John Clay's Sidelines

(Photo by John Clay)

Will be liveblogging from Rich Brooks’ weekly press luncheon. The Kentucky football coach normally takes the podium around 12:15. Look for video interviews with players on the blog later this afternoon.

• That’s it.

• Asked about the Wildcat formation, “I think against certain defenses the Wildcat can be a lot more effective. Plus, you have to remember that Randall Cobb is not a big physical guy. You run the chance of getting him beat up pretty good. Yes, we will use it. . . . Hopefully in some games, it’ll be a huge portion of what we do. . . But a lot of people are using it, and the more you see it, the better you can stop it.”

• Says John Conner played one of the “poorer games since he’s been here.”

• Bama’s linebackers, “They don’t shed a block, they run through it, and leave the blocker at their feet.”

• On Alabama defense, “They are extremely physical. They have speed like Florida, but they seem to be more physical.”

• “We can’t give up a 78-yard gash up the middle for a touchdown, like they did last year.”

• Says Alabama does a good job of spreading the ball around.

• Asked if he’s worried about team’s confidence, he said, “They should be worried about my confidence in them.” (Said it with a grin.)

• On Hartline, “My overall assessment of Mike Hartline was just like my overall assessment of my team. Wasn’t good enough.”

• On McElroy, “He’s playing with a lot of poise. He’s not a young guy, but he’s a first-time starter. He’s missed some passes, but he’s also made some big-time throws. He understands the situation he can put the ball up to where his receiver can get it.”

• “I would vote that the polls shouldn’t start until at least the first week of October,” he said.

Continue reading ‘Liveblog: Rich Brooks press luncheon’

Have to disagree with my friend Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal who wrote that Tim Tebow should not have been in the game when the Florida quarterback suffered a concussion in the third quarter of Florida’s 41-7 win over UK on Saturday.

Not many coaches are going to pull their starting quarterback in the third quarter of a conference game on the road. The score at the time was 31-7 Florida, not 51-7 Florida.

I’m more in line with Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, who wrote on his Open Mike blog:

Or should our Dud of the Week be the clanging cymbals in the media who are trying to blame Urban Meyer for Tim Tebow’s injury by saying Tebow should not even have been in the game at the time? Good grief, Tebow got hurt in a football game. It happens. Why do we have to blame somebody? For crying out loud, you don’t take your starting quarterback out of the game midway through the third quarter. Yes, the game was in hand (31-7) at the time, but it wasn’t over by any means.

Clay Travis of Fanhouse gives his opinion, as well, siding with Meyer:

The new offensive coordinator, the new receivers, the upcoming bye week where live action wouldn’t happen, the fact that it was the second drive of the second half, the fact that up until now Tebow has been indestructible, all of these things would militate in favor of playing Tebow.

Pete Schrager of Fox Sports takes up for Meyer.

(H-L photo/David Perry)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that Rich Brooks won’t blame players for Saturday’s performance.
• Jerry Tipton’s Sunday notebook has John Calipari saying this is Patrick Patterson’s last year.
• My column saying Gators, then Tide a double headache for Cats.
• H-L slideshow from Saturday’s game.
• Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal argues that Tim Tebow should not have been in game when he got hurt Saturday.
• Brett Dawson of the C-J writes on UK’s false starts.
• Zagsblog reports that UK is in final six for Josh Selby.
• Zagsblog also reports on Kyrie Irving’s visit to Duke.
• Larry Vaught of Danville Advocate-Messenger says scary Alabama gives UK chance at redemption.

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK in final six for Josh Selby’

(AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

SEC links for Monday:

• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that Alabama is playing like a team that can do it all.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register reports that Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower is out with ligament damage.
• Evan Woodbery of the Huntsville Times reports that Auburn is facing a difficult October.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Gene Chizik has provided no promises, just wins.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun has details on Tim Tebow’s release from hospital.
• Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel reports that Tebow’s concussion listed as mild.
• Ray FitzGerald writes for the Gainesville Sun that Nick Calathes is enjoying his time in Greece.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes on loss of Tennessee’s Nick Reveiz.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss took quite a tumble in the polls.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC reports that Georgia wants improvement from its offensive line.

(AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Some read-em-weep stats from Florida’s 41-7 flogging of Kentucky on Saturday night:

• 1. Kentucky had just 179 total yards of offense, it’s lowest total since a ridiculously meager 100 yards at Auburn in 2004.

• 2. Kentucky was outgained by 316 yards (495-179), most since LSU outgained the Cats by 319 (546-227) in that 49-0 Baton Rouge beatdown in 2006.

• 3. Mike Hartline’s passer rating was 61.85, lowest by a UK quarterback attempting at least 20 passes in a game since Andre Woodson in that 2006 LSU game. Saturday, Hartline commpleted 13 of 28 passes for just 85 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. At LSU, Woodson completed 14 of 37 passes for 151 yards with an interception.

• 4. UK averaged just 2.84 yards per offensive play, lowest in that category since 1.77 per play against Auburn in 2004.

• 5. Kentucky gave up 362 yards rushing, most since Louisville rushed for 363 on the Cats in 2006.

• 6. Florida rushed for 6.96 yards per rush (52-362), most against UK since Auburn averaged 7.92 yards per rush (49-388) in 2005.

• 7. Kentucky’s 11 first downs matched last year’s low — 11 at Tennessee in the regular-season finale.

• 8. Kentucky averaged just 2.8 yards per rush. The Cats are 3-7 in last 10 games in which they average less than three yards per carry.

• 9. Florida ran the football on 76 percent of its offensive plays Saturday. In this decade, teams that have run the football at least 70 percent of the time are 12-3 versus Kentucky.

• 10. Since 1991, teams that have rushed for 200+ yards against Kentucky are 17-3.

Florida just sent following release:

University of Florida Athletic Association

Tim Tebow Released From Hospital

Gainesville, Fla. — University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was released from University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center Sunday morning after being held overnight for precautionary reasons.

“Tim is doing fine this morning,” said head coach Urban Meyer. “His CT scans came back and indicated that Tim suffered a concussion. Our medical and athletic training staff will continue to monitor him to determine how much rest and recovery he needs. We will have additional information and updates this week.”