ryan Wallace, 6-5, 250, So-Tr

LEFT GUARD
70 Stuart Hines, 6-4, 291, Jr-2L
79 Kevin Mitchell, 6-6, 326, Fr-RS
73 Stephen Duff, 6-0, 301, Fr-RS

RIGHT GUARD
67 Larry Warford, 6-3, 329, So-1L
59 Dave Ulinski, 6-5, 321, So-1L
77 Marcus Davis, 6-1, 283, Sr-2L

CENTER
69 Matt Smith, 6-4, 288, So-1L
63 Jake Lanefski, 6-4, 292, Jr-2L
56 Sam Simpson, 6-4, 275, Fr-RS

Defense

DEFENSIVE END
55 DeQuin Evans, 6-3, 256, Sr-1L
51 Tristian Johnson, 6-1, 259, Fr-RS
90 Justin Henderson, 6-3, 236, Fr-HS

DEFENSIVE END
96 Collins Ukwu, 6-5, 249, So-1L
94 Taylor Wyndham, 6-4, 242, So-1L
95 Patrick Ligon, 6-4, 238, Fr-RS
78 Jacob Lewellen, 6-3, 244, So-Sq

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
53 Ricky Lumpkin, 6-4, 306, Sr-3L
92 Shane McCord, 6-2, 291, Sr-3L
45 Antwane Glenn, 6-3, 260, Jr-Sq

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
98 Mark Crawford, 6-1, 293, Jr-1L
68 Luke McDermott, 6-1, 265, Jr-Sq
97 Mister Cobble, 6-0, 321, Fr-RS

MIDDLE LINEBACKER
46 Ronnie Sneed, 6-2, 231, Jr-2L
2 Qua Huzzie, 5-10, 219, Fr-RS
49 Antonio Thomas, 6-1, 236, Jr-Sq

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
57 Jacob Dufrene, 6-1, 211, Sr-3L
48 Ridge Wilson, 6-3, 240, So-1L
60 Chris Agomuo, 6-2, 197, So-Sq

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
22 Danny Trevathan, 6-1, 223, Jr-2L
44 Ryan Mosby, 5-11, 206, Fr-RS

CORNERBACK
15 Martavius Neloms, 6-1, 184, So-1L
35 Cartier Rice, 5-10, 182, So-1L
31 Mikie Benton, 5-11, 190, So-Sq

CORNERBACK
24 Randall Burden, 6-0, 175, Jr-2L
14 Anthony Mosley, 6-0, 169, Jr-1L
37 Christian Hudnell, 6-0, 202, Fr-RS

STRONG SAFETY
6 Taiedo Smith, 6-0, 188, Jr-2L
33 Josh Gibbs, 5-10, 201, Jr-JC
11 Greg Wilson, 6-1, 218, Jr.-2L

FREE SAFETY
21 Winston Guy, 6-1, 215, Jr-2L
28 Dakotah Tyler, 5-11, 207, Fr-RS
17 Jarvis Walker, 6-1, 208, Fr-RS

Special Teams

KICKER
9 Ryan Tydlacka, 6-1, 201, Jr-2L
93 Craig McIntosh, 6-0, 199, So-1L
90 Patrick Simmons, 6-2, 204, So-Sq

PUNTER
9 Ryan Tydlacka, 6-1, 201, Jr-2L

KICK RETURNER
20 Derrick Locke, 5-9, 190, Sr-3L
18 Randall Cobb, 5-11, 186, Jr-2L
21 Winston Guy, 6-1, 215, Jr-2L

PUNT RETURNER
18 Randall Cobb, 5-11, 186, Jr-2L
13 Gene McCaskill, 6-0, 192, Jr-2L

July 15, 2010

It’s Football Time in the Bluegrass!
Breaking down the Cats: The Trenches
By: Matt Lindeman

In 2009, it was a tale of two stories on each side of the line for the Cats. Offensively, the experienced line became one of the team’s major strengths, paving the way for 191 rushing YPG and surrendering only 17 sacks. Defensively, the line failed to generate much of a pass rush, and saw its rush defense numbers regress as they felt the loss of star DE Jeremy Jarmon, who was ruled ineligible prior to the season.

