Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This podcast of the Leech Report is presented by Boone's
Butcher Shop in Barnestown at one hundred Old Bloomfield Pike,
family owned and operated since nineteen forty six, with fresh
meat cut on site daily Boone's Butcher Shop. Good, Hey, everybody,
welcome into the Leech Report. We have made it to
(00:20):
Friday football Friday, as the Wildcats head to rainy South
Carolina for the weekend. I've got the Ryder Cup underway
that started about an hour ago, and Bethpage Black the
of course, are on Long Island and New York, so
it'll be It's always great when you have a major
(00:41):
sporting event to watch during the day, like when the
NCAA Tournament first and second rounds are happening and you
can start watching college basketball at noon and watched all
the way till midnight. Not quite that much golf, but
you get to start because they have morning session in
an afternoon session, you get to start at like seven
(01:03):
Eastern time in the morning watching the Ryder Cup. So
they're underway now, but we're talking football today. We'll do
that with David Cloninger from The Post and Courier dot Com.
He covers South Carolina Football, Jeff Bacoro, my broadcast partner,
the sports director at WTVQ here at Lexington, and Ryan Black,
who covers UK football and basketball for Career Journal dot com.
(01:25):
Our show's presented by Bobcat Enterprises each day, and our
opening segment of Wildcat News, a service of jiuseppees of Lexington.
We'll start with the availability report. DJ Waller is out,
downgraded from doubtful on the first report. South Carolina had
a couple of its offensive linemen go from doubtful to out.
(01:46):
Nolan Hay and Cason Henry, two starters from last week's
game at Missouri. Hey did not start previously at center,
but they have and he got injured into games so
they had to bring in a new center during the game.
So South Carolina loses its starting center from last week
and its most experienced offensive lineman Henry, who is a
(02:08):
right tackle. Defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow Dendy's been upgraded to probable,
and defensive back Judge Collier, who's been out since Week one,
is now listed as probable. So that's a little extra
help back for the South Carolina secondary that they have
not had a lot of rain in the Columbia area.
The hurricanes. There's one hurricane now in Berto, and there's
(02:32):
another system that's going to get at least upgraded to
a tropical depression. It sounds like anyway, both of those
are banging down on the Carolinas at the moment. But
that part of the bad weather's not expected to hit
from what I read, until Monday or Tuesday. But still
a lot of rain in the Columbia area for tomorrow,
(02:53):
Like it's a ninety five percent chance I saw in
the latest forecast for the Columbia area. So if you
are down there to follow the Cats, and they're usually
a fair number of Wildcat fans that do that, take
your rain year and Wildcats with their rushing attack, maybe
they'll help a little bit if they're leaning on the
ground game and can have some success with it. As
(03:14):
far as some of the storylines, last freshman quarterback to
start and win a game for Kentucky on the road
in the SEC, I was thinking it was Randall Cobb
Dow Mississippi State and eight. Actually when did a little
more research, Morgan Newton was the starter there in the
second half of the O nine season when Mike Hartline
got hurt. Morgan was not the official starter for the
(03:34):
win at Auburn. I think Cobb ran the first play
that night as they went they used three different quarterbacks.
But at Georgia, the last time the Cats won at
Georgia in O nine, Morgan Newton was the starting quarterback
had a couple of TV passes. The last three years
in this series, South Carolina has won all the games
and Kentucky's only averaged one hundred and twenty seven yards
per game rushing. They need to do better than that
(03:56):
tomorrow to win. One would think Missouri ran for two
to eighty five last week against the South Carolina defense.
Kentucky has not won the turnover margin stat since twenty twenty.
They're negative seven in that time. And Leonora Sellers averaged
twelve yards per attempt last year against Kentucky and his
breakout performance, and the Wildcats have had some issues giving
(04:18):
up big plays so far. They've had a couple of
weeks to try to shore that up, so that will
be put to the test in this matchup. One would
think Kentucky volleyball number three in the country, hosting Georgia
to try to go to two to zero in the
SEC that'll be on Saturday seven thirty or no tonight,
actually excuse me tonight seven thirty at Historic Memorial Coliseum
(04:39):
and a twenty twenty six small Forward Top ten prospect
Anthony Thompson. Katz Paul says he started a visit to
the UK campus on Wednesday, sixth and final recruiting visit
to official visit for Thompson. He's been here a couple
of times unofficially in the past. Thanks to the stories
that we talk about each day, you can find those
on the bud Light Leech Report page at Tom Leey
(05:01):
dot com. We'll come back visit with David Cloninger from
Post and Courier dot com about South Carolina football. Opening
segment a Wildcat News presented by Giuseppes of Lexington. You
can get to open table and make your reservation now
for Giuseppes, and when you're thinking about going to Giuseppes,
don't hesitate to make those reservations because they fill up fast,
(05:21):
especially in the lounge area where you can listen to
Dave Hall's live jazz music. See those pictures that folks
are taking from time to time that they're putting out
on social media, have a special dinner at Giuseppes, and
a lot of times they have Dave in the picture
because they enjoy his music so much. So you will
too make the reservation now at open table for Giuseppes
here in Lexington. We'll be right back on the Leach
(05:43):
Report Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
First thing you got to do is protect it. I'm
a former alignment, so I worry about protecting the punter
first and foremost, and then the coverage aspect once the
ball is punting, making sure we're getting down the field
with speed and covering our lanes and not trailing another.
That type of stuff is important as well. But their
return game is set up by their block game.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
That is UK special teams coach and running backs coach
j Bull where talking about South Carolina and the Game
Cocks have three punt return touchdowns in four games already.
But then outstanding special teams play has kind of been
a hallmark of the Beamer family for a long time. Shane,
(06:28):
the son of legendary Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, is
we welcome to David Coninger from Post to Courier dot
com where he covers the Game Cocks. And this is
for a team that has had some issues offensively so far.
Nice boost when you can get three touchdowns via punt returns.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
It certainly is. As Shane Biemer said during the first game, Yeah,
it kind of reminded me of those games of at
Virginia Tech all those years the offense wasn't getting it done,
so he a special team said you know what, we'll
take care of it. But it was great to see
the first two games. Hasn't happened since, and maybe it's
not a direct correlation, but South Carolina's offense hasn't looked
very good the past two games since.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Yeah, when South Carolina came into Lexington last year, a
lot of hype for the game, a lot of excitement
for Kentucky in that early season matchup, and then the
game Cocks just came in and took him to the
woodshed thirty one to six, and they took him to
the woodshed. That was mainly evident in the South Carolina
defensive front versus Kentucky's offensive line matchup, and some issues
(07:34):
for the Cats got exposed. It sounds like this year
at South Carolina that is having some issues with its
offensive line to this point.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Right, very much so. Tom it's just not been good
at all, not even close to good. Too many free
rushers are coming every snap at Leonora Cellars, which is
just killing his availability to roll out and do something
with his legs. It's killed the entire running game. I've
been doing this twenty eight years, and I can't remember
a game where a team ended up with negative nine
(08:03):
rushing yards for a games. So, of course, just football
one on one, if you take away the run game
and you have to depend on the pass, you're probably
going to be very one dimensional on the defense is
going to know what to do. And on top of that,
as the availability report came out last night, South Carolina's
going to be down two starting offensive timing from last
week going into Kentucky. So if you're the Kentucky defensive coordinator,
(08:27):
it's like, okay, well just line up rush three every
game and or every snap, and you.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Should be fun.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Yeah, if you're Kentucky, I'm sure you're hoping that you
can get pressure with just four and not to have
to blitz a lot. Because of the issues the game
Cocks have had, and also because Sellers is so dangerous
freelancing exactly.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
And really this defensive plan got presented last year by
Ole miss old misisode UFC to three points, and then
really presented by Illinois and the bowl game. They pretty
much said, just spread the field, rush three, drop eight
into coverage because they don't they're not afraid of Sellers
beating them with his arm, and then just say, if
he tries to take off and run, if you haven't
(09:07):
ry sacked him obviously, just try to contain him. And
that's worked very well through really the last five games
since that Illinois game and the Sitters balls. So I
have no doubt Kentucky will try something similar, if not
the exact same, and South Carolina's just got to try
to get it figured out. The passing game did look
good last week against Missouri, but it just wasn't good enough.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
They haven't run Sellers as much design run as it
seems as last year. Is that because the way what
you're talking about with the way defenses are playing them,
or is it because they're protecting him a little bit
because he's so important.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Well, I think that's a little bit. Mike Schule, of
the offensive coordinator, has said that, no, they're not trying
to prepare him for the next level. No, there's been
no conversations about running him less, but it is a
case of like, well, he just doesn't have as many
designed rushing attempts, But of course there are a lot
of times he's just getting pressured so much. You don't
(10:02):
know if the play was going to be at RPO.
