Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky’s 31-0 win over Southern Miss on Saturday ended with 9:56 to play in the third quarter. Despite playing just over half of the scheduled 60 minutes, the UK offense was able to run 42 plays in the contest.
On Tuesday, UK offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan assessed how his unit played against the Golden Eagles in the season opener.
“I’m certainly proud of the guys, from the standpoint of the extended delay and the ability to stay focused. I felt they played better as the game continued to go on. I think a lot of positives. Obviously, a lot to clean up.”
Kentucky rushed 24 times for 148 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and completed 12 of 18 passes for 169 yards. The Cats scored three touchdowns through the air and one on the ground. Hamdan knows that it all starts with the offensive line, and he was pleased with that group.
“I thought they did a nice job. They played extremely hard,” Hamdan said. “I was very pleased with the ability to run the ball when we needed to. Certainly, on the explosive plays, it always starts with those guys up front. The ability for them to hold up the protection gave us the ability to throw the ball down the field and that was impressive.”
Quarterback Brock Vandagriff had all of the 169 yards passing and he added 35 yards on the ground on five carries. Hamdan was impressed with his signal caller.
“Tough brand of football. He plays physical,” Hamdan said. “He’s got to get down and protect himself because we’re going to need that guy. I think we’ve got a good player there. The toughness, the resiliency, moreso not when things were going good but how he responded when things weren’t going good. We’re excited about his play. I think he’s a really steady player. He’s never too high, never too low, he knows exactly who he is.”
The wide receivers were able to help Vandagriff in the passing game. That group was expected to be key for the Cats, and they certainly were in game one.
“(I was) impressed,” Hamdan said. “I think those guys really have different skill sets that compliment one another. I think that’s so important about a great wide receiver room, you’ve got vertical threats, you’ve got guys who are great in space, you’ve got guys who can stretch the field, you’ve got a guy like Dane Key who can make those tough catches. The great groups have that about them.”
The running game was a question mark heading into the opener, with expected starter Chip Trayanum sidelined due to injury. However, the backs responded against Southern Miss, which did not totally surprise Hamdan.
“There’s been an edge with that group for a long time,” Hamdan said. “Just naturally, where there’s no lead, returning starter or any big name type of guy in that room. We’re bringing along that group, it’s by committee and I’m excited for those guys and to see them play on Saturday. I was proud of Jason (Patterson), I was proud of Demie (Sumo-Karngbaye) for what he did, Jamarion Wilcox got in there and did some good things.”
8 Responses
I said the backs would average about 6-7 ypc and they did just that. I was equally im impressed by Brock V. You can tell that he has a very high IQ. Very fast thinker. Plus the defense is going to have to put a spy on him or he’s going to take off running every time. As soon as they put the spy on him he’s going to find someone open. I can’t say it enough very intelligent. I like this team. I just hope the same things that plagued us last year don’t bite us in the butt again this year. I seen a lot of 3rd down and longs converted. I also seen a couple of drops by the receivers. This has to stop. Catching the football is fundamental football. That kink should have been worked out in the off season. South Carolina is a running team and I think we will play better against running teams because we are almost impossible to run on. I’m worried about the teams that pass it 30-40 times. That’s the teams that we will struggle against if our secondary continues to give up big chunks of yards on 3rd downs. I still say we destroy South Carolina. When Chip got hurt at the beginning of August they said it would be 4-6 weeks. It’s about to be 5 weeks tomorrow any update on where chip is at as far as being injured. I know you don’t want to rush him back because you want it to heal and not have the same injury. But we will need him against Georgia. We absolutely need him I’m telling you against Georgia. He’s a big Power back and with the offensive line being better this year he might be the key to maybe upsetting Georgia. I think we will average about 5-6 ypc against South Carolina with the committee approach. I don’t see how South Carolina will score on one of the best defenses in college football and they struggled against old Dominion. If old Dominion didn’t give South Carolina 2 touchdowns by fumbling on their own 10 yard line twice they would have easily beat South Carolina. I watched the whole game. So what does that say?? We’re at home I think we blow them out. 41-17. I really don’t even like giving them 17. Maybe 41-13???
The College Football Network has picked South Carolina over Kentucky in Lexington this Saturday. Despite everything Stoops has done to elevate our program we still do not get any respect on a national level. Losing to Clemson last year didn’t help our cause any.
But we have beaten Penn St, Iowa and North Carolina St in the past. We beat our shelves against Clemson
Until we beat top ranked SEC schools, we’re not going to get much respect.
our Self that is.
I’m thinking this is a 3/10 point game and taking the Cats with 30 points next week.
Kentucky 41- South Carolina 17
Kentucky 35- South Carolina 10
Kentucky 24 – Georgia 21 3OT