November 21, 2025 • 38 mins
Tom Leach talks with Andrew Allegretta, Jeff Piecoro, Justin Rowland.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Good day. Everybody will welcome into The Leach Report for
a Friday presented by Bobcat Enterprises each and every day.
Coming up on the show today, we're gonna lead off
with Andrew Alligretti is the radio voice of the Vanderbilt Commodorees,
and I'll get a scouting report on Kentucky's football opponent tomorrow.
(00:23):
Jeff Picoro in the middle part of the show, and
we'll talk more about Kentucky football in that matchup with
Vandy that gives if the Cats can pull off the upset,
gives them a chance to qualify for postseason play. And
then Justin Rowling in the final segment. That's the lineup
and time to get to the Wildcat News of the
(00:44):
Day that is presented by j Stepies of Lexington. We'll
start with Kentucky men's basketball on the court tonight against
Loyola Maryland and it's a seven o'clock tip at Rupp
Arena for the first outing since it's a very poor
performance against Michigan State on Tuesday night in New York,
(01:05):
Mark Pope talked to the media yesterday and first order
business was a couple of injury updates. There's a significant chance,
according to coach Pope, that Mohammed Abat will miss this
game with an ankle injury. He said, he said he's
a game time decision, but then he went on to
say that there was a significant chance he would have
to sit this one out, and he injured that ankle
(01:27):
you may remember, in the second half in a fight
for a rebound against State and then Jalen Lowe still
day to day, according to Pope. He said, they're seeing
how the rehab goes and how the shoulder holds up,
so we'll see if it certainly sounds like there's a
chance he could get back on the court, and nobody's
talking about anything to do with surgery at the moment,
(01:49):
so we'll see how. We'll just have to see how
it plays out. It's nothing more to that you can
really say about it than that. Coach Pope yesterday was
asked about concerns about any chemistry issues for his team
just a few games end of the season. He says
he has none.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
It's really really dumb. It's not the right word. It's distracted.
It's just distracted. It's distracted effort, distracted focus. And so
when when you're under pressure and duress, sometimes you just
fall into bad habits, default habits, distracted actions, and so
(02:31):
you know, we spend a lot of time the other
night being really really distracted and disappointing way. But it's
human nature. It's what it is. It's what you fight
as an athlete, is the ability to just kind of
get back to focus on this moment. We didn't do
it very well.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Look at a film of Tuesdays. One thing that drops
out of if you would, Liam, because I sent you
the wrong one. That's I remember the bite that he's
talking about there. He was talking about game action, so
not about chemistry. We'll get back to that. I'll get
you the right one. Let's go on to He was
talking about the challenge of dealing with what they're working
(03:11):
through right now. Obviously they're not playing well. That will
get you the right bite on the chemistry. But he
said the chemistry was not a concern. The bigger concern
is that they're not playing well, and he said working
through that challenge is something that actually is something he
enjoys doing as a coach.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Listen, we have a good squad, guys, this is a good.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Group, and.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I havent of confidence that we're going to have a
great season here and A and I also know for
a fact that we have an extraordinary amount of work
to do. This is the best stuff actually for me.
I know there might be some concernation out there, but
I love it, man. I love it when you have
to dig in deep and find your way through, and
where guys are like forced to really not just look
(03:59):
at each other of each other, but lean on each
other and count each other and have each other bail
each other out. Like this is the great stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
It was Mark Pope, and he faces that challenge now
with his team. But you see it in sports all
the time. When teams come together, things can change quickly.
I don't think we're going to learn any thing tremendously
insightful in these next two games. It will be because
Kentucky has handled the teams that they're supposed to handle easily.
(04:30):
They've handled them easily. It's the two games against the
toughest opponents in regular season play, Louisville and Michigan State,
where under that stress they have not played well. So
that next big test will obviously come in the first
week of December when they have North Carolina and Gonzaga
Kentucky football has a trip to Vandy tomorrow. It looks
(04:50):
like the rain chance is diminishing from what I'm seeing.
Temperature is going to be in the mid sixties. It
is already listed as a sellout. If you look at
the matchup, you've got two hot quarterbacks going at it here.
Cutter Bowl. He's certainly been just getting better week to
week for Kentucky. Diego Pavia's last two games. He's completed
seventy three percent of his passes, six touchdowns, no interceptions.
(05:14):
Van He's at fourteen in the College Football Playoff rankings,
so they're trying to play their way into the College
Football Playoff. They have a lot on the line. Kentucky
with an upset, could get Bowl eligible in November. Kentucky's
pass defense has been the best in the SEC in
terms of yards allowed per game and yards allowed per attempt,
and they were last in those stats in September. But
(05:36):
they are really up against it in terms of the
challenge that they're facing on the defensive side with injuries.
And we'll get into some of that when Jeff Pacora
joins us a little bit later when we come back,
and Allegretta will join us to preview the Vandy side
of this matchup tomorrow down in Nashville. It is the
Leach Report in our opening segments, presented by Giuseppes of Lexington.
And if you're looking for a gift or a hard
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at Giuseppes during the holidays. We'll be right back on
(06:19):
the lead report. Welcome back into the show and coming
to you from the Clark's Pump and Shop studio, Return,
Refresh and refuel. We welcome in Andrew Alligrette, who is
the radio play by play voice for the Vanderbilt Commodores
and that job has been a whole lot of fun
the last two football seasons, in particular. Andrew right now,
Fandy fourteenth in the latest college football playoff rankings. So
(06:42):
it's mid November, Kentucky and Vandy. You're playing and there
is a lot on the line for both teams.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, there's a ton on the line for Vanderbilt.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Obviously, for you guys, it's to become Bowl eligible, to
pick up four consecutive victories. But for us, we're trying
to continue to climb in a college football playoff.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
We've got some work to do.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
The committee clearly likes our redis, but says that we've
got work to do at the moment. Behind BYU, behind Utah,
there's a two loss Notre Dame team in the mix there.
There's a two loss Miami team in the mix there.
So there's plenty on the line for Vanderbilt to try
to nudge its way really to the top ten. When
you consider an ACC champion and then a Group of
(07:18):
Five champion.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
What has Diego Pavia added to his game? He was
just a fresh face re just a revolution through the
SEC last season. So what's he added here in year two?
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Accuracy, probably some arm strength. He can fit it into
tighter windows. He is an absolute masterclass when it comes
to running this offense, which I believe is second in
the country in points per possession and first in the
country in yards per play at almost eight yards per
play if they don't run a ton of players, but
they're terribly efficient, and so much of that is because
(07:55):
of the way that Diego Pavia distributes the football. Been
really thankful Tom to watch him play this season, and
then you watch some other quarterbacks play, and then you
realize how often Diego goes to the right spot with
the football on eighty to ninety percent of the plays,
which is hard to do in college football when guys
(08:16):
are learning and trying to pick up new coordinators and
new offenses. He goes to the right spot eighty to
ninety percent of the time.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
We see him scramble, make these electric plays, just running
around like going old school Ran Tarkington or more recently,
maybe like a Johnny Manziel or somebody like that. What
in particular to you or to does the Vandy coaches
talk about is maybe something that's underappreciated about him.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
I would think from the external perspective, if there is
something underappreciated about Diego, it's the work ethic and how
much he cares.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
That may not be surprising.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
People see kind of the bombastic Braggadocia's version of Diego
Pavia that says that of course he believes he should
be the Heisman Trophy winner. He manifests a lot of
stuff in his head and then works his tailoff to
make that a reality. I mean again, this is a
guy that came into college a zero star recruits right.
His only opportunity was New Mexico Military Institute as a
(09:16):
running back until he demanded that he was going to
be a quarterback. And he continues to demand the absolute
best out of himself and out of his teammates. So
all of the stuff behind the scenes is real. Like
people see the external again, bombastic nature and bragadocious nature,
but he backs it up every single day when he's
(09:37):
in that facility with his teammates.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
When Kentucky fans, whatever percentage get in, show up for
this game on Saturday, what are they going to see
in the way of the new stadium there since Kentucky
last visited in twenty twenty.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Three, a finished one, which is a nice place to start.
