Previewing the Cats

Ok, so since I will not have much time tomorrow, figured I would do my Kentucky breakdown today, give my keys to the game and predicted final score. There is no doubt this game is very important to UGA but UK can argue it is important for them as well. They HAVE to win this game to have any shot at making a bowl game, and UK has been to a bowl game 5 straight years. For that program, quite a streak. Matter fact, before they qualified for a bowl in 2006, they had last been to a bowl game in 1999. So, their bowl streak is on the line against us. Course that doesn't quite compare to what is on the line for UGA in this game. From reading this morning, seems Coach Richt detected his team was tired and thus gave them some rest during practice yesterday. You know what, I am fine with that because let's face it, by game 11 everyone knows how to block, how to tackle, how to throw and catch. The most important thing to me is keeping everyone healthy and implenting the game plan we need to beat these guys. Next week at practice, it will be a very different week of practice, with the Thanksgiving holiday, school will be out for the week I believe-don't quote me on that, we are facing an offense that is totally unique from any other offense we see during a season. But more on next week, NEXT week.

Kentucky's last trip to Athens was a win for the Wildcats, in a game that I still remember to this day. I talk to my Dad at halftime every week if he is in town and I can remember telling him when we chatted-up 20-6, we got this game UNLESS we fumble this opening kickoff and turn it over a few more times. Sure enough, second half kickoff, Branden Smith fumbles, UK scores and suddenly it is 20-13. UGA turned the ball over 4 times that night, ended up losing 34-27. It was much like the SCarolina game of this year, we DOMINATED the stats, you felt like we were the better team by a long shot but lost on the scoreboard. Turnovers against teams you are better than, well, let's just say that is the great equalized. Kinda like the 3pt shot in college basketball, you get these smaller schools with some deadly shooters, you can see some upsets happening. Simply put for this game on Saturday, IF we do not turn the ball over, we will win this game. Let's take a look at the UK starters on offense and defense.

Defense
DE Mike Douglas 6-4 250 FR
DT Donte Rumph 6-3 308 Soph
DT Mister Cobble 6-0 332 Soph
DE Taylor Wyndham 6-4 246 JR
LB Danny Trevathan 6-1 232 SR
LB Ridge Wilson 6-3 246 JR
LB Ronnie Sneed 6-2 241 SR
CB Anthony Mosley 6-0 178 SR
S Winston Guy 6-1 216 SR
S Ashley Lowery 6-1 200 FR
CB Randall Burden 6-0 171 SR

Offense
OT Chandler Burden 6-4 313 SR
OG Stuart Hines 6-4 295 SR
C Matt Smith 6-4 303 JR
OG Larry Warford 6-3 336 JR
OT Billy Joe Murphy 6-6 308 SR
TE Jordan Aumiller 6-4 231 Soph
WR Matt Roark 6-5 214 SR
WR La'Rod King 6-4 194 JR
FB DJ Warren 6-0 230 FR
TB CoShik Williams 5-9 178 JR
QB Maxwell Smith 6-4 220 FR-believe he still will start instead of SR Morgan Newton 6-4 235 SR.

A few things stand out to me looking at the starters, first they have a big and experience OL. They also have some big WR's with experience. I suspect if the young QB can avoid making mistakes they are going to try to attack us with the pass as our run D has been nearly impossible to deal with. But, again, they have a young FR QB playing and that should equal mistakes. On D they also have some experience, some bigger DB's, some big hosses in the middle of their DL. I wouldn't be surprised if we run off tackle a good bit as the DE's are bit undersized, the LB's are experienced but will have their hands full with our TE's, and their secondary, while some bigger kids there, they have been burned by the deep ball this year so I look for Murray to test them early and often with some deep throws to Mitchell, King, and Conley. I would imagine knowing that UK is 118 out of 120 in total D, our offense is going to have a very good day. Connor Shaw of SCarolina, not known as a great throwing QB passed for 311 yards and 4 TD's against this team. Meanwhile, Lattimore rushed for 102 against them, against UF, Demps had 157 yards rushing, Rainey 105, Stacy for Vandy rushed for 135 just last week. Meanwhile the SCarolina offense has scored the following point totals in SEC games thus far-10, 7, 3, 16, 30 (win against Ole Miss), 8. So, they average 12pts per game in SEC play, course the Ole Miss game helps that average quite a bit.  Meanwhile they have given up the following point totals in SEC games, 48, 35, 54, 28, 13 (Ole Miss again), 38. So, they are giving up 36 pts per game. If you go off those numbers, the spread of 29-30 pts is not far fetched.

My keys to the game,
-Come out with a killer instinct. No messing around in this game, take control early and don't let up. Second half should be just like last week against AU, let some reserves get some PT and look ahead to next couple weeks.
-Ball security is a must. Simply put, do not gift wrap scores for an opponent you are clearly better than. If do not turn the ball over, I see now way this game is close.
-Continue solid coverage on special teams, last week was a big improvement and that needs to continue. Same as with turnovers, don't let this team make a big play on a return/special teams play to give them life.
-Do not commit stupid penatlies. Notice a pattern in my keys to the game this week-bottom line, if we don't beat ourselves, NO WAY Kentucky keeps this game close.

I am a bit nervous about this game early on because last week was such a dominant performance against a decent team, what can we expect the next week against a team that everyone knows is weak. That being said, the team has A LOT to play for this week so that should give them enough juice. Next week against the Nerds, I do have a little worry about that game because it will be a bigger fish to fry game for us, hopefully though, our run defense is so strong we can take that one, along with an offense that is rolling along. But, enough on next week. This game will clinch the SECe title and first trip to the SEC title game since 2005. That year we were big underdog to LSU, same as is likely the case this year. I say the team starts a little sluggish but continues their second quarter magic. Final score, UGA 42 UK 10


Last note about the hoops team, they are now 3-0 on the young season. Now, they have been far from impressive but they are finding ways to win games against teams they SHOULD beat. Can't say the same for some other SEC teams in the early season. Next up is a game on Monday night against nationally ranked California. This will be a HUGE test to play away from home against a very good opponent but this team needs to see what they are made of and this will give us an early look. I expect Cal to beat us but hopefully our young team can learn from the experience.

Hope everyone that reads will have a great weekend. I will be coaching football this weekend, my son's football team is playing in a tournament, a game on Friday and TWO games on Saturday. I will miss the UGA game but will be tracking via the radio/phone and will DVR it and watch later. I feel pretty comfortable that a win is in the works though. I sure hope it is not down to the wire and I am having a fit trying to concentrate on my son's game and wanting to know what is happening in Athens-again though, SHOULDN'T be an issue. SECe champs is a great accomplishment for a team that started 0-2, including 0-1 in confenrence. This is a team to be proud of for sure, never quit, continuing to improve as the season progresses.