What UK will have to do to beat Tennessee

In lieu of a position-by-position breakdown like we do in the Kernel every week, I’ll be bringing you a quick rundown of what has to happen for UK to end its losing streak against Tennessee.

After watching this team play for 10 straight weeks, I’ve been able to get a pretty good idea of what it can do and what it can’t do. I’ve also seen some common themes in UK’s wins to this point in the season. So with all that in mind, here are the five things the Cats must do if they’re going to finally get even with the Vols.

Morgan Newton will have to manage the game for UK to beat Tennessee. Photo by Adam Wolffbrandt | Staff

1. Play flawless football

In the Auburn and Georgia games, UK had a total of zero turnovers and committed three penalties for a whopping 20 yards. Meanwhile, the Tigers and Dawgs combined for five turnovers and 19 penalties that cost them 151 yards. If UK can create a few extra possessions from turnovers, eliminate the mental mistakes that take first downs away and frustrate the Vols into hurting themselves, they’ll be a lot closer to victory. That might seem like a tall order, especially with Eric Berry looking to poach a pick from a true freshman quarterback, but it’s the most important thing UK can do.

2. Patience, young grasshopper

Every UK fan and their brother has complained about bland offensive playcalling at some point this year. Get over it. This isn’t a vertical offense, and there aren’t the weapons to try and make it one. Besides, remember when UK got creative with the fake field goal that failed in the two-point loss at South Carolina? If you wait for it, Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb will shake loose for a big play. Remember Locke’s 60-yard touchdown reception against Georgia? It came off a boring Joker Phillips bubble screen. Randall Cobb burst through the middle out of the Wildcat for a 61 yard run that set up the game-winner in the fourth quarter at Auburn from a normal QB draw. If you wear them down, defenses eventually get tired and give up big plays. Which leads us to key No. 3…

3. Randall Cobb has to be 100 percent

A couple weeks back, Ole Miss deployed their own Swiss Army knife-type receiver in the Wild Rebel formation against the Vols. The result? Dexter McCluster had 282 rushing yards and four touchdowns (he also had 42 receiving yards). He has missed significant parts of practice in the last two weeks, but he’s always out on the field and he always makes an impact (witness the game-winner against Georgia). Tennessee missed out on its native son, but they better be ready to try and stop him – especially in the fourth quarter – to hold UK’s offense back.

4. Corey Peters becomes a one-man wrecking crew

Go back on your Tivo and watch the Georgia game. For that matter, watch any UK game this season starting with Alabama. I haven’t seen a better interior defensive lineman in the SEC this year than Peters – and I watched Georgia’s big boys up front and Alabama’s moving van that is Terrence Cody. If Peters is disruptive up front, it makes things easier on Micah Johnson in the running game and makes Trevard Lindley’s job in coverage a lot easier. It’s the last game at Commonwealth for the defensive triumverate, so I’m guessing they’ll be there to play.

5. Eliminate negative plays in the special teams game

UK doesn’t have to get 80 yard returns from Locke and Cobb to win. But they can’t give up any big plays off of punts, they can’t miss field goals and extra points, and they have to get solid play from Craig McIntosh and Ryan Tydlacka. UK’s offense is just good enough to play a field position game, but there’s no better way to give up 30 yards that could have been yours than putting a kickoff out of bounds or outpunting your coverage. Besides, wouldn’t it be nice to see the much-maligned Lones Seiber go out on a last second field goal to beat the Vols? He’s another Cat from Tennessee.

Can UK do all those things? Yes. Look at the Georgia and Auburn games. Can the wheels fall off? Yes. Look at Florida, Alabama or Mississippi State.

A prediction? What the heck, why not?

UK 21, Tennessee 16