The eyes of Texas are on Kentucky. The Longhorns are traveling to Lexington for the first time in program history on Saturday.
“I think it’s important for us to understand the magnitude of this game,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said on Wednesday’s SEC Teleconference. “Being on the road at night in the SEC, against a very dangerous Kentucky team, I have a ton of respect for Coach Stoops, his staff, his team. But this is this very important game in the in the grand scheme of things for our season, it’s going to take an effort in all three phases to try to get the job done.”
While you may scoff at that statement, Sark has looked to history to emphasize the significance of this matchup with Kentucky. A year ago, a loss to the Cats seemingly knocked Ole Miss out of the CFP picture. He’s been reminding his Texas team that they could suffer a similar fate if they’re not ready to play.
Even though that was a different team, the Texas head coach believes the Wildcats have a quality rushing attack that can knife through the Horns’ defense.
“One, their ability to run the football and possess the ball. They’re a big, physical front, got two good runners, and you got to really fight to not let them control the game that way and shrink the game. And then two, they have speed on the perimeter, so if you commit too much to the run game, they can take their shots on you,” said Sarkisian.
That was the script for Florida in the Horns’ worst loss of the season. The Gators ran for 159 yards, almost twice as many as any other opponent this year, and it opened the door for Florida to connect on chunk plays in the passing game.
“If you don’t play well early and handle your business, they can start shrinking the game on you,” said the Texas head coach.
Candid Analysis of Kentucky
That was the Coach-Speak analysis of Kentucky. An outside observer has combed through the tape and provided some hard truths for Kentucky fans.
Paul Wadlington of Inside Texas does a deep dive on each upcoming opponent. Sometimes, we can get tunnel vision inside our Kentucky bubble. Wadlington made a few key points that are striking.
On the passing game: “They’ve committed to 6-5, 220-pound Cutter Boley at QB after bringing in Zach Calzada this offseason. I have no idea why they didn’t bring in a dual-threat QB and double down on their OL gains, but ‘Because Mark Stoops’ is the best and most succinct answer.”
Mark Stoops is married to the pro-style system, even though his best teams have had quarterbacks who can do almost as much damage with their legs as their arms. However, that wasn’t the grandest indictment of what has happened in Lexington recently.
This is a “typical Kentucky defense” that forces opponents to be methodical. That’s not always a good thing.
“Stoops has grown schematically stale,” writes Wadlington, “but maybe they’ll try to throw some wrinkles at Texas. What do they have to lose?”
One last thing, and it’s the most amusing yet: “Stoops is the kind of guy who will punt on the opponent 43 on 4th and 4 and kick a field goal on 4th and goal from the 2 yard line down a touchdown.“
Obviously, this Texas scouter is not an omniscient observer; however, this enlightening analysis helps explain why this Kentucky football team is stuck in the proverbial mud.
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