Monday Morning Offensive Breakdown (BTI's Rants and Ramblings)

The offensive breakdown has not seen a performance like that, where the Kentucky offense was a non-factor and sloppy for four quarters, since at least 2020. But in all seriousness, it was a little unsettling to see the offense decline that drastically from the last three games and we have to hope that is just a blip on the radar. Mark Stoops did not have the troops ready to go on both sides of the ball. And while the defensive game plan might have been worse, the offensive execution was pathetic.

Dig through the numbers if you must but the Breakdown is going to print this out, find the nearest trashcan and fire starter, and throw it away. Here’s hoping Mark Stoops, Liam Coen, and the offense do the same.

1ST DOWN

Against Mississippi State
Rush: 8 rushes for 26 yards
Pass: 9-14, 85 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT

Combined Season Stats
Rush: 132 rushes for 705 yards, 5 TD (3 fumbles)
Pass: 59-89, 771 yards, 6 TD, 7 INT (2 sacks allowed)

Analysis: Whew, brutal here. All three interceptions on first down and each one more crippling than the next. And the rush attack was absolutely non-existent, even more so than it was against Georgia. The offensive breakdown knows all too well when Kentucky becomes one-dimensional on 1st down it never goes well. Add on that Will Levis was poor most of the night and it was disaster start after disaster start on 1st down all night.

2ND DOWN

Against Mississippi State
Rush: 9 rushes for 33 yards (1 fumble lost)
Pass: 3-6, 16 yards

Combined Season Stats
Rush: 93 rushes for 629 yards, 6 TD (2 fumbles lost)
Pass: 41-63, 359 yards, 3 TD (3 sacks allowed)

Analysis: Kentucky has generally been magnificent on 2nd down most of the year, leading to lots of conversions or leaving short 3rd downs. That didn’t happen at all against Mississippi State. It was an all-systems failure for an offense that had done certain things well all season. Hard to find the positives in this one but hopefully just an off night and not signs of something larger. This post being called an “Offensive Breakdown” could not be more accurate than on this series of downs.

3RD DOWN AND LONG (6 YARDS AND MORE)

Against Mississippi State
Rush: No Plays
Pass: 2-4, 21 yards (converted 2 of 4)

Combined Season Stats
Rush: 6 rushes for 42 yards (converted 2 of 6)
Pass: 22-34, 307 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 2 sacks allowed (converted 13 of 36)

Analysis: This was a minor improvement for the Cats versus what they’ve done most of the year. But neither of the conversions came at a key part of the game and the Bulldogs were playing conservative defense at this point. We did get to see somebody other than Wan’Dale catch a pass in this situation.

3RD DOWN AND SHORT (5 YARDS OR LESS)

Against Mississippi State
Rush: 3 rushes for 9 yards (converted 3 of 3)
Pass: 3-4, 28 yards (converted 2 of 4)

Combined Season Stats
Rush: 23 rushes for 95 yards, 1 TD (converted 16 of 23)
Pass: 16-23, 97 yards, 3 TD, 4 sacks allowed (converted 13 of 27)

Analysis: Early in the game, Kentucky did convert some 3rd and shorts, but then turnovers ended those drives. By the 2nd quarter and 2nd half, none of these situations were key. But Kentucky did get some tough yards when needed. If Chris Rodriguez isn’t fully healthy for future games though, it will be interesting to see who they turn to for those yards. Seems like Levis is being asked to get them over Smoke. We’ll see. The offensive breakdown committee can’t take many more games like this.