Now the roles have reversed, as the offensive line will be the more inexperienced group with only one returning starter, while the defensive line brings back three starters and seven of their top eight players.

Mike Summers has taken over as the offensive line coach, after spending the last two seasons as the assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Arkansas.  Summers also spent time in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, and was the offensive line coach under Bobby Petrino at Louisville from 2003-06. He only inherits one returning starter in junior LG Stuart Hines, who received 3rd team All-SEC honors last season. Opposite of Hines at RG will be Larry Warford, a sophomore who saw time in 10 games and received freshman all-conference honors in 2009.

Brad Durham is expected to start at LT; the senior has started seven games over the last two seasons. Junior Billy Joe Murphy will take over at RT, after seeing three starts in 2008 and playing time in all 13 games last season. Junior Chandler Burden will also be in the mix after moving from DE in the offseason.

At center, sophomore Matt Smith has the edge heading into the fall. Smith saw time in six games as a freshman, and has plenty of competition for the job. Jake Lanefski, a junior, has four career starts and could see time at guard or center after missing the spring due to injury. Redshirt freshman Sam Simpson and senior Marcus Davis will also see the field.

Former Mississippi State defensive line coach David Turner is now the line coach for the Cats, and has plenty of experience at his disposal. The only loss on the line is a big one, however, as 1st team All-SEC DT Corey Peters departs after a strong 2009 campaign.

Both starters return at DE in senior DeQuin Evans and sophomore Taylor Wyndham. Evans had 38 tackles and 6 sacks in his first year out of JUCO, and has the potential to be very disruptive. Wyndham had 28 tackles and 2 sacks as a freshman – none bigger than his hit that knocked out Tim Tebow in September and left the former Heisman trophy winner with a concussion.  Sophomore Collins Ukwu also returns after starting three games and recording 14 tackles.

The most experienced player on the line is senior DT Ricky Lumpkin, who has 16 career starts and had 26 tackles in 2009. A few players have a chance to fill the void left by Peters, including junior Mark Crawford, who had a strong spring.  Senior Shane McCord saw time in 2009 and recorded 13 tackles, and redshirt freshman Mister Cobble is a potential star who has showed plenty of promise over the last year.

Strong play in the trenches will be vital to the success of the 2010 season. On one side, the inexperience of the offensive line is a major obstacle the Cats must overcome, with plenty of experience returning at the skill positions. On the other, the defense needs the line to lead the way as they try to recover from the losses of key players in the back seven. If both lines manage to exceed expectations, it’s difficult to envision UK not playing in January.

July 7, 2010

It’s Football Time in the Bluegrass!
Breaking down the Cats: Wide Receivers
By: Matt Lindeman

UK had one of the SEC’s top receiving corps in their breakout 2007 season, with Keenan Burton, Steve Johnson, Dicky Lyons Jr. and Tight End Jacob Tamme all putting up solid numbers.  The last two years, however, the Cats have struggled to find consistent production at the wide receiver position. With all of their top targets returning in 2010, there should be plenty of improvement and the Cats could potentially become more of a downfield threat.

Leading the way is star Randall Cobb, the offense’s top weapon that can beat opponents running, throwing, or receiving. Cobb combined for 1109 total offensive yards and 14 touchdowns last year, and was a force out of the Wildcat formation which UK often turned to late in games. He is arguably the conference’s best all-purpose player, and the offense will undoubtedly run through him. With the expected growth of the QBs, the Cats should be less reliant on the Wildcat and Cobb’s production at WR should increase.

Starting alongside Cobb is Chris Matthews, a senior who joined the team as a JUCO transfer last season. Matthews underperformed last season after coming in as a highly touted transfer – he had 354 receiving yards and 3 TDs – but will likely improve with a better grasp of the offense in his second season. The 6’5” receiver provides a very dangerous red zone threat for the Cats. Junior Gene McCaskill is also expected to see more playing time after bringing in 163 receiving yards and not finding the end zone last season.

