UK Football Concern But no Panic

By: LONNY DEMAREE

Is there legitimate reason for any great concern for the rest of the 2019 season? There are several reasons for concern – 1) Who is the starting quarterback going forward; 2) Can the team win without a significant passing game; 3) Is Bowden drastically needed at the wide receiver position; 4) Where is the health of Sawyer Smith? 5) If healthy can Smith regain the visual perception of the Florida game; 6) By the next game this will be the fourth week since Sawyer Smith has taken a snap in a game; 7) Can the defense keep up the progress they appear to be making in the last three weeks? 8) Can the run defense be the same as it did for three quarters against the Georgia Bulldogs?

If all these questions that can all be answered in the affirmative it could bode well for the last five games of the seasons. Albeit as it stands right now could be underdog in four of those games.
There is a question as it relates to Bowden being the starting quarterback is what decision will be made at game time? Bowden has amassed 295-yards in the last two games.

The average fan always makes the mistake of comparing what happened in the last game of the opponent to what will take place in the next game. That applies to UK and Missouri.
Mark Stoops said Vandy kept Missouri off balance most of the day with two quarterbacks. Stoops said he is not in Vandy’s locker room so it’s hard to make a comparison to what UK can do.
Stoops said that Bowden made some incredible runs in that Georgia game. It sounded like he may be leaning to Bowden to stay on the field at the quarterback position.

“Kash (Daniel) is little bit beat up at the is time of the season,” Stoops said. “Our outside linebackers namely Josh Paschal and Jordan Wright beat up. “We will bring Jared Casey and J. J. Weaver along in this game.” This the time of the year when they need those guys and he said he has seen some good things in practice but some inconsistencies at times.

Stoops said he will welcome the time they can get Bowden back at receiver but Clevan Thomas is coming on as a play maker. Stoops said that defensive tackle Phil Hoskins is almost there and could likely be on the field Saturday against Missouri. In his absence other linemen have been able to get on the field in crunch time.

Stoops said – “We started much faster than we have in past games. We played well in the first seven possessions. We played extremely well as a matter fact. Six plays and a turnover on downs.”
Stoops addressed the penalty that stopped a drive and dropped touchdown pass. “It was going to be a game of field position game and taking advantage of mistakes,” Stoops explained. It is what is but its going to have to have the same mindset we’ve had the last three games.

Stoops kind of answered the Isaiah Peters question alluding to doing the things right in terms of maturity. Being at the places at the times he supposed to be so they are working through those things with him.