Kentucky Football's goals vs. Georgia

Kentucky hosts number one Georgia on Saturday at Kroger Field. The matchup gets the coveted CBS 3:30 p.m. time slot which is normally allocated to the SEC Game of the Week. This game looked different weeks back when the Wildcats were ranked in the top ten and undefeated. Kentucky has taken a downward turn as of late which was capped off by a humiliating home loss to Vanderbilt. Let’s be honest: it would likely take UK’s best effort and numerous UGA slipups for the Cats to steal the upset victory. 

The Dawgs are the defending national champions and the top team in America by a mile. UGA is the conference’s top-ranked team in multiple statistical categories. The numbers paint an accurate picture of the visitor’s domination. Kentucky will face an uphill trek in order to beat Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs. Let’s dive into goals in all three phases. 

OFFENSE

Georgia has the best defense in the SEC. This is somewhat unexpected following the plethora of Dawgs that were selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. Kirby Smart has replaced stars with stars. 

This category describes two teams that are going in opposite directions. Georgia is allowing just 11.6 points per game which ranks first in the league and second nationally and is the best defense in the conference. UK isn’t scoring points in bunches and sputtering in the Red Zone. The Wildcats are posting 23 per outing which is 11^th in the SEC. 339 total yards average is also last in the conference. The Dawgs are giving up just 270 per game which is yet again first in the conference. There is a pattern in this game that doesn’t give the Cats much of a chance. 

UK has also given up the most QB sacks (39). This could lead to a dangerous afternoon for Will Levis. UGA defensive lineman Jalen Carter is the best defensive player that UK has faced in 2022. He is garnering Aaron Donald draft comps and has accumulated 17 QB hurries and 3 sacks alone. Carter is a game-wrecking defender. Cornerback Kelee Ringo is also a star at his position. This game could be tough sledding for UK’s struggling offense. Ironically, the Dawgs haven’t registered a high number of TFLs and QB sacks but still have created chaos beyond the line of scrimmage. Here are the goals for Saturday. 

Exceed 

Vague goal, but applicable. For the Cats to have a puncher’s chance, it must exceed seasonal averages in the run, pass, and total offensive categories and score touchdowns in the Red Zone. Will Levis has battled injuries. The senior signal caller will need to have his best game of the season against the best defense in the league in order to win. 

The Wildcats are running for just 120-yards per game which ranks 13^th in the SEC. Things won’t get easier on Saturday. UGA gives up a mere 82-yards per game which ranks first in the league and third nationally. Life won’t be easy for Chris Rodriguez Jr. 150 is the magic number. That total will be extremely difficult.  

Protect the Football

Ingredients for an upset start and finish with winning the turnover margin. UGA is -2 for the year which may be the team’s only weakness, at least on paper. Kentucky hasn’t been great as well and posts a -4 in this category. The Cats will need to be +2 in order to upset the top-ranked Dawgs. 

DEFENSE

TE Brock Bowers is the best offensive player that UK has faced in 2022. Quarterback Stetson Bennett IV should be in the Heisman discussion and is directing a unit that is carving up opposing defenses to the tune of 40.6 points and 509 total yards per game. The Dawgs have a potent and efficient offensive line and a full complement of receivers and running backs that have selflessly combined to construct an explosive unit.  

The Georgia offense is ranked first in the SEC in the following categories: Third down conversions (52%), 4^th down (90%), Long scrimmage plays (185 of 10+yards), TFLs allowed (38). The numbers are descriptive of a dominant team that’s more than capable of winning another national championship. The Dawgs aren’t dynamic at WR which makes what they’ve done even more impressive. 

Kentucky is a defensive team. Brad White’s group is ranked in the Top 5 in most SEC statistical categories. Much like on offense, UK has to win the turnover margin in order to have a chance. Let’s talk goals. 

Keep Bennett IV in the Pocket

The Georgia quarterback has hurt opponents with his arm and feet. The cold may limit the Dawgs passing game. That would benefit the Cats. Bennett IV has extended drives and scored seven touchdowns on the ground. UK has to find a way to keep him in the pocket and trust on downfield coverage against a powerful group of TE pass catchers. 

Cover Tight Ends

TE Brock Bowers is special. The true sophomore has grabbed 39 passes for 615 yards and 4 touchdowns. He’s also scored as a runner. Darnell Washington is also dangerous with 24 receptions, 392 yards, and 1 touchdown. IF the Cats can limit that combo to less than 70-receiving yards, UK will have a longshot to slow the Dawgs on the scoreboard.

SPECIAL TEAMS 

Special teams gaffes have plagued the 2022 Wildcats. This absolutely cannot happen on Saturday. I mentioned the turnover margin earlier as an essential ingredient for an upset win. Clean special teams’ play is also mandatory. Goals. 

Snap-Hold-Kick

I feel this is a broken record. But, this elementary process has been anything other than routine. The UGA defense is allowing a low 28% of touchdowns in the Red Zone. Thus, field goal attempts may be a way for the Cats to get on the board early in the contest. Simply can’t miss any makeable attempts. 

No Penalties

Think back. How many special teams’ penalties have impacted field position? I don’t have the exact answer, but it feels like a lot. I keep going back to it, UK has to play clean in the third phase. 

What Does All This Mean? 

I don’t throw the word “Great” around lightly. In fact, I rarely use that term when describing players and teams. But, Georgia has been great for the past two seasons. Kirby Smart has the Dawgs on a path to win a second consecutive national title. UGA replaced NFL draft picks with more future first-rounders. The names have changed, but the results have been similar. Defensive lineman Jalen Carter is the best defensive player in the nation. I thoroughly enjoy watching him play the football game. He will be a hand full on Saturday. 

Quarterback Stetson Bennett IV has earned my utmost respect. I doubted him last season which was a bad mistake. In fact, I feel the signal caller should be in the thick of the Heisman race and is leading the nation’s second-ranked offense. I respect Bennett IV and his game. UGA doesn’t have a dominant running back or receiver. However, Smart’s team is filled with complimentary role players that support stars at other positions. 

2022 has been a disappointing season. This game has been circled on the schedule for a while. UK’s decline has lessened excitement around Lexington. I expect to see a ton of red and black at Kroger Field. The Dawgs are smelling another title run and travel extremely well. 

A sputtering offense has been a point of hostility within the BBN. That happens when you lose to Vanderbilt and rank last in the league in major statistical categories. The mirrors at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility should have provided an uncomfortable image for players and coaches to reflect on the direction of this football team following last Saturday’s meltdown. 

Yes, coaching, motivation, and game planning appeared less than ideal a week ago in the Cat’s embarrassing loss to Vanderbilt. Rich Scangarello has been justifiably critiqued in the week leading up to Saturday’s matchup. But, in the era of Name, Image, and Likeness; players should also shoulder responsibility for last week’s disaster. 

Confusingly, I didn’t see a great deal of one-on-one wins against an inferior foe last Saturday. Words have leaked that questioned the offensive coordinator. Not good. I’m old school in some ways. I buy into the theory of what happens in the facility should stay in the facility. I don’t have a say so, but if I did, I’d push for this squad to shut up and play football. Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. played with guts and juice against Vandy. His teammates need to follow suit against Georgia and match the senior running back’s edge. 

Will Kentucky beat Georgia? Not likely. The Dawgs are ranked number one in America for a reason. A spirited, physical stand-by-the-home team would go a long way in appeasing a fan base that had much higher hopes for the 2022 season.