Kentucky vs. Alabama: After Action Review 

An After Action Review, or AAR for short, is a militaristic format that’s deployed to evaluate a mission or action. KSR utilizes a similar method to analyze Kentucky’s 49-21 loss to Alabama.  

SITUATION 

Kentucky entered the contest with a 6-3 overall record and a 3-3 mark in the Southeastern Conference. The Crimson Tide (8-1; 6-0 SEC) traveled to Lexington with hopes of clinching the SEC West title with a victory. Additionally, an Alabama road win would continue its College Football Playoff hopes.  

B.L.U.F. (Bottom-Line-Up-Front) 

Alabama forcefully and completely dominated Kentucky 49-21.  

OFFENSE 

Two plays in this game summarized the ‘Cat-Tide matchup in this writer’s humble opinion. With roughly 10 minutes remaining in Alabama’s blowout win over Kentucky, true freshman strong safety Caleb Downs chased down UK running back Ramon Jefferson at the one-yard line after a 74-yard sprint. On the next play, the prized rookie stuffed Jefferson at the goal line with a textbook, physical tackle.  

Caleb Downs was a five-star coming out of high school and is Alabama’s leading tackler for the season and in Saturday’s contest. Think about those snaps. The game was decided in favor of the Tide. In what could have been described as “garbage time”, Downs displayed talent and effort qualities that separate the good from the great.  

Also, those two plays accurately represent Alabama Football. The Crimson Tide’s victory was accomplished by influential recruiting, excellent player development, vast and forceful depth, championship effort on every snap, on-field discipline instilled from the head coach down, and a high-level want-to. To me, all those traits were indicated in the two snaps. Alabama is simply better than Kentucky in all facets of the game.  

The ‘Cats gave up a great deal of havoc (three QB sacks, nine TFLs) which created nearly impossible third-down situations. In fact, UK converted a lowly 25% on third and fourth down snaps. Ballgame. Remove Jefferson’s late-game heroics, and the Wildcats produced a mere 179 total yards. The Crimson Tide defense continually rolled in fresh front-line defenders and limited the ‘Cats in most — if not all — statistical categories.  

Kentucky finished the game with 95 rushing yards. See above for Jefferson’s run. Ray Davis managed just 26 yards on 12 carries for a 2.2 YPC average. The senior did score a couple of touchdowns and remains to be an invaluable contributor. He added five catches for 32 yards.  

Ranked opponents, other than Florida, have all but shut down UK’s run game. This is not ideal with a passing game that’s mostly based on play-action. Quarterback Devin Leary was often chased and sacked on three occasions. He completed 17 passes out of 31 attempts for 158 yards. The QB threw a touchdown pass and was intercepted once.  

Saturday was always going to be a test for the Kentucky pass catchers. Alabama provided a gauge to measure its pass catchers vs. a Bama secondary that included a pair of future NFL first-round picks at cornerback and an all-world freshman safety. There was little separation for the majority of the contest. But, offensive coordinator Liam Coen creatively dialed up receptions at times.  

Windows were tight at every level of the passing game. Dane Key was effective especially in the middle of the field. The sophomore grabbed four passes for 46 yards. The tight ends recorded explosive receptions. Josh Kattus’ two catches for 38 and Brenden Bates’ one reception for 33 yards were exciting offensive moments. Tayvion Robinson registered a couple of catches including a touchdown.  

Alabama featured the SEC’s leaders in quarterback hurries: Dallas Turner (38) and Chris Braswell (37). The QB-hunting duo was active but combined for just three tackles, 0.5 TFL, and 0.5 QB sack. The problem was that the Tide defense is skilled and deep at every other front-seven position. Let’s get into goals.   

Run the Football
RESULT: NO-GO  

The objective was for Kentucky to rush for 150 yards. This was not unrealistic. Alabama had given up adequate rush yards in prior outings. UK ran for 95 on Saturday, 74 on Ramon Jefferson’s 74-yard, fourth-quarter rush. Do the math. The Wildcats yet again could not get it done on the ground.  

Protect Leary
RESULT: NO-GO  

The Tide manufactured three QB sacks. Leary was chased and harassed on many other throws that didn’t result in a sack. Surprisingly, Turner and Braswell were not the Tide defenders that racked up numbers in this category. Four Alabama defenders registered at least 0.5 QB sacks. Alabama produced 11 pressures on 34 dropbacks for a 32.4% pressure rate.  

DEFENSE 

I mean, where do we start? Alabama scored 21 first-quarter points which all but sealed the deal before several fans were comfortably seated in Kroger Field. The Tide’s opening drive covered 80 yards off 10 plays. That series finished in the end zone after QB Jalen Milroe found Amari Niblack for a 26-yard, unguarded touchdown reception. After a quick three-and-out by the Wildcat offense, the Tide marched 55 yards off just four plays in a series that was capped off by a Milroe to Prentice 40-yard touchdown pass in a scramble drill.  

