They call it the pit. The point where you’ve trained and prepared and know what to do, and for whatever reason, it’s just not working.

You’re stuck in the pit, and are struggling to get out.

“I don’t think you can overanalyze it and talk about it,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said this week. “I mean, just go play.”

If only it were that simple — and if only it weren’t affecting the most important position on the field.

No matter how good it should be or could be, it’s not happening this season for Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary, who arrived in the Commonwealth after transferring from NC State and brought huge expectations for a program on the verge of breaking through in the SEC.

Kentucky coaches looked in the portal and saw the 2021 Leary, who accounted for 37 TDs and was arguably the best player in the ACC. So far this season, they’ve gotten 2022 Leary, who struggled behind an ever-changing and young offensive line (and receivers) before sustaining a season-ending pectoral injury in early October.

Two weeks ago, after an ugly loss to Georgia — where receivers were running free in the Georgia secondary and Leary missed numerous throws — Leary admitted he had to play better.

“Those throws need to be made. Those completions need to be made,” he said. “There’s no excuse for it to be 1 step off or 1 yard away from a catch.”

Especially considering Kentucky has done nearly everything possible to make it work.

Stoops brought back OC/QBs coach Liam Coen from the NFL’s Rams, and paid him nearly $2 million a year to fix the offense — and return it to the 2021 form before he left for the NFL. Stoops signed experienced offensive linemen from the transfer portal, and a year after giving up 46 sacks, the Wildcats have given up 11 — a remarkable improvement of last to No. 2 overall in the SEC.

Stoops signed an elite running back from the portal (Ray Davis), who currently leads the SEC in rushing. The Wildcats returned 2 of the top 5 young receivers in the SEC in Barion Brown and Dane Key, and senior WR Tayvion Robinson and rising sophomore TE Jordan Dingle gave UK a deep receiving corps.

Yet here Kentucky sits, heading into Saturday’s crossroads game against Tennessee, as dysfunctional offensively since 2019 — when it used a wide receiver to play quarterback over the final 8 games of the season. And won 6.

A year after the wildly-hyped senior season of star QB Will Levis ended in a haze of poor protection and poorer decisions from Levis in big games, Kentucky is replaying the madness all over again.

In his past 4 games (wins over Vanderbilt and Florida; losses to Georgia and Missouri), Leary has completed 47.5% of his passes and is averaging 5.16 yards per attempt — far and away last in the SEC for full-time quarterbacks.

“There are a variety of things that have happened,” Stoops said. “Whether penalties, protection, a drop, or you name it. We definitely have to help Devin. There is enough blame to go around that we have to look at every area and put him in a better position to be successful.”

Make no mistake, this is a passing game problem. The Wildcats are running the ball with efficiency, and Davis is No. 3 in rushing among Power 5 running backs. They’re doing exactly what must be done to set up Coen’s play-action offense.

But Leary isn’t hitting throws he should. It’s as simple as that.

He’s in the pit, and for whatever reason, can’t get out. Coen insists his QB and the offense just need something good to happen.

They need a game where everything clicks and momentum builds and confidence strengthens and the next thing you know, Leary looks like the All-ACC player he was in 2021, when he broke Philip Rivers’ NC State record for TD passes in a season with 35.

It begins this week against Tennessee, No. 2 in the SEC in sacks (28), 3rd in interceptions (7) and 3rd in passer rating (121.27) — and not yet out of the SEC East Division race.

Making it turn this week may be a heavy lift.

“Just making the layups, making the easy throws,” Leary said. “Getting back to the way I’ve always played. Doing what you practice to do, what you’re coached to do.”

When Leary entered the portal after last season, he said he needed a fresh start. New program, new teammates, new motivation.

He arrived in Lexington and his teammates glommed onto him. His passion, his competitive drive, his desire to win.

“Took to him immediately,” Stoops said. “Like he’d been there all along.”

No one on staff saw these struggles. Nor did Leary. Everything was built for a memorable season.

But now he’s in the pit, and it’s just not working.

“Our guys know how to throw and catch,” Stoops said.

If only it were that simple.