Nov. 3, 1999
By TIM WHITMIRE
AP Sports Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – In the off-week lull between a 49-34 loss toGeorgiaand a crucial Thursday game at Mississippi State, it became the question ofthemoment for the Kentucky.
Who is to blame for the 11 sacks quarterback Dusty Bonner sustained atthehands of Georgia’s blitzing defense?
Did the line not give Bonner enough protection? Did he hold on to theballtoo long?
And how to prevent a repeat against Mississippi State, which boastsone ofthe nation’s top defenses?
The answer to the last question will be critical if the Wildcats (5-3,3-2Southeastern Conference) are to pull a road upset of the eighth-rankedBulldogs(7-0, 4-0).
Bonner shouldered much of the blame for the battering he took fromGeorgia.
“I’ve got to get rid of the ball,” he said. “Some of that’s inexperience.It’s my fault.”
“It’s easy when you watch the film” to see the mistakes, he said,citing aplay on which he bought himself some time by sidestepping an onrushingdefender, only to get sacked anyway when he failed to get rid of the ballbefore the rusher turned around and got him.
Junior tackle Omar Smith, the oldest player on Kentucky’s offensive line,said the line blamed itself.
“How can you not feel sorry for the man?” Smith said. “He got sacked 11times and he got hit numerous other times. I remember him getting hit in thehead and I just hear him: `Uhhhhh … ‘ ”
In looking back at the Georgia game, there weren’t many instances whenBonner could have gotten rid of the ball without risking an interception,coachHal Mumme said.
However, he added, Bonner does need to get better at knowing when togive upon the big play.
“That gets back to the experience factor of knowing when to staylocked onto that No. 1 or No. 2 or when to come down to 3, 4 and 5 and get rid of theball,” Mumme said. “Only way to improve that is to go out and play in thegames.”
Led by defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn, Mississippi State will presentthe Wildcats with unconventional schemes and unexpected blitz packages, Bonnersaid.
“They give you a whole lot of different looks,” he said. “Every year weplay them, they’ve had a great defense.”
Smith said he challenged his linemates after the Georgia game.
“I said let’s not give up any sacks to this team,” he said. “Doesn’tmatter if they’re ranked eighth in the land or No. 1. We’ve given up a sackevery game to every team, so for us to shut this group out would prove alot tous.”
