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Eddie Gran reveals the victory of the British player against Vanderbilt.
Jon Hale, Louisville Courier Journal
British quarterback Terry Wilson launches a touchdown pass to WR Lynn Bowden, Jr. during the University of Kentucky vs Vanderbilt football game at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, October 20, 2018. (Photo: Mike Weaver / Courier Newspaper Special)
LEXINGTON, Kentucky – Kentucky has six wins before Halloween for only the third time since 1950.
It's easy to understand why Mark Stoops eliminates complaints about The victory of his team against Vanderbilt (14-7) being more ugly than expected.
"Never going to apologize for a win," said Stoops. "Certainly, there are things we need to do better. We always do that. Win or lose, we go back to work, look at ourselves, see things we can do better, start with me. You can not excuse yourself for being 6-1. "
The things that Kentucky can do better is to decide whether six wins in seven games are the highlight of the season or whether the Stoops team has the power to stay in a three-way race for the SEC title East.
Analysis: Benny Snell and defense push the boundaries of Kentucky football
The Kentucky offensive regained its vibrant identity on Saturday by playing all fourth quarter games, including a 12-game winning and 80-yard play. Against a Vanderbilt team in the 95th spot on the fast defensive in the day, Eddie Gran's attacking plan to score at least 50 attempts makes sense.
Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson has only completed 3 of 9 passes for 18 yards, evoking memories of Kentucky's Tennessee victory in 2011 when Matt Roark threw for just 15 yards in a 10-7.
Only Roark was a wide catcher forced to play quarterback because of injuries. Wilson is the quarterback of Kentucky.
"At the end of the day, we have to improve," said Gran. "We need to be better at throwing the ball, we have to improve to do little things. It's not fair to Terry. It's an offense, me as a coordinator, whatever.
Related: How the UK can reach College Football Playoff and other scenarios
When asked if Kentucky needed more success, Stoops responded with a short "Yes, of course."
The calendar clearly shows it with trips to Missouri and Tennessee sandwiched around the November 3 home game against Georgia, perhaps the biggest home game of the past 31 years.
While Kentucky's defense is among the best in the country to keep their opponents out of the end zone, Missouri scored 65 points in a win against Memphis on Saturday and has the fast-paced attack type capable of forcing Kentucky to accelerate its normal offensive. pace.
Georgia scored at least 38 points in all but one matches this season, and Tennessee showed signs of life with Auburn angry a week ago, before taking his turn as the last boy of the season. Alabama Saturday.
"We could be so much, so much better," said running back Benny Snell after 169 yards in 32 carries. "We have not played our best football yet, I do not want to say I'm disappointed, but we should have pulled out in this game … Yes, we have to go back into the passing game, but we have to also be solid in attack, no penalties and things like that. "
There is reason to hope that Wilson's pass count will improve despite a total of less than 150 yards in five of his first seven games in Kentucky.
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The replaced Wilson quarterback, former Wildcat Stephen Johnson, has also arrived in the UK as a junior-college more known for his ability to run than his arm. After being forced to take the role of base player in his first season on campus, Johnson has accumulated an average of 201 passing yards in games 7-13, compared to 146 per game in the first half of the season.
Johnson completed his first regular season with 338 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Lamar Jackson and Louisville.
"It's about this time," Gran said. "Yes, I hope it's our job to get them to play better, each of us, in everything we do."
According to the National Weather Service, high winds reaching gusts of up to 50 miles at the time should at least be considered one of the factors affecting Kentucky's defeat on Saturday, but Vanderbilt's quarterback Kyle Shurmur could connect on several deep balloons. not been a problem for a week.
Add two fumbles (one of which was awarded to Lynn Bowden, the expanded player, on a misplaced game that Wilson has turned into side play) and Wilson's performance was far from the effort of strengthening the confidence that would silence critics after his struggles in the defeat against Texas A & M.
The 92 rushing yards in 12 Wilson races showed why Kentucky coaches still considered it the best option to win games in an attack around Snell, while beating Vanderbilt and winning the SEC East are two different tasks. .
There may be no more important factor in the Wildcats' ability to take control of the Eastern race than the offensive becoming less one-dimensional.
"No one in this locker room is satisfied," Stoops said. "I told them:" Never apologize, keep your head up, you're a 6-1 football team on the way to the top 10, and we have another great opportunity this week. " . & # 39; Win or lose, we always go back to work, we look in the mirror, we see what we can improve. "
Jon Hale: [email protected]; Twitter: @JonHale_CJ. Support local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/jonh.
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