SEC Week 1 Thoughts...

Last week in the SEC, I was 11-1. Okay, most of the games were easy to pick, but still 11-1 to start the season...pretty good.

Before I post my projections here's what I observed from last week-

**Alabama is as good as advertised**

I wasn't sure how losing two All Americans on the offensive line, replacing a senior quarterback, and veteran running back would translate into immeadeate success. But against the #7 ranked team in the country, the Tide was ready to roll.

**Don't worry about LSU yet**

The Tigers did not blow out last years college football laughing stock the Washington Huskies, but that was a very emotional game for the Huskies. New coach, new era in Seattle...it had the makings of a close one and was. It will be KEY for the Tigers to play well this week, at home against the upstart Vanderbilt Commodores.

**Florida is the Cream of the Crop**

The Gators are easily the best team in the nation and quite possibly could be the one of the best teams of all time. This week they have another cake game before hosting Tennessee.

Thoughts on Kentucky/Miami Game

Kentucky Wins 42-0
Post Game Thoughts---
1) The Offense has weapons.
Last year the offense was anemic. The team could not move the ball and were terrible in 3rd down conversions. Yesterday the Wildcat offense, after the first quarter, got into a rhythm by scoring 35 offensive points. Quarterback Mike Hartline still might not have a strong arm and still has work to do but he does have two playmakers at receiver- Randall Cobb and JUCO transfer Chris Mathews. Mathews didn’t really have tremendous stats for his first collegiate game, but showed signs of a future GO-To threat. Mathews has a large frame and if he can continue to progress, a big bodied receiver will give the Cats offense a much needed boost.
Along with Mathews and Cobb’s ability to catch the ball, it looks like the Cats will have a strong one,two punch at tailback. Alfonzo Smith carried the ball with power and Derrick Locke came back after last seasons devastating knee injury to give speed to the rushing game. The mix of power and speed will keep teams off balance this season.
Just as the rushing attack will keep opposing defenses off balance, the WILDCAT formation was run 3 times for a total of 2 touchdowns and 31 yards. With speedy Randal Cobb at quarterback and Derrick Locke in the backfield the Cats have a lot of speed and should help change pace and tone during a game.

2) Defensive line needs work.
As should be expected, the defensive line struggled on Saturday, though the score does not show it. Kentucky started 3 new players this season on the 4 man front. If Miami were any stronger, the Redhawks could have taken huge advantage of some pretty big rushing holes.

3) Hartline still needs to progress.
What worries me most about this team is Mike Hartline’s inability to throw a ball deep and his reactions under pressure. Each time Kentucky was in a 3rd and long, Miami would blitz someone and Hartline was unable to make the proper reads. Last year, when pressured Hartline goes for the receiver screen. The Redhawks scouted this and knew this. And each time pressured, Hartline attempted to go to a receiver screen, which ended up in bobbled, nearly picked off passes. When the Cats play tougher SEC defenses, those bobbled, nearly intercepted passes will be actual intercepted passes and possible points for the opponent. They need another option for Hartline under pressure….a back out of the backfield, tightend some where over the middle….something other than a receiver screen…

All in all Kentucky won and I guess that should be enough to make the Big Blue Nation happy for a week.
The Cats now have a bye week to prepare for the Governor’s Cup against Louisville.