Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky has now played five games. Kentucky has won five games. Kentucky defeated Florida handily Saturday. Yet, the question still looms, who is this Kentucky team?
The biggest takeaway from the win over the Gators is Ray Davis is a stud. He shredded the Gators to become number three on the rushing yards in a game for any player in Kentucky football history.
As he stated earlier in an interview, “I am not Benny Snell, or Chris Rodriquez. I am Ray Davis.” He is a perfect combination of the two. He has the patience to wait those few milliseconds for the opening and has the flash of leaving all those chasing him in his dust.
The Big Blue Wall is improving every game. It would be impossible for Davis to have reached his achievement today without the blocking of the line. They made the holes, he made the plays. It seems Eli Cox will be the anchor at center for the rest of the season. Coach Mark Stoops challenged the offensive line and it responded.
Brad White is the one if not the best defensive coordinators in college football. Florida players spent most of the game dodging defensive players either in their face or wrapped around their legs.
Coming into the season our strength was said to be our receivers. Quarterback Devin Leary was supposedly compared to Tim Couch and there were no worries. Yet, here we are. We are past the time frame to “give him time to settle in and learn the offense.” Five weeks in, we are what we are in the passing game. Leary had a total of 71 yards passing Saturday. I will repeat, 71 yards of passing. That should not be acceptable with the returning receivers and the accolades surrounding the transfer portal quarterback.
There is sometimes a sophomore slump for players who excel their freshman year. However, it seems improbable that all the second-year receivers have regressed at the same time. There are dropped balls, balls over their heads, routes being run wrong and no connection with their quarterback. So is this a receiver issue totally or a quarterback problem?
Florida quarterback Graham Mertz had something to prove today. Kentucky chose Devin Leary over him and that chip was shining bright on his shoulder today. Was he outstanding? No, however in the battle of the two Mertz has to get the nod.
The Cats travel to Georgia next. After watching the Georgia versus Auburn game, Georgia can be beat.
Maybe Leary needed this fifth game to figure it out. If not, it could be a long night in Georgia Saturday.
4 Responses
The gators manhandled the Vols. They are back everyone said. The Cats smack down the gators and it’s because Florida really isn’t that good. Cats lost 16-6 to the Dawgs last year. I know it’s at Georgia, but the Dawgs look different. The Cats are definitely better. Georgia is vulnerable. Kentucky generally plays well between the hedges. White has as good a defense as he ever has. It’s gonna be a long night in Georgia Saturday. The thing is, it’s gonna be long for the Dawgs. GO CATS!!!
Well…I sure as hell don’t see UK being 19 pt dogs.. I think that’s blasphemous. If UK can pass effectively coupled with this potent run game i’ll take UK to win.
To win in the upper echelon of the SEC you have to be talented, well coached, are able to execute on game day, expect to win, avoid injury, and can handle the intoxicating effect of success. Doing this so far puts Kentucky in uncharted territory going into Athens. A victory would be one of the greatest in the history of the program. A loss would not be the end of the world as long as we stay healthy and hungry. Leary will be the wild card.
Indeed..he’s got to show up in a big way..