LaRod King is also expected to see more playing time, and could emerge as one of the top targets after showing promising signs late last season and in the spring. King had 142 receiving yards and a TD in 2009, all coming in the second half. King is another long receiver who could be a major contributor in the offense.

Many have pointed fingers at the QBs for the struggles in the passing game over the past two seasons, but outside of Cobb, no receivers have emerged for UK.  If they want to break through and top the 8-win mark they reached in 2006 and 2007, Matthews, McCaskill, or King will need to step up and play a significant role in the offense. A dangerous downfield threat will open things up for Cobb and the running game and help the offense drastically.

Other news around UK football:

-      Special teams coach Steve Ortmayer is no longer with the Cats, and has been replaced by Greg Nord.  A graduate of UK, Nord came from Illinois, who he joined in the offseason after spending 15 years as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Louisville. No specifics were given on why Ortmayer was let go.

-      Running back Derrick Locke broke his arm in a moped accident in late June, and will be in a splint for four weeks.  The injury will not require surgery and Locke will be re-evaluated later in the month.

-      The season opener at Louisville will be televised by ABC. The game time is scheduled for 3:30 EST.

-      Cornerback Daylen Hall out of St. Xavier High School in Louisville has committed to UK for the 2011 season. Hall’s commitment marks the 14th for the 2011 class.

June 25, 2010

It’s Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Recruiting Update
By: Matt Lindeman

Joker Phillips has hit the recruiting trails hard since taking the reigns as UK’s head coach, and is looking to continue the Cats’ recent success in bringing in more talent.  Phillips has already inked 13 players for the 2011 class and it looks like UK will once again contend for a top 50 national ranking.  Let’s take a look at the commitments thus far:

Name	Position	Hometown	Rating
Jon Davis	ATH	Louisville, KY	4-star (ESPN), 4-star (Scout), 3-star (Rivals)
Darrian Miller	OT	Lexington, KY	4-star (Scout), 3-star (ESPN)
Glen Faulkner	S	East St. Louis, IL	4-star (Rivals), 3-star (Scout), 3-star (ESPN)
Clint Tucker	DT	East St. Louis, IL	3-star (Rivals), 3-star (ESPN), 3-star (Scout)
Darien Thomas	WR	Theodore, AL	3-star (ESPN), 3-star (Rivals), 2-star (Scout)
Theltus Cobbins	QB	New Orleans, LA	3-star (ESPN), 3-star (Rivals), 2-star (Scout)
Christian Coleman	DE	Milan, TN	3-star (Rivals), 3-star (ESPN), 2-star (Scout)
Antonio Cannon	WR	Central, SC	3-star (Rivals), 2-star (ESPN), 2-star (Scout)
Riyahd Jones	ATH	Columbus, GA	2-star (ESPN), 2-star (Scout)
Blake Terry	LB	Denton, TX	2-star (Scout), 2-star (ESPN)
Josh Forrest	TE	Paducah, KY	2-star (Scout)
Maxwell Smith	QB	Van Nuys, CA	Unrated
Terrell Mitchell	TE	Milledgeville, GA	JUCO Signee

Jon Davis was UK’s first signee and may be the best to date; Davis has seen time on both sides of the ball in high school, showing the ability to be productive at both the TE and RB positions on offense while playing LB and S on defense.  Darrian Miller is a tall OT who shows great physicality and strength, and enough athleticism to eventually start at the next level.  Glen Faulkner appears to have great size for his position along with the necessary physical tools, and is an instinctive player who has great range.  Clint Tucker is a solid run defender who can use his strength and size to become disruptive.  Darien Thomas is a big wide receiver who has good body control and has the potential to become a red zone threat.  Theltus Cobbins is a dual-threat athlete who shows good speed and pocket presence along with a strong arm.  Christian Coleman is a very physical and active end who has good size.  Antonio Coleman is a great leaper and route runner who shows the skills of a solid possession receiver.  Riyahd Jones could play on either side of the ball but will likely end up as a defensive back with good length and speed.  Blake Terry can make tackles and pursue the ball well, along with having good coverage awareness.  Josh Forrest plays both sides of the ball in high school and shows good pass-catching ability.  Maxwell Smith is a pocket-passing QB with good size.  Terrell Mitchell is a big target who has plenty of upside.

