2022 [W6] Cats Bounce Back

[Ezaco]

LEXINGTON, KY - The Cats refound their footing this weekend with Vanderbilt coming to town. Mostly.

 

A 26-7 victory at Commonwealth Stadium Kroger Field in the SEC should always be a victory to celebrate. But against a team considered by many to be the worst in the country, Kentucky - who contends to be the best in the country - should be doing more it feels like. The Cats did outgain the Commodores on the ground (361 yards to 91 yards), and in total yardage (553 yards to 335 yards). The 'Dores outpassed the Cats (192 yards to 244) but that, as Coach Payne discussed last week, is to design. Kentucky wants the ball on the ground. And 553 yards is a lot of offense. But it doesn't match up to what you want on the scoreboard.

 

Kelvin Dupree was scoreless, despite 221 yards receiving and another 11 in receiving. If you're going to win games in this conference, and advance in the playoffs, your clear-and-ahead number one option has got to score the ball. You have to put the ball in Dupree's hands and let him finish. Now don't get me wrong, Dupree had a great game. He had some great runs to put the Cats in the perfect position for Oliveros and Parnell to score. But Dupree has to be your scorer. And you have to score more than two touchdowns against the worst team in the country.

 

Oliveros himself had a better game, but it was still a freshman-type game. With a 50% completion rate he still could not take care of the ball, throwing an interception and fumbling the ball (which, luckily, was recovered by a Kentucky receiver). This team can only go as far as Oliveros and Dupree take them, and right now it's not far enough.

 

Kentucky stays at home next week with the South Carolina Gamecocks coming to town. Carolina is 2-3 on the season, but coming off a big win over rival Georgia at Williams-Brice Stadium. It's a game Kentucky should win, and easily, but Vanderbilt was a game they should have dominated. What can the team change between now and then to put on a show? Hopefully enough. Scheme-wise they'll be heading up against a very similar team to Vanderbilt, so hopefully lessons can be applied. Skill-wise? It's a jump, to be sure. Hopefully they can learn the right lessons and put them to use before heading to The Swamp to face Florida afterwards.