Let's Keep Bowling

The bowl dream survives another week. However, we have the toughest test on the schedule this weekend (in terms of the second half of the schedule). At the start of the year this seemed to be a SEC game that the Wildcats could pull off. However, the Tigers would prove that they would be a force to be reckoned with wins over Georgia, Florida, and a close overtime loss to South Carolina. Is this a sign that Missouri is a force to be reckoned with in the East? Absolutely not! They beat and absolutely demolished Georgia and a Florida team that has been struggling ever since ol’ Will took over the command. While Kentucky had an embarrassing loss to the Gators, this was the first game when the new quarterback took over for Driskel. It is hard to create a game plan for someone that you simply do not have that much film on. Also I feel like it is pretty safe to say that Kentucky has gotten better as the year has progressed and could give the Gators a much better game now. If all goes like it should we will be the first game the starting quarterback has come back for since being knocked out in the Georgia game. This could work to the Cats advantage. While the receivers have been working with Franklin during practice it is nothing compared to game speed. The last memory that Franklin has in playing football is being injured. This should cause him to make fewer plays with his feet to prevent re injuring himself. Our defense has to capitalize on this early and not allow him to get into a rhythm. We need to knock him on his backside and force him to make quick throws before his receivers can make a break. Smith has to show up big and apply plenty of pressure. Another huge position is the linebackers. During blitzes last week we all saw a lot of linebackers being picked up and blocked to become non-factors. They have to shed blocks and apply pressure. The offense has to click early and often which has yet to happen this year. After the first drive last week it seemed as though Kentucky was going to score 70 points. While it was only two plays, it just had an aura that made it seem like they had things figured out. While we set the run game up perfectly it just never seemed that the passing game was there. While I know that we are running out of the personnel to have a successful passing game that is no excuse for it to be non-existent. The offense will have to capitalize on opportunities presented to them by the defense. The run game will be there, but we will need our passing game to keep them honest and not allow them to stack the box against us. Overall this will be a tough game, but a winnable game. This is not one of those match ups that you can go into a “we can win this” state of mind without searching for a sign. Look to be rushing the field and keep the bowl hopes alive for one more week. The Cats owe it to themselves to show out, and finally finish a game with a win and not a moral win. Go Cats @camyoung_KSR