They will still see some piles of dirt for the
tennis center, and they'll see some piles of dirt as
we continue to work on Hawkins Fields, but you will
have a completed south end zone which is one closest
to Jess Neeley and the Magoogan Center, So that was
the one that had the big open pit with the
crane holding up the scoreboard a couple of years ago.
(10:12):
You've got a completed north end zone, You've got a
ton of stuff for fans, like expanded concourses, you've got
grab and go food markets. You'll see a very good
av presentation with the scoreboard and the sound system, and
then you'll certainly see a very high quality football team
with a fan support that is, you know, double tripled
and quadrupled over the past couple of seasons.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
The game is a sellouts, so I believe maybe all.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
But one or two Vanderbilt's games were sellouts this season,
and that does include some of the non conference games
like Charleston Southern to open the season, I believe was
a sellout. So you've got a very passionate fan base
with a completed stadium.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Beyond Diego Pavia. What else is most impressive about this
year's Vanderbilt team.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
I think the offense, certainly first and foremost is what
this Vanderbilt team hangs its hat on. There's all sorts
of advanced analytics in which Vanderbilt ranks inside the top ten.
They've scored three hundred and eighty three points so far
this season, which is sixth most in program history, and
if they continue to perform and have some additional games,
(11:15):
they've got a chance to break the all time scoring
mark this season for Vanderbilt, the offensive line probably deserves
more credits than they get, which is not to say
that they've received no credit. They're up for the Joe
More Award as the best offensive line in the country,
but they have been so steady. And Diego Pabia is
elites and he can make plays happen when things break down,
(11:38):
but more often than not, things aren't breaking down, Like
he can make the right read from the pocket. So
whether it's Glass at quick tackle, whether it's I mean
you can go down the line, You've got Glass, McConnell,
Jordan White, the center has been the two time offensive
Lineman of the Week. You've got their strong guard and
Mitchell and their strong tackle and Bryce Henderson. That whole
(11:58):
unit has been remarkable, consistent all year.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Last time out, they had opened a last week gave
up a lot of points to Auburn. It was a
shootout kind of game. Is there anything on the defensive
side that has caused them problems.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Really good athletes.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Texas has really good out athletes on the perimeter like Winko.
Auburn's got really good athletes on the perimeter.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Like camp Coleman.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
That at times has been a hiccup for Vanderbilt. Clark
Lee told us back on Monday during our radio show
when he said this in the press conference on Tuesday,
like he wants the defense to be more organized. It's
not so much that there's these catastrophic failures on defense
that have led to all of these points.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
But this is the Southeastern Conference.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
If you are not ready at the snap of the football,
if you don't take the first step correctly in time,
you're gonna get your doors blown off by good athletes.
So it's just the little stuff. It's the little organizational details.
They've got to be ready to go a little bit quicker,
and I expect that we'll see something like that versus
Kentucky on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
It's the most anticipated Kentucky Vandy matchup we've seen in
a while on the grid iron.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
Yeah, it's amazing the number of really special moments between
these two teams. I know the big wins from a
Vanderbilt perspective. Of course, Clark got his very first SEC
victory against you guys a couple of seasons ago on
a very cold Lexington day. I know there was a
big win back in two thousand and eights for Vanderbilt
over Kentucky, So it's fun to have this matchup. I
(13:26):
don't think we're slotted as permanent partners moving forward, right,
and that's okay, Like I get the new look Southeastern Conference,
but there's been a lot of really fun moments between
the Doors and Cats, and here's to one more on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, more often than not. I think it's like forty
of the games have been decided by seven points or fewers,
so frequently as a as a close game and as broadcasters,
those are always more fun to call. So maybe we'll
get one Saturday with.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
A few heart palpitations when you go to overtime against Aufren.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
But yes, sure, yeah, thank you, Andrew, thank you.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
It's Andrew Ali Gretta, the play voice for the Vanderbilt
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Speaker 2 (14:49):
I think this group is extraordinary. I think we're going
to be great together. We haven't played well, you know,
we've had a couple really discouraging losses. That's not what
we're going to be. It's not who we are, and
I don't think it's I don't think it has anything
to do with chemistry, I think as to do with
playing well. This is a really good group of guys
that really care about each other, that are trying so
(15:12):
hard to do this for each other, but sometimes it
manifests itself in a way that's exactly the opposite of
what you're shiring for.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
That was Mark Pope yesterday. That was the SoundBite we're
looking for in the opening segment today because there were
one of the hot topics for fans and it came
up in the news conference yesterday, was is there a
chemistry issue for the basketball team? So I wanted to
get you the correct bite that we were going to
play earlier as we bring on Jeff Pacoro, my broadcast
(15:41):
partner in the UK Football Network along with Dick Gabriel,
and then he's also the sports director WTVQ here in Lexington,
and we'll get to a lot of football pick but
on the basketball side and the think about chemistry and
all of that. I was saying earlier, there's not any
thing I don't think they'll do tonight or against Tennessee
(16:02):
Tech next Wednesday that will answer fans questions or probably
lay any concerns. It'll be the next time they are
tested under stress. It's those big games that tell you
the most. Right.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
Yeah, I agree with that, and Tom, I think you know,
you and I have been around this and you get
to see practice so much more. But the one thing
that I don't see that I would like to see
is got to remember this that I know they're getting
paid now, so it's totally changed what college is. But
it's supposed to be fun, right. I don't see them
(16:37):
with smiles on their faces playing. And I talked about
this in any sport, if you're not enjoying what you're
doing and it's a job instead of you know, doing
it for pure sport, then it's a problem. And I'd
like to see them have fun out there because it
just doesn't look like in those situations. And I don't
know if it's the pressure or that they just haven't
come together yet as a team. That doesn't mean they
(16:58):
don't like each other. It's kind of like the offensive
line in football. It takes time when you're bringing all
these different guys in from all these different places to
learn each other's you know, attributes and tendencies when you're
when you're out on the floor.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
That's a great point. I mean, you you played college football,
So I mean there's that, you know, camaraderie, that's that's
just part of it, part of what makes it fun.
Obviously it's you know, it's no fun when when you're
not winning. But that game, especially the other night, they
were just beaten in every area. And that's, uh, that
(17:35):
can get you down if you're soundly beating.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
Yeah, and and you know, Tom looks, look, you know,
we got to call this out. These guys have played before.
It's not like it's the first time out on a court.
And and you know, these are really good ball players.
They just kind of jeled yet they haven't found that
that it thing yet. But it'll come. It always does.
Sometimes it just takes longer, that's all.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
And that segues us into the football discussion that we
want to get into about the matchup tomorrow in Nashville,
because the Kentucky football team has gelled in November and
has a big opportunity tomorrow. We'll talk about that with
Jeff Pilcaarl. We come right back. It is the Leads
Report presented by Bob Kat Enterprises. But like, honestly, we're
just taking in one thing at a time, one game
(18:20):
at a time, when week at a time, like you know,
we're not looking at a bowl game right now. Right now,
we're looking at the events that's seth McGowan talking about
the Kentucky mindset going into their final SEC game of
the season and one of the final two, both on
the road Bandy tomorrow at Louisville the following Saturday. Jeff
(18:42):
Plcarol is with us from WTVQTV and the UK Radio Network.
And this is a really if you're just a college
football fan, I think a really interesting matchup of the
two quarterbacks pick because of how Pavia has played the
last two years and how Cutter Bowley has played the
last two months.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Yeah, and you know, time to go back on the
last question you asked me before the break there. Look,
they are getting he's getting comfortable, he's learning every week.
You know, here's a kid that's you know what six
weeks ago was a backup that's played in two or
three games, and now he looks like a season pro.
(19:20):
And what we were talking about, that continuity, it's happened
to that offensive line. It just took time, like I said,
with the basketball team and this offensive line I think
has done a fantastic job over these last four games
and you see the results.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Let's talk about the Vandy side and defending Pavia and
were We taped our Wildcat Whip podcast with Dick Gabriel yesterday.