You don't know if it was going to be a draw.
You don't know if it was going to be a
case of like, hey, just use your first checkdown and
then take off. Just because the pressure is getting to
him so quickly every time, you just really don't know
what it was supposed to be.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
We're talking with David Kininger, who covers South Carolina football
for Post and Courier dot com. What's the follow on
X If Kentucky fans want to sign up for the weekend.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
DCP and C, it's a real simple once to remember.
I'll be there in the press box starting at four
forty five on Saturday. Hopefully it's not going to rain.
It's pouring down here right now, and yeah, you get
all the updates right there.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yeah, I guess from what I've read there's a bunch
of rain in the area, but maybe a chance that
we might get lucky around a window of not as
much rain around game time. Is that still what you're hearing?
Speaker 3 (10:55):
That's what it's looking like. It's pouring down here. It's
supposed to knock off tomorrow around lunchtime, but we'll see
how it is. But of course that does mean if
you are coming to the game, the rain will clear
out and that famously hot Columbia weather will creep in.
So yeah, bring a raincoat and be prepared to sit
on it because you won't be comfortable wearing it if
I want to stop for any.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Beyond. We talked a lot about sellers. Let's talk about
the defensive side, which just control the game for the game.
Cocks here at Lexington last year, led by those two
guys on the edges and one of them's back and
Dylan Stewart. How is this South Carolina defense versus that
last one that put a bunch of guys in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
It was tough coming in because that defense was one
of the best I've ever seen, and they lost seven starters,
including in All American safety Nickimin Warri, who was the
guy who put in the final touchdown last year in
Lexington on that pick six, So you knew it wasn't
going to be the same, but those guys have been
filling in rather well. They did lose the starting cornerback
(11:58):
in the first game. He is probable to return for
the first time for this game against Kentucky, so that's
a boost. But mostly it's been those guys are playing well.
They're playing the best of their ability, and it's not
their fault that their ability is as good as last year.
Dylan Stewart is an incredible talent, but now that he
doesn't have any other help on the other side of
(12:18):
the line, teams are double team in him and really
kind of taking him out of the game.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
So it's been it.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Was okay the first two games. The third game, they
just I think everybody got down because the Nora Sellers
got hurt.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
Last week.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
If you guys watched it against Missouri, the defense was
in their gaps, they were in position to make plays,
but then they just couldn't tackle. The PFF only charged
him with sixteen miss tackles. It seemed like at least
twice that they just could not get a handle on
Missouri's ball carrier. So that's definitely going to be a
thing to watch because as Shane Biemer and Company said
(12:53):
all week Kentucky's two running backs. Those guys run with violence.
If you don't get them on the ground quick, you're
going to be in for a long night.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
David, I appreciate the time, and we'll see the press
box tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Not a problem. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
David Clooninger, who covers South Carolina football for Post and
Courier dot Com, joining us here on the Leach Report
presented by Bobcat Enterprises with four locations around Kentucky. So
google Bobcat when you need to buy or just rent
a piece of heavy equipment for a job, or multiple
pieces of heavy equipment. If you know somebody it's on
(13:28):
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They'll take great care of you after the sale. Google
them to find the one that's closest to you here
in Kentucky. Bobcat Enterprises. Right back with Jeff pacaorol here
on the Leach Report Radio Network. It's twenty five past
(13:49):
the top of the hour here on the Leach Report
from the Clark's Pumpin' Shop studio. Return Refresh and Refuel.
Producer Rick tells me that Jeff Picoro's on the line
from UK Football Network and WTVQTV, but then he can't
talk because he's watching the Ryder Cup, and I'm sitting
here watching the Ryder Cup as well, so this could
be just a really dull segment of nobody talking. I
(14:14):
just saw John Rahm hit a shot for the European team.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Impossible if you.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Took a golf ball out and hit it like an
easter egg, like under a thicket of stuff that's kind
of where the ball was, and he hit that thing
to what like ten feet.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
That was unbelievable. I mean, that stuff was in I
don't know what you call that heather or whatever it is.
It was three feet high and he stuck it. Man.
I don't know if there's six guys in golf that
could do that, but man, that's the thing that's amazing.
These are the best of the best, and that's always
that's what makes us such a fun event to watch.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
I should know what you call that stuff because I'm
frequently in it when I play. But it justin Thomas
the Kentucky it's part of the first group that went out.
They're up one to zero in their match, but the
US is leading in two matches and the Europeans are
leading in two. There's sessions in the morning, in the
afternoon today and tomorrow, and then all day singles matches
(15:09):
starting at noon on Sunday. I said earlier, it's kind
of like the NCAA tournament first couple of days when
you have a major sporting event that you can watch
early in the day, or when they have the British Open,
you can wake up and they're already playing golf. That's great.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
I'll take it any day of the week, that's for sure.
And then and then of course tomorrow is maybe. You know.
I have some publications I read the street in Smith
and Athalons and all those, you know, to get ready
for the football season, and they said, this is the
best weekend of college football of the whole year in
the regular season. They are unbelievable games around the country.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Have you got Oregon, Penn State, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
We're talking about Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
South Carolina, which is not up at that level in
terms of national attention, but is important for both of
these teams. Kind of suddenly, for some Carolina after two
straight losses, and then for Kentucky. I don't know about you,
but I kind of thought if Kentucky could get out
of September with three wins, they'd have a great shot
to get to a bowl game. Or maybe not. I
(16:15):
don't great, it's the right word against that schedule, but
a good shot. And they missed a chance to get
one against Old Miss. So this is the last chance
to get to three wins in September, and on paper
it looks like it's one that should be a close
game in the fourth quarter, right.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
Yeah, I agree one hundred percent. In Tom, you and
I have said this, you know, to blue in the face,
there's going to be four or five games that are
going to come down to the fourth quarter within one score,
And if Kentucky wins you know, three or four of those,
then like you said, you get to seven, you know, seven,
eight wins. I think that they could get to five
(16:51):
wins going into those final two games of the season.
I really do. And I think this is a huge games.
It's so important for both teams to just hugely important
because South Carolina's the next four games are just ridiculous
as well.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
If you get to the fourth quarter with a chance
to win it. Somebody asked me this on a show
I was on earlier today. What's the script look like
for Kentucky to be in that position? What do they
have to do to get in that to be in
that position to have a chance to win it late?
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Well, I think there's something. Let me say, on both
sides of the ball. One, they have to limit Lenora's sellers.
He has to become a common quarterback, you know, not
sewing for going into the fourth quarter over two hundred
yards and rushing for sixty or seventy going into the fourth.
If they can contain him, then they've got a great shot.
And then on the offensive side, move the football, just
(17:40):
get first down, score some points. I was on with
South Carolina yesterday with some of their guys, and they
asked me the question of what do you think it
takes to win this game? Give me a number, and
I said over twenty four, So I think got twenty seven,
twenty four, twenty eight to twenty one. It's gonna be
something like that. I really believe that. And the one
(18:03):
question mark yep, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
As you say. Golfers talk about posting a number, not
in this event, but when they're playing regularly, and I
think if you could post twenty seven, I'd feel real
good about that. On either side of the ball. We're
coming up on the heartbreak, so let me take that
and we'll come back and get to some more Jeff's
thoughts on this matchup between the Cats and the game
Cocks tomorrow night in rainy Columbia, South Carolina. It's the
(18:28):
Leach Report Radio Network, second half of the Friday Show
Football Friday Jeff Pecoro with us from WTVQTV, and you
also hear Jeff and I and Gabe down on the
sidelines tomorrow in Columbia for Kentucky and South Carolina. What's
the featured high school game tonight for TVQ.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
You know, this is a really crazy week time. There's
a bunch of teams that are off. There's a bunch
of games that have got some teams from out of
the state coming in and playing. So I think they're
going to just do a you know, kind of a
Mitch missmatch of games. It's really an interesting league for
some reason. There's a couple of teams off as well, so.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
It's kind of the opposite of the colleges this weekend.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
There's not exactly exactly.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah, well, let's get back to Kentucky South Carolina. We
were talking about the script for Kentucky to be in
a position to win this game in the fourth quarter.