Evaluations courtesy of ESPN.com

June 17, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Breaking down the Cats: Running Backs
By: Matt Lindeman

In the first seven years of Rich Brooks' tenure at UK, the Cats were clearly a pass-first football team.  With Jared Lorenzen leading the charge in Brooks' first year at the helm and Andre Woodson taking over a few years later, yards and points typically came through the air.  That all changed last year, as for the first time in Brooks' seven years, the Cats gained more yardage running the ball than passing it.

Thanks to the emergence of Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb running the Wildcat formation, UK racked up 191 rushing YPG, ranking 21st nationally.  Locke led the way with 907 yards with 6 TDs, while Cobb ran for 573 with 10 TDs; they also saw contributions from Alphonso Smith, John Conner, Moncell Allen, Donald Russell, and CoShik Williams.  The Cats ran for 200+ yards five times, and a 282 yard outburst at Auburn and 308 yard outburst at Vanderbilt led to key SEC road victories.

The running game looks to be strong again in 2010, as the only departures are Smith (245 yards, 2 TDs) and Conner (158 yards, 2 TDs).  Locke nearly reached the 1,000 yard mark in his junior year despite missing a game due to injury, and it appears he may have some depth behind him; Allen proved to be a strong downhill runner late in games last season, while Russell exploded for 118 yards and 2 TDs on 9 carries in the spring game.  Also entering the mix will be Brandon Gainer, a big recruit from the Miami area.

UK's ability to run the ball kept them in contention throughout 2009, as they struggled at the QB position and failed to put together much of a passing threat.  With the QBs healthy and a year more experienced, there may be more balance in the offense and their production may fall off slightly; however, this remains the strongest unit on offense.  The Cats will eventually open things up for talented young QBs Newton and Mossakowski, but for now, they are a run-first team.  With Locke and Cobb still at their disposal, expect to see them put together one of the best ground games in the SEC once again.

June 8, 2010

It’s Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Breaking down the Cats: Quarterbacks
By: Matt Lindeman  

Similar to the previous two seasons, numerous questions surround the 2010 UK squad and whether they’ll be able to make a return trip to the postseason.  Perhaps no question is bigger than who will be taking snaps under center for the Cats this fall, as three quarterbacks are battling it out in a tight race for the starting job.

Since the departure of Andre Woodson following the 2007 season, the Cats have lacked a definitive leader at quarterback, and have suffered a significant drop-off in production. In 2008, Mike Hartline started the year at QB before coaches decided to make the switch to dual-threat freshman Randall Cobb late in the season; Cobb then went down in the season finale and Hartline led UK to a victory in the Liberty Bowl.   Last year, Hartline started the first five games before suffering an injury against South Carolina, when freshman Morgan Newton and Will Fidler began to split time at QB. Newton eventually took over the starting job, with Cobb seeing snaps out of the Wildcat formation.

In the spring, redshirt freshman Ryan Mossakowski entered the mix, a highly-touted pro-style QB who wasn’t available in 2009 due to injury. The three players competed for weeks heading into the Blue/White spring scrimmage; Phillips decided the three would alternate possessions throughout the scrimmage to give each the same number of reps.
Many fans left with no clear answer on who the leader would be heading into the fall, as none of the three particularly shined in the spring game. Hartline went 11-24 for 124 and the game’s only passing touchdown, but also threw an ill-advised pass that led to an interception. Newton moved the ball well with his arm and feet but was unable to convert in the red zone, finishing 6-12 for 92 yards and an interception. Mossakowski showed he would still have some ground to gain on the other two, going 6-12 for 37 yards.