It's available you can find it on Facebook and other
social media platforms. But we talked about this and I said,
(19:56):
for Kentucky, their defense is kind of like a game
of Jinger right now. You keep taking pieces out out
and tell them keep standing because especially in the secondary,
they're in a don't look to be in a whole
lot better spot unless maybe to Ryan Nichols is able
to play tomorrow and give him a little more depth there.
He's on the questionable list.
Speaker 5 (20:16):
It's it's amazing how injuries hit and it just seems
like it happens to one position, and that's been the
defensive backfield and most notably cornerback. Obviously love it as
your free safety, but cornerbacks that hit so hard. You've
got JQ who started the season and ty Brian is
the only two starters left out of the five guys
(20:38):
that really start in the secondary. So it shows you
the depth that they have and the guys that they
had brought in that have really stepped up, and you know,
I just think it's a it's an opportunity and you
have to you know, it's those opportunities they come, you know,
once in a lifetime and you've got to make it work.
(20:59):
And if you do, you know, look out. You know,
but they've got death and it's quality depth right now.
But it's being stressed, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
What is the challenge? It's the best way to put this.
I was gonna say, what's the challenge of defending Pavey?
Which you could probably talk for an hour about that.
What can Kentucky try to do to contain him? Let
me ask it that way.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
You know, it's kind of the same thing that like
Jerry Clayburne taught and it's just keep everything in front
of you. You make a wheel and don't break the wheel.
If you're a defensive back and Pobby is coming out,
if you're on the corner and he's rolling out, you've
got to stay with your guy because if you release
and come up to try to attack, and he's gont
(21:43):
throw it over your head. So it's really a game
of cat and mouse. You know, you're darned if you
do and darned if you don't type of thing. But
that's the biggest thing. And I thought that Ty Bryant
and Steven Souls really talked well about this, Like Stephen
sol says, Look, I know I want to go get
a sack, but I have to remember stay in my
lane because if I try to go inside, he can
(22:06):
come around me. Our tackles have to stay in their
lanes inside, so when he does step up in the pocket,
there's nowhere for him to go. So it's kind of
like you're trying to cage a tiger. You know. You
you've got to keep him boxing and you can't let him.
You cannot let him break contain and get to the outside.
You want him to run.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
You want him to run up the middle.
Speaker 5 (22:24):
And I would assume they're probably going to play some
type of a spy situation where either Alex or David
Rayne or probably your too quickest linebackers just try to
stay kind of in front of Pavia. That's that's what
you have to do. I mean, it's he's really good.
He really tests you. He's a he's the size of
Johnny Manzell, but he has the mindset of Tim Tebow
(22:46):
where he'll just try to run you over at six
foot two hundred and five pounds, he doesn't care.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Yeah, I think that was last week. You and I
were talking to Brad White for our pregame meeting and
we're asking about the quarterback from Tennessee Tech who had
a similar build and yeah, uh Ran, you know, Scrambled
as we saw as as being a you know, comparison
to Pavia or a good tunea for Pavia. And he
said talked about Pavia and being different because he said,
(23:11):
I think his line was he plays quarterback like a linebacker.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
Yeah. Yes, and that's kind of what we used to
say about Tebow. But he likes things when it's confused,
you know, when when you when when you when he's
able to just get out of there and the play's
broken down, that's when he makes the plays. It's just
an inate ability that some people have, and man, he's
got it, and it's just it's fun to watch unless
(23:38):
you're trying to defend it.
Speaker 6 (23:39):
And if you're a.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
Defender or if you're a fan of the other team,
it's so maddening because you just want one guy and
you're like, could somebody just hit him, get a good,
solid hit, because he never gets drilled in a game.
I mean he gets pushed out of bounce or sometimes
they get tackled from behind, but he never really gets
somebody that just steamrolls him. But it doesn't happens.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
It's weird, Kentucky. We've talked a lot over the recent
weeks about the growth of cutter bowling, what they're doing
on offense, and anytime a quarterback gets rolling, it's a
big story for a team, and it's somewhat overshadowed. How also, dramatically,
the improvement has come on the defensive side of the ball.
(24:23):
I mean they really since the open date in mid October,
they played so well against Texas. Obviously we're torched by Tennessee,
but you know, for the issues they're having with health
in the secondary against that passing attack, obviously it was
not a good matchup. But then if you look at
Texas and then all the games since the Tennessee game,
their defensive numbers are as about as good as any
(24:44):
defense in the league. So what is the big change
that you've seen from back at the start of the year.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
Well, I think the biggest thing is, again we just
talked about it with the offense, it's the continuity these
guys again. Bringing in a guy like Gusta. He doesn't
have numbers that jump off the page, but he has
solidified the middle. They don't run very well against Kentucky
trying to run up the middle. Anybody, you know, he's
done a great job. Humphrey Grace has been fantastic. What
(25:16):
a pickup that guy has been. He's brought pressure from
the outside. He collapses the pocket. You know, now, Tavian Gadson,
Khalil Sanders. If Khalil Saunders can play Saturday, that's gonna
be huge because he has really been coming on the
last three four or five weeks as well, been fantastic.
But it's just the depth of that defensive line. The
(25:37):
linebackers are smallish, but they get the job done. Then
you have that edge rusher, which was Sam Green was
really starting to play well. Unfortunately you know he started,
but Cam played a great game last week and you
hope that that can continue. So it's kind of layered thing.
Tom and look, Brad White may be one of the
better defensive coordinators in all of college football, and obviously
(25:58):
Mark Stoops. You basically have two defensive coordinators on your staff.
Because Mark is such a great defensive mind and the
kids are buying into it. Look, they wouldn't be in
this position if they weren't good ball players and they
didn't believe in what they're doing. And Mark has said
this from the start. He really liked this team this year,
and we're seeing why. Now these guys have even with
(26:19):
all the injuries, they're playing their hearts out for this guy.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Last thing, what do you like? How do you like
their chances?
Speaker 5 (26:30):
I think when I look at this Vanderbilt defense, it's
not great. They've had some problems in their secondary. And
if Kentucky's offensive line can hold up, if they can
establish a running game, then I think they're going to
be able to get some shots down the field. They've
got great length, not bulk on that defense, so I
(26:52):
think they're gonna be able to run against them. And
if you can get that running game going the way
Cutter's been going, I think that they're going to have
a couple of shots. Stay on the field. You just
can't miss those shots when you take them, because it's
probably gonna take twenty eight points to win this game,
so you know, you got to get to twenty eight
and if they.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Can get there.
Speaker 5 (27:10):
They got a great chance of winning.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Here's the number for Jeff Pacarl. Thank you sir.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
Seeing them on.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Seven teen Away from the top of the hour. It
is the leachch Report Radio Network. We're presented each day
by Bobcat Enterprises and they have four locations around Kentucky.
So if you need to buy or rent heavy equipment
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(27:36):
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at Bobcat Enterprises. Heading to a break back with Justin
Rowling from Cats Illustrated on this Friday edition of The
Leaks Report. Thirteena away from the top of the Hour.
(28:00):
It's the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises and we
are joined by Justin Rowland Katzillustrated dot Com on the
on three Sports Network. We'll pick up where we left
off there with Jeff and Talk and Kentucky and Vandy tomorrow.
Justin this is a conversation not many people thought Kentucky
(28:20):
would be would be had about Kentucky football going into
the Vandy game and then Louisville next week, and when
one of those two they're going to postseason play. What's
impressed you most about the reversal of form.
Speaker 6 (28:33):
It looks like they look like a legitimate SEC football team.
And there are going to be some people that say
Auburn and Florida were two of the bottom teams in
the league and Auburn fired its coach. In Florida, you know,
is making a move as well. But these are talented
teams that continue to play well against the other teams
(28:53):
on their schedule. You know, Kentucky wanted Auburn and they
almost beat Vanderbilt the next week. In Florida played Georgia competitively.
They've played a lot of teams competitively. So the in
Kentucky has been able to do it has some real
teeth to it. And they're really balanced. I mean, they
can run, they can pass, and they're now playing defense
as well as most of the teams in the conference.