What are some of the other elements for you?
Speaker 4 (19:28):
Well, I think the biggest thing. I'm not really worried
about Cutter. I just think he is His demeanor fits
perfectly for a quarterback. You know, he never gets too
down on himself. He doesn't let mistakes bother him, which
I think is great. But he's got to be helped.
And what I mean by that is they've got to
be able to run the football. This is a big,
(19:49):
big team that South Carolina has. They're big, they're strong,
and they're fast. But they lost a lot. They lost
six of the top seven tackles. All six of those
guys who you know, we're in training camps at the
end NFL this year, so it's a big difference. And
they have one stud on the defense and I kind
of compared him a little bit to Josh Allen. Whenever
they need a play, it just seems that Stuart makes
(20:11):
it off the edge and they and the one thing
you could do with him is you can run at him,
and that nullifies the quickness and speed that he has,
especially when he's pass rushing. But to me, they've got
to run the football. If they can get into that
fourth quarter with over one hundred and fifty yards rushing,
then I think they got a really good chance to
win this game.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Josh Caddis, cut Her, Bullie's teammate and roommate our buddy
Dick Gabriel got a kick out of Caddis describing Bowlie
as being like a Golden Retriever. So I look up
the qualities of a Golden Retriever online. High trainability, which
good for a football player, friendly nature, so that helps
(20:51):
him lead his teammates significant grooming needs. On the other side,
Cutter did say this week he needed a haircut.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
Well, yeah, he got to remind you of the kid
remember the.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Titans, right, yeah, Sunshine Ronnie Bass, who actually in real
life went from that high school, TC Williams High School
to play at the University of South Carolina. They called
him Little Nobody Knew and you'll hear all those kinds
of crazy things on our Wildcat whip that we do
(21:24):
each week from South of Rigley on Southland Drive here
in Lexington, and it's posted online. Yes it is, and
you can find uh yesterday's edition. H Dick Gabriel has
put that out and we've shared it on our social media,
So look for that for a little more detailed breakdown
(21:46):
for Kentucky. Missouri ran the ball very effectively against South Carolina.
Are you optimistic Kentucky can have success there?
Speaker 4 (21:55):
I am, I really am. This is a different Kentucky
team and was built. They went out, they got themselves
some bruisers of offensive linemen, brawn with great additions. So
the middle of Kentucky's offensive line is really strong, and
that's where they have really pushed some people around and
made some really good moves in running the football, opening
(22:16):
some holes. I expect them to do that again. I
don't think you try to get around the edge on
these guys. They're quick, they're long. I think you bowl them,
you go right at them. But the other thing that
I like, Tom is the fact that in key positions
and especially in the Kentucky's defense, it's older guys that
have been there, done that. You know, you talked about
it when we did our whip about the secondary and
(22:38):
especially your two safeties who have you know, they played
there before and it's this is it's not a huge stadium,
it's not like Tennessee, but there's one hundred thousand people
only seventy seven thousand. But they make a lot of noises,
really loud, and they really get into the game. I
think it's one of the better atmospheres in SEC play.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
And it gets that one end of the field if
you're going to where its bowled in three decks and
that just holds a lot of sound. And if you're
going I guess it would be from our spot left to
right down there, it gets really really loud. Cutter certainly
seemed very you know at ease. You talked about how
(23:17):
well he you know, managed the pocket, would would step
up into the you know and utilize the pocket. That's
what you definitely need to do against a team with
a good pass rush.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
Right yeah, and and this it still does it with speed.
You know, he's a really good speed rusher, a lot
like Dennis Johnson was when he was here at UK
coming around the end. So what you have to do
on that, especially to your Pete who's the left tackle
for Kentucky, push him to the outside. So that actually
gives you a little pocket or a little a little
room to step up or to run to escape the pocket.
(23:49):
You don't want to go to the outside. You want
to go up the pocket and then to the out
So it gives you that little bubble over there if
Pete can just push him to the out side and
let him go to the outside. And I think Cutter
knows that and looks here's the other thing too. I
keep keep scratching my head when all these reporters and
(24:11):
TV people ask Bush and ask Mark, can you open
the playbook with Cutter. Cutter's been there longer than any quarterback.
Kim and Bush have been in that quarterback room together
more than any other quarterback on this team. So yes,
he knows his playbook backwards and forwards. He's a lot
more comfortable with it this year. And I think he's
a lot more confident.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
On the other side going against sellers. I think Kentucky's
defensive line has been very good so far. Gusta commands
a lot of attention in the middle of Kentucky's defense,
and that's good. And then Saunder's Khalil's playing really well
for them. Humphrey Grace, I think it's back to full strength.
(24:52):
Now they've got guys behind them that they can rotate in.
If they can get a rush without having to bring
extra pressure, that would be a big plus, would it.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
It would be huge for them. Here's the thing to me,
there's no arm tackling in this game. Sellers is a
monster's Cam Newton and Tim Tebow kind of combined. He
gets two hundred and forty pounds, so you're not gonna
get him down. It's a lot like when you rush Lorenzi.
You can't just armtack. You've got to bring a shoulder.
And the amazing thing on that third and thirty seven
(25:24):
play last week, if you guys go back and watch it,
he's moving to his left, he's running full speed to
his left and he fires an absolute dark thirty yards
downfield and it was just a perfect pass. There's not
probably four or five quarterbacks in college football can make
that play. And this kid's just a sophomore. I mean,
he's a special, special player.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Yeah, that's one of those plays where the NFL scout say, yeah,
I've seen enough, we like him.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
Yeah, we don't need you to throw anymore. That's all
we need. I mean that's how good this kid is.
And again just scratching the potential. He's a young kid.
He's only nineteen years old. It's amazing the future for him.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
That is Jeff Paccaro See on the plane, Hi Buddy
Seat on WTVQ TV week nights here in the Lexington market,
and here him with myself and Dick Gabriel tomorrow night
on the call on the UK Radio and Radio Network
from Columbia, South Carolina. UH seven forty five kickoff, We'll
(26:22):
get to a break and come back with Ryan Black
from the Career Journal. By the way, tomorrow or no
Sunday two to three thirty The Goose, Jack Gibbitts is
going to be signing copies of they Call Me Goose
and talking about it at Beaumont Branch of the Lexington
Public Library. So that's Sunday two to three thirty Eastern.
(26:43):
Stop buying see Goose. You can pick up a book
if you don't have one, and if you do already
have one, you can stop buy and get it signed.
That's at the Beaumont Branch of the Lexing and Public Library.
We'll be right back quarter before the top of the hour.
Rick is at the controls today. I forgot to tell
you this, Rick, if that Brad Light sound bite, you
would punch that up for us, Just tell me when
(27:03):
you have it. I want to play that, and then
we'll have our guest Ryan Black from Career Dash Journal
dot com react to it and he covers Kentucky football
men's basketball for the CJ. And let's hear from Brad
White talking about the challenge presented by Leonora Sellers.
Speaker 5 (27:23):
So you can't just force him in a direction that
he doesn't like to go. He doesn't mind going any
which way. You obviously saw the throw on third and
thirty seven to his left. Everybody all make them go
to his offhand. I mean throws an absolute dart. That
quarterback's just standing flat footed, you know, with squared shoulders,
(27:46):
couldn't make So, yeah, we got we got our hands full.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Indeed, Kentucky does. That's the play Jeff Picoro was just
talking about in the last segment Brad White, Kentucky's defensive
coordinator there Ryan after the last game when Kentucky he
gave up some big plays to Eastern Michigan. In the
post game, Brad White is typically a guy that's you
know more analytical and you know he but he seemed
(28:11):
that game to it was a tent since being ticked
off in his tone more than usually comes out. So
I would imagine he has really cracked down his guys
a little bit in these in these two weeks.
