Game Day Links: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Alabama State Hornets
By Wayne
Credit to meacswacsports.blogspot.com
To all those who believe this is going to be a beat down of poor FCS Alabama State, let’s not forget the game still has to be played and that anything can happen. Anyone remember Appy State busting the University of Michigan a few years ago? Exactly. So, here are some keys to the game.
"THE KEYS Show up ready for a fight Led by former Georgia star running back Isaiah Crowell, Alabama State features multiple transfers from Football Bowl Subdivision schools. The visitors come in on an uptick, having won six in a row. Last week, the Hornets played in front of a crowd of 63,113 (for a meeting with Alabama A&M at Birmingham’s Legion Field) that will likely be larger than what is in Commonwealth Stadium. There is little reason to think the visitors from the Football Championship Subdivision will be intimidated. Better quarterback play There’s reason to think that better QB play could have made the difference for UK in its tough road loss at Mississippi State. After Maxwell Smith’s struggles in Starkville, Jalen Whitlow will try to shake off the impact of a bad ankle sprain suffered against Alabama and reclaim the Cats’ starting job. If Whitlow gets injured again, UK head man Mark Stoops said that the redshirt could come off true freshman QB Reese Phillips this week. Stop the run Alabama State is seventh nationally among FCS schools in rushing (261.8 yards a game). Crowell (833 yards) has been slowed in recent weeks by an ankle injury but his backup, Malcolm Cyrus, has proven almost as potent (740 yards). For a UK run defense that ranks 13th in the SEC (allowing 204.6 yards a game), this will be a formidable challenge. THE MOOD Is patient. Mostly. UK fans are giving new coach Mark Stoops a “free season” in 2013. Given that the coach inherited a 2-10 team in need of a substantial talent infusion, that’s fair. Still, an SEC program, even a struggling one, should beat an FCS foe. If that doesn’t happen Saturday night, it will test some of that patience."
Football, as with all sports, is a game of match-ups. Coordinators call certain plays with certain personnel to certain places because weaknesses can be exploited by strengths. In order to know how the keys to the game will play out, we need to check out the match-ups.
"QUARTERBACKS Jalen Whitlow is expected to return as the Kentucky starter after recovering from an ankle sprain suffered against Alabama. If the dual-threat sophomore cannot go or is again injured, Mark Stoops indicated that true freshman Reese Phillips could get the call over Maxwell Smith. Alabama State has had injury issues at quarterback, too, with its third-string QB Quinteris Toppings, leading an overtime victory over Prairie View A&M. Regular starter Daniel Duhart (57.3 completion percentage, 1,307 yards passing with 12 touchdowns and only two picks) is back. Advantage: Kentucky RUNNING BACKS Senior Raymond Sanders has run with determination in the past two games (158 rushing yards combined). True freshman Jojo Kemp rushed for 63 yards at Mississippi State and scored his first college touchdown. Alabama State star Isaiah Crowell has been slowed by an ankle injury the past two games. Before that, the ex-Georgia standout had run for 129 yards or more in four straight games. His backup, Malcolm Cyrus, ran for 241 yards against Prairie View A&M and 138 last week vs. Alabama A&M. Advantage: Alabama State WIDE RECEIVERS Franklin County product Ryan Timmons took a bubble screen 51 yards for a touchdown at Mississippi State. With 25 catches, the true freshman trails only junior-college transfer Javess Blue (28) for the Kentucky team lead. Diminutive (5-foot-8, 160 pounds) Earl Lucas, a transfer from Arkansas State, is Alabama State’s most dangerous wide-out with team-best totals of 36 catches and three touchdown receptions. Advantage: Kentucky TIGHT ENDS Kentucky senior Jordan Aumiller set a career high with four catches (28 yards) at Mississippi State. Alabama State senior Justin Robinson is averaging 19.1 yards on his nine catches this season. He suffered a knee injury against Alabama A&M; his backup is redshirt freshman Brandon Barnes. Advantage: Kentucky OFFENSIVE LINEMEN Kentucky tackles Darrian Miller and Jordan Swindle should be key performers against an Alabama State defense that comes into the game with a whopping 38 sacks. Alabama State senior center Edmond Davis is a four-year starter who makes all the line calls for the Hornets. Advantage: Kentucky DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Kentucky junior defensive end Alvin “Bud” Dupree returned from the strained pectoral muscle that kept him out of the Alabama game to record 13 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack at Mississippi State. Alabama State defense tackle Derrick Billups had three tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble that he recovered in the Hornets’ victory over Alabama A&M. Advantage: Kentucky LINEBACKERS UK middle linebacker Avery Williamson has regained the SEC tackles lead with 74 (an average of 10.6 a game). Alabama State MLB Kourtney Berry is the Hornets’ leading tackler with 70. He also has nine tackles for loss, five sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception. Strong-side linebacker Leland Baker had 17 tackles against Prairie View A&M. Advantage: Alabama State SECONDARY Cornerback Fred Tiller had nine tackles, including two tackles for loss, at Mississippi State and has moved ahead of Cody Quinn on the UK depth chart. Alabama State cornerback Nick Martin has 11 pass break-ups, and free safety Najee Bright has two interceptions. Advantage: Kentucky SPECIAL TEAMS UK place-kicker Joe Mansour is 8-for-9 on field goals this season, and hit from 44 and 45 yards at Mississippi State. Punter Landon Foster (42.1 yards a punt) has been better in the middle of the season than early. Javess Blue (23.8 yards) is seventh in the SEC in kickoff returns. Alabama State’s Bobby Wenzig is averaging 42.1 yards a punt. He is 8-for-13 on field goals, while freshman Alex Louthan is 2-for-6. Myles Everett is a dangerous return man on both kicks and punts. Advantage: Kentucky"