(29:15):
So for me, that's been impressive. But the hope has
been I don't think the bar for being really good
is as high as it has been, so they're really
not far away. If you watch the rest of the
SEC all season, they're really not far away from the
level that some of the better teams in the league
have been playing at.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
And they have a quarterback who certainly looks like a
rising star.
Speaker 6 (29:37):
Yeah yeah, and he's you know, if you told me
the Cutter would be promising this year at the start
of the year, I would have imagined it would have
been a little bit more up and down, a little
bit more flash of potentials of regression. And then he
you know, he did have some struggles at Auburn, but
he's been pretty remarkably consistent for like more than a
month now, like six weeks of football, and he's doing
(29:59):
it by pick and defense is a part underneath, and
showing he can throw over the middle between the hash marks.
There's not a lot of college quarterbacks consistently do well.
And he's starting to see the safeties a little bit better.
So you see the progression of the development in real time,
and they finally have a high school developed guy to
build around for the future.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
Yeah. I mean you I think back to we should
make a great point about how young he is, a
red shirt freshman, what he's doing. Jared Lorenzo is a
red shirt freshman, had some incredible games. The highlight that
they showed first on the Kelsey Brothers podcast the other
day was the behind the head throw against Georgia when
(30:38):
he threw for five hundred and twenty eight yards. But
he did also have twenty one I think interceptions that
his first year. That's just one example of how just
because Jared was so good and yet also had his
struggles in his first year, that's those kind of numbers
are what you normally get from. You know, a guy
getting his first extended run at at this.
Speaker 6 (31:00):
Level, right, no question. Yeah, and so he's ahead of schedule,
and you know at the beginning of the season how
much they were thrown to the tight ends. That looked
like a staff that had assessed the roster and decided
that they weren't crazy about the options of wide receiver
and only recently have the receivers started to riff. This
is a testament of Ladaviian Washington that's been maybe the
(31:22):
most improved position room over the course.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Of the season.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
DJ Miller had a monster aiming at Tennessee and cam
Miller had had some step up moments and now they
just had another monster game over this past weekend with
Kendrick Law eleven catches on eleven targets, so he's expanding
how we see in the field. The thing I really
like about Cutter is when he when he first sees
and faces pressure, his first instinct is good. He doesn't panic,
(31:50):
he stays calm. Not every play he makes his great
under pressure, but he gives him a chance and as
long as he's keeping the play alive, he's more dangerous
to hurt you down the field that any Kentucky quarterbacks
has been since maybe Andre Woodson. So he's got a.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
Lot going for him. So with Justin Roland, it's at
Roland rivals on x Well shifters to Kentucky basketball back
in action tonight against Loyola Maryland, and at the moment,
they're handling the teams they're supposed to handle in the
manner they're supposed to do it. So it's really the
next big stress test first week in November when they
(32:25):
have North Carolina and then Gonzaga is when we'll learn
if they're moving forward from what we've seen so far.
Speaker 6 (32:34):
Right, Yeah, no doubt those are the games that are
really going to tell us. But these are the games
when the progress would be made. You know, we're just
not likely to buy into it until we see it
against a really good team. But the fortunate thing is,
I mean, they still got a lot of really good pieces,
and they got a really smart head coach, and if
(32:56):
a couple of things are tweaked, you can see everything
getting a lot better. The light comes on for away
and you see him start to get the look that
he has and that might take a while. Then that
that or that raises everybody around and number one, number two,
you just want to see him run, run good offense,
committed to the offense, not taking the first decent shot
(33:17):
attempt that they have, but a real Mark Pope offense,
and then obviously commitment on defense. You really want to
see him stomp out this team like Kentucky should.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
That's what you look for tonight. I saw your couple
of your posts yesterday or one of them anyway on
social media X. But you know, are not happy as
someone who follows the Wildcats with what you're hearing out
of the news conferences.
Speaker 7 (33:41):
Yeah, I mean I think I think Hope has tons
of qualities that make him a perfect fitt can sit,
you know, so these are this is like nippling around
the edges.
Speaker 6 (33:51):
Just we're getting first impressions that he's been around for
a while. And the only thing I see just I
think he's very analytical, He's very nuanced, and he's very intelligent.
But just find your voice and be confident with it,
you know. I feel like there have been a number
of things where he's almost deferential and he's acting like
(34:11):
he is. He loves Kentucky as much as the fan
base does. So I feel like he feels the weight
of the job. And this is speculation, but he surely
feels the weight of the job. And you just got
to know, nothing is going to be decided in November,
and nobody needs Kentucky to be nineteen ninety six Kentucky.
If you win a title over an x period of time,
(34:32):
everybody's going to be just fine. And so as long
as he stays committed to his process and what got
him into the job, now, I think he's going to
be okay. But it's got to be him finding his
voice and doing it his way.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
That's justin Rowland Thecats Illustrated dot Com on the On
three Sports Network towards us here on Thursdays, justin thank you.
Speaker 6 (34:51):
Much, all right, thanks a lot of tom.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Coming up on our final break. We will take that
and come back with a few other items here on
on this Friday edition of the Lead Report, coming to
you from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return, refresh and
refuel at Clark's.
Speaker 8 (35:08):
Like I said, I give him his props. You're doing
what you gotta do to get what he needs to
on the field to make things happy for them. But
when week stuff on the field Saturday, it's a team
versus team and we both just got to go out
there and execute for the best of our ability.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
Tady Gantsen there coming back from injury likely this week,
and they need him because a little Saunders got dinged
up in the Tennessee Tech game, and he's talking about
Diego Pavia and Kentucky's matchup with the Vandy quarterback tomorrow.
If you look at third down conversions in the month
of November, Vandy's one, Kentucky's two. So both of these quarterbacks,
(35:45):
these two quarterbacks, you could make the case probably a
plan as well as any two in the league and
they match up against each other tomorrow. So just a
really fun, fun renewal of the Kentucky Vandy series that
has had a ton of very close games over the years.
We look up this number here real quick. Forty of
(36:06):
the games, including the one last year, have been decided
by seven points or fewer. In Nashville, Vanderbilts won twenty seven,
lost twenty three, tied to in Kentucky, as won the
last two times in Nashville, so their last Mandy's last
win on its home field is a is a decade
ago Wildcat History Notes presented by Kentucky Roadshow Sports Cards
(36:29):
at Memorabilia. They are on Romedy Road in Lexington, i
ad Roadshowcards dot Com. Nineteen eighty one on this day
was fran Cursey's final game. Kentucky beat Tennessee twenty one
to ten. Players knew that their coach was being fired
and that was going to be their last time to
play for him, and they carried him off the field
after that win over the balls. Birthdays ran out of
(36:51):
time to get to these yesterday, so a belated happy
birthday to Ray Davis, who returned to kickoff for a
touchdown on his birthday last night, but the Texans beat
his Buffalo Bills. Craig Yeast, Jeremy Jarman from UK football,
Louis Dampier, the Hall of Famer Antonio Reeves from Kentucky basketball,
all belated happy birthdays to one, and All Men's soccer
(37:11):
came out on the short end last night, losing and
ending their season to Saint Louis in extra time two
to one in the NCAA Tournament. Great season though, Sundell
Conference champions and first ten win season since twenty twenty two.
UK football lost a commitment defensive back Jordan Crutchfield has
flipped to Florida State and a good job for the
(37:32):
Big Blue Nation coming through. In the Big Blue Crush
Blood Drive against Tennessee, Kentucky has taken the lead, but
today is the final day to hang on to what
could be a fourth consecutive win and a very important battle.
So the Big Blue Crush Blood Drive wrapping up today
and if you can help out, please do so. Kentucky
can beat Tennessee and you'll be helping a great cause
(37:53):
that will do it for us. Have a great weekend
back with Van Hiles on the Shuffle being coffee Monday
Morning quarter Back Show. We'll see you after a great weekend.
Good day. Everybody will welcome into The Leach Report for
a Friday presented by Bobcat Enterprises each and every day.
Coming up on the show today, we're gonna lead off
with Andrew Alligretti is the radio voice of the Vanderbilt Commodorees,
and I'll get a scouting report on Kentucky's football opponent tomorrow.