It appears Hartline will have a slight edge to win the job based on experience alone, as he has shown to be more familiar with the schemes and makes better decisions with the football. However, Newton gained valuable experience in 2009, and has shown to be more talented and a bigger playmaker than his veteran counterpart. While Hartline needs to improve arm strength and show more leadership and confidence on the field, Newton will have to work on his decision making and learn to go through his progressions in his second year.

If Hartline or Newton can emerge from the pack or Mossakowski can make significant strides and steal the starting job, the Cats should finally have a formidable offense to work with. For the first time in three years, UK has multiple QBs who have won games in the SEC; Hartline was a key part of the win over Arkansas in 2008, and Newton led UK to victories at Vanderbilt and Georgia last November. With weapons such as Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb surrounding them, QB production should improve significantly, and the Cats could potentially take the next step in reaching a New Year’s Day Bowl. However, if the QBs continue to struggle, fans could become restless with the offensive woes – and Phillips could be off to a rough start in his first year as the head man.

May 28, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Joker Phillips takes over for the Cats
By: Matt Lindeman

It appeared the Rich Brooks era was coming to its end following the 2005 season, as Papaw had led the Cats to an abysmal 9-25 record in his first three years on the job. Brooks was 0-3 against Bobby Petrino and rival Louisville, had embarrassing losses to Ohio and Indiana, and blew great opportunities to end long losing droughts to Tennessee and Florida.

AD Mitch Barnhart granted Brooks a fourth year, citing the youth of the Cats and the difficulty of recovering from years of probation.  In the 2006 season, Brooks and UK finally broke through, finishing 7-5, reaching their first bowl in seven years and upsetting Clemson in the postseason. The Cats followed up on their breakthrough season by starting off 2007 red-hot, reaching the top 10 and eventually upending #1 LSU in Lexington.

In January 2008, the athletic department decided to name offensive coordinator Joker Phillips the head coach in-waiting, handing him the reigns to the program once Brooks decided to step down. After Brooks led UK to two more postseason appearances in 2008 and 2009, the 68-year-old decided to step down and let Phillips take charge.

The 47-year-old Phillips is a UK alum, playing wide receiver for the Cats from 1981-84. Phillips served as an assistant coach for Kentucky from 1988-96. After stints at Cincinnati, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina, Phillips returned to Lexington in 2003 as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. Phillips has been labeled as a great recruiter by sites such as Rivals.com and SI.com, and the Cats’ recruiting classes have consistently improved since his return.

Phillips took over as offensive coordinator in 2005, and the Cats saw immediate results offensively upon his promotion.  Players such as Andre Woodson, Keenan Burton, Rafael Little, and Jacob Tamme emerged under Phillips, and the offense put up a school record 475 points in the 2007 season. For the first time since the days of Hal Mumme, Kentucky was nationally known as an offensive power. Phillips spent the last two seasons rebuilding the offense with many young and inexperienced players, but still managed to lead the Cats to the nation’s 21st ranked rushing offense in 2009.

The new coach has labeled his mission for the UK program as “Operation Win,” and has already hit the recruiting trails hard since being announced head coach in January. Phillips also made coaching changes by letting go of two veteran position coaches and bringing in former Arkansas offensive line coach Mike Summers, along with ex-Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin to coach the wide receivers. Phillips also brought in the Cincinnati Bengals’ assistant strength coach Rock Oliver, who has brought a new intensity to the program as strength coach.

Phillips will be under the gun immediately in the 2010 season, as his head coaching debut will be against rival Louisville and new coach Charlie Strong, who will surely be locked in many recruiting battles with Phillips in the coming years. Phillips will also face the tough task of picking a starting quarterback, as veteran QB Mike Hartline and talented young QBs Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski are all competing for the job.

If Phillips can continue to recruit well and make the necessary tweaks within the program, the Cats can make the step to the next level by competing for SEC titles and making appearances in prestigious bowl games. Brooks left the program in great shape for Phillips, and his youth and energy could be just what the Cats need to finally become a major player nationally.

