Kentucky Wildcats Football: Keys to Success

Well folks, this week is once again the most important game in Mark Stoops’ career

and it’s looks like the Wildcats have a puncher’s chance at pulling off a shocker again. That’s hardly a prediction but Kentucky can hang with the Tigers, even in Baton Rouge. If they can play in The Swamp, then they can play in Death Valley. The game sets up remarkably similar. An unimpressive quarterback situation. A ferocious defense. Big powerful running backs. The only difference is that Kentucky enters the game healthier than they did that week. Braylon Heard and Javess Blue will each be available for the Wildcats. So, without further ado, here are this week’s key to a Wildcat victory :

• Start Fast- The sluggish starts against South Carolina and Louisiana Monroe can’t repeat this week if the Cats want to win. The road environment and the tough LSU defense would just be too much to overcome down by two touchdowns early. It’s just not a team that you are going to score 35 point on to win it. If the Cats win it will be an ugly slugfest with approximately four big plays.
• Win the Turnover Battle- See the above remarks about falling behind. Not only can the Wildcats not afford to do LSU any favors, they need to force Anthony Jennings and/or Brandon Harris into some mistakes. Kentucky needs to come out ahead, not even, in this category. A couple of fumbles recovered and a pick would do nicely.
• Contain the Run- Notice the word ‘contain” instead of “stop”. Kentucky has shown a weakness defending the run game all season and LSU has Leonard Fornette and Kenny Hilliard to do damage with. The Tigers passing game has been ineffective for the most part this year, except when the quarterback scrambles in the pocket. Kentucky has to play containment defense on both QB and limit the number of 2^nd and short plays that LSU gets on offense. Much like the Florida game, Kentucky will be best served forcing the Tigers to throw down the field.
• Run the Ball- Insert tired “Air Raid” comment here. Kentucky is good at running the football. LSU is not particularly good at defending the run this year. UK needs to get chunk plays in on the ground and not just out of the Wildcat formation. They need to be able to line up and run the football with their stable of running backs. Hopefully that will open up something that we haven’t seen much of so far, the play action passing game.
• Play Well on Special Teams– The Tigers have always been dangerous on special teams and they may be even more so now that former Wildcat teams coach Bradley Dale Peveto is running the LSU kicking game. What makes for a better story line than Peveto pulling one of his trademark tricks on his former team in a Tiger victory. Not that Peveto has any hard feelings, if anyone besides his home state Tigers had come calling BDP would likely still be in Lexington. Perhaps it’s time to see what kind of tricks Craig Naivar has in his bag.