OFFENSE: C

The Kentucky offense was inconsistent at best against an average Vanderbilt defense, starting out strong then diminishing as the game progressed. Quarterback Patrick Towles engineered a 99-yard touchdown drive on UK’s first possession, and completed his first 11 passes on the day, but then threw an ugly pick-six to Darrius Sims on his 12th pass for Vanderbilt’s only points of the game. Towles went on to complete 23 of 30 passes for 201 yards, but also committed two of UK’s three turnovers with a fumble in addition to the pick-six (Towles actually fumbled three times but only lost one). Eleven players caught a pass for UK, but none caught more than four passes or amassed more than 39 yards. Likewise, six players carried the ball for Kentucky, but none carried it for more than 62 yards for the game. The Cats’ offense got plenty of players involved, but it was sloppy and lacked the explosiveness it displayed against Florida two weeks ago. Kentucky still has all the pieces to be dynamic in the Air Raid offense, but three turnovers and five penalties for 55 yards will hold even the best offenses back. The offense left a lot to be desired in an ugly victory over Vandy, but it did enough early to get UK a win.

DEFENSE: A

The Kentucky defense could not have played any better than it did against Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Wildcats held Vandy to just 139 yards of total offense and eight first downs, and did not allow the Commodores’ offense to score a single point all game (all of Vandy’s scoring came on Sims’ pick-six). The Cats’ front seven overwhelmed Vanderbilt all day, limiting the ‘Dores to just 54 yards rushing at just 2.5 yards per carry while also recording four sacks for the game. Vandy freshman quarterback Wade Freebeck completed just 32 percent of his passes for only 85 yards, and threw three interceptions while facing heavy pressure all afternoon (Freebeck was not announced as the starter until Saturday morning). Part of that pressure was applied by senior defensive end Bud Dupree, who recorded his first 1.5 sacks of the season in a breakout performance against the Commodores. As a unit, the Cats defense made every play and carried Kentucky to a much-needed SEC victory in an ugly, low-scoring game in Lexington.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B+

Kentucky’s special teams were good on Saturday, but not great. Austin MacGinnis continues to impress as the place kicker after he drilled a 44-yard field goal to extend Kentucky’s lead (he’s now made three kicks of 40 or more yards). Landon Foster has also impressed in his punting duties, booting the ball five times at 46.8 yards per punt with two kicks inside the 20. The kick and punt coverage teams were fantastic, limiting Sims to just one kick return for 15 yards a week after he returned two kicks for touchdowns against South Carolina, and Kentucky’s returners were mostly great, especially Boom Williams, who returned two kickoffs a total of 56 yards. So why does the special teams not get an A? Senior Demarco Robinson muffed a punt late in the second half that Vandy recovered deep in Kentucky territory, nearly allowing the Commodores to pull closer on the scoreboard with the game on the line. The Cats’ defense bailed Robinson out, but he cannot afford another error on a punt against tougher SEC foes later in the year. All in all, the special teams did more to help UK than hurt it, but there is certainly still room for growth, even from a senior like Robinson.