Randall Cobb, Mike Hartline, Defense all shine in season opening rout
By Staff
Randall Cobb scores his second TD of the game, this time out of the “wildcat formation” as UK routs Miami OH 42-0.
As season openers go, this one rated as an “A + + +” for Rich Brooks and his UK Wildcat football squad. One could call this the “Randall Cobb show” as the dynamic sophomore had an amazing debut as full time WR, but this game was so much more than a one trick pony. Mike Hartline is very much improved over last season. The defense looked ferocious. And yes, Chris Matthews looks to be for real.
The game started out sluggish for UK’s offense as they stalled on their first drive and Lones Seiber missed a FG, and then Kentucky could not do much for the rest of the first quarter. You could almost hear the handwringing and cries of “woe are us” after the slow start, but then as expected, UK’s offense started to click and the rout was on. Let’s recap the scoring, and then we will look at some stats for the game.
UK 7, MIAMI 0 – 11:28 2nd – In what I thought was his prettiest pass as a Wildcat, Mike Hartline hit a scampering Randall Cobb down the sideline for a 27 yard TD pass. This was a very efficent drive as they went 47 yards in just 4 plays and 1:18.
UK 14, MIAMI 0 – 6:50 2nd – Derrick Lock broke loose on a nice 16 yard scamper as UKcored on it’s second straight possession. UK drove 58 yards in just 7 plays and 2:37.
UK 21, MIAMI 0 – 1:55 2nd – The rout is officially on as Chris Matthews uses his 6’5 frame to haul down a 21 yard pass. Looks like Matthews could have a career clearing the glass for Calipari’s Cats if this football thing does not turn out. Drive went 71 yards in just 5 plays in just 2:30
UK 28, Miami 0 – 11:30 3rd – Out of the “Wildcat formation” Randall Cobb takes the snap and rushes 11 yards for the TD. Another quick, impressive drive as UK drove 80 yards in just 8 plays and 3:30.
UK 35, Miami 0 – 7:28 3rd – Trevard Lindley gets in on the rout and picks off a pass and dances along the sidelines for a 25 yard “pick 6”.
UK 42, Miami 0 – 13:58 4th – Moncell Allen storms up the middle for a 9 yard TD as UK grinds it out on a 12 play, 80 yard drive that lasts 5:32.
So as I said the other day, I would be very pleased with a 42-10 UK win. I have to say that I underestimated the Cats. After a blah first quarter, UK put together four out of 5 very impressive and quick scoring drives. UK chose to grind it out at the end of the first half or it could have been 5 for 5 on scoring drives. Miami was a beaten team at the half and the final score could have been a lot worse, but Brooks eschewed a 4th quarter field goal and went for a simple run up the middle on 4th and goal from the 7 that only netted 5 yards. UK ran the clock out in the 4th with the ball at the 15 and I know that Spurrier or Meyer would have gone for the TD, Papaw Brooks showed class. UK pulled most of the starters at the end of the third, so it was good to see the younger players get some playing time. Let’s take a look at the stats and a little analysis.
PASSING: Mike Hartline had a slow first quarter but showed a great deal more zip on the ball and made a few good decisions on getting rid of the ball. It looks like most of the hype on Hartline being much improved is for real as he really clicked running this offense. I would give Hartline a good solid B+ grade for the game as he had some shaky moments early but gained his composure. Will Fidler saw the field in some mop up time and had a couple of scary moments handling the ball and handing off, but he did not turn the ball over. In a bit of a shock, Tyler Sargent saw time as the 3rd string QB for UK, so this can fuel rumors about Mossakowski and Newton possibly redshirting. Here are the stats:
Mike Hartline: 18-27-218-2-0
Will Fidler: 2-2-21-0-0
Tyler Sargent 0-1-0-0
RUSHING: After the first quarter, UK’s offensive dominated the Miami OH DL and UK did whatever they wanted on the ground. After the first half, UK stayed on the ground primarily and racked up 220 yards on 42 carries and had 3 rushing TD’s. Derrick Locke seems to be close to 100% after knee surgery and Moncell Allen had a nice game to boot. Alfonso Smith was also steady as UK had a nice three headed monster at RB today. A big shock was that freshman Donald Russell saw action, which means that he would not be redshirting this year. Let’s look at the stats:
Derrick Locke: 9-65-(7.2 avg) – 1 TD
Moncell Allen: 8-57-(7.1 avg) – 1 TD
Alfonso Smith: 7-37-(5.3 avg) – 0 TD
Coshik Williams: 5-24-(4.0) – 0 TD
Donald Russell: 4-14-(3.5) – 0 TD
Mike Hartline: 3-11-(3.7) – 0 TD
Randall Cobb: 1-11-(11.0) – 1 TD
Rashaad Palmer: 1-8-(8.0) – 0 TD
AJ Nance: 1-4-(4.0) 0 TD
Maurice Grinter: 2-2-(1.0) – 0 TD
Will Fidler: 1 – (-5_ – (-5) – 0 TD
RECEIVING: Wow. Randall Cobb and Chris Matthews give UK what can be a scary good starting tandem. At first, it was the Randall Cobb show as Cobb caught 6 of the first 7 completions, but then Hartline did a nice job of spreading the ball around. Cobb is a potential score everytime he touches the ball and Matthews showed that he knows how to use his size to bring in a big play. Let’s look at the stats:
Randall Cobb: 7 -95 – (13.6) – 1
Chris Matthews: 4-56-(14.0) – 1
TC Drake: 2-37-(18.5) – 0
Gabe Correll: 1-15-(15)-0
Ross Bogue: 1-11-(11)-0
Gene McKaskill 1-8-(8)-0
Kyrus Lanxter: 2-6-(3)-0
Eric Adeyemi: 1-6-(6)-0
Nick Melillo: 1-5-(5)-0
THE DEFENSE: What else can you say about a defense that notched the first shut out for UK since 1996? Well, they held Miami to just 188 total yards and and allowed only 62 yards rushing on 22 carries (a 2.8 average). UK harrassed Raudabaugh all day and he completed just 13-34 passes for 126 yards and has two interceptions. Calvin Harrison and Trevard Lindley had the picks and Lindley very easily could have had two additional picks. You can say what you want about Miami not being a SEC level team, but when a team is dominated like the Redhawks were, you have to feel great about the defense.
UP NEXT: UK has a bye week before facing off against the Louisville Cardinals at Commonwealth Stadium on 9/19.
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