Published: October 05, 2008 10:44 pm            

MARK MAYNARD: Cats need the ‘O' to go

How many of us out there really thought Kentucky had a chance against Alabama?

That’s what I thought.

Odds of winning? Slim and none.

Yet even with an anemic offense doing what we thought it would do, which is being the poster child for Pepto Bismal, the Cats had a chance against the No. 2 team in the country. They really did.

All hail the defense.

If Kentucky still has a chance to complete the bowl trifecta for the first time in nearly 60 years, and it will take at least a couple of more victories for that to happen, then it will be up to the defense.

Almost halfway through the season that much is clear.

Alabama’s 17-14 victory over Kentucky on Saturday was a statement for the defense and an indictment on the offense.

When you can’t run or pass consistently, you’ve got problems. I’m not sure Mike Hartline is the problem, although he’s not in the league of quarterbacks that Kentucky fans have enjoyed watching lately. He’s limited but not just but his own physical limitations.

It’s hard to throw when you’re running for your life out of shotgun formation. Hartline rarely had time to set up and throw. And his receivers, with the exception of the amazing Dicky Lyons Jr., have perpetual butterfingers. Five games into the season and the drops are still coming. Makes you wonder if the receivers have reached their level of incompetence.

The running game is not producing either be it the fault of the backs or the line, or both.

Kentucky still has a chance, a very good chance, because of a game-changing defense that may be as good as anybody’s in the SEC. That’s saying something.

While this may not have been Alabama’s greatest game, the fact remains the Crimson Tide crossed the goal line only once on offense. And that long run, as revealed by CBS’s camera work, was set up by a holding penalty that wasn’t called. Not to make any excuses because the Cats certainly had more than their share of breaks in Tuscaloosa.

Kentucky had chances right to the end when that onside kick was line drived out of bounds with 40 seconds remaining.

But you have to like the attitude. This wasn’t your father’s Kentucky team. These guys have grit and spunk. They believe in themselves. From a fan’s perspective, they’re easy to like, especially on defense. That unit, along with punter Tim Masthay’s booming kicks, made it a

game against Alabama. How often does that ever happen with Kentucky football? This game was not a national embarrassment.

Kentucky has some winnable games on the horizon, starting with Saturday’s game against South Carolina and Steve Spurrier. It’s time the Cats handed The Old Ball Coach his first loss against a Kentucky team. He’s overdue. Then comes another home game against struggling Arkansas.

The Cats have a legitimate chance to come away from this homestand at 6-1 and rolling or 4-3 and reeling.

The fear is without at least a little more offense, it may be the latter.

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.

        

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