As expected the Tennessee Volunters defeated Vandy Saturday and need one more win to become bowl eligible.It seems as if this scenario is presented to our Wildcats every year.The Volunteers seemingly always have motivation to come in to the rivalry with renewed passion.Whether it be Phil Fulmers last game,playing for bowl eligibility or simply just a chance to add another Kentucky notch in their belt,this team has haunted my dreams since i was old enough to know that orange was the worst color in the crayon box.It seems like every year they head into this matchup with a head full of steam and plenty of momentum.This year is no different.The Vols while starting slow, dismantled Ole Miss,something Kentucky could not do,and beat Vandy Saturday. While the score from Saturday does not indicate total Volunteer domination and was actually a somewhat lackluster performance it still gives the Vols confidence heading into Saturday trying to get that crucial sixth win.Tauren Poole rushed for 99 yards and the game sealing touchdown in what was a pathetic performance by both squads.The Vol offense failed to find any sort of consistency,going three and out,throwing picks and allowing Vandy to hang around in this game.Tyler Bray actually started the game very well completing 9 of his first 10passes leading the Vols to a 14-0 start.However the next two drives ended in interceptions and he continued his errent ways the rest of the game.While the offense failed to perform up to its expectations,the defense came to play.They blocked a field goal attempt and intercepted Funk twice,one being a crucial pick at the goal line.Comparitively Kentucky,while starting slowly against Vandy finished the second half strong on their way to a 38-20 win.The Cats definately looked more dominant against Vandy yet it comes as no suprise that there are major holes in this defense,specifically against the run.Kentucky has simply not been able to stop anyonme.If the tackling doesnt improve along with many other problems on the defensive side of the ball Kentucky could be in for a long game Saturday.
Keys to the game:
1)Pressure Tyler Bray.If you can consistently get into Brays face and hurry him he is fallable.While he looked brilliant against Memphis and Ole Miss,he simply couldnt maintain any consistency against Vandy.But if you allow him alot of time in the pocket he will hurt you.He has good size standing 6'6 and has the arm strength and touch that you want to see from your quarterback.But keep him on his back and have someone in his face consistently and he cant use it against you.Bray is an smart QB but he is young.It would be wise of Kentucky to sugar the coverage a little bit to try and throw him a look that will confuse him,but were talking about a Steve Brown led defense so dont think were going to see anything too extraordinary
2)Control the clock.Having Locke back gives the coaching staff a no brainer offensive gameplan,run the football.If you throw in a little bit of Sanders and Cobb in there you have a recipe for a three headed monster. Its time to bring out the game management strategy.
3)Play action.Establish the run early and show the Vols that you are commited to the ground game.If you do this you set the bait for the play action pass.
4)Utilize Hartlines strengths-While personally I like a good game manager,most fans dont.This is one game where Hartline shouldnt listen to the fans.If he can play smart and consistently move the chains on third down he gives Kentucky a good chance to win.Simply take what the defense gives you.Hartline has done an excellent job of doing this all season. I really like that he sits in the pocket and goes through his second and third progressions when that first one is not there and makes good decisions.He has shown he can throw the fade route,and has a good target in Matthews,but this is not his bread and butter.Work those slant routes,screens,and short out routes.Hand the ball off to your playmakers on the ground and work that clock.If the deep ball opens up burn them on the post.If its not there dont force it.Punting the football is not a bad play.
5) Defense- One of the most scrutinized phases of this team has certainly been this defense,and rightly so. The tackling has been awful.Ive seen poor pursuit angles,the first tackler going for the strip instead of the tackle and too many instances of the backside defenders getting burnt on a cutback.The only consistency ive seen from this defense is the fact that they cannot stop an athletic cutback runner.Besides Danny Trevathan every player on this defense has had difficulties in getting their hands on a shifty running back.Most of their bad pursuit angles area result of going with the flow of the play only to be fooled and having to adjust their angles then coming in too late.While they have had instances of having problems stopping powerful frontside runners,I feel more confident in thier abilities to stop a back who runs to the playside consistently and relies on his momentum and power,simply because of sheer numbers.With these power runners you can creep Winston Guy up into the box a little bit to help that front seven put some bodies on him.While theyre not the most fundamentally sound tacklers,no runningback can continue to run with three or four defenders on him.Poole is a physical runner with great vision and works best when he can get a burst of power and explosiveness and square up to the point of attack.He has the ability to run through defenders and keeps his legs churning until the whistle.While he lacks great breakaway speed he will run through you if you dont wrap him up.Kentucky had better have been using the off week to work on their tackling skills.There absolutley cannot be any arm tackles against Poole or he will make you pay.
6)Off Week Adjustments-Great teams use their off weeks to their advantage and come into their next game firing from both barrels.They use that extra week to fully prepare for their next opponent and get healthy.Joker needed to be working on fundamentals with this team and thats exactly what he said he was doing,working on making Kentucky better.It will be crucial for this coaching staff to have these guys ready to play.
7) Forget about the streak. The way I see it Joker Phillips is in his first year as head coach which means hes 0-0 against UT as the teams leader.While the streak is certainly intimidating this team should find motivation in knowing they can start their own streak.
No one was more pleased with the Vols failures this year than me.I gleefully watched from my couch as they were dismantled by Oregon,Florida,Georgia,and Bama.My enjoyment of thier loss to LSU was heightened by the fact that they actually had that game but failed to remeber that only 11 men are allowed on the field at any given time.I have consistently rooted against the Big Orange turds as long as I can remeber.As a Wildcat fan you're hatred for the Vols starts at an early age and stays with you your entire life.Yet all that hatred has never been rewarded with a Wildcat win.Heres a statistic,The Volunteers have been beating the Cats for more years than the current players have been alive.Not one player on this Kentucky team can say that they have beat Tennessee.Its downright depressing.This year is our best chance at ending the streak.Tennesse by its own standards is down this year along with the rest of the SEC east and we have to take advantage of it.We had an opportunity to make a run at it but lost our step and faltered,but we can redeem ourselves with a win Saturday. Regardless of what bowl we go to it will all be for nothing in my eyes if we lose to UT.This team has an opportunity to do something special by beating both Steve Spurrier and breaking the dreaded streak all in the same season.As a fan whether you like it or not this is our real bowl game. Can they do it?
Go Cats
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