Speaker 6 (28:25):
Right yeap, when Tom thanks you for having me on
this morn, I think exactly like you said, you know,
I mean, I've now been on the beat for right
at three years, and of all the games I've covered,
that's the most kind of irritated or firey I think
I've ever seen Brad White in a post game.
Speaker 7 (28:43):
I mean, he was he was not very pleased.
Speaker 6 (28:45):
With his unit after that Eastern Michigan game, even though
again they won.
Speaker 7 (28:48):
But like to the defense gave some big plays. He wasn't.
He wasn't thrilled with.
Speaker 6 (28:52):
I think the other thing taking into account Tom and
I think back to this, That's kind of why I
asked Brad White at the post price availability the Oday
was just like, hey, that was the second career start
that Sellers made.
Speaker 7 (29:02):
Was that last game last year against Kentucky.
Speaker 6 (29:05):
And the previous game, Tom, he did not look good
against Old Dominion. Then he comes in, here goes eleven
to fifteen Carolina roles to win. It's just kind of
remarkable to me at that time because the Sellers looked okay.
But you know, just from seeing that game, Tom, I
would have never thought that here a year later we
would be talking about this guy as maybe the number
(29:25):
one quarterback taken next year he decides to go out
in the draft.
Speaker 7 (29:28):
So I think it's right wise the other days.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
They've got their hands full, but you know this is
a unit that time again has risen to the occasion.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
Yeah. I mean we have Cutter Bowley making his first
SEC roads start tomorrow and that's what Sellers did last
year in Lexington and obviously took off and he had
a big year. What's your take on there? What are
you expecting to see from from Cutter in this kind
of environment from what you read is of his approach
(29:57):
to the game.
Speaker 6 (29:59):
Well, you know, tell me, given you know what Kentucky's
got with me, one of the better running back kind
of units that we've seen so far this season. I mean,
you need to lean on those guys, especially considering you know,
Carolina ranks fourteenth in the SEC and in rushing yards
loud per game. But at the same time time, you know,
you're not gonna go off there and not be able
(30:19):
to throw the.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
Ball at all.
Speaker 6 (30:20):
So I mean, I think, you know, you just have
to you have to be able to throw the ball
enough to keep the defense honest defensively, and it helps
that Cutter also is mobile enough to hey, if things
break down, he can either keep a play alive or
rush and pick up some yards. So I mean, you know,
I'm expecting him to play solid, but certainly, you know,
I don't think Anybody's gonna expect that Kentucky's going to
throw too too much on Cutter because hey, I mean,
(30:42):
like a guy make his worst for a road start,
you know, you got to keep that kind of thing
into account.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
You make a good point about Cutter running, I think,
because that's something that you have to be wary of
on the defensive side versus sellers. Although he hasn't been
running as much as he did last year, but Cutter,
they don't use it been design runs much, or haven't
to this point. But if teams are playing a lot
of man to man, which they are against Kentucky, given
(31:08):
that the wide receivers have not stepped up their game yet,
then that can create some opportunities for the quarterback to
get some first downs running and Cutter is a guy
that you know, you don't think of as you know,
being I don't know, Lamar Jackson or something as far
(31:28):
as pulling it down and running with it, but he's
been pretty effective in his limited time doing that.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
Yeah, I mean really told me, I'd say he kind
of is about as.
Speaker 7 (31:38):
Good a runners as Will Levis was. I mean, like,
he's not a guy.
Speaker 6 (31:41):
I mean, he's not like he's not Lamar Jackson, with
few if any are, but he's still a guy that
he's not, you know, flat footed stone for me. He
can get out and at least pick up yardage went
when needed.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Kentucky's done a good job so far of taking care
of the football. That would be one would think a
huge stat in this matchup. I was looking back in
the stretch since twenty twenty Kentucky is one to one
and then lost the last three, and in that stretch
they're minus seven in the total turnover margin for those
(32:12):
four games. And you know, with the fred shirt freshman
quarterback starting on the road, if you can at least
break even or even win, that particular stat would be massive.
Speaker 6 (32:24):
Yeah, and tell that also goes into hey, you know,
especially if Kentucky were to get the ball first Saturday,
is if they could actually have a drive to get
settled in kind of maybe try to take the crowd
out of it early, right. I mean, I think anytime
I think any of you go on the road, you
want to do the best. You can't hit the crowd
out of it. But I think that's even more important
when you've got a guy making his first first startal road.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
There was a guy down there. I think it was
Depot Samuel actually a few years ago, and again that
Kentucky came back to win, but I think it was
the first offensive play. South Carolina hit a big play
camera if it was a hand off to Deebo or
a pass, but uh, you know that got the place
just going crazy and Kentucky was able to whether that
(33:11):
that storm. They've done that a few times for whatever reason,
They've had a decent success playing. It's, you know, not
easy to win on the road in this league, and
the Kentucky's been five hundred in the Stoops era in
those trips to South Carolina, and I would think, Uh,
I asked Mark about this for our pregame interview. The
(33:32):
way Kentucky normally has been able to run the football
in the time that Mark has been here. I think
that gets certainly getting back to that this season. That's
the kind of style of play that does I think
give you a chance to win road games, doesn't it.
Speaker 4 (33:47):
Well.
Speaker 6 (33:47):
I think, like you said, Tom, I think at the
end of the day too, when you when you play
that kind of football, especially when you're literally taking the
air of the ball, when you're not passing as much
and the expectation is, hey, you know you're you're not
you're not risking as much when you're running the ball.
Speaker 7 (33:59):
I mean, all of your ball careers have a secure
you know, putting it in the area. There are a
lot more things that can go wrong, handles the ball off,
A lot of your guys keep the football tuck.
Speaker 6 (34:07):
Dead, they're going to be okay.
Speaker 7 (34:09):
And you know, Tom, something.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
Else that you kind of brought up with the history
of this series, it's been so kind of crazy how
streaky it's been. Rise At Carolina won ten in a
row in the early two thousand and then you know,
from twenty fourteen through twenty twenty one, Kentucky one seven
of eight, and now Carolina is entering on a three
game win streak, so it's been really entering ol streaky
this series has been over the years.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
We've talked a lot about the quarterbacks for Kentucky after
Cutter Bowley, and you would think he would need to
play well for them to have a chance to win.
Who are one or two other guys that if they
had a big game would greatly increase Kentucky's opportunity to
get a win?
Speaker 6 (34:44):
Well, I think you know. I mean, obviously, just given
how Seth Mcallan's already played this year, I mean, coming
off the three touchdown performance against Eastern Michigan, I think
that would be big. But I would say, Tom, just
any any receiver you know, whether it's Kendrick Law, whether
it's Jimri Macklin, Hardley Gilmore, whoever you want to name,
if they could have one receiver step up and have
a big game. And by big, I don't mean two
(35:05):
hundred yards and four touchdowns, but I mean some maybe
like ninety yards and two touchdown grabbing me I think
that would If Kentucky get something like that, I think
that would really bode well for their chance at a win.
Speaker 7 (35:16):
Saturday.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
That is Ryan Black. He covers Kentucky football and basketball
at Courier dash Journal dot com. What's the follow on.
Speaker 7 (35:23):
X Brian, It's at Ryan A. Blackcom.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Well, there you go. That's pretty easy enough. Thank you, Ryan.
Speaker 7 (35:29):
Hey, Thanks Tom.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Quick break, and we are coming back with our final
segment of the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat. Enterprises day
one of the Ryder Cup and in the morning session,
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and her regular writer Brian her Nand was injured in
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The Day wild Cat History presented by Kentucky road Show,
Sports Cards and Memorabilia in nineteen sixty four. On this day,
Kentucky upset number one Ole miss In Jackson twenty seven
(37:15):
to twenty one. Rick Castner had a big day. Happy Birthday,
Michael Kidd, Gilchris, Happy Birthday, Chris Rodriguez and Happy birthday
Riley Welch. We'll see a Monday to recap Kentucky, South
Carolina with Van Hiles on the leads report presented by
Bob Cat Enterprises
This podcast of the Leech Report is presented by Boone's
Butcher Shop in Barnestown at one hundred Old Bloomfield Pike,
family owned and operated since nineteen forty six, with fresh
meat cut on site daily Boone's Butcher Shop. Good, Hey, everybody,
welcome into the Leech Report. We have made it to
(00:20):
Friday football Friday, as the Wildcats head to rainy South
Carolina for the weekend. I've got the Ryder Cup underway
that started about an hour ago, and Bethpage Black the
of course, are on Long Island and New York, so
it'll be It's always great when you have a major
(00:41):
sporting event to watch during the day, like when the
NCAA Tournament first and second rounds are happening and you
can start watching college basketball at noon and watched all
the way till midnight. Not quite that much golf, but
you get to start because they have morning session in
an afternoon session, you get to start at like seven
(01:03):
Eastern time in the morning watching the Ryder Cup. So
they're underway now, but we're talking football today. We'll do
that with David Cloninger from The Post and Courier dot Com.