(00:23):
Jeff Picoro in the middle part of the show, and
we'll talk more about Kentucky football in that matchup with
Vandy that gives if the Cats can pull off the upset,
gives them a chance to qualify for postseason play. And
then Justin Rowling in the final segment. That's the lineup
and time to get to the Wildcat News of the
(00:44):
Day that is presented by j Stepies of Lexington. We'll
start with Kentucky men's basketball on the court tonight against
Loyola Maryland and it's a seven o'clock tip at Rupp
Arena for the first outing since it's a very poor
performance against Michigan State on Tuesday night in New York,
(01:05):
Mark Pope talked to the media yesterday and first order
business was a couple of injury updates. There's a significant chance,
according to coach Pope, that Mohammed Abat will miss this
game with an ankle injury. He said, he said he's
a game time decision, but then he went on to
say that there was a significant chance he would have
to sit this one out, and he injured that ankle
(01:27):
you may remember, in the second half in a fight
for a rebound against State and then Jalen Lowe still
day to day, according to Pope. He said, they're seeing
how the rehab goes and how the shoulder holds up,
so we'll see if it certainly sounds like there's a
chance he could get back on the court, and nobody's
talking about anything to do with surgery at the moment,
(01:49):
so we'll see how. We'll just have to see how
it plays out. It's nothing more to that you can
really say about it than that. Coach Pope yesterday was
asked about concerns about any chemistry issues for his team
just a few games end of the season. He says
he has none.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
It's really really dumb. It's not the right word. It's distracted.
It's just distracted. It's distracted effort, distracted focus. And so
when when you're under pressure and duress, sometimes you just
fall into bad habits, default habits, distracted actions, and so
(02:31):
you know, we spend a lot of time the other
night being really really distracted and disappointing way. But it's
human nature. It's what it is. It's what you fight
as an athlete, is the ability to just kind of
get back to focus on this moment. We didn't do
it very well.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Look at a film of Tuesdays. One thing that drops
out of if you would, Liam, because I sent you
the wrong one. That's I remember the bite that he's
talking about there. He was talking about game action, so
not about chemistry. We'll get back to that. I'll get
you the right one. Let's go on to He was
talking about the challenge of dealing with what they're working
(03:11):
through right now. Obviously they're not playing well. That will
get you the right bite on the chemistry. But he
said the chemistry was not a concern. The bigger concern
is that they're not playing well, and he said working
through that challenge is something that actually is something he
enjoys doing as a coach.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Listen, we have a good squad, guys, this is a good.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Group, and.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I havent of confidence that we're going to have a
great season here and A and I also know for
a fact that we have an extraordinary amount of work
to do. This is the best stuff actually for me.
I know there might be some concernation out there, but
I love it, man. I love it when you have
to dig in deep and find your way through, and
where guys are like forced to really not just look
(03:59):
at each other of each other, but lean on each
other and count each other and have each other bail
each other out. Like this is the great stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
It was Mark Pope, and he faces that challenge now
with his team. But you see it in sports all
the time. When teams come together, things can change quickly.
I don't think we're going to learn any thing tremendously
insightful in these next two games. It will be because
Kentucky has handled the teams that they're supposed to handle easily.
(04:30):
They've handled them easily. It's the two games against the
toughest opponents in regular season play, Louisville and Michigan State,
where under that stress they have not played well. So
that next big test will obviously come in the first
week of December when they have North Carolina and Gonzaga
Kentucky football has a trip to Vandy tomorrow. It looks
(04:50):
like the rain chance is diminishing from what I'm seeing.
Temperature is going to be in the mid sixties. It
is already listed as a sellout. If you look at
the matchup, you've got two hot quarterbacks going at it here.
Cutter Bowl. He's certainly been just getting better week to
week for Kentucky. Diego Pavia's last two games. He's completed
seventy three percent of his passes, six touchdowns, no interceptions.
(05:14):
Van He's at fourteen in the College Football Playoff rankings,
so they're trying to play their way into the College
Football Playoff. They have a lot on the line. Kentucky
with an upset, could get Bowl eligible in November. Kentucky's
pass defense has been the best in the SEC in
terms of yards allowed per game and yards allowed per attempt,
and they were last in those stats in September. But
(05:36):
they are really up against it in terms of the
challenge that they're facing on the defensive side with injuries.
And we'll get into some of that when Jeff Pacora
joins us a little bit later when we come back,
and Allegretta will join us to preview the Vandy side
of this matchup tomorrow down in Nashville. It is the
Leach Report in our opening segments, presented by Giuseppes of Lexington.
And if you're looking for a gift or a hard
(05:57):
to buy for a person, maybe suggest cards from Giuseppes.
They'll print them up for you, make them look really nice,
send them out to you, You get them in the mail,
and you turn them around to whoever you need to
distribute them to. So go to Giuseppes Lexington dot com
to find out more about that, and go to open
Table to make a reservation to get yourself out fortnight
at Giuseppes during the holidays. We'll be right back on
(06:19):
the lead report. Welcome back into the show and coming
to you from the Clark's Pump and Shop studio, Return,
Refresh and refuel. We welcome in Andrew Alligrette, who is
the radio play by play voice for the Vanderbilt Commodores
and that job has been a whole lot of fun
the last two football seasons, in particular. Andrew right now,
Fandy fourteenth in the latest college football playoff rankings. So
(06:42):
it's mid November, Kentucky and Vandy. You're playing and there
is a lot on the line for both teams.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, there's a ton on the line for Vanderbilt.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Obviously, for you guys, it's to become Bowl eligible, to
pick up four consecutive victories. But for us, we're trying
to continue to climb in a college football playoff.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
We've got some work to do.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
The committee clearly likes our redis, but says that we've
got work to do at the moment. Behind BYU, behind Utah,
there's a two loss Notre Dame team in the mix there.
There's a two loss Miami team in the mix there.
So there's plenty on the line for Vanderbilt to try
to nudge its way really to the top ten. When
you consider an ACC champion and then a Group of
(07:18):
Five champion.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
What has Diego Pavia added to his game? He was
just a fresh face re just a revolution through the
SEC last season. So what's he added here in year two?
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Accuracy, probably some arm strength. He can fit it into
tighter windows. He is an absolute masterclass when it comes
to running this offense, which I believe is second in
the country in points per possession and first in the
country in yards per play at almost eight yards per
play if they don't run a ton of players, but
they're terribly efficient, and so much of that is because
(07:55):
of the way that Diego Pavia distributes the football. Been
really thankful Tom to watch him play this season, and
then you watch some other quarterbacks play, and then you
realize how often Diego goes to the right spot with
the football on eighty to ninety percent of the plays,
which is hard to do in college football when guys
(08:16):
are learning and trying to pick up new coordinators and
new offenses. He goes to the right spot eighty to
ninety percent of the time.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
We see him scramble, make these electric plays, just running
around like going old school Ran Tarkington or more recently,
maybe like a Johnny Manziel or somebody like that. What
in particular to you or to does the Vandy coaches
talk about is maybe something that's underappreciated about him.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
I would think from the external perspective, if there is
something underappreciated about Diego, it's the work ethic and how
much he cares.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
That may not be surprising.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
People see kind of the bombastic Braggadocia's version of Diego
Pavia that says that of course he believes he should
be the Heisman Trophy winner. He manifests a lot of
stuff in his head and then works his tailoff to
make that a reality. I mean again, this is a
guy that came into college a zero star recruits right.
His only opportunity was New Mexico Military Institute as a
(09:16):
running back until he demanded that he was going to
be a quarterback. And he continues to demand the absolute
best out of himself and out of his teammates. So
all of the stuff behind the scenes is real. Like
people see the external again, bombastic nature and bragadocious nature,
but he backs it up every single day when he's
(09:37):
in that facility with his teammates.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
When Kentucky fans, whatever percentage get in, show up for
this game on Saturday, what are they going to see
in the way of the new stadium there since Kentucky
last visited in twenty twenty.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Three, a finished one, which is a nice place to start.
