John Clay’s Sidelines

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Update: Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports reports that sources say Wall is likely to be cleared before the Sept. 13 opener.

Update: Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal adds a thought about the Wall situation.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• The ESPN story on John Wall’s eligibility issue.
• Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline reports that UK is confident that Wall will be eligible, but may miss 3-4 games.
• My two cents on the Wall story.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that Patrick Patterson embraces the leading-man role.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader gives the UK football team mid-season grades.
• Chip also reports that Derrick Locke has been upgraded to probable for Saturday.
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on the SEC Media Day back-and-forth between John Calipari and Bruce Pearl.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Is John Wall issue no big deal?’

Let’s chart Derrick Locke’s runs on the way to his career-high 126-yard effort at Auburn:

By the way, 1st and 0 means 1st and goal. And any number over 50 in the “On” column means the opponent’s territory.

(H-L photo/Pablo Alcala)

Let’s break it down to three highlights from the Rich Brooks’ press conference today:

• 1. Derrick Locke is doubtful for Saturday’s game with Louisiana-Monroe because of a nagging knee problem. In fact, Brooks said the running back, coming off a 126-yard game, is probably out. Locke has a slight tear of the MCL that will take three or four days to “calm down” said Brooks. That means Alfonso Smith and Moncel Allen are likely to share the load. True freshman running back Donald Russell will also get some playing time.

• 2. Brooks said Morgan Newton will most likely make his second start. Brooks admitted that wasn’t fair to Will Fidler,  but the coach likes the idea of bringing in Fidler off the bench if things aren’t going well. That worked Saturday at Auburn, when Fidler, the junior, engineered those two fourth-quarter scoring drives.

• 3. Last Saturday’s game may have been one of the better ones in UK linebacker history. Micah Johnson was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week, thanks to his 14 tackles. But Danny Trevathan could have received the honor, as well. Trevathan was credited with 14 tackles, as well, by the Auburn stat crew. Trevathan has been leaving the field when UK goes to an extra defensive back, but the Cats played a more conventional defense Saturday, leaving Trevathan on the field.

(AP photo/Ed Reinke)

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that Kentucky is tired of losing to South Carolina.
• Chip also has the matchups.
• Chip reports that UK is starting to lean on Derrick Locke.
• Chip also talks to Morgan Newton.
• Joe Person of The State reports that three-back rotation is working for South Carolina.
• The State also gives a UK-South Carolina preview.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that UK should be ready to “load wagon.”
• Tom Leach gives a gameday report.
• A Sea of Blue breaks down UK-South Carolina.
• Straitpinkie previews Kentucky-South Carolina.
• Garnet and Black Attack gives its thoughts on South Carolina-Kentucky.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that Marquis Teague will not attend Madness.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger talks to Darnell Dodson.
• Zagsblog gives a Kyrie Irving update.
• Kentucky Sports Network gives an update on Jon Hood.
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on Tobias Harris’ visit to Tennessee.

(Photo by John Clay)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that UK expects tough South Carolina defense.
• Joe Person of The State writes about how injuries have forced defensive changes for USC.
• Mark Story of the H-L writes that Mike Hartline is still UK’s best option at quarterback.
• Armchair Quarterback writes an open letter to Hartline.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger talks to Dusty Bonner about Hartline’s play.
• Chris Low of ESPN writes that Derrick Locke is an unsung hero.
• Michael Grant of the C-J writes on UK corner Martavius Neloms, who will be making his first start Saturday.
• Kenny Colston of the Kernel writes that UK needs win at South Carolina to escape SEC cellar.
• Tom Leach gives a video scouting report on UK-South Carolina.
• WLEX’s Brent Carney gives his UK-South Carolina prediction.

Continue reading ‘BBL: The Mike Hartline debate continues’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that UK is blowing its margin for errors.
• Ron Morris of The State writes that Cats mirror Gamecocks.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on Derrick Locke.
• James Pennington of the Kentucky Kernel writes on bad column ideas.
• B.W. Jones of the Kentucky Kernel writes that UK’s rookie quarterbacks are biding their time.
• Bluegrass State Basketball thinks C.J. Leslie could commit to UK soon.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Rookie quarterbacks bide their time’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Ten stats/notes from Kentucky’s 31-27 win over Louisville:

• Kentucky rushed for 168 yards, its second-best rushing total against Louisville since 1999. The best was UK’s 185 rushing yards in 2007.

• Rafael Little rushed for 151 of those 185 yards in 2007. He did so on 27 carries.

• Mike Hartline’s pass efficiency rating of 165.4 was the best against U of L by a UK quarterback since Andre Woodson posted a 173.9 in 2005 was 134.3. Hartline was 20 of 27 for 178 yards with a touchdown and an interception. In 2005, Woodson was 17 of 27 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. (U of L’s Justin Burke posted a rating of 143.5.) Hartline’s passer rating in last year’s game was 91.5.

• Kentucky averaged 5.09 yards per rush. The Cats have now won 12 straight games in which they have averaged at least five yards per carry.

• This was just UK’s fourth win in its last 20 games where it did not run at least 62 plays.

• Biggest play of the game may have been that third-and-10 screen pass from Hartline to Randall Cobb, who turned it into a 27-yard gain. That kept the drive alive that led to UK’s 24-20 lead.

• Kentucky had the ball for 1:25 of the third quarter. That was the quarter the Cats turned it over three straight times.

• UK offensive coordinator Randy Sanders did break his wrist during that sideline fall on a kickoff in the fourth quarter.

• Louisville converted nine of 17 third downs. But the Cards converted five of their first six, then went 4-of-11.

• U of L’s Victor Anderson rushed for 110 yards on 19 carries. That’s the seventh time in 14 games that Anderson has rushed for at least 90 yards.