He covers South Carolina Football, Jeff Bacoro, my broadcast partner,
the sports director at WTVQ here at Lexington, and Ryan Black,
who covers UK football and basketball for Career Journal dot com.
(01:25):
Our show's presented by Bobcat Enterprises each day, and our
opening segment of Wildcat News, a service of jiuseppees of Lexington.
We'll start with the availability report. DJ Waller is out,
downgraded from doubtful on the first report. South Carolina had
a couple of its offensive linemen go from doubtful to out.
(01:46):
Nolan Hay and Cason Henry, two starters from last week's
game at Missouri. Hey did not start previously at center,
but they have and he got injured into games so
they had to bring in a new center during the game.
So South Carolina loses its starting center from last week
and its most experienced offensive lineman Henry, who is a
(02:08):
right tackle. Defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow Dendy's been upgraded to probable,
and defensive back Judge Collier, who's been out since Week one,
is now listed as probable. So that's a little extra
help back for the South Carolina secondary that they have
not had a lot of rain in the Columbia area.
The hurricanes. There's one hurricane now in Berto, and there's
(02:32):
another system that's going to get at least upgraded to
a tropical depression. It sounds like anyway, both of those
are banging down on the Carolinas at the moment. But
that part of the bad weather's not expected to hit
from what I read, until Monday or Tuesday. But still
a lot of rain in the Columbia area for tomorrow,
(02:53):
Like it's a ninety five percent chance I saw in
the latest forecast for the Columbia area. So if you
are down there to follow the Cats, and they're usually
a fair number of Wildcat fans that do that, take
your rain year and Wildcats with their rushing attack, maybe
they'll help a little bit if they're leaning on the
ground game and can have some success with it. As
(03:14):
far as some of the storylines, last freshman quarterback to
start and win a game for Kentucky on the road
in the SEC, I was thinking it was Randall Cobb
Dow Mississippi State and eight. Actually when did a little
more research, Morgan Newton was the starter there in the
second half of the O nine season when Mike Hartline
got hurt. Morgan was not the official starter for the
(03:34):
win at Auburn. I think Cobb ran the first play
that night as they went they used three different quarterbacks.
But at Georgia, the last time the Cats won at
Georgia in O nine, Morgan Newton was the starting quarterback
had a couple of TV passes. The last three years
in this series, South Carolina has won all the games
and Kentucky's only averaged one hundred and twenty seven yards
per game rushing. They need to do better than that
(03:56):
tomorrow to win. One would think Missouri ran for two
to eighty five last week against the South Carolina defense.
Kentucky has not won the turnover margin stat since twenty twenty.
They're negative seven in that time. And Leonora Sellers averaged
twelve yards per attempt last year against Kentucky and his
breakout performance, and the Wildcats have had some issues giving
(04:18):
up big plays so far. They've had a couple of
weeks to try to shore that up, so that will
be put to the test in this matchup. One would
think Kentucky volleyball number three in the country, hosting Georgia
to try to go to two to zero in the
SEC that'll be on Saturday seven thirty or no tonight,
actually excuse me tonight seven thirty at Historic Memorial Coliseum
(04:39):
and a twenty twenty six small Forward Top ten prospect
Anthony Thompson. Katz Paul says he started a visit to
the UK campus on Wednesday, sixth and final recruiting visit
to official visit for Thompson. He's been here a couple
of times unofficially in the past. Thanks to the stories
that we talk about each day, you can find those
on the bud Light Leech Report page at Tom Leey
(05:01):
dot com. We'll come back visit with David Cloninger from
Post and Courier dot com about South Carolina football. Opening
segment a Wildcat News presented by Giuseppes of Lexington. You
can get to open table and make your reservation now
for Giuseppes, and when you're thinking about going to Giuseppes,
don't hesitate to make those reservations because they fill up fast,
(05:21):
especially in the lounge area where you can listen to
Dave Hall's live jazz music. See those pictures that folks
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on social media, have a special dinner at Giuseppes, and
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here in Lexington. We'll be right back on the Leach
(05:43):
Report Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
First thing you got to do is protect it. I'm
a former alignment, so I worry about protecting the punter
first and foremost, and then the coverage aspect once the
ball is punting, making sure we're getting down the field
with speed and covering our lanes and not trailing another.
That type of stuff is important as well. But their
return game is set up by their block game.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
That is UK special teams coach and running backs coach
j Bull where talking about South Carolina and the Game
Cocks have three punt return touchdowns in four games already.
But then outstanding special teams play has kind of been
a hallmark of the Beamer family for a long time. Shane,
(06:28):
the son of legendary Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, is
we welcome to David Coninger from Post to Courier dot
com where he covers the Game Cocks. And this is
for a team that has had some issues offensively so far.
Nice boost when you can get three touchdowns via punt returns.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
It certainly is. As Shane Biemer said during the first game, Yeah,
it kind of reminded me of those games of at
Virginia Tech all those years the offense wasn't getting it done,
so he a special team said you know what, we'll
take care of it. But it was great to see
the first two games. Hasn't happened since, and maybe it's
not a direct correlation, but South Carolina's offense hasn't looked
very good the past two games since.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Yeah, when South Carolina came into Lexington last year, a
lot of hype for the game, a lot of excitement
for Kentucky in that early season matchup, and then the
game Cocks just came in and took him to the
woodshed thirty one to six, and they took him to
the woodshed. That was mainly evident in the South Carolina
defensive front versus Kentucky's offensive line matchup, and some issues
(07:34):
for the Cats got exposed. It sounds like this year
at South Carolina that is having some issues with its
offensive line to this point.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Right, very much so. Tom it's just not been good
at all, not even close to good. Too many free
rushers are coming every snap at Leonora Cellars, which is
just killing his availability to roll out and do something
with his legs. It's killed the entire running game. I've
been doing this twenty eight years, and I can't remember
a game where a team ended up with negative nine
(08:03):
rushing yards for a games. So, of course, just football
one on one, if you take away the run game
and you have to depend on the pass, you're probably
going to be very one dimensional on the defense is
going to know what to do. And on top of that,
as the availability report came out last night, South Carolina's
going to be down two starting offensive timing from last
week going into Kentucky. So if you're the Kentucky defensive coordinator,
(08:27):
it's like, okay, well just line up rush three every
game and or every snap, and you.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Should be fun.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Yeah, if you're Kentucky, I'm sure you're hoping that you
can get pressure with just four and not to have
to blitz a lot. Because of the issues the game
Cocks have had, and also because Sellers is so dangerous
freelancing exactly.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
And really this defensive plan got presented last year by
Ole miss old misisode UFC to three points, and then
really presented by Illinois and the bowl game. They pretty
much said, just spread the field, rush three, drop eight
into coverage because they don't they're not afraid of Sellers
beating them with his arm, and then just say, if
he tries to take off and run, if you haven't
(09:07):
ry sacked him obviously, just try to contain him. And
that's worked very well through really the last five games
since that Illinois game and the Sitters balls. So I
have no doubt Kentucky will try something similar, if not
the exact same, and South Carolina's just got to try
to get it figured out. The passing game did look
good last week against Missouri, but it just wasn't good enough.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
They haven't run Sellers as much design run as it
seems as last year. Is that because the way what
you're talking about with the way defenses are playing them,
or is it because they're protecting him a little bit
because he's so important.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Well, I think that's a little bit. Mike Schule, of
the offensive coordinator, has said that, no, they're not trying
to prepare him for the next level. No, there's been
no conversations about running him less, but it is a
case of like, well, he just doesn't have as many
designed rushing attempts, But of course there are a lot
of times he's just getting pressured so much. You don't
(10:02):
know if the play was going to be at RPO.
