Kentucky Finally Fed Jamarion Wilcox but Ugly Offensive Issues Persist

Even when things feel slightly better while watching the Kentucky offense, the results are the same results.

The game at Tennessee opened like a typical game against Josh Heupel. Instead of the Vols doing the damage, it was Kentucky creating an explosive play on the first snap as Jamarion Wilcox scampered 50 yards down the field. It was the longest run of the season for the Wildcats, who had zero runs for 30+ yards entering the ninth game of the season.

After that first big run, Kentucky continually went back to Wilcox. He totaled career-highs in attempts (17) and rushing yards (102). Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan admits they should’ve leaned on Wilcox earlier in the season.

“He deserves it. He’s one of those physical ball-carriers. It’s probably taken us a week or two too long to really force those carries,” Hamdan said after the 28-18 loss.

“We tried to keep him in as many situations for a young guy to not have to have the whole thing, if you will, from a protection standpoint, from a pass-game standpoint. I think it benefitted us having Demie (Sumo-Karngbaye) back this week as well to supplement that. Proud of how he played, for sure.”

You’re probably pulling your hair out at that comment, right? Well, don’t fret. The results are the same results.

After that 50-yard run from Wilcox, Kentucky got down inside the 10-yard line and didn’t score, a phenomenon that’s now occurred in four consecutive games. Wilcox was rewarded with more carries, but more explosive plays did not come. He only averaged 3.25 yards per touch on his other 16 carries. The longest play he made from scrimmage after that 50-yard gain was a 7-yard pop-pass.

Mistakes Kill the Kentucky Offense

The parts are changing on the Kentucky offense. They’re trying different skill players — nine different Wildcats caught a pass — and they rotated in various offensive linemen. Sure, there were more explosives than normal (four pass plays of 25+ yards), but costly mistakes killed drives.

“All I can think about is, again, the self-inflicted wounds,” said Hamdan. “That’s the hardest part of everything. I think certainly in those first 3-4 drives, we felt we were keeping them off balance, mixing the run and pass. I thought we got Wilcox going, thought Brock (Vandagriff) was doing a lot of things, and receivers were doing good things. I know you’re tired of hearing it from me, but it just seems like there’s something on every drive.”

Kentucky committed five false start penalties. The Wildcats had three turnovers. Despite all of that tomfoolery, and injuries to Vandagriff and Barion Brown, they had the ball in the fourth quarter and were only trailing by three points. Then there was a snapping snafu on second down that made it 3rd and 14.

“If it’s not one thing, it’s another thing.”

Hamdan is exactly right. That’s why Kentucky still has not scored more than 20 points against an SEC foe. If they don’t surpass 20 against Texas in the penultimate week of the season, it will be the first time that has happened since the Cats were 0-10-1 in 1982. You are the company that you keep.