May 19, 2010

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass!
Looking back on the Cats' 2009 season
By Matt Lindeman

Welcome to the new Kentucky football blog here at Phil Steele.com.  I'm Matt Lindeman, a student at UK and avid Cats fan who has followed the program since the glory days of Tim Couch, Hal Mumme and the famous Air Raid offense. Hopefully you find my blog informative and entertaining leading up to and throughout the 2010 season.

In the coming weeks we will break down the '10 Kentucky team by position, but first we're going to take a look back at the 2009 season and how the Cats managed to put together a 7-win campaign, reaching their fourth bowl in as many years.  (Note: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and LSU are the only other SEC schools who have made bowl appearances every year since 2006).

The Cats entered '09 with plenty of questions, as the offense struggled throughout the previous season and the defense suffered significant losses from its best unit in the Rich Brooks era.  Perhaps the most devastating blow in the offseason came when star DE Jeremy Jarmon was ruled ineligible by the NCAA, leaving UK with only two returning starters in the front seven.  With questions surrounding the defense, it was clear that the offense would likely need to pick up the slack and put points on the board.

UK certainly didn't disappoint in the opener, as they handled Miami (OH) in Cincinnati. The 42-0 win marked the program's first shutout in 13 years, and the Cats outgained the Redhawks 488-188. Junior QB Mike Hartline put together one of his career's best performances, and the RBs torched Miami for 245 rushing yards.

Following a bye week, the Cats hosted hated rival Louisvillein the Battle for the Governor's Cup.  Tabbed as heavy favorites going in, UK got locked into a tight battle with the Cards that went down to the wire. After two costly turnovers in the second half, Hartline recovered to throw the game-winning touchdown to star WR Randall Cobb, giving the Cats a 31-27 victory and their third consecutive win over UL.

The Cats then entered a grueling two-game stretch which included back-to-back game against defending (and eventual) SEC East and West champions Florida and Alabama.  After suffering a 63-5 loss in Gainesville the previous year, things weren't much better for the Cats in Lexington, as the Gators put up 31 first-quarter points and cruised to a 41-7 victory.  UK hung tight with the Tide for much of the first half in an early game the following week, but two Alabama TDs in the final :40 of the half sealed their fate, as they fell 38-20.

After facing two top-3 teams in back-to-back weeks, the Cats hoped to recover by exorcising some demons and putting an end to a miserable 9-game losing streak to South Carolina.  The Cats put together a great first half before Hartline went down with a knee injury early in the second half.  Behind backup QB Will Fidler and Cobb running the Wildcat, UK nearly pulled off a victory in Columbia. A failed two-point conversion attempt proved to be the difference as the Cats dropped to 2-3 with a 28-26 loss.
 
The turning point in Kentucky's season would come the following week.  Entering the game against red-hot Auburn as heavy underdogs and without their starting QB, the Cats hung tough and shut down the Tiger offense to pull out an impressive 21-14 road win.  It was UK's first win at Jordan-Hare in 43 years, and the big road win that Brooks had been lacking in his time at UK.  The Cats racked up 282 rushing yards in the win, and three different QBs scored rushing TDs.

UK returned home for a three-game stretch that gave them an opportunity to lock up bowl eligibility in early November. After taking care of UL-Monroe36-13, the Cats ran into a better-than-advertised Mississippi State squad who ran for 348 yards and three TDs on Halloween night.  Kentucky surrendered a fourth quarter lead, dropping the game 31-24 to the Bulldogs.  The following week, Kentucky cruised to a 37-12 victory over Eastern Kentucky.

Sitting at 5-4, the Cats desperately needed to pick up a win at Vanderbilt to secure bowl eligibility.  Behind a solid defensive effort and another big day running the ball, UK took home its second consecutive SEC road victory, winning 24-13 in Nashville.
 
The Cats then traveled down to Athens to face Georgia, a place where they hadn't won in 30 years.  After a rough first half which saw UK go down by two TDs, the defense was able to force some major second half turnovers and keep the Cats in the game. Kentucky scored the game's final 21 points and had a +4 TO margin in the 34-27 win, scoring their second big SEC road upset and third SEC road victory.
 
