Kentucky 2015 Preview: Better Second Half This Time?

For Kentucky, it was a tale of two seasons in one in 2014. The first half, the Wildcats went 5-1, with the only loss coming in triple overtime to Florida. In the second half of the season, the Big Blue Nation got the blues, losing six straight and failing to get in a bowl game. Some people thought “What a great season going 5-7 and just missing out on a bowl game! 5-7 used to be unimaginable!” and some people – who suddenly are expecting some more of the Kentucky Wildcats – thought “Well, that was a bit of a let-down.”

THE OFF-SEASON

Mark Stoops hired Shannon Dawson, West Virginia’s former OC and QB coach, to be their offensive co-ordinator after Neal Brown left to be Troy’s head coach. D.J. Eliot keeps his job after helping Bud Dupree go to the NFL.

No-one significant seems to have been arrested, while recruiting-wise, Stoops captured two four-star recruits, LB Eli Brown and TE CJ Conrad.

WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE OFFENSE?

Kentucky trusts in Patrick Towles and – ahead of most SEC schools – named him the starter ahead of Drew Barker in mid-August. Towles threw for 2,718 yards and 14 TDs and ran for another 300 and 6 TDs. Barker’s good enough to take Towles’ job if he screws up (like the situation in Missouri with Maty Mauk and Drew Lock). This bodes well for the program’s future.

His receiving corps remains intact, with Ryan Timmons ( 536 yards, 2 TDs last year), with Blake Bone and Garrett Johnson ready to take up some slack.

And if Towles chooses to be more conservative, Stoops is going to run the ball a lot. Boom Williams is a good running back and JoJo Kemp and Mikel Horton provide excellent back-ups if Williams isn’t healthy. There’s also going to be some love for frosh Sihiem King, who could turn some heads.

AND THE DEFENSE?

Bud Dupree and Za’Darius Smith are gone and that is a tragedy. The Wildcats’ defense are going to be a lot weaker without them.

A lot of people are going to depend on 342lb nose tackle Melvin Lewis and Stoops will pray that LB Ryan Flannigan’s back from a shoulder injury soon. DE Farrington Huguenin (let’s hope he doesn’t have a big season for editorial reasons!!! ) could also produce, and DT Matt Elam – who was recruited by Alabama – could be fun to watch. Freshman LB Eli Brown could be fun to watch.

The secondary – which was ranked about 7th in the SEC in most passing categories in 2014 and looks to be improved – will be led by safeties AJ Stamps – who had 4 INTs last season- and Marcus McWilson. Fred Tiller and Cody Quinn will be your starting corners. Watch out for newbie Marcus Walker, who people are hot on too.

THE SCHEDULE

Sept. 5 UL Lafayette
Sept. 12 at South Carolina
Sept. 19 Florida
Sept. 26 Missouri
Oct. 3 EKU Lexington, Ky
Oct. 15 Auburn
Oct. 24 at Mississippi State
Oct. 31 Tennessee
Nov. 7 at Georgia
Nov. 14 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 21 Charlotte
Nov. 28 Louisville

This season may well be a step back for Stoops & Co, simply because we can only think of Vanderbilt as the SEC game they’ll win. Outside the SEC, they’ll go a healthier 3-1, with the loss against Louisville in a great one.

PREDICTION: Kentucky goes 4-8. Saturday Edge believes in 5-1/2 wins. We’ll see.