Cats Can’t Let Confidence Be Shaken Heading to Vandy
Before Kentucky ran its first play 95 yards from the end zone with 8:36 left against Ole Miss needing a touchdown to take the lead, the Wildcats huddled.
The offense’s leader, Stephen Johnson, had to have some kind of inspirational and steadying message for the big moment, right?
“I’m sure I said a few things,” Johnson said.
Charles Walker, the senior wide receiver, remembers a little more clearly. After all, Walker has heard Johnson deliver the message multiple times over the last 13 months.
“Just before these drives, he’s just saying, ‘Guys, we’ve done this before,’ ” Walker said. ” ‘We do it in practice every week. Calm down, do your job and the outcome is going to be good. That’s what we do and so far it’s been good offensively.”
Dating back to a win over Mississippi State last season, Johnson has guided four go-ahead scoring drives in the final minutes, including one last weekend in a loss to Ole Miss. UK has driven for another two late field goals that helped clinch wins over South Carolina and Missouri this season as well as a potential game-winning drive against Florida was short-circuited by a holding call.
“We’re comfortable and confident,” Benny Snell said. “We do it every day in practice and we’ve been doing it. For the last game, for example, we’ve been in that situation plenty of times and that’s why we scored and that’s why we got ourselves out of that situation.”
Heading into a game at Vanderbilt (4-5, 0-5 Southeastern Conference) that could well come down to the wire again, the confidence the Cats (6-3, 3-3 SEC) have built through those drives is vital.
“I think they really believe,” offensive coordinator Eddie Gran said. “You got nobody down on each other. ‘Hey guys, let’s drive it.’ It was 95 yards and I think the confidence is huge. They really believe that they can do it and that’s huge as a play-caller and for them too, to feel like they can go do it.”
UK will be counting on that confidence to help bounce back from a devastating defeat at the hands of the Rebels. The Cats will face another quality team as they seek to do so.
“Just a good football team across the board,” Mark Stoops said. “Play hard in all phases, sound in what they do. They keep you off balance, offensively. They’re good at what they do and a lot like us, grinding out drives, grinding out yards and first downs and taking their shots when they get opportunities.”
The Kentucky defense, which struggled like most teams to stop Ole Miss’s dynamic passing game, will face a challenge in the Commodores. Vandy features senior running back Ralph Webb and a much-improved passing game behind quarterback Kyle Shurmur (20 touchdowns, three interceptions).
“Offensively, they’re like us in that they are efficient in what they do, pick their spots when they take their shots,” Stoops said. “They like to keep you off balance. They run the ball so effectively and they’re so multiple in their formations. And then they boot and play action to give them time to take their shots.”
The challenge for Kentucky is being ready for all that seven days after the disappointment of a loss that could have so easily been a win. The good news on that front is the Cats have been there, too.
“We’ve got to get onto the next opportunity and the next game,” Stoops said. “That’s what makes it exciting for us. It will be a good week that way. Can’t wait to get back to work and get these guys ready to play. I’m sure they will be.”
