What’s the temperature like for Kentucky following last week’s bye? We analyze several areas where the Wildcats are hot or cold.

TEMPERATURE RISING

Quarterback Patrick Towles has exceeded expectations in his first three games as Kentucky’s starting quarterback, earning two wins and a hard-fought triple-overtime loss to the Florida Gators. He is third in the SEC averaging more than 305 passing yards per game, and has accounted for six UK touchdowns through the air or on the ground in three games this year. Head coach Mark Stoops praised Towles during the weekly SEC Coaches’ Teleconference, saying the redshirt sophomore has given the Wildcats a chance to win every game this season. It seems Towles is growing more confident by the day, and his coaches have confidence in him as well, which is promising for Kentucky’s final nine games of the year.

KEEPING WARM

No one player has asserted himself as Kentucky’s top wide receiver this season, but a large handful of players have proven themselves to be capable targets in the passing game. A whopping 13 different players have caught a pass for the Wildcats this year, four of whom have scored touchdowns (all four are true freshmen — Garrett Johnson has scored two, along with Blake Bone, Dorian Baker and Stanley “Boom” Williams). The Cats’ two most veteran wideouts, senior Demarco Robinson and sophomore Ryan Timmons, rank among the top three on the team in catches (along with Johnson), proving the team has consistent veterans and explosive freshmen alike. As Towles grows more familiar with the receiving corps., the offense is prepared to take off down the stretch in 2014.

COOLING OFF

Kentucky’s defensive end tandem of seniors Bud Dupree and Za’Darius Smith was hyped to be as stout a pass-rushing duo as any in the SEC. Unfortunately for UK, it has not turned out that way through three games in 2014. As a team, Kentucky has registered 7 sacks, but Smith and Dupree have combined to record just 0.5 sacks (that half-sack belongs to Smith). Considering one-third of UK’s schedule to this point plays in the FCS (UT Martin), those numbers are a bit underwhelming. Dupree and Smith have both been subject to double-teams on most snaps, and other players like Jason Hatcher and Regie Meant have taken advantage of those situations, but the preseason hype surrounding the Smith-Dupree duo is cooling fast, and both players will need to make a greater impact the rest of the year for the Cats to have a chance at surviving their SEC schedule.

ICE COLD

Kentucky’s close loss to Florida appeared to be a statement performance even in a losing effort, showing the rest of the conference it can hang with anyone in the SEC East. However, after Florida’s embarrassing loss to Alabama and Missouri’s humiliating home defeat at the hands of the Indiana Hoosiers last week, the East looks far weaker than it did before UK’s bye, and the Cats’ performance against the Gators looks like less of a statement now that Florida’s offense has been exposed. The Cats had a ton of momentum heading into last week’s bye, but now must regenerate that momentum this week with a big win over East rival Vanderbilt on Saturday. Kentucky is ice cold after sitting for a week, and fans in the Bluegrass hope UK can warm itself back up early against the Commodores.