You don't know if it was going to be a draw.
You don't know if it was going to be a
case of like, hey, just use your first checkdown and
then take off. Just because the pressure is getting to
him so quickly every time, you just really don't know
what it was supposed to be.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
We're talking with David Kininger, who covers South Carolina football
for Post and Courier dot com. What's the follow on
X If Kentucky fans want to sign up for the weekend.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
DCP and C, it's a real simple once to remember.
I'll be there in the press box starting at four
forty five on Saturday. Hopefully it's not going to rain.
It's pouring down here right now, and yeah, you get
all the updates right there.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yeah, I guess from what I've read there's a bunch
of rain in the area, but maybe a chance that
we might get lucky around a window of not as
much rain around game time. Is that still what you're hearing?
Speaker 3 (10:55):
That's what it's looking like. It's pouring down here. It's
supposed to knock off tomorrow around lunchtime, but we'll see
how it is. But of course that does mean if
you are coming to the game, the rain will clear
out and that famously hot Columbia weather will creep in.
So yeah, bring a raincoat and be prepared to sit
on it because you won't be comfortable wearing it if
I want to stop for any.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Beyond. We talked a lot about sellers. Let's talk about
the defensive side, which just control the game for the game.
Cocks here at Lexington last year, led by those two
guys on the edges and one of them's back and
Dylan Stewart. How is this South Carolina defense versus that
last one that put a bunch of guys in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
It was tough coming in because that defense was one
of the best I've ever seen, and they lost seven starters,
including in All American safety Nickimin Warri, who was the
guy who put in the final touchdown last year in
Lexington on that pick six, So you knew it wasn't
going to be the same, but those guys have been
filling in rather well. They did lose the starting cornerback
(11:58):
in the first game. He is probable to return for
the first time for this game against Kentucky, so that's
a boost. But mostly it's been those guys are playing well.
They're playing the best of their ability, and it's not
their fault that their ability is as good as last year.
Dylan Stewart is an incredible talent, but now that he
doesn't have any other help on the other side of
(12:18):
the line, teams are double team in him and really
kind of taking him out of the game.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
So it's been it.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Was okay the first two games. The third game, they
just I think everybody got down because the Nora Sellers
got hurt.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
Last week.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
If you guys watched it against Missouri, the defense was
in their gaps, they were in position to make plays,
but then they just couldn't tackle. The PFF only charged
him with sixteen miss tackles. It seemed like at least
twice that they just could not get a handle on
Missouri's ball carrier. So that's definitely going to be a
thing to watch because as Shane Biemer and Company said
(12:53):
all week Kentucky's two running backs. Those guys run with violence.
If you don't get them on the ground quick, you're
going to be in for a long night.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
David, I appreciate the time, and we'll see the press
box tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Not a problem. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
David Clooninger, who covers South Carolina football for Post and
Courier dot Com, joining us here on the Leach Report
presented by Bobcat Enterprises with four locations around Kentucky. So
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(13:28):
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in Kentucky. Bobcat Enterprises. Right back with Jeff pacaorol here
on the Leach Report Radio Network. It's twenty five past
(13:49):
the top of the hour here on the Leach Report
from the Clark's Pumpin' Shop studio. Return Refresh and Refuel.
Producer Rick tells me that Jeff Picoro's on the line
from UK Football Network and WTVQTV, but then he can't
talk because he's watching the Ryder Cup, and I'm sitting
here watching the Ryder Cup as well, so this could
be just a really dull segment of nobody talking. I
(14:14):
just saw John Rahm hit a shot for the European team.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Impossible if you.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Took a golf ball out and hit it like an
easter egg, like under a thicket of stuff that's kind
of where the ball was, and he hit that thing
to what like ten feet.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
That was unbelievable. I mean, that stuff was in I
don't know what you call that heather or whatever it is.
It was three feet high and he stuck it. Man.
I don't know if there's six guys in golf that
could do that, but man, that's the thing that's amazing.
These are the best of the best, and that's always
that's what makes us such a fun event to watch.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
I should know what you call that stuff because I'm
frequently in it when I play. But it justin Thomas
the Kentucky it's part of the first group that went out.
They're up one to zero in their match, but the
US is leading in two matches and the Europeans are
leading in two. There's sessions in the morning, in the
afternoon today and tomorrow, and then all day singles matches
(15:09):
starting at noon on Sunday. I said earlier, it's kind
of like the NCAA tournament first couple of days when
you have a major sporting event that you can watch
early in the day, or when they have the British Open,
you can wake up and they're already playing golf. That's great.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
I'll take it any day of the week, that's for sure.
And then and then of course tomorrow is maybe. You know.
I have some publications I read the street in Smith
and Athalons and all those, you know, to get ready
for the football season, and they said, this is the
best weekend of college football of the whole year in
the regular season. They are unbelievable games around the country.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Have you got Oregon, Penn State, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
We're talking about Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
South Carolina, which is not up at that level in
terms of national attention, but is important for both of
these teams. Kind of suddenly, for some Carolina after two
straight losses, and then for Kentucky. I don't know about you,
but I kind of thought if Kentucky could get out
of September with three wins, they'd have a great shot
to get to a bowl game. Or maybe not. I
(16:15):
don't great, it's the right word against that schedule, but
a good shot. And they missed a chance to get
one against Old Miss. So this is the last chance
to get to three wins in September, and on paper
it looks like it's one that should be a close
game in the fourth quarter, right.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
Yeah, I agree one hundred percent. In Tom, you and
I have said this, you know, to blue in the face,
there's going to be four or five games that are
going to come down to the fourth quarter within one score,
And if Kentucky wins you know, three or four of those,
then like you said, you get to seven, you know, seven,
eight wins. I think that they could get to five
(16:51):
wins going into those final two games of the season.
I really do. And I think this is a huge games.
It's so important for both teams to just hugely important
because South Carolina's the next four games are just ridiculous
as well.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
If you get to the fourth quarter with a chance
to win it. Somebody asked me this on a show
I was on earlier today. What's the script look like
for Kentucky to be in that position? What do they
have to do to get in that to be in
that position to have a chance to win it late?
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Well, I think there's something. Let me say, on both
sides of the ball. One, they have to limit Lenora's sellers.
He has to become a common quarterback, you know, not
sewing for going into the fourth quarter over two hundred
yards and rushing for sixty or seventy going into the fourth.
If they can contain him, then they've got a great shot.
And then on the offensive side, move the football, just
(17:40):
get first down, score some points. I was on with
South Carolina yesterday with some of their guys, and they
asked me the question of what do you think it
takes to win this game? Give me a number, and
I said over twenty four, So I think got twenty seven,
twenty four, twenty eight to twenty one. It's gonna be
something like that. I really believe that. And the one
(18:03):
question mark yep, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
As you say. Golfers talk about posting a number, not
in this event, but when they're playing regularly, and I
think if you could post twenty seven, I'd feel real
good about that. On either side of the ball. We're
coming up on the heartbreak, so let me take that
and we'll come back and get to some more Jeff's
thoughts on this matchup between the Cats and the game
Cocks tomorrow night in rainy Columbia, South Carolina. It's the
(18:28):
Leach Report Radio Network, second half of the Friday Show
Football Friday Jeff Pecoro with us from WTVQTV, and you
also hear Jeff and I and Gabe down on the
sidelines tomorrow in Columbia for Kentucky and South Carolina. What's
the featured high school game tonight for TVQ.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
You know, this is a really crazy week time. There's
a bunch of teams that are off. There's a bunch
of games that have got some teams from out of
the state coming in and playing. So I think they're
going to just do a you know, kind of a
Mitch missmatch of games. It's really an interesting league for
some reason. There's a couple of teams off as well, so.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
It's kind of the opposite of the colleges this weekend.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
There's not exactly exactly.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah, well, let's get back to Kentucky South Carolina. We
were talking about the script for Kentucky to be in
a position to win this game in the fourth quarter.
What are some of the other elements for you?
Speaker 4 (19:28):
Well, I think the biggest thing. I'm not really worried
about Cutter. I just think he is His demeanor fits
perfectly for a quarterback. You know, he never gets too
down on himself. He doesn't let mistakes bother him, which
I think is great. But he's got to be helped.
