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Conversing with the Enemy: Q & A with A Sea of Blue

More photos » Ed Reinke - AP

about 1 month ago: Kentucky coach Joker Phillips addresses his team during a timeout in the first half of their NCAA college football game against Akron in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Hi everyone. Most of you here are probably familiar with SB Nation's Kentucky Wildcats blog, A Sea of Blue. I got together with the site's manager, Glenn Logan, to talk about this weekend's game against the 'Cats. Here are his answers to my questions--I'm sure you'll appreciate his insights regarding Kentucky football. I'll post a link for my answers to his questions when they go up.

My sincere thanks to Glenn for taking the time to chat with me--and for putting up with some mild trash talk in his game threads during basketball season.

1. In last season's game, I thought Kentucky should have used Randall Cobb under center more than it did, especially after the injury to Hartline. Do you think we'll see plenty of Cobb on Saturday?

Yeah, probably.  Defenses have successfully schemed for Cobb several times this year, and it has kind of turned Phillips off to the idea.  To be honest, though, the problem has been that Cobb isn't throwing enough from the Wildcat, and it's easy to stack the box against the run if the threat of the pass isn't there.  That's what makes it go for Kentucky.  Phillips seems to have figured that out, though, so I would definitely expect to see quite a bit of him on Saturday.

Another reason is that Locke appears to be doubtful for Saturday.  Without Locke, the Wildcat becomes a much more interesting option, because the defensive tendency is to have to worry about both Locke and Cobb.  With Locke out, defenses are likely to focus on Cobb, and both Sanders and Russell are dangerous backs that cannot be ignored.  That may create more opportunities for the Wildcat.  We'll see.

2. Kentucky's defense has been exposed a little bit over the past few weeks. What would you say the major issues are, and how do you see them dealing with an improving Carolina offense?

A little bit?  You are being kind.  Kentucky currently has the worst rushing defense in the SEC, even worse than Vanderbilt.  Yeah, I'd call that being exposed.

Kentucky's problems are a very young defense, particularly in the linebacking corps, and a small defensive front.  When we had guys like Corey Peters & Co., running on UK was a challenging problem.  But those guys are gone, and their replacements simply aren't as good or as big.  Add youth to that equation, and you have a genuine Achilles' Heel.

How will they deal with South Carolina?  I don't know.  Probably they won't be able to.  We have yet to face a big, strong back like Marcus Lattimore who pounds you between the tackles.  Maybe they will be better against that kind of runner, but I doubt it.  Alshon Jeffrey burned us last year, and though our defensive backfield is better than what the Gamecocks faced last year, so is Jeffrey.  The 'Cats must do something they haven't done all year -- play good defense, period.

3. How would you rate Joker Phillips's performance so far? Has he met expectations for the first half of the season? Why?

I think he has done very well.  The offense is potent, as it should be, and the defense is young, and vulnerable, which it should be.  The way UK recruits, you are going to have these kinds of years every so often, and there is a limit to what you can do to fix it.  You can't add a year to a lineman's experience and development mid-year, and 3-stars like UK recruits take at least 3 years to become SEC quality.

Has he met expectations?  Ask me at the end of the year.  If he gets to a bowl, I would say yes.  If not, no.

4. If you could have any of Carolina's players, who would it be? Why?

Alshon Jeffrey.  Jeffrey is an absolute first-rounder when he becomes eligible for the draft.  He is big, strong, fast, and has great hands.  Mike Hartline has become really good at throwing the ball in the right spot, and with a guy like Jeffrey on the outside, Kentucky would be hard to stop on offense.  Chris Matthews should be nearly that good, but he isn't, for some reason.  Or else I'm giving Hartline too much credit.

At the end of the day, I just love Jeffrey, and how he plays.

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Unexpected thoughts on the Wildcat . . .

being more interesting without Locke. If they’d be more effective with their second and third string backs running it, it seems like that’s who they’d use. I’ll take the odds with the #1 being out, potentially. If our guys do a good job of following the ball I’m not concerned about anyone being ignored. “I don’t care what the name and number is, if you got the rock, I’m coming for ya’” is the attitude I hope gets displayed. Cobb, of course, makes it difficult for defenders to get their hands on him whether they’re coming for him or not.

I think there’s potential for 6-6 and a bowl game for UK, and even 7-5 is plausible. Hopefully, none of those possible 3 or 4 more Ws occur on Saturday.

by Skulls and Spurs on Oct 14, 2025 4:34 PM EDT reply actions  

Assuming we win this weekend...

Kentucky would have to win three more. All five of their remaining games are very winnable and they’ll probably be favored in three of them.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Oct 14, 2025 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

It will be interesting to see it play out.

3-3 with USC, UGA, MSU, Charleston Southern, Vandy, and UT left. There’s opportunity there for the Wildcats. It just depends on whether or not they can stop anyone.

by Skulls and Spurs on Oct 14, 2025 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

That's a good choice with A1

With Cobb and Locke, addind another back like Lattimore isn’t crucial, but putting a dynamic pass catcher out wide like Alshon could open up more balls for Chris Matthews and make Hartline look even better. With the D like it is at UK currently, adding one player, no matter how good, won’t help enough.

by Skulls and Spurs on Oct 14, 2025 4:40 PM EDT reply actions  

I truly admire Logan for his responses to these questions. He does not sugar coat his answers and he doesn’t put false hope in his answers. He answers the questions with truth. Well done Logan. I would have to agree with him about stopping Lattimore and Jeffrey. I really don’t know how their defense will stop either one, and I really think Ace can be added to that category as well. I’m expecting Lattimore to have the best game of the season so far and wouldn’t be surprised if he surpasses 200 yards, as long as he gets the bulk of the carries. As for Jeffrey, I don’t know if there is a safety or CB in the country that can stop him. He is a straight up monster. Can’t wait for saturday and some Carolina Football! Go Cocks!

by Carolina Cock-n-Fire on Oct 14, 2025 5:50 PM EDT reply actions  

Thanks, Gamecock Man.

Love the Q & A.

And we love having you visit us at ASoB.

In fact, after USC beat us in basketball in Columbia last year,
you came in with the quote of the year. I won’t repeat it, since it was
PG-13, but it pulled me in off the ledge after that ugly, ugly loss.

...and he's met at the line by a host of blue and white jerseys!

by bob in bg on Oct 15, 2025 3:46 PM EDT reply actions  

I hope that that quote makes a reappearance this weekend!

Glad you enjoyed the Q & A. I always enjoy visiting you guys over there.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Oct 15, 2025 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

How did you pull Glenn out of his Big Blue Basketball fog long enough to talk to you?

I have be correctly accused of having a 'football fetish'. You know, someone who doesn't think football is the warm up sport to basketball season.

by ParisGuy on Oct 15, 2025 10:02 PM EDT reply actions  


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