Kentucky seems content to rely on its defense and a conservative offense to win games ... but that obviously is not working. (SEC Photo)
Keep in mind that former University of Kentucky running back Anthony White picked Kentucky to go 9-1 this season. No one I know with immense football knowledge like White expected more of the Wildcats this season. That’s why White’s criticism of the Kentucky football program is not coming from someone who does not want to see UK succeed.
But after Kentucky’s play against Missouri and Georgia to drop to a disappointing 2-4, White did not mince words during our show — WLAP Sunday Morning Sports — this week.
“This is too high level football for these mistakes to be rectified this season,” White said. “I don’t know what they are spending their time doing.”
White said it has reached the point offensively that UK ought to look at what it has done in the first games and do the opposite. The Cats scored six touchdowns against Ole Miss but only seven in the other five games — and did not get a touchdown in the 14-3 loss to Georgia on Saturday.
“I am baffled. I have no idea what they are doing because we continue to make the same mistakes,” White said. “They should have a better offensive game plan and we should be able to see that against Vanderbilt (on Nov. 12 after an open date). We should see a significantly different offense.”
Unlike some, White is not placing blame for UK’s offensive woes on any one position.
“I just honestly think we are ill prepared. I don’t know what kind of obstacles they (the coaches) have on a weekly basis making a game plan (due to COVID),” White said. “Every position, they are ill prepared.”
One other part of UK’s offense is also bothering White. He doesn’t understand why UK’s offense is so conservative all the time.
“Maybe the receivers are not running great routes or going full speed or correctly, I would rather lose by 30 points shooting all our bullets than lost by 11 (like UK did to Georgia) and not taking any risks,” White said.
“We really need to start taking risks. What could it hurt? I am loving us playing great defense but if you get no points because you are conservative and not do not want to turn it (the ball) over you still cannot win. You want your quarterback to be confident and not afraid to throw the ball without worrying about what might happen. You just want him to be thinking confident thoughts, not scared to throw and take a chance.”
White has one other thing that “sticks in my craw” about the UK offense. That’s the way coach Mark Stoops talks about wanting to take “deep shots” in the passing game.
“But we are not doing it,” White said. “I do not see the opportunities to do it with as little as we pass the ball. To get more opportunities to go downfield, receivers have to run like their hair is on fire and now guys look unsure and sometimes are going half speed. If you are going to get the ball, you have to want it.
“Last year we did not do a good job throwing but you know how we won the bowl game (with a touchdown pass). Where is that play? We could use that.”
Or any other play that might produce a touchdown.
