KENTUCKY FOOTBALL NEWS – 10/6/08
October 6th, 2008 ║ Posted By: Jarred Amato ║ Permalink ║ Tags: Kentucky
Don’t let the final score fool you. Kentucky coach Rich Brooks isn’t into moral victories, nor is he pleased with how the Cats played in their 14-10 loss at Alabama.
“We didn’t play good on defense,” he said. “We had assignment errors, technique errors, busted assignments. Our safeties didn’t play very well. Offensively, we struggled obviously to get any kind of running game going. No question, I don’t think we played anywhere close to our ability.”
Why don’t you tell us how you really feel, Coach?
Brooks has a point thought. Kentucky, which rushed for just 35 yards on 20 carries, will need to improve in a hurry as it takes on South Carolina this Saturday.
The UK coach was also disheartened by the fact that the Cats won the turnover battle 3-2 yet got no points out of it. To make matters worse, there are a number of injuries on the offensive line.
Starting right guard Jess Beets and backup Stuart Hines have knee injuries, the extent of which are unknown, while starting right tackle Justin Jeffries is already out with a knee injury. Regardless, Brooks knows the offense will need to play better against the Gamecocks.
“The passing game has to be better, and that will help the running game as well,” Brooks said. “It’s not just all offensive line, no. But our line is not doing a good job of knocking people off the ball.”
With games against South Carolina and Arkansas on the horizon, The Herald-Leader’s John Clay believes that the Wildcats’ season is at a crossroads. He argues that Kentucky must win one of the next two, which shouldn’t be too difficult considering the Razorbacks’ struggles.
The Courier-Journal’s Eric Crawford has a few Kentucky-related thoughts in his Monday Morning Quarterback column:
1) The UK defense is legit.
2) While Randall Cobb will add another dimension to the UK offense, don’t underestimate just how difficult it is for first-year starter Mike Hartline. He, like the rest of the offense, is going to improve. It has to.
3) Bama did everything to keep UK in the game, but the Cats failed to make them pay.
4) Next week’s prediction: Cats over the Gamecocks by a touchdown.