UK's season finale against Tennessee ended in heartbreaking fashion, as the Vols managed to pull out a close victory in OT, 30-24.  The Cats had a chance to pull out the win after forcing a big turnover late and driving inside the Tennessee 10, but had to settle for a field goal to send the game into OT.  The loss marked UK's 25th straight to the Vols dating back to 1986.
 
The reward for the Cats' 7-5 season was a trip to Nashville for the Music City Bowl, where UK was victorious in their last two appearances in 2006 & 2007.  On a cold night, freshman QB Morgan Newton and the offense struggled to put many points on the board, and Clemson avenged their upset loss in the 2006 game with a 21-13 win.  The Cats failed to put the ball in the endzone again after a touchdown early in the first quarter.

UK finished the year 7-6, marking their fourth consecutive season with seven or more wins. Brooks decided it was time to step down after his seventh season in Lexington, handing the reigns to head coach in-waiting Joker Phillips for the 2010 season.

August 3, 2009

Kentucky Breakdown
By: Matt Montavon

To give a quick introduction, I’m Matt Montavon and I’ll be writing the UK football blog here at PhilSteele.com and contributing on some others. I’m a sportswriter at the Ledger Independent in Maysville, Ky. where I mainly cover local high school sports along with some college (UK, UC, OSU) and pro (Reds) whenever I get the chance. However, my number one passion will always be college football so I jumped at the chance to come on board with the best college football publication around.

For my introductory post, I’m going to assume if you’re here that you’re already familiar with the magazine so I’ll spare you the standard preview fare you’ve already seen everywhere. I’ll try to bridge the gap from when the magazine came out to the present, and we’ll go from there as we get closer to the season.

The main story of the offseason has to be the departure of defensive end Jeremy Jarmon, who intended to put off the NFL to come back for his senior season, only to be ruled ineligible after testing positive for a banned substance.
Jarmon, a second team all-SEC selection in 2007 who finished third on UK’s all-time sack list, has since landed on his feet, being picked up by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the NFL’s Supplemental Draft. Jarmon inked a four-year deal with a $755,000 signing bonus on Monday. Along with free agent acquisition Albert Haynesworth and first round draft pick Brian Orakpo, Jarmon figures to improve a Redskins pass rush which ranked last in the NFC last season.
Jarmon, a second team SEC pick and the overall #19 defensive end according to Steele, obviously figured heavily into the ‘Cats defensive plans and will be a big loss. Leading candidates to replace Jarmon and departing senior Ventrell Jenkins are Collins Ukwu, a redshirt freshman who impressed on the scout team last season, and sophomore Chandler Burden, one of the strongest players on the team who may be more in the mold of a defensive tackle.
Still, UK’s defense won’t exactly be hurting for star power thanks to the return of cornerback Trevard Lindley and linebacker Micah Johnson, both of whom also passed up early NFL paydays to come back for their senior seasons and will be counted on for leadership on what was a top-40 defensive unit last season.

Also…

SEC Media Days just wrapped up in Hoover, Ala. Lindley was named to the SEC’s first team in media selections while Johnson was named to the second team along with senior left tackle Zipp Duncan. The Wildcats were picked to finish last in the East Division.

UK announced a four year series with Western Kentucky, a move that seems to be a win-win for both schools. The teams will meet in Lexington in 2010 and 2012 and at Nashville’s LP Field in 2011 and 2013. The ‘Cats defeated the Hilltoppers 41-3 last year in the first meeting between the two schools. This season will be Western’s first full year as an FBS school.

Senior tight end T.C. Drake has been named to the watch list for the Mackey Award which goes to the nation’s top tight end. Drake caught 12 balls for 204 yards last season and is one of 30 players up for the award.

Matt Montavon is a sportswriter at the Ledger Independent in Maysville, Ky. Visit the LI Web site at Marysville-online.com or follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Montavon711.