BTI's Rants and Ramblings: 3rd Down Has Been a Disaster for Cats

I am struck after watching this offense through 6 games that unlike last year, this offense really doesn't have a ton of NEGATIVE plays like last year.  Turnovers have not been an issue.  Sacks have not been a serious problem.  The team has shown the ability to run the ball on certain occasions and throw the ball in 3 of the 6 games.  But with all that, the actual scoreboard hasn't really shown the improvement from last year to this year.  And the main spot where this team is significantly worse than last year is on 3rd down. Watch the Alabama again if you can.  When Alabama was facing a 3rd down of 5 or less, you could feel very confident they would figure out a way to convert that 75% of the time.  Great teams and great offenses execute on 3rd down to keep drives alive.  Kentucky is currently only converting 26% of it's 3rd down's this year.  In situations of 3rd down or less, Kentucky is only converting 37% of the time.  Six yards or more and that number goes down to 15%.  It makes it nearly impossible to score many points PLUS it leads to shorter drives, leaving your defense on the field longer and wearing them down. Take a look at the 3rd down breakdown this season and then I want to hear just how important you think 3rd down truly is. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3rd and 1-3 yards vs WKU: 3-5 (Passing: 1-2 for 15 yards, Rushing: 3 carries for 5 yards) vs Miami: 1-1 (Rushing: 1 carry for 6 yards) vs Louisville: 0-3 (Rushing: 3 carries for -3 yards) vs Florida: 0-1 (Rushing: 1 carry for -3 yards) vs S.Carolina: 3-4 (Rushing: 4 carries for 10 yards) va Alabama: 2-4 (Passing: 0-1, Rushing: 3 carries for 7 yards) COMBINED: 9 for 17 (Passing: 1-3 for 15 yards, Rushing: 15 carries for 22 yards) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3rd and 4-6 yards vs WKU: 1-2 (Passing: 1-2 for 17 yards) vs Miami: 1-3 (Passing: 0-2, Rushing: 1 carry for 5 yards) vs Louisville: 0-4 (Passing: 0-3, Rushing: 1 carry for 3 yards) vs Florida: 1-2 (Passing: 1-1 for 12 yards, Rushing: 1 carry for 0 yards) vs S.Carolina: 1-4 (Passing: 1-2 for 4 yards, Rushing: 1 carry for 2 yards, 1 sack) va Alabama: 0-3 (Passing: 0-3) COMBINED: 4 for 18 (Passing: 3-13 for 33 yards, 4 carries for 10 yards, 1 sack) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3rd and 7-9 yards vs WKU: 0-2 (Passing: 1-1 for 4 yards, Rushing: 1 carry for -1 yards) vs Miami: 1-3 (Passing: 2-3 for 31 yards) vs Louisville: 0-2 (Passing: 1-2 for 7 yards) vs Florida: 0-1 (Passing: 0-1) vs S.Carolina: 0-1 (Passing: 1-1 for 6 yards) vs Alabama: 0-2 (Passing: 0-1, 1 sack) COMBINED: 1 for 11 (Passing: 5-9 for 48 yards, 1 carry for -1 yard, 1 sack) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3rd and 10 or more yards vs WKU: 2-6 (Passing: 3-5 for 61 yards, Rushing: 1 carry for 2 yards) vs Miami: 1-4 (Passing: 1-3 for 88 yards, Rushing: 1 carry for 12 yards) vs Louisville: 0-4 (Passing: 0-3, Rushing: 1 carry for 9 yards) vs Florida: 0-4 (Passing: 2-2 for 9 yards, Rushing: 1 carry for 2 yards, 1 sack) vs S.Carolina: 1-2 (Passing: 1-1 for 14 yards, Rushing: 1 carry for 15 yards) va Alabama: 0-3 (Passing: 1-2 for 11 yards, Rushing: 1 carry for 5 yards) COMBINED: 4 for 23 (Passing: 8-16 for 183 yards, Rushing: 6 carries for 45 yards, 1 sack)