And what I mean by that is they've got to
be able to run the football. This is a big,
(19:49):
big team that South Carolina has. They're big, they're strong,
and they're fast. But they lost a lot. They lost
six of the top seven tackles. All six of those
guys who you know, we're in training camps at the
end NFL this year, so it's a big difference. And
they have one stud on the defense and I kind
of compared him a little bit to Josh Allen. Whenever
they need a play, it just seems that Stuart makes
(20:11):
it off the edge and they and the one thing
you could do with him is you can run at him,
and that nullifies the quickness and speed that he has,
especially when he's pass rushing. But to me, they've got
to run the football. If they can get into that
fourth quarter with over one hundred and fifty yards rushing,
then I think they got a really good chance to
win this game.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Josh Caddis, cut Her, Bullie's teammate and roommate our buddy
Dick Gabriel got a kick out of Caddis describing Bowlie
as being like a Golden Retriever. So I look up
the qualities of a Golden Retriever online. High trainability, which
good for a football player, friendly nature, so that helps
(20:51):
him lead his teammates significant grooming needs. On the other side,
Cutter did say this week he needed a haircut.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
Well, yeah, he got to remind you of the kid
remember the.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Titans, right, yeah, Sunshine Ronnie Bass, who actually in real
life went from that high school, TC Williams High School
to play at the University of South Carolina. They called
him Little Nobody Knew and you'll hear all those kinds
of crazy things on our Wildcat whip that we do
(21:24):
each week from South of Rigley on Southland Drive here
in Lexington, and it's posted online. Yes it is, and
you can find uh yesterday's edition. H Dick Gabriel has
put that out and we've shared it on our social media,
So look for that for a little more detailed breakdown
(21:46):
for Kentucky. Missouri ran the ball very effectively against South Carolina.
Are you optimistic Kentucky can have success there?
Speaker 4 (21:55):
I am, I really am. This is a different Kentucky
team and was built. They went out, they got themselves
some bruisers of offensive linemen, brawn with great additions. So
the middle of Kentucky's offensive line is really strong, and
that's where they have really pushed some people around and
made some really good moves in running the football, opening
(22:16):
some holes. I expect them to do that again. I
don't think you try to get around the edge on
these guys. They're quick, they're long. I think you bowl them,
you go right at them. But the other thing that
I like, Tom is the fact that in key positions
and especially in the Kentucky's defense, it's older guys that
have been there, done that. You know, you talked about
it when we did our whip about the secondary and
(22:38):
especially your two safeties who have you know, they played
there before and it's this is it's not a huge stadium,
it's not like Tennessee, but there's one hundred thousand people
only seventy seven thousand. But they make a lot of noises,
really loud, and they really get into the game. I
think it's one of the better atmospheres in SEC play.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
And it gets that one end of the field if
you're going to where its bowled in three decks and
that just holds a lot of sound. And if you're
going I guess it would be from our spot left to
right down there, it gets really really loud. Cutter certainly
seemed very you know at ease. You talked about how
(23:17):
well he you know, managed the pocket, would would step
up into the you know and utilize the pocket. That's
what you definitely need to do against a team with
a good pass rush.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
Right yeah, and and this it still does it with speed.
You know, he's a really good speed rusher, a lot
like Dennis Johnson was when he was here at UK
coming around the end. So what you have to do
on that, especially to your Pete who's the left tackle
for Kentucky, push him to the outside. So that actually
gives you a little pocket or a little a little
room to step up or to run to escape the pocket.
(23:49):
You don't want to go to the outside. You want
to go up the pocket and then to the out
So it gives you that little bubble over there if
Pete can just push him to the out side and
let him go to the outside. And I think Cutter
knows that and looks here's the other thing too. I
keep keep scratching my head when all these reporters and
(24:11):
TV people ask Bush and ask Mark, can you open
the playbook with Cutter. Cutter's been there longer than any quarterback.
Kim and Bush have been in that quarterback room together
more than any other quarterback on this team. So yes,
he knows his playbook backwards and forwards. He's a lot
more comfortable with it this year. And I think he's
a lot more confident.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
On the other side going against sellers. I think Kentucky's
defensive line has been very good so far. Gusta commands
a lot of attention in the middle of Kentucky's defense,
and that's good. And then Saunder's Khalil's playing really well
for them. Humphrey Grace, I think it's back to full strength.
(24:52):
Now they've got guys behind them that they can rotate in.
If they can get a rush without having to bring
extra pressure, that would be a big plus, would it.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
It would be huge for them. Here's the thing to me,
there's no arm tackling in this game. Sellers is a
monster's Cam Newton and Tim Tebow kind of combined. He
gets two hundred and forty pounds, so you're not gonna
get him down. It's a lot like when you rush Lorenzi.
You can't just armtack. You've got to bring a shoulder.
And the amazing thing on that third and thirty seven
(25:24):
play last week, if you guys go back and watch it,
he's moving to his left, he's running full speed to
his left and he fires an absolute dark thirty yards
downfield and it was just a perfect pass. There's not
probably four or five quarterbacks in college football can make
that play. And this kid's just a sophomore. I mean,
he's a special, special player.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Yeah, that's one of those plays where the NFL scout say, yeah,
I've seen enough, we like him.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
Yeah, we don't need you to throw anymore. That's all
we need. I mean that's how good this kid is.
And again just scratching the potential. He's a young kid.
He's only nineteen years old. It's amazing the future for him.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
That is Jeff Paccaro See on the plane, Hi Buddy
Seat on WTVQ TV week nights here in the Lexington market,
and here him with myself and Dick Gabriel tomorrow night
on the call on the UK Radio and Radio Network
from Columbia, South Carolina. UH seven forty five kickoff, We'll
(26:22):
get to a break and come back with Ryan Black
from the Career Journal. By the way, tomorrow or no
Sunday two to three thirty The Goose, Jack Gibbitts is
going to be signing copies of they Call Me Goose
and talking about it at Beaumont Branch of the Lexington
Public Library. So that's Sunday two to three thirty Eastern.
(26:43):
Stop buying see Goose. You can pick up a book
if you don't have one, and if you do already
have one, you can stop buy and get it signed.
That's at the Beaumont Branch of the Lexing and Public Library.
We'll be right back quarter before the top of the hour.
Rick is at the controls today. I forgot to tell
you this, Rick, if that Brad Light sound bite, you
would punch that up for us, Just tell me when
(27:03):
you have it. I want to play that, and then
we'll have our guest Ryan Black from Career Dash Journal
dot com react to it and he covers Kentucky football
men's basketball for the CJ. And let's hear from Brad
White talking about the challenge presented by Leonora Sellers.
Speaker 5 (27:23):
So you can't just force him in a direction that
he doesn't like to go. He doesn't mind going any
which way. You obviously saw the throw on third and
thirty seven to his left. Everybody all make them go
to his offhand. I mean throws an absolute dart. That
quarterback's just standing flat footed, you know, with squared shoulders,
(27:46):
couldn't make So, yeah, we got we got our hands full.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Indeed, Kentucky does. That's the play Jeff Picoro was just
talking about in the last segment Brad White, Kentucky's defensive
coordinator there Ryan after the last game when Kentucky he
gave up some big plays to Eastern Michigan. In the
post game, Brad White is typically a guy that's you
know more analytical and you know he but he seemed
(28:11):
that game to it was a tent since being ticked
off in his tone more than usually comes out. So
I would imagine he has really cracked down his guys
a little bit in these in these two weeks.
Speaker 6 (28:25):
Right yeap, when Tom thanks you for having me on
this morn, I think exactly like you said, you know,
I mean, I've now been on the beat for right
at three years, and of all the games I've covered,
that's the most kind of irritated or firey I think
I've ever seen Brad White in a post game.
Speaker 7 (28:43):
I mean, he was he was not very pleased.
Speaker 6 (28:45):
With his unit after that Eastern Michigan game, even though
again they won.
Speaker 7 (28:48):
But like to the defense gave some big plays. He wasn't.
He wasn't thrilled with.
Speaker 6 (28:52):
I think the other thing taking into account Tom and
I think back to this, That's kind of why I
asked Brad White at the post price availability the Oday
was just like, hey, that was the second career start
that Sellers made.
