The season started with promise. Kentucky's defense was ranked in the top 10 of all the nation and the offense was doing just enough to win. However, following the first month of the season and a close loss to the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide to open conference play the team began to rupture.
The Wildcats now head into thier 3rd straight bowl game having lost three games in a row and six of thier past eight.
What went wrong? Well, injuries to the defense was a major cause for the Cats fallout. Kentucky lost various defensive leaders on a week to week basis in conference play and by the half way point of the season, all three starting linebackers were forced to sit out due to injuries and watched the Florida Gators destroy the once highly touted defense 63-5.
The defensive losses forced Kentucky to play offense, which was the major weakness. The team lacked leadership, playmakers, and cohesion. The second game of the season, redshirt sophomore quarterback Mike Hartline was booed when he entered the game to start the second half.
It might not have been Hartline's fault but he was the scapegoat and was eventually replaced by true-freshman Randall Cobb. Cobb gave the Wildcats a spark as he led the Cats to a last second victory in his first career start in Mississippi State. However, the victory over the Bulldogs would be his and Kentucky's last as they lost thier remaining three games of the season.
In the downfall of the last month, Kentucky fell far behind early and were unable to makeup ground.
The demise of the Cats regular season, can be saved with a bowl victory. Other than quarterback Randall Cobb, who suffered a knee injury which required surgery following the Tennessee game, the team should be at full strength. If the veteran denfense can revert to the play which they displayed in September, Kentucky should be able to win thier 3rd straight bowl game.
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