Kentucky vs. Tennessee preview: Wildcats look to end 24 year drought, beat Tennessee on Saturday

November 27, 1:00 PMKentucky Wildcats ExaminerAndrew Hardison

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(All eyes are on Brooks & the 7-4 Wildcats. Can they beat the Vols?/AP Photo)

Saturday’s matchup between Kentucky and Tennessee could be opportunity for the Wildcats to rewrite the history books.

The Cats and Vols are no stranger to each other in SEC play. They’ve been battling it out for decades and for many of those, Kentucky has come up empty against a superior Tennessee team. For 24 years, the Wildcats have ceased to overcome the challenge of beating the Vols while current head coach Rich Brooks does everything he can to add another accolade to his tenure at UK.

It’s going to take a lot of break the 24 year drought against Tennessee with the most emphasis being placed on Kentucky’s defensive unit.

The Vols are just a shade behind the Cats in the SEC. At 6-5 overall and 3-4 in the SEC, Tennessee and Kentucky are almost mirror images of each other in terms of records. With that said, Kentucky’s defense is going to be tested through and through by an above-average Tennessee offense. The Vols rank 56th in the nation in overall offense and if you don’t think that’s good then take a look at where UK stands. With the Cats coming into the matchup with the 87th ranked offense, it will be Kentucky’s defense that will need to be the game changer on Saturday.

One of Tennessee’s biggest weapons is Montario Hardesty. A fifth year senior, Hardesty has used his time in Knoxville to get to where he’s at now. Vols head coach Lane Kiffin has made Hardesty his work-horse on offense, giving him 225 carries on the season thus far. Already running for 1100+ rushing yards and nine touchdowns, Hardesty certainly has the chance to improve those numbers with one game left. That’s where Kentucky’s defense comes into play. The Wildcats have played well of late on defense led by defensive stalwarts Sam Maxwell, Micah Johnson, and Corey Peters. The three have stepped up to lead a resurgent Wildcats defense in the past three games. During the Wildcats three-game winning streak, the team is giving up an average of 17 points a game, a drastic change from games earlier in the season (Florida/Alabama).

In last week’s game against Georgia, Kentucky’s front seven made life hell for quarterback Joe Cox in the second half. That trend will have to continue on Saturday with Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton. Crompton was shaky early in the season, but has settled in quite nicely for a much improved season. Guys like Maxwell and Peters will have to get to Crompton early and often if the defense is going to stand a chance. Too much time in the pocket will allow Crompton to see the field and connect with his wide receivers. Brooks is going to have to dial it up with blitz packages because his secondary has been tested all season long with injuries to guys like Trevard Lindley and Paul Warford, creating headaches for the coaching staff. The increased blitzing in last week’s victory over Georgia caused Cox to throw two inadvertent interceptions that helped Kentucky seal the deal. If it’s not the defense to step up then it will have to be the offense.

Kentucky’s offense has been led by running back Derrick Locke and wide receiver Randall Cobb all season. When Locke and Cobb roll, the Wildcats tend to do the same. With the Wildcats usually inept passing game, the ground game has become the Cats best friend. Kentucky ranks 20th in the nation in the run game, averaging 196 yards a game. When you have guys like Locke and Cobb who can make defenses miss, things become a little easier to deal with. The two have 14 combined rushing touchdowns on the season, with Cobb accounting for nine of those usually coming from the infamous “Wild-Cobb” formation. Both athletes get it done in myriad of ways; running, receiving, and even passing. If these two guys don’t get going, then Kentucky struggles to do anything on offense.

That is partly due to the inexperience at the quarterback position as well. Freshman quarterback Morgan Newton has been thrown into a tough situation. The position once belonged to Mike Hartline, but his season ending injury has allowed Newton to start earlier than most expected. He’s had his up’s and down’s so far, but Saturday’s game will be an entirely different feel. The atmosphere, the implications, and the team will all make it difficult for Newton to find a rhythm and get his team rolling. Newton has showed good composure by not trying to do too much, helped along by a coaching staff that completely understands his situation. That’s why Locke and Cobb are so important because they let Newton settle into his role.

Saturday will be a game like none other for the Kentucky Wildcats football program. With a chance to go (8-4) for the season, it would be Rich Brooks best season and allow the Cats to slide into 2nd in the SEC East, a revelation many fans would have never expected. A victory will also give the Cats a shot at a better bowl, with Wildcats invading possible locales like Tampa for a New Year’s Day bash. It’s been talked about, now it’s time to get it done.