They will still see some piles of dirt for the
tennis center, and they'll see some piles of dirt as
we continue to work on Hawkins Fields, but you will
have a completed south end zone which is one closest
to Jess Neeley and the Magoogan Center, So that was
the one that had the big open pit with the
crane holding up the scoreboard a couple of years ago.
(10:12):
You've got a completed north end zone, You've got a
ton of stuff for fans, like expanded concourses, you've got
grab and go food markets. You'll see a very good
av presentation with the scoreboard and the sound system, and
then you'll certainly see a very high quality football team
with a fan support that is, you know, double tripled
and quadrupled over the past couple of seasons.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
The game is a sellouts, so I believe maybe all.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
But one or two Vanderbilt's games were sellouts this season,
and that does include some of the non conference games
like Charleston Southern to open the season, I believe was
a sellout. So you've got a very passionate fan base
with a completed stadium.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Beyond Diego Pavia. What else is most impressive about this
year's Vanderbilt team.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
I think the offense, certainly first and foremost is what
this Vanderbilt team hangs its hat on. There's all sorts
of advanced analytics in which Vanderbilt ranks inside the top ten.
They've scored three hundred and eighty three points so far
this season, which is sixth most in program history, and
if they continue to perform and have some additional games,
(11:15):
they've got a chance to break the all time scoring
mark this season for Vanderbilt, the offensive line probably deserves
more credits than they get, which is not to say
that they've received no credit. They're up for the Joe
More Award as the best offensive line in the country,
but they have been so steady. And Diego Pabia is
elites and he can make plays happen when things break down,
(11:38):
but more often than not, things aren't breaking down, Like
he can make the right read from the pocket. So
whether it's Glass at quick tackle, whether it's I mean
you can go down the line, You've got Glass, McConnell,
Jordan White, the center has been the two time offensive
Lineman of the Week. You've got their strong guard and
Mitchell and their strong tackle and Bryce Henderson. That whole
(11:58):
unit has been remarkable, consistent all year.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Last time out, they had opened a last week gave
up a lot of points to Auburn. It was a
shootout kind of game. Is there anything on the defensive
side that has caused them problems.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Really good athletes.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Texas has really good out athletes on the perimeter like Winko.
Auburn's got really good athletes on the perimeter.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Like camp Coleman.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
That at times has been a hiccup for Vanderbilt. Clark
Lee told us back on Monday during our radio show
when he said this in the press conference on Tuesday,
like he wants the defense to be more organized. It's
not so much that there's these catastrophic failures on defense
that have led to all of these points.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
But this is the Southeastern Conference.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
If you are not ready at the snap of the football,
if you don't take the first step correctly in time,
you're gonna get your doors blown off by good athletes.
So it's just the little stuff. It's the little organizational details.
They've got to be ready to go a little bit quicker,
and I expect that we'll see something like that versus
Kentucky on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
It's the most anticipated Kentucky Vandy matchup we've seen in
a while on the grid iron.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
Yeah, it's amazing the number of really special moments between
these two teams. I know the big wins from a
Vanderbilt perspective. Of course, Clark got his very first SEC
victory against you guys a couple of seasons ago on
a very cold Lexington day. I know there was a
big win back in two thousand and eights for Vanderbilt
over Kentucky, So it's fun to have this matchup. I
(13:26):
don't think we're slotted as permanent partners moving forward, right,
and that's okay, Like I get the new look Southeastern Conference,
but there's been a lot of really fun moments between
the Doors and Cats, and here's to one more on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, more often than not. I think it's like forty
of the games have been decided by seven points or fewers,
so frequently as a as a close game and as broadcasters,
those are always more fun to call. So maybe we'll
get one Saturday with.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
A few heart palpitations when you go to overtime against Aufren.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
But yes, sure, yeah, thank you, Andrew, thank you.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
It's Andrew Ali Gretta, the play voice for the Vanderbilt
football program. One of our great partners here on the
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Speaker 2 (14:49):
I think this group is extraordinary. I think we're going
to be great together. We haven't played well, you know,
we've had a couple really discouraging losses. That's not what
we're going to be. It's not who we are, and
I don't think it's I don't think it has anything
to do with chemistry, I think as to do with
playing well. This is a really good group of guys
that really care about each other, that are trying so
(15:12):
hard to do this for each other, but sometimes it
manifests itself in a way that's exactly the opposite of
what you're shiring for.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
That was Mark Pope yesterday. That was the SoundBite we're
looking for in the opening segment today because there were
one of the hot topics for fans and it came
up in the news conference yesterday, was is there a
chemistry issue for the basketball team? So I wanted to
get you the correct bite that we were going to
play earlier as we bring on Jeff Pacoro, my broadcast
(15:41):
partner in the UK Football Network along with Dick Gabriel,
and then he's also the sports director WTVQ here in Lexington,
and we'll get to a lot of football pick but
on the basketball side and the think about chemistry and
all of that. I was saying earlier, there's not any
thing I don't think they'll do tonight or against Tennessee
(16:02):
Tech next Wednesday that will answer fans questions or probably
lay any concerns. It'll be the next time they are
tested under stress. It's those big games that tell you
the most. Right.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
Yeah, I agree with that, and Tom, I think you know,
you and I have been around this and you get
to see practice so much more. But the one thing
that I don't see that I would like to see
is got to remember this that I know they're getting
paid now, so it's totally changed what college is. But
it's supposed to be fun, right. I don't see them
(16:37):
with smiles on their faces playing. And I talked about
this in any sport, if you're not enjoying what you're
doing and it's a job instead of you know, doing
it for pure sport, then it's a problem. And I'd
like to see them have fun out there because it
just doesn't look like in those situations. And I don't
know if it's the pressure or that they just haven't
come together yet as a team. That doesn't mean they
(16:58):
don't like each other. It's kind of like the offensive
line in football. It takes time when you're bringing all
these different guys in from all these different places to
learn each other's you know, attributes and tendencies when you're
when you're out on the floor.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
That's a great point. I mean, you you played college football,
So I mean there's that, you know, camaraderie, that's that's
just part of it, part of what makes it fun.
Obviously it's you know, it's no fun when when you're
not winning. But that game, especially the other night, they
were just beaten in every area. And that's, uh, that
(17:35):
can get you down if you're soundly beating.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
Yeah, and and you know, Tom looks, look, you know,
we got to call this out. These guys have played before.
It's not like it's the first time out on a court.
And and you know, these are really good ball players.
They just kind of jeled yet they haven't found that
that it thing yet. But it'll come. It always does.
Sometimes it just takes longer, that's all.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
And that segues us into the football discussion that we
want to get into about the matchup tomorrow in Nashville,
because the Kentucky football team has gelled in November and
has a big opportunity tomorrow. We'll talk about that with
Jeff Pilcaarl. We come right back. It is the Leads
Report presented by Bob Kat Enterprises. But like, honestly, we're
just taking in one thing at a time, one game
(18:20):
at a time, when week at a time, like you know,
we're not looking at a bowl game right now. Right now,
we're looking at the events that's seth McGowan talking about
the Kentucky mindset going into their final SEC game of
the season and one of the final two, both on
the road Bandy tomorrow at Louisville the following Saturday. Jeff
(18:42):
Plcarol is with us from WTVQTV and the UK Radio Network.
And this is a really if you're just a college
football fan, I think a really interesting matchup of the
two quarterbacks pick because of how Pavia has played the
last two years and how Cutter Bowley has played the
last two months.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Yeah, and you know, time to go back on the
last question you asked me before the break there. Look,
they are getting he's getting comfortable, he's learning every week.
You know, here's a kid that's you know what six
weeks ago was a backup that's played in two or
three games, and now he looks like a season pro.
(19:20):
And what we were talking about, that continuity, it's happened
to that offensive line. It just took time, like I said,
with the basketball team and this offensive line I think
has done a fantastic job over these last four games
and you see the results.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Let's talk about the Vandy side and defending Pavia and
were We taped our Wildcat Whip podcast with Dick Gabriel yesterday.
