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Less than two months ago the Kentucky Wildcats sat No. 7 in the Associated Press poll rankings with a 4-0 record that included a triumphant upset at No. 12 Florida. In the seven weeks since, everything that could have gone wrong for the Kentucky football program has indeed gone wrong.
The exclamation point came this Saturday when No. 24 Kentucky shockingly fell at home unranked Vanderbilt, 24-21. The upset victory by the Commodores broke their streak of 26-straight defeats in the Southeastern Conference. Fans watched and booed from their cold, damp seats in Kroger Field as the Wildcats walked off the field. Their boos made one thing certain – 2022 is the season to forget for Kentucky football.
Six weeks ago, Kentucky self-imploded on the road at Ole Miss and blew their chance of a likely spot inside the top-5 of the AP poll. After that loss, it’s felt as if the heart and soul of the Kentucky football team has been absent during competition. The Wildcats are 2-4 since their 4-0 start with not much to show for their season.
Kentucky’s offense boasts what many NFL experts believe to be a high first round pick, one of the best running backs in the country and a group of pass catchers better than Big Blue Nation has seen in quite some time. Yet, quarterback Will Levis and his unit has somehow become the most difficult offense to watch in the proud SEC.
The Wildcats continue to appear unprepared in all three phases of the game – not just offense. Miscues on special teams, lack of creativity in generating a pass rush, missed tackles in the open field paired with occasional coaching blunders in regards to play-calling and clock management.
Kentucky’s woes on offense should and will not be blamed on their offensive line. While the unit has played up to their reputation of recent seasons, they’re far from being the only root of Kentucky’s issues to move the football.
2022 was made out to be a season with so much promise. Levis rising as a star, Rodriguez leading the backfield, young talent catching passes, veterans all across Kentucky’s defensive front and head coach Mark Stoops coming off his second 10-win season in four years.
Instead, 2022 is now the season to forget. The negative momentum had been building up for weeks but the team’s loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday afternoon was the final straw. Kentucky will do well to win eight games this season, assuming they can beat Louisville in their season finale and win their bowl game. In the meantime, a home matchup with the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs awaits the Wildcats a week from now. Kickoff next Saturday is set for 3:30 PM ET with coverage on CBS.
8 Responses
I don’t like this writing material about this how has the cats has performed. I don’t think it’s fair to blame the players or coaches. We have been spoil by the recent success and it just not the same this season and life goes on as usual.
If you don’t blame players and coaches Cats79, who do you blame? The fans?
Larry, that offensive front is not as strong or discipline like the previous teams we had. Just don’t have the horses to get the job done. I’m not condoning your writing you do a great job and I guess you have to pin point at someone
No doubt the horses in the stable not as strong but that goes back to recruiting and effort — or lack of effort — is on players and coaches
Can we request that CBS not show the Georgia game!!!!?
Amen JFSBlue and I bet CBS agrees
Find myself more sad than mad.
Do wonder why you can find room room for your brother but can’t/won’t hire a special teams coach ?! Nepotism was Coach Bowden’s downfall.
Also second the JFSBLUE post.
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