Kentucky's defense will get a big test against Texas and quarterback Arch Manning. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Apparently Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has seen something from the Kentucky football team this season that most of us have missed.
“We’ve got to be prepared for a war because it’s going to be one,” the Texas coach said about playing Kentucky Saturday night in Lexington.
Maybe Texas has not played like the potential national title contender many thought it would be this year and maybe quarterback Arch Manning has not played like a Heisman Trophy winner as many thought he would. However, Kentucky is 2-3 this season, has not had over two offensive touchdowns against a Southeastern Conference team in two years and is giving up over 400 yards per game.
“They’ve got good players and they’ve knocked off too many teams, we all know this,” Sarkisian said.
Actually, Kentucky has only won one SEC game in the last two years and is a two-touchdown underdog in this game after Texas dominated Oklahoma last week.
“This is the same team that went to Ole Miss and won last year and probably cost Ole Miss a playoff bid. It’s the same team that had the ball at the end of the game (with a chance to win) against Ole Miss this year,” the Texas coach said.
“The coaching is too good in this league that you better treat every game like it’s a championship game, and you have to give each game the credit it deserves. They’ve had two weeks to get ready to play. We’ve got to be prepared for a war because it’s going to be one. I’m just going to tell you that right now.”
Apparently the Texas coach also does not realize how poorly Kentucky has played after a bye week, including this season’s loss at South Carolina.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops knows the Longhorns are for real despite losing at Florida two weeks ago. He is also impressed by what he has seen from Manning.
“You watch this last game (against Oklahoma), and I want to say it was a four-point game, and they were backed up. Oklahoma got great pressure on him (Manning). Evades the pressure and throws the strike,” Stoops said. “He did that time and time again. Then on the first touchdown pass in the pocket, didn’t move, had a good, clean pocket, delivers a touchdown pass.
“He’s one of those guys that can make all the throws, in rhythm and on time, or buying time because he’s a good athlete. He throws very good on the run.”
Stoops noted that Manning didn’t ask for the huge preseason expectations put on him because he’s a Manning.
“Everything that I could see, and hearing from him, he’s just a young man putting his head down, trying to get better. And I think a lot of that is unfair, and it is what it is. He understands that, I don’t need to tell him anything that he hasn’t heard from his famous uncles and father and all that,” Stoops said.
“He’s just a young man getting better with every rep, and you can see the confidence in him, and why wouldn’t he be confident, he’s a very good football player.”
6 Responses
He has to build up UK so when Texas wins it looks good when the committee is looking at playoff teams. He doesn't actually believe his team has to do anymore than show up and play a decent game to get a win, but he has to convince others it is going to be a difficult task.
This will be Stoop's Alamo game. Outmanned, outgunned, and a 21 point underdog on their home field. I hope this doesn't change Virginia Tech's interest in Stoops.
Texas by three touchdowns. Ky is never stopped a mobile and accurate QB. Manning will be throwing underneath coverage the whole game until KY gets suckered into pressing. Then Manning throw the deep strike.
Texas 31 Kentucky 20. We keep it close and maybe tied until the second half starts. Kentucky becomes unraveled and Texas takes advantage of our putrid offense. I do believe we score a quick touchdown we normally do. I can see a 7-7 first quarter score followed by a 14-10 halftime score in favor of Texas. Texas outscores us in the second half and just controls the game. The only way we have a little chance is if we can get a couple of ints on Manning. Maybe running one back for a touchdown if this happens we have a chance to keep it close. If we dont blitz Manning he will pick us apart. We also can't let him get into a rhythm. The bend dont break will cost us this game. You can't give any yards away and Brad White loves allowing 10-20 yard passes he just doesn't like the 50 yard passes. Manning struggles with the deep ball so he will take what he can get and he will have receivers wide open from 5 yards out and yards after the catch will kill us. I'm going to go out on a limb and say Lovett and Bryant will both have interceptions. The first outcome is what I think will happen. Orrrrrr this can happen. We find a go to receiver in Miller. Having a go to receiver frees up Kattus and Rodriguez even more. For some reason I think Gilmore, Law and Miller will all have better games. I think Kattus or Rodriguez catch a touchdown pass. I see Kentucky keeping it close until the very end. Then lose. Saunders and Grace will both get a sack. Saunders has been dominating since SEC play started. He looks better than Gusta.
If Boley throws for over 200 yards then we have turned a corner. We need Boley to throw for over 200 yards and Seth McGowan to have a career day for us to beat Texas. What happened to Dowdell? He looked good the first couple of weeks but since maybe gets 3-4 carries a game. Same thing that happened to Wilcox I guess he can't tie his shoes too. I clearly think McGowan is the best running back on the team. I do believe Wilcox is a close second and next year will be better than what McGowan is this year. I just hope whatever Wilcox has going on he can get it straightened out. He was the only positive on offense last year and I thought he would be even better this year with more carries. If McGowan was the first string and Wilcox was second string we could have Dowdell do only short yaedage situations. Like 3rd and 1 or 3rd and 2. He's going to get you a first down. Or if we are on the goal line he would be my goal line back on 3rd and 4th down. He's to slow to be a every down back in the SEC. He could get away with it in the Big Ten which is bigger but much slower. I can see him transferring out at the end of the year because he will never be a feature back in the SEC. I would play Dowdell and McGowan at the same time and run misdirections and fake misdirections for short passes. Hamden needs to step up on his play calling. This Texas game if by a miracle we win would save our season. Because after the Tennessee game every other game is a 50/50 game. I do believe we can beat Auburn, Vanderbilt, Tennessee tech and Louisville to put us at 6 wins. The Florida game is a 50/50 game as well. I think Tennessee is the hardest game we have left and it's at home which should at least keep it close. If we can somehow manage a bowl game this year we will be capable of anything next year. No bowl game this year and the future looks bleak. I hope Stoops takes Virginia tech up on there offer. If they do Sumrall come on down. Or Nick Saban come on down. Or Jon Gruden come on down. I want a up and coming coach or a proven coach like Saben. It would take Saban two years to take Kentucky to the playoffs. The first year we would dominate recruiting and the transfer portal. I think we would go 7-5 or 8-4 in his first year. His second recruiting class and transfer class would take Kentucky to levels never seen before. I think we would be in the playoff in his second season. He's not here to be here for 8-10 years. Just 3-5 years. Enough to get the younger players talking about Kentucky and take us to the next level that Stoops promised..
Mr TW…..have you changed your smoking habits lately? Really surprised to see your 50/50 games. It looks to me to be more like 30/70 or 40/60 not in our favor. I also don't see the improvement in 26 with our recruiting being at bottom of SEC again. Think we only have 2 4*s and just lost one of them….but we did replace with a unrated??