It's available you can find it on Facebook and other
social media platforms. But we talked about this and I said,
(19:56):
for Kentucky, their defense is kind of like a game
of Jinger right now. You keep taking pieces out out
and tell them keep standing because especially in the secondary,
they're in a don't look to be in a whole
lot better spot unless maybe to Ryan Nichols is able
to play tomorrow and give him a little more depth there.
He's on the questionable list.
Speaker 5 (20:16):
It's it's amazing how injuries hit and it just seems
like it happens to one position, and that's been the
defensive backfield and most notably cornerback. Obviously love it as
your free safety, but cornerbacks that hit so hard. You've
got JQ who started the season and ty Brian is
the only two starters left out of the five guys
(20:38):
that really start in the secondary. So it shows you
the depth that they have and the guys that they
had brought in that have really stepped up, and you know,
I just think it's a it's an opportunity and you
have to you know, it's those opportunities they come, you know,
once in a lifetime and you've got to make it work.
(20:59):
And if you do, you know, look out. You know,
but they've got death and it's quality depth right now.
But it's being stressed, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
What is the challenge? It's the best way to put this.
I was gonna say, what's the challenge of defending Pavey?
Which you could probably talk for an hour about that.
What can Kentucky try to do to contain him? Let
me ask it that way.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
You know, it's kind of the same thing that like
Jerry Clayburne taught and it's just keep everything in front
of you. You make a wheel and don't break the wheel.
If you're a defensive back and Pobby is coming out,
if you're on the corner and he's rolling out, you've
got to stay with your guy because if you release
and come up to try to attack, and he's gont
(21:43):
throw it over your head. So it's really a game
of cat and mouse. You know, you're darned if you
do and darned if you don't type of thing. But
that's the biggest thing. And I thought that Ty Bryant
and Steven Souls really talked well about this, Like Stephen
sol says, Look, I know I want to go get
a sack, but I have to remember stay in my
lane because if I try to go inside, he can
(22:06):
come around me. Our tackles have to stay in their
lanes inside, so when he does step up in the pocket,
there's nowhere for him to go. So it's kind of
like you're trying to cage a tiger. You know. You
you've got to keep him boxing and you can't let him.
You cannot let him break contain and get to the outside.
You want him to run.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
You want him to run up the middle.
Speaker 5 (22:24):
And I would assume they're probably going to play some
type of a spy situation where either Alex or David
Rayne or probably your too quickest linebackers just try to
stay kind of in front of Pavia. That's that's what
you have to do. I mean, it's he's really good.
He really tests you. He's a he's the size of
Johnny Manzell, but he has the mindset of Tim Tebow
(22:46):
where he'll just try to run you over at six
foot two hundred and five pounds, he doesn't care.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Yeah, I think that was last week. You and I
were talking to Brad White for our pregame meeting and
we're asking about the quarterback from Tennessee Tech who had
a similar build and yeah, uh Ran, you know, Scrambled
as we saw as as being a you know, comparison
to Pavia or a good tunea for Pavia. And he
said talked about Pavia and being different because he said,
(23:11):
I think his line was he plays quarterback like a linebacker.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
Yeah. Yes, and that's kind of what we used to
say about Tebow. But he likes things when it's confused,
you know, when when you when when you when he's
able to just get out of there and the play's
broken down, that's when he makes the plays. It's just
an inate ability that some people have, and man, he's
got it, and it's just it's fun to watch unless
(23:38):
you're trying to defend it.
Speaker 6 (23:39):
And if you're a.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
Defender or if you're a fan of the other team,
it's so maddening because you just want one guy and
you're like, could somebody just hit him, get a good,
solid hit, because he never gets drilled in a game.
I mean he gets pushed out of bounce or sometimes
they get tackled from behind, but he never really gets
somebody that just steamrolls him. But it doesn't happens.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
It's weird, Kentucky. We've talked a lot over the recent
weeks about the growth of cutter bowling, what they're doing
on offense, and anytime a quarterback gets rolling, it's a
big story for a team, and it's somewhat overshadowed. How also, dramatically,
the improvement has come on the defensive side of the ball.
(24:23):
I mean they really since the open date in mid October,
they played so well against Texas. Obviously we're torched by Tennessee,
but you know, for the issues they're having with health
in the secondary against that passing attack, obviously it was
not a good matchup. But then if you look at
Texas and then all the games since the Tennessee game,
their defensive numbers are as about as good as any
(24:44):
defense in the league. So what is the big change
that you've seen from back at the start of the year.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
Well, I think the biggest thing is, again we just
talked about it with the offense, it's the continuity these
guys again. Bringing in a guy like Gusta. He doesn't
have numbers that jump off the page, but he has
solidified the middle. They don't run very well against Kentucky
trying to run up the middle. Anybody, you know, he's
done a great job. Humphrey Grace has been fantastic. What
(25:16):
a pickup that guy has been. He's brought pressure from
the outside. He collapses the pocket. You know, now, Tavian Gadson,
Khalil Sanders. If Khalil Saunders can play Saturday, that's gonna
be huge because he has really been coming on the
last three four or five weeks as well, been fantastic.
But it's just the depth of that defensive line. The
(25:37):
linebackers are smallish, but they get the job done. Then
you have that edge rusher, which was Sam Green was
really starting to play well. Unfortunately you know he started,
but Cam played a great game last week and you
hope that that can continue. So it's kind of layered thing.
Tom and look, Brad White may be one of the
better defensive coordinators in all of college football, and obviously
(25:58):
Mark Stoops. You basically have two defensive coordinators on your staff.
Because Mark is such a great defensive mind and the
kids are buying into it. Look, they wouldn't be in
this position if they weren't good ball players and they
didn't believe in what they're doing. And Mark has said
this from the start. He really liked this team this year,
and we're seeing why. Now these guys have even with
(26:19):
all the injuries, they're playing their hearts out for this guy.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Last thing, what do you like? How do you like
their chances?
Speaker 5 (26:30):
I think when I look at this Vanderbilt defense, it's
not great. They've had some problems in their secondary. And
if Kentucky's offensive line can hold up, if they can
establish a running game, then I think they're going to
be able to get some shots down the field. They've
got great length, not bulk on that defense, so I
(26:52):
think they're gonna be able to run against them. And
if you can get that running game going the way
Cutter's been going, I think that they're going to have
a couple of shots. Stay on the field. You just
can't miss those shots when you take them, because it's
probably gonna take twenty eight points to win this game,
so you know, you got to get to twenty eight
and if they.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Can get there.
Speaker 5 (27:10):
They got a great chance of winning.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Here's the number for Jeff Pacarl. Thank you sir.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
Seeing them on.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Seven teen Away from the top of the hour. It
is the leachch Report Radio Network. We're presented each day
by Bobcat Enterprises and they have four locations around Kentucky.
So if you need to buy or rent heavy equipment
for a job, know somebody who does. Bobcat Enterprises needs
to be the next call and they'll take good care
of you. They'll have what you need, they'll work with
(27:36):
you on a good price, and then fantastic service after
the sale. All the parts everything you need tractors, excavators, forklifts,
et cetera, zero turn mowors for your home lawn too
at Bobcat Enterprises. Heading to a break back with Justin
Rowling from Cats Illustrated on this Friday edition of The
Leaks Report. Thirteena away from the top of the Hour.
(28:00):
It's the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises and we
are joined by Justin Rowland Katzillustrated dot Com on the
on three Sports Network. We'll pick up where we left
off there with Jeff and Talk and Kentucky and Vandy tomorrow.
Justin this is a conversation not many people thought Kentucky
(28:20):
would be would be had about Kentucky football going into
the Vandy game and then Louisville next week, and when
one of those two they're going to postseason play. What's
impressed you most about the reversal of form.
Speaker 6 (28:33):
It looks like they look like a legitimate SEC football team.
And there are going to be some people that say
Auburn and Florida were two of the bottom teams in
the league and Auburn fired its coach. In Florida, you know,
is making a move as well. But these are talented
teams that continue to play well against the other teams
(28:53):
on their schedule. You know, Kentucky wanted Auburn and they
almost beat Vanderbilt the next week. In Florida played Georgia competitively.
