The Leach Report

Mark Stoops verbally took his team to the woodshed on Wednesday and it'll be interesting to see how this team responds.  It's clear Stoops has little patience for excuses and he's finding, as Rich Brooks did, that coaching up the mental toughness is sometimes as big a challenge for this program as the physical toughness.  I think South Carolina is better on offense than Florida but not as good on defense and this is a young UK  team facing a truly hostile environment for the first time this season.  One key in this rebuilding effort is for these players to stay positive in very adverse circumstances and that resolve will be put to a stern test Saturday. = = = KEY STORYLINES/MATCHUPS Rise to the challenge.  Mark Stoops lit his team up for a poor attitude that day, saying some guys wanted "to hide."  The Cats had best heed their coach's warnings because Kentucky    has not won an SEC road game since 2009 and in the last two years, the average margin of defeat has been 30 points.  These are teams that will come and find you if you try to hide. Quarterback play.  Any chance for a Kentucky upset will require whoever mans the QB spot to dramatically elevate the level of play there.   UK moved to the opponents' 30-yard line 10 times in the last two games but  managed only four scores.  And the third-down numbers have been ugly.  It's not all on the QB's but the passing accuracy needed for this offense to click has been missing. Runnin' Gamecocks.  USC's Mike Davis is averaging 127 yards/game, which ranks 11th nationally.  This defense isn't as good as the last two the Cats have faced but Steve Spurrier is helping that defense out by relying on a potent rushing attack.  And while UK has done a good job in limiting big plays this season, it has not yet successfully forced teams into enough must-pass situations. = = = NUMBERS GAME --South Carolina ranks only 58th nationally in total defense but the Gamecocks are top 20 in sacks and tackles-for-loss.  Avoiding negative yardage plays is crucial for UK in this game. --UK opponents are averaging 5.75 per carry when they run on first down.  The Cats must find a way to improve in that area against a South Carolina offense that is relying heavily on the ground game. --Opponents are completing 64% of their passes against South Carolina and averaging 8.1 yards-per-attempt (2nd worst in that stat in the SEC).  Those numbers suggest UK will have at least a slightly better matchup than it had last week, when just getting open against that Florida secondary was a challenge. (stats courtesy of cfbstats.com) = = = QUOTE OF THE WEEK "I'm not discouraged.  I do see bright spots.  I'm just not seeing it consistently." --offensive coordinator Neal Brown, on dealing with the slow progress of a young offensive unit. = = = THIS WEEK IN BIG BLUE HISTORY Tomorrow is the 16th anniversary of the first time the goalposts came down at Commonwealth Stadium.  Tim Couch's overtime pass to Craig Yeast gave the Cats their first win over Alabama in 75 years.  It's a reminder that the Air Raid took flight from the outset of that season in part because of the talent at key spots that Hal Mumme and company inherited. --listen to Tom each weekday morning at 9:06am eastern on "The Leach Report" radio network  --check out tomleachky.com for more of Tom's coverage of the Cats and follow Tom on Twitter @tomleachky and via Facebook for "The Leach Report"