The Wildcat offense then pitched in a turnover when Barion Brown fumbled and the ball was recovered by Caleb Downs. Milroe’s one-yard sneak produced a 21-0 advantage and the ballgame was all but over. No, it was over. To summarize; UK ran four offensive plays and the visitors already had a three-touchdown lead. Again, ballgame.  

Quarterback Jalen Milroe is special and plays the position as well as anyone in the country. But, the signal caller was throwing routes against air in the beginning stages of the contest. Tide pass catchers were alone on far too many occasions and Milroe had all day in which to analyze the situation.  

Alabama had given up 37 QB sacks prior to Saturday. That number ranked last in the SEC. UK recorded zero. When pressured, the Crimson Tide signal-caller extended plays with his legs and hurt the ‘Cats with his arm. Milroe finished the day 15-22 for 234 yards and three passing touchdowns through the air. He was intercepted once by Jordan Lovett. QB1 also ran the football eight times for 36 yards and had three rushing touchdowns. Milroe produced six total touchdowns.  

Kentucky had no answer for the Alabama offense. The Tide had their way with the ‘Cats. This has been an uncharacteristic pattern for the Kentucky defense in 2023. UK has allowed an average of 43 points and 7.0 yards per play in losses to Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, and Alabama. 43 points. Just seven yards per play.  

True freshman Ty Bryant continues to be a bright spot for coordinator Brad White. The rookie yet again led the ‘Cats in tackles with eight. Deone Walker did Deone Walker things at times with five stops, one TFL, and one QB hurry. The inside linebackers, D’Eryk Jackson and Trevin Wallace, combined for just six tackles. That number indicates the Tide’s dominance along the line of scrimmage. This was not expected from an Alabama offensive line that had struggled in 2023. Not a lot went right for the defensive Wildcats.  

Alabama converted 7-11 on third downs for a 64% success rate. I’m no expert, but I don’t think that’s a good, or bad, number. The Tide was also a perfect 5-5 in the Red Zone and recorded 23 first downs, 444 total yards, and 49 points. To put it simply, the Kentucky defense was a non-factor against the 8th-ranked opponent in the nation. Let’s get into objectives. Listen, I have to do this; it’s my job.  

Smartly Rush the Quarterback
RESULT: NO-GO 

See above regarding any sentence with Jalen Milroe’s name in it.  

Don’t Get Beat Deep
RESULT: NO-GO  

Jalen Milroe was replaced by Ty Simpson once the game was out of reach. Well, the game was out of reach in the first quarter, but you know what I mean. Regardless, Milroe registered a 10.6 yards per attempt average. The goal was fewer than 10. That number was set extraordinarily high by the way. 

SPECIAL TEAMS 

Alabama had a significant, on-paper advantage in this category. The third phase did produce a turnover which is a positive after Kool-Aid McKinstry muffed a punt return. He corrected his error with a 27-yard return later in the game.  

Kentucky punted six times for a 42-yard average. The ‘Cats didn’t attempt a field goal. Barion Brown’s kickoff return decisions cost UK field position in the first quarter. But again, that didn’t matter. Let’s get into goals.  

Create a Turnover or Score
RESULT: GO  

Kentucky recovered a fumbled punt.  This was the lone GO for the ‘Cats.  

OUTCOME 

The Georgia loss was embarrassing. The Mizzou and Tennessee L’s were disturbing and infuriating due to the overabundance of wasted opportunities. I’m not sure how I feel about this one. I mean, Alabama is one of the best teams in the nation and peaking at the right time. An L was realistically and unfortunately expected. This Kentucky team confuses me greatly. I do think that we may look back on this season and 2022 as years with multiple missed chances. Missed chances for wins. Missed chances to change the narrative. Missed chances to climb the SEC East ladder.  

Kentucky is who it is at this point in the season. That’s a 6-4 team with a flawed defense, especially against the pass, and a slow-moving offense that struggles to manufacture yards and points. But, I can’t get past the “what if’s.” I figure that’s the Jerry Claiborne in me with the “Ole Iff’n Game.” Home field is supposed to be an advantage. It hasn’t been for the ‘Cats.  

I’d like to have seen Kentucky put up more of a fight against Alabama. But, it didn’t. Got to move forward, or so I’ve been told. I’d also like to see a ticked-off team travel to Columbia and beat ole cooler kickin’ Beamer. UK owes Carolina from last year. Again, we’ll see. I don’t want to think about Louisville just yet, especially this fresh off another butt whoopin’ by a Top-10 foe.  

This season has flown by. Kentucky’s apparent preseason strengths have been anything but strong. But, the ‘Cats have shown the propensity to win road conference games against an equal to or lesser opponent in 2023. Lots of ifs, shoulds, and we’ll sees in 2023. I reckon that’s how I feel after Bama’s 49-21 win.  

Kentucky is 6-4.