They've played a lot of teams competitively. So the in
Kentucky has been able to do it has some real
teeth to it. And they're really balanced. I mean, they
can run, they can pass, and they're now playing defense
as well as most of the teams in the conference.
(29:15):
So for me, that's been impressive. But the hope has
been I don't think the bar for being really good
is as high as it has been, so they're really
not far away. If you watch the rest of the
SEC all season, they're really not far away from the
level that some of the better teams in the league
have been playing at.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
And they have a quarterback who certainly looks like a
rising star.
Speaker 6 (29:37):
Yeah yeah, and he's you know, if you told me
the Cutter would be promising this year at the start
of the year, I would have imagined it would have
been a little bit more up and down, a little
bit more flash of potentials of regression. And then he
you know, he did have some struggles at Auburn, but
he's been pretty remarkably consistent for like more than a
month now, like six weeks of football, and he's doing
(29:59):
it by pick and defense is a part underneath, and
showing he can throw over the middle between the hash marks.
There's not a lot of college quarterbacks consistently do well.
And he's starting to see the safeties a little bit better.
So you see the progression of the development in real time,
and they finally have a high school developed guy to
build around for the future.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
Yeah. I mean you I think back to we should
make a great point about how young he is, a
red shirt freshman, what he's doing. Jared Lorenzo is a
red shirt freshman, had some incredible games. The highlight that
they showed first on the Kelsey Brothers podcast the other
day was the behind the head throw against Georgia when
(30:38):
he threw for five hundred and twenty eight yards. But
he did also have twenty one I think interceptions that
his first year. That's just one example of how just
because Jared was so good and yet also had his
struggles in his first year, that's those kind of numbers
are what you normally get from. You know, a guy
getting his first extended run at at this.
Speaker 6 (31:00):
Level, right, no question. Yeah, and so he's ahead of schedule,
and you know at the beginning of the season how
much they were thrown to the tight ends. That looked
like a staff that had assessed the roster and decided
that they weren't crazy about the options of wide receiver
and only recently have the receivers started to riff. This
is a testament of Ladaviian Washington that's been maybe the
(31:22):
most improved position room over the course.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Of the season.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
DJ Miller had a monster aiming at Tennessee and cam
Miller had had some step up moments and now they
just had another monster game over this past weekend with
Kendrick Law eleven catches on eleven targets, so he's expanding
how we see in the field. The thing I really
like about Cutter is when he when he first sees
and faces pressure, his first instinct is good. He doesn't panic,
(31:50):
he stays calm. Not every play he makes his great
under pressure, but he gives him a chance and as
long as he's keeping the play alive, he's more dangerous
to hurt you down the field that any Kentucky quarterbacks
has been since maybe Andre Woodson. So he's got a.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
Lot going for him. So with Justin Roland, it's at
Roland rivals on x Well shifters to Kentucky basketball back
in action tonight against Loyola Maryland, and at the moment,
they're handling the teams they're supposed to handle in the
manner they're supposed to do it. So it's really the
next big stress test first week in November when they
(32:25):
have North Carolina and then Gonzaga is when we'll learn
if they're moving forward from what we've seen so far.
Speaker 6 (32:34):
Right, Yeah, no doubt those are the games that are
really going to tell us. But these are the games
when the progress would be made. You know, we're just
not likely to buy into it until we see it
against a really good team. But the fortunate thing is,
I mean, they still got a lot of really good pieces,
and they got a really smart head coach, and if
(32:56):
a couple of things are tweaked, you can see everything
getting a lot better. The light comes on for away
and you see him start to get the look that
he has and that might take a while. Then that
that or that raises everybody around and number one, number two,
you just want to see him run, run good offense,
committed to the offense, not taking the first decent shot
(33:17):
attempt that they have, but a real Mark Pope offense,
and then obviously commitment on defense. You really want to
see him stomp out this team like Kentucky should.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
That's what you look for tonight. I saw your couple
of your posts yesterday or one of them anyway on
social media X. But you know, are not happy as
someone who follows the Wildcats with what you're hearing out
of the news conferences.
Speaker 7 (33:41):
Yeah, I mean I think I think Hope has tons
of qualities that make him a perfect fitt can sit,
you know, so these are this is like nippling around
the edges.
Speaker 6 (33:51):
Just we're getting first impressions that he's been around for
a while. And the only thing I see just I
think he's very analytical, He's very nuanced, and he's very intelligent.
But just find your voice and be confident with it,
you know. I feel like there have been a number
of things where he's almost deferential and he's acting like
(34:11):
he is. He loves Kentucky as much as the fan
base does. So I feel like he feels the weight
of the job. And this is speculation, but he surely
feels the weight of the job. And you just got
to know, nothing is going to be decided in November,
and nobody needs Kentucky to be nineteen ninety six Kentucky.
If you win a title over an x period of time,
(34:32):
everybody's going to be just fine. And so as long
as he stays committed to his process and what got
him into the job, now, I think he's going to
be okay. But it's got to be him finding his
voice and doing it his way.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
That's justin Rowland Thecats Illustrated dot Com on the On
three Sports Network towards us here on Thursdays, justin thank you.
Speaker 6 (34:51):
Much, all right, thanks a lot of tom.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Coming up on our final break. We will take that
and come back with a few other items here on
on this Friday edition of the Lead Report, coming to
you from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return, refresh and
refuel at Clark's.
Speaker 8 (35:08):
Like I said, I give him his props. You're doing
what you gotta do to get what he needs to
on the field to make things happy for them. But
when week stuff on the field Saturday, it's a team
versus team and we both just got to go out
there and execute for the best of our ability.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
Tady Gantsen there coming back from injury likely this week,
and they need him because a little Saunders got dinged
up in the Tennessee Tech game, and he's talking about
Diego Pavia and Kentucky's matchup with the Vandy quarterback tomorrow.
If you look at third down conversions in the month
of November, Vandy's one, Kentucky's two. So both of these quarterbacks,
(35:45):
these two quarterbacks, you could make the case probably a
plan as well as any two in the league and
they match up against each other tomorrow. So just a
really fun, fun renewal of the Kentucky Vandy series that
has had a ton of very close games over the years.
We look up this number here real quick. Forty of
(36:06):
the games, including the one last year, have been decided
by seven points or fewer. In Nashville, Vanderbilts won twenty seven,
lost twenty three, tied to in Kentucky, as won the
last two times in Nashville, so their last Mandy's last
win on its home field is a is a decade
ago Wildcat History Notes presented by Kentucky Roadshow Sports Cards
(36:29):
at Memorabilia. They are on Romedy Road in Lexington, i
ad Roadshowcards dot Com. Nineteen eighty one on this day
was fran Cursey's final game. Kentucky beat Tennessee twenty one
to ten. Players knew that their coach was being fired
and that was going to be their last time to
play for him, and they carried him off the field
after that win over the balls. Birthdays ran out of
(36:51):
time to get to these yesterday, so a belated happy
birthday to Ray Davis, who returned to kickoff for a
touchdown on his birthday last night, but the Texans beat
his Buffalo Bills. Craig Yeast, Jeremy Jarman from UK football,
Louis Dampier, the Hall of Famer Antonio Reeves from Kentucky basketball,
all belated happy birthdays to one, and All Men's soccer
(37:11):
came out on the short end last night, losing and
ending their season to Saint Louis in extra time two
to one in the NCAA Tournament. Great season though, Sundell
Conference champions and first ten win season since twenty twenty two.
UK football lost a commitment defensive back Jordan Crutchfield has
flipped to Florida State and a good job for the
(37:32):
Big Blue Nation coming through. In the Big Blue Crush
Blood Drive against Tennessee, Kentucky has taken the lead, but
today is the final day to hang on to what
could be a fourth consecutive win and a very important battle.
So the Big Blue Crush Blood Drive wrapping up today
and if you can help out, please do so. Kentucky
can beat Tennessee and you'll be helping a great cause
(37:53):
that will do it for us. Have a great weekend
back with Van Hiles on the Shuffle being coffee Monday
Morning quarter Back Show. We'll see you after a great weekend.
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