ON MY ALLEGED MIND (11-5-21)
MY FIGHT CLUB STORY: Though I don’t travel to SEC road games these days recent testimonials from those who do prove Lexington is still a bubbling cauldron of fan frustration and futility. That hasn’t changed. In my day -other than Gainesville- trips to Lexington were always the most unwelcoming of anywhere I visited. The most egregious example occurred in 1985. The great Sugar Vols struggled in the first half going into the locker room at the break leading only 7-0. The second half was no-contest with the Vols scoring five unanswered TDs to win going away 42-0. As usual the fireworks were just beginning. That particular year I was with my Wife and another couple in my Father-in-Law’s van. As we were creeping away from the parking area an enraged -and certainly inebriated- Kentucky fan jumped onto the running board of the van attempting to tear my Tennessee car flag out of the passenger side window. Sheno was driving so he was positioned right by my window. I first turned to the others in the vehicle asking
“can you believe this imbecile?” Since I had given him time to see the error of his ways and he was still intent on malice there was only one solution. I unlocked and opened the door and
“gently” bumped him into a ditch adjacent to the exit lane. Go Big Black and Blue!
CATS VOL FANS SHOULD WATCH FOR:
QB Will Levis is completing 66.3 % of his passes for 1,476 yds and 14 TDs while running for 184 yds and an additional 3 TDs. He has also thrown 9 interceptions spoiling an otherwise solid stat line.
RB Christopher Rodriguez Jr has rushed for 809 yds and 5 TDs. He ranks 2nd in the SEC at 101.1 yds rushing/game
RB Kavosiey Smoke (58-296; 5.1 ypc; 1 TD) has 1,187 career rushing yards
WR Wan’Dale Robinson is among the SEC’s leading receivers with 58 catches for 645 yds and 5 TDs
WR Josh Ali is the Cats second leading receiver with 19 catches for 257 yds and 1 TD. He’s also dangerous as a returner hauling a punt back 74 yds for a TD vs Mississippi State.
DE Josh Paschal has 32.0 career tfl 7th in school history
LB DeAndre Square has 61 tackles, leads the Cats with 3 sacks and has 8.5 tfl
LB Jacquez Jones leads all Kentucky defenders in tackles with 64, including 10.5 this season.
S Yusuf Corker has 51 tackles, 1 sack and 3.5 tfl
WHAT VOLS MUST DO SATURDAY:
MAKE KENTUCKY SPEED UP: This is a no-contest when it comes to the team’s scoring prowess. The Vols are fourth in the SEC averaging ten more per game than the point-poor Cats at 37 ppg to 27. The Cats rely on a slow-paced, plodding attack much more intent upon grinding opponents down and winning the judges card than knocking them out. Their offense is certainly not built to score quickly to overcome semi-large deficits. The Vols need to strike early and often and make this a game played at a pace that the Cats offense is not comfortable -or capable- of matching.
ACCEPT THE CATS GENEROCITY: Kentucky does not value the ball (a basketball term in case any Big Blue fans care what I think). They easily lead the SEC with 16 giveaways And, they’re equal-opportunity philanthropists fumbling it away 7 times and throwing it away 9. Tennessee on the other hand stands at +3 in turnover margin and have been opportunistic with 11 takeaways. Let’s keep both teams in character Saturday night and a happy ending for the Big Orange and Vol Nation is in the cards.
MAKE KENTUCKY GO UP TOP: New Kentucky Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen and transfer QB Will Levis were both brought in to bolster the Cats passing game and transform their attack from run-only to one more diverse. The results are not encouraging. Kentucky ranks next-to-last in the SEC in Passing Offense averaging only 191 ypg and their running game has suffered as well ranking only 8th in the SEC. Tennessee -not surprisingly- ranks 5 slots ahead of the Cats in passing (231 ypg) but it is somewhat baffling that they also outgain the once-potent Cats on the ground 226 ypg to 175. This however is not about the Vols “O” but their defense. The moral of the story is for the Vols stop troops to load the box and make Kentucky take the uncomfortable option of Levis throwing the football.
LIMIT RED ZONE OPPORTUNITIES: The Red Zone is one area of the field that Tennessee’s surprising defense has not been better than advertised at. The Vols allow opponents to score TDs at a stunningly bad 76.7 % (13th in the SEC) of the time they penetrate our 20-yard line. Kentucky -with their power personality- are unsurprisingly good at cashing in on close-in opportunities ringing up six points 70% of their red zone visits. The key here is to limit those opportunities. Make the Cats score from distance or hardly at all.
WHAT I WANT TO SEE:
A HEALTHY ROSTER OF VOLS: The Vols haven’t been anywhere close to healthy since Bowling Green. Thin from the outset their offensive line and backfield have been limping along with a patchwork depth chart on a weekly basis. Here’s hoping that Saturday proves an opportunity for both Mays boys to pave the way for both Tiyon Evans and Jabari Small to cash in some BOGO coupons at Kroger Field on Saturday evening
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OFF WEEK: The Vols were in desperate need of an open date after eight grueling weeks of football. I have no question the rest will be beneficial from a healing standpoint the question is how does it affect execution? We heard Larry Vaught on Tony’s show earlier in the week lament the fact that Mark Stoops' teams have been dreadful coming off a bye week in his Kentucky tenure and they continued that trend last Saturday in Strakville. It remains to be seen how Josh Heupel’s team performs after 14 days without a game to play. Let’s hope our experience proves better than theirs.
HOOKER PROVE IT’S ALL POPPY-COCK: The extended weather forecasts the Tennessee-Kentucky game to be played in sub-freezing temperatures at Grocery Store Stadium Saturday evening. That brings up the inevitable questions about the mystery of Hendon Hooker allegedly saying
“no mas” during a frigid game during his Virginia Tech tenure. I’ve seen absolutely nothing in Hooker’s resolve suggesting he is anything less than a solid teammate and a tough guy. Whispers have been heard here and are now picking up volume in the Blue Grass that it could happen again Saturday. Light em up Hendon and put this nonsense to rest once and for all.
FIGHT CLUB OPEN: I want Kentucky faithful to be at their Appalachian, red-ass (takes one to know one) best after Saturday night. Full
“BY GOD WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?” Big Blue Breakdown. GO BIG ORANGE!
NEXT TIME: Kentucky Wrap
CLOSING COMMENT: Anytime the Tennessee-Kentucky game results in the Cats realizing their season was again a cruel tease with a loss to the Vols I hear my Cat-hating Brother Freddie’s voice derisively saying “The Blue's tough Jeff”. Oh how I long for that again Saturday.
