Mid-Afternoon Football Fix.....by Rob Gidel

[WildcatRick]

1) One of the game balls from Saturday's contest most definitely should have gone to sophomore Calvin Harrison (pictured above), who made his first career start in place of Marcus McClinton on Saturday versus Kent State. He not only made his first career interception, but added 5 tackles, including 4 solo tackles. The South Carolina native was Kentucky's first verbal commitment to the 2006 recruiting class and played in seven games as a true freshman, mostly on special teams. He's been every bit of the steal that they had hoped he'd become since coming out of Richland Northeast HS. I will admit to being a little worried in regards to the lack of experience of the backup safeties, but Harrison and Ashton Cobb have continued to prove doubters wrong.

2) UK Football has won seven of their last eight games, won six consecutive non-conference games and won five in a row on CM Newton Field at Commonwealth Stadium. The eight-game stretch is the best since the 1977 football team won nine straight games to conclude their season. During the run, they've defeated teams from two different divisions (1a, 1aa), five different conferences (ACC, Sun-Belt, MAC, SEC, OVC) and seven different states (Ms., Tn., So. Car., Ky., Ga., La., Ohio). Additionally UK beat two teams that had been ranked (Clemson and Georgia) during the streak.

3) Did anyone else wish that Andre Woodson would have thrown an interception on Saturday to finally put an end to his interception streak? After another perfect day throwing the football, Andre has now gone 213 consecutive passes without a pick. Now granted, it's a great testament to Andre's decision making, but sometimes you get the feeling Woodson would rather eat the ball and take a sack than throw an ill-advised interception to end the streak. He also missed on several big plays against Eastern Kentucky in week 1 that would have given him a career day and this past weekend, he missed on a few balls to TE Jacob Tamme which would have gone for huge yardage. Coach Rich Brooks admitted in the post-game show that 2 of the 4 sacks in the game were Andre's fault for holding the ball too long. I'd rather not be critical of Woodson's play at this early juncture of the season, but I don't believe we're seeing the best he can perform. Perhaps seeing an opponent the playbook can finally open up for on Saturday will get Andre back on track. To date, if I had to give him a grade, I'd give him a B.

http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=3450

[sojourner]

Did I read him saying he would rather have Andre throw an interception than take a sack? Is he crazy?

I know he is trying to imply that Andre is being careful, possibly too careful, but I don't know anyone who thinks an interception is better than a sack. Let's remember Jared in that infamous Florida game, for example.

[RCS]

Did I read him saying he would rather have Andre throw an interception than take a sack? Is he crazy?

I know he is trying to imply that Andre is being careful, possibly too careful, but I don't know anyone who thinks an interception is better than a sack. Let's remember Jared in that infamous Florida game, for example.
I think he was saying he is trying too hard to protect the streak of no interceptions and is missing opportunities because of it. I do not know if I agree with this or not. Andre has always held the ball too long and is also VERY careful with the ball. That said, he has just looked OK so far this year. Not bad, but a little off. Hopefully that will not be the case against UL this weekend.

[Trueblujr]

I think Andre's "overprotection" of the football is partly related to the streak and partly related to his former case of fumbleitis which he suffered from early in his career.

I can see where there is a mental thing keeping him from throwing an ill-advised pass, but my question is why is it ill-advised if he's avoiding a sack, the trick is to make the pass smartly, don't throw it into coverage, throw an uncatchable pass into the ground near a running backs feet to avoid an intentional grounding penalty. anything to get rid of the ball, not lose field position, but also not make a turnover.

If andre had thrown a pick last week once the game was out of hand just to end the streak, I probably wouldn't have felt too bad about it.

[wildcatdon]

Gidel needs to understand there is no such place as CM Newton field..unless that is a cornfield at newton's home,I know of no other field with that name..I hear talk going around of naming our football field after jerry claiborne,but right now thats all it is..i dont really see why the field has to be named anyway,but jerry's name is better than many other options..

[Blue4ever]

Did I read him saying he would rather have Andre throw an interception than take a sack? Is he crazy?

I know he is trying to imply that Andre is being careful, possibly too careful, but I don't know anyone who thinks an interception is better than a sack. Let's remember Jared in that infamous Florida game, for example.

Or what about just throwing it away? :shrug1:That's better than taking a sack or an interception.

I do think Andre regressed a little Saturday. He's kind of gotten back in the old habits of holding the ball too long and locking onto the primary receiver. But that throw he made to Burton was about as good a pass I've seen a long time.

[RCS]

Gidel needs to understand there is no such place as CM Newton field..unless that is a cornfield at newton's home,I know of no other field with that name..I hear talk going around of naming our football field after jerry claiborne,but right now thats all it is..i dont really see why the field has to be named anyway,but jerry's name is better than many other options..
Are you just saying that in protest, because it is named CM Newton field? It shouldn't be, but it is.

[wildcatdon]

RCS,I just refuse to acknowledge it..Newton **** near wrecked our football program when he hired mumme and i have no use for the man..that and many other things which have been rehashed many times..