Speaker 7 (29:02):
Was that last game last year against Kentucky.
Speaker 6 (29:05):
And the previous game, Tom, he did not look good
against Old Dominion. Then he comes in, here goes eleven
to fifteen Carolina roles to win. It's just kind of
remarkable to me at that time because the Sellers looked okay.
But you know, just from seeing that game, Tom, I
would have never thought that here a year later we
would be talking about this guy as maybe the number
(29:25):
one quarterback taken next year he decides to go out
in the draft.
Speaker 7 (29:28):
So I think it's right wise the other days.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
They've got their hands full, but you know this is
a unit that time again has risen to the occasion.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
Yeah. I mean we have Cutter Bowley making his first
SEC roads start tomorrow and that's what Sellers did last
year in Lexington and obviously took off and he had
a big year. What's your take on there? What are
you expecting to see from from Cutter in this kind
of environment from what you read is of his approach
(29:57):
to the game.
Speaker 6 (29:59):
Well, you know, tell me, given you know what Kentucky's
got with me, one of the better running back kind
of units that we've seen so far this season. I mean,
you need to lean on those guys, especially considering you know,
Carolina ranks fourteenth in the SEC and in rushing yards
loud per game. But at the same time time, you know,
you're not gonna go off there and not be able
(30:19):
to throw the.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
Ball at all.
Speaker 6 (30:20):
So I mean, I think, you know, you just have
to you have to be able to throw the ball
enough to keep the defense honest defensively, and it helps
that Cutter also is mobile enough to hey, if things
break down, he can either keep a play alive or
rush and pick up some yards. So I mean, you know,
I'm expecting him to play solid, but certainly, you know,
I don't think Anybody's gonna expect that Kentucky's going to
throw too too much on Cutter because hey, I mean,
(30:42):
like a guy make his worst for a road start,
you know, you got to keep that kind of thing
into account.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
You make a good point about Cutter running, I think,
because that's something that you have to be wary of
on the defensive side versus sellers. Although he hasn't been
running as much as he did last year, but Cutter,
they don't use it been design runs much, or haven't
to this point. But if teams are playing a lot
of man to man, which they are against Kentucky, given
(31:08):
that the wide receivers have not stepped up their game yet,
then that can create some opportunities for the quarterback to
get some first downs running and Cutter is a guy
that you know, you don't think of as you know,
being I don't know, Lamar Jackson or something as far
(31:28):
as pulling it down and running with it, but he's
been pretty effective in his limited time doing that.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
Yeah, I mean really told me, I'd say he kind
of is about as.
Speaker 7 (31:38):
Good a runners as Will Levis was. I mean, like,
he's not a guy.
Speaker 6 (31:41):
I mean, he's not like he's not Lamar Jackson, with
few if any are, but he's still a guy that
he's not, you know, flat footed stone for me. He
can get out and at least pick up yardage went
when needed.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Kentucky's done a good job so far of taking care
of the football. That would be one would think a
huge stat in this matchup. I was looking back in
the stretch since twenty twenty Kentucky is one to one
and then lost the last three, and in that stretch
they're minus seven in the total turnover margin for those
(32:12):
four games. And you know, with the fred shirt freshman
quarterback starting on the road, if you can at least
break even or even win, that particular stat would be massive.
Speaker 6 (32:24):
Yeah, and tell that also goes into hey, you know,
especially if Kentucky were to get the ball first Saturday,
is if they could actually have a drive to get
settled in kind of maybe try to take the crowd
out of it early, right. I mean, I think anytime
I think any of you go on the road, you
want to do the best. You can't hit the crowd
out of it. But I think that's even more important
when you've got a guy making his first first startal road.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
There was a guy down there. I think it was
Depot Samuel actually a few years ago, and again that
Kentucky came back to win, but I think it was
the first offensive play. South Carolina hit a big play
camera if it was a hand off to Deebo or
a pass, but uh, you know that got the place
just going crazy and Kentucky was able to whether that
(33:11):
that storm. They've done that a few times for whatever reason,
They've had a decent success playing. It's, you know, not
easy to win on the road in this league, and
the Kentucky's been five hundred in the Stoops era in
those trips to South Carolina, and I would think, Uh,
I asked Mark about this for our pregame interview. The
(33:32):
way Kentucky normally has been able to run the football
in the time that Mark has been here. I think
that gets certainly getting back to that this season. That's
the kind of style of play that does I think
give you a chance to win road games, doesn't it.
Speaker 4 (33:47):
Well.
Speaker 6 (33:47):
I think, like you said, Tom, I think at the
end of the day too, when you when you play
that kind of football, especially when you're literally taking the
air of the ball, when you're not passing as much
and the expectation is, hey, you know you're you're not
you're not risking as much when you're running the ball.
Speaker 7 (33:59):
I mean, all of your ball careers have a secure
you know, putting it in the area. There are a
lot more things that can go wrong, handles the ball off,
A lot of your guys keep the football tuck.
Speaker 6 (34:07):
Dead, they're going to be okay.
Speaker 7 (34:09):
And you know, Tom, something.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
Else that you kind of brought up with the history
of this series, it's been so kind of crazy how
streaky it's been. Rise At Carolina won ten in a
row in the early two thousand and then you know,
from twenty fourteen through twenty twenty one, Kentucky one seven
of eight, and now Carolina is entering on a three
game win streak, so it's been really entering ol streaky
this series has been over the years.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
We've talked a lot about the quarterbacks for Kentucky after
Cutter Bowley, and you would think he would need to
play well for them to have a chance to win.
Who are one or two other guys that if they
had a big game would greatly increase Kentucky's opportunity to
get a win?
Speaker 6 (34:44):
Well, I think you know. I mean, obviously, just given
how Seth Mcallan's already played this year, I mean, coming
off the three touchdown performance against Eastern Michigan, I think
that would be big. But I would say, Tom, just
any any receiver you know, whether it's Kendrick Law, whether
it's Jimri Macklin, Hardley Gilmore, whoever you want to name,
if they could have one receiver step up and have
a big game. And by big, I don't mean two
(35:05):
hundred yards and four touchdowns, but I mean some maybe
like ninety yards and two touchdown grabbing me I think
that would If Kentucky get something like that, I think
that would really bode well for their chance at a win.
Speaker 7 (35:16):
Saturday.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
That is Ryan Black. He covers Kentucky football and basketball
at Courier dash Journal dot com. What's the follow on.
Speaker 7 (35:23):
X Brian, It's at Ryan A. Blackcom.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Well, there you go. That's pretty easy enough. Thank you, Ryan.
Speaker 7 (35:29):
Hey, Thanks Tom.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Quick break, and we are coming back with our final
segment of the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat. Enterprises day
one of the Ryder Cup and in the morning session,
the European teams have the lead in three of the
four matches. The Americans are up in the other one. Well,
fall is officially here and for a lot of you,
(35:51):
that means time to get cozy, and the folks at
Cornbread Hemp suggest their products can be just the trick
to help you get cozy. They're infused Seltzers to celebrate
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They're infused gummies including the new cherry lime chill flavor.
They can take the edge off a tough day. Or
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It's the perfect time to try one of those products
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(36:34):
put in the word cozy for their products made with
Kentucky grown hemp. Keeenland's one Week Away trainer Kenny McPeak
told FanDuel TV this week that he's lined up Flabby
and Pratt to write Thorpeda Anna in the Spinster at
Keeenland and the Breeders' Cup Distaff as well, assuming that's
where she goes. Most likely will he said over the
(36:55):
classic and Thorpedo Ana the raining horse of the Year
and her regular writer Brian her Nand was injured in
a spill and he's bouncing back from that, but he's
going to be sidelined for probably a couple of months.
The Day wild Cat History presented by Kentucky road Show,
Sports Cards and Memorabilia in nineteen sixty four. On this day,
Kentucky upset number one Ole miss In Jackson twenty seven
(37:15):
to twenty one. Rick Castner had a big day. Happy Birthday,
Michael Kidd, Gilchris, Happy Birthday, Chris Rodriguez and Happy birthday
Riley Welch. We'll see a Monday to recap Kentucky, South
Carolina with Van Hiles on the leads report presented by
Bob Cat Enterprises
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