After sleeping on it for a night, I come to realize that Steve Brown and Rich Brooks should take most of the heat instead of Randy Sanders or Joker Phillips. There was no secret about Miss State's offensive game plan coming into the game. Everyone knew that Anthony Dixon was going to get the ball and UK had to control the run. UK's front four and linebackers have been pretty solid on defense, but I agree with poster on this site, Steve Brown should have made some in game adjustments and come out of the nickel packages. The coaching staff should have made a half time adjustment to force Miss State to throw the ball to win the game.
I still believe that Randall Cobb should have had the ball in some capacity before Newton threw the interception. In my opinion, that was the back breaker for UK. Miss State did a good job of containing Cobb, but on the goaline things change. Newton made a freshman mistake, one that UK fans will have to live with as he is the future quarterback. However, Cobb is the best player on the offense and has to touch the ball in those key situations.
This was a game UK could have easily won. Alfonso Smith's fumble and Newton's interception were the back breakers for UK on offense. The defense allowed Anthony Dixon to run wild all night long which shows the staff didn't have a solid game plan. Honestly, Sanders and Phillips called a solid game, but will still likely take heat for Cobb's absence in the offense during those crucial scoring opportunities. The Cats have to step it up on defense and the coaching staff has to make in game adjustments when their initial game plan isn't working. Now the Cats have to rebound against Eastern Kentucky, then play three huge SEC games to determine their bowl eligibility.
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