The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Kentucky – INSIDE SLANT
Kentucky hits rock bottom with humiliating loss to Razorbacks
The beat down was alarming and made even worse by this fact: More than 20 minutes remained when the 49-7 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks was called due to a fierce lightning storm.
The Kentucky Wildcats (1-6, 0-4) appear to have hit rock bottom with the horrifying one-sided contest on Oct. 13 that featured Arkansas scoring on a 74-yard pass on the first offensive play of the game and notching touchdowns on its first six possessions.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats were practically nonexistent on offense while putting up little resistance on defense. The Razorbacks outgained Kentucky 444-88 while building a 42-0 halftime lead.
It is the kind of result that will only ratchet up the heat on embattled third-year coach Joker Phillips.
“It starts with me,” Phillips said after Kentucky’s losing streak reached five games, its longest since a seven-game skid in 2004. “I’m responsible for it. Every player, every coach — we’re responsible for it.
“We don’t want to be miserable. We go back to work and get it corrected.”
The Wildcats host the powerful Georgia Bulldogs on Oct. 20 so it will surely take a huge turnaround for them to be competitive against the nation’s 13th-ranked team.
The loss to the Razorbacks was so disheartening that it’s hard to see Kentucky bouncing back in such a short time span. And results this ugly will only make it harder for athletic director Mitch Barnhart to retain Phillips for a fourth campaign as a restless fan base continues to howl in an uproar.
The Wildcats have suffered some significant injuries but were among the least talented SEC teams well before the injuries started racking up. The lack of veteran depth in the program has been exposed and youngsters who shouldn’t even be suiting up yet are starting games.
Added up, it’s a recipe for disaster against the gauntlet of far-better SEC opponents.
“It’s tough,” senior center Matt Smith said. “This is one of the most embarrassing games we’ve been a part of.”
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NCAAF Team Report – Kentucky – NOTES, QUOTES
WHAT’S AHEAD: The Wildcats host Georgia in a homecoming game that could have a dicey atmosphere after the Arkansas debacle. Kentucky’s attendance has dropped this season and fans are openly displaying their unhappiness over the product.
–Starting QB Jalen Whitlow played so poorly against Arkansas that Kentucky installed senior Morgan Newton behind center for two series to give the true freshman a break.
“It was just to try to get Jalen to step back away from it, to see things, but we knew we would come back with Jalen,” coach Joker Phillips said. “Just wanted him to step away from it, because he’s a young guy that needs the snaps.”
Whitlow hit just 2-of-10 passes for 83 yards, with one of the completions being a 61-yard scoring pass to La’Rod King.
–Defensive coordinator Rick Minter was highly disappointed in the defensive showing against Arkansas. The Razorbacks rolled up 533 yards and 24 first downs despite the game lasting a little less than 40 minutes.
“We got a total beatdown and we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Minter said. “We allowed runs, we allowed trick plays and we allowed reverses.”
–The secondary has been ravaged with injuries, forcing three true freshmen to start the Arkansas contest. Twin brothers Daron Blaylock and Zack Blaylock were the starting safeties and Cody Quinn was one of the starting cornerbacks. The Wildcats have played 14 true freshmen this season.
KEEP AN EYE ON: CB Cody Quinn has started four consecutive games due to the injury issues in the secondary. The true freshman has certainly taken his lumps but could be better for the experience down the line. He had a career-high seven tackles against Arkansas and will continue to see substantial playing time the rest of the season.
LOOKING GOOD: WR La’Rod King scored on a 61-yard touchdown pass to move into a tie for fifth place in school history with 17 career receiving scores. MLB Avery Williams had 1.5 tackles for loss against Arkansas and has been solid all season. P Landon Foster continues to have a stellar freshman campaign and averaged 48.4 yards on eight punts against Arkansas.
STILL NEEDS WORK: The passing game has disappeared since QB Maxwell Smith was lost to a season-ending ankle injury. True freshman Jared Whitlow was 2-for-10 passing against Arkansas and has completed just 41.7 percent overall. The running game never got untracked against the Razorbacks with Raymond Sanders having a team-high 21 yards and ranks just 106th nationally at 106.9 yards per game. Kentucky has scored just three first-quarter points all season. The defense allowed 533 yards — Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson passed for 372 and five touchdowns — in the shortened contest. The Wildcats are 98th in scoring defense (32.9) and 77th in total defense (415.6). Kentucky has allowed opponents to convert 55.7 percent of their third-down opportunities.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We just didn’t execute. We are limited on what we can do but we’ve got to get some consistency on offense. We’re shifting quarterbacks but that’s no excuse. We’ve got to do better.” — Kentucky coach Joker Phillips, on the offensive struggles.
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NCAAF Team Report – Kentucky – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES:
–QB Jalen Whitlow threw his first career touchdown pass against Arkansas but is struggling mightily as he is forced into extensive playing time. Whitlow had just 83 yards and has topped 100 just once in the three games in which he has taken the majority of the snaps.
–WR La’Rod King caught a 61-yard score against Arkansas and leads the Wildcats with 31 receptions, 351 yards and four receiving touchdowns. King has 1,569 career receiving yards, which is seventh most in school history.
–MLB Avery Williamson leads the Wildcats with 68 tackles but had a season-low four stops against the Razorbacks. Williamson has four double-digit tackle games this season.
ROSTER REPORT
–Senior CB/S Martavius Neloms (hamstring) missed the Arkansas game but hopes to return for the Georgia contest.
–Sophomore S Ashely Lowery (concussion) sat out the Arkansas contest and will be evaluated again this week after having suffered two concussions this season.
–True freshman QB Patrick Towles (ankle) remains sidelined from the injury he suffered against Mississippi State on Oct. 6.
–Senior CB Cartier Rice suffered his second hip flexor injury of the season in the loss to Arkansas.
–True freshman CB Fred Tiller injured a shin against Arkansas and X-rays were negative.
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