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By: LONNY DEMAREE
Most of the fans perusing the 2015 football schedule point to the eight home games as a big unusual positive for the Wildcats. And it is somewhat of a positive however some of the teams on UK’s home schedule are viewed as huge favorite’s home or away. The Cats have a mountainous task getting off to a good start the first three games this season. The second game, they have to go through The “Ole Ball Coach” in Columbia, South Carolina and they have to break an unspeakable streak at home against the Florida Gators. Both are doable but “Ole Yeahbut” awoke from his slumber. Having said that there is one stretch that could be a huge key to the Wildcats doing something that in his third season, Mark Stoops would welcome.
The stretch from the October 3rd Eastern Kentucky University game in Commonwealth Stadium to October 31 Tennessee at home offer some opportunity. Sandwiched in between are two game the Cats could be heavy underdogs. Those are a Thursday night contest against Auburn University at home and Mississippi State in Starkville, Mississippi. That’s providing the aforementioned at the beginning of the season doesn’t come to pass. There is an open date after the October 3rd EKU game and there is a twelve day break before the Thursday Auburn Game. Then there is a break of nine more days until the Mississippi State game on the road.
With only a little over half the season completed the Tennessee Vols come to Lexington to play a much fresher team than last season. Kentucky was one of only two SEC teams that played eight-games without a break and seven of those games were SEC games. By the time the Tennessee game came up on the UK schedule there was nothing left in the Wildcat tank in the hostile territory of Neyland Stadium.
At this point there are two road games remaining on the UK schedule, Georgia and Vanderbilt. Given how the BBN turns out for the Vandy game this in most years is equivalent to a home game. We know we are painting a rosy picture but the schedule layout could provide them enough nutrient to prevent them from wilting on the vine.
Offense
How do the Wildcats get this accomplished this season? Take advantage of the assets it has accumulated. Last season the Wildcats gave up 34 quarterback sacks for 334-yards lost. With a much more experienced offensive line that stat should be vastly improved. So keep Patrick Towles on his feet.
Between the top three rushers returning UK has 5.7 yards back for the 2015 season. Two of those running backs Boom Williams and Mikel Horton played as true freshmen last season. Oh, what a little seasoning will accomplish.
Defense
On the defensive side of the football 77.6% of their tackles return. Granted Bud Dupree and Za’Darius Smith will be on a Pro roster this season and they accounted for 135 of the 240-tackles lost but the conversion to mostly 3-4 defense and sometimes multiple, UK can make up for that lost. They do have their leading tackler Josh Forrest back. Forrest is excellent in pass coverage and could eclipse Sam Maxwell’s six interceptions in 2008. Win the turnover ratio stat but most of all stop the run much better. And most of all reduce the 44% third down conversion rate on defense.
If these things get accomplished pack your bags BBN because the Cats will go bowling in 2015 or 2016 - same season.
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