Kentucky Football: Five Ways To Defeat The Vanderbilt Commodores

Nov 14, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive back Derrick Baity (29) and teammate Kentucky Wildcats safety A.J. Stamps (1) tackle Vanderbilt Commodores wide receiver Trent Sherfield (10) during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive back Derrick Baity (29) and teammate Kentucky Wildcats safety A.J. Stamps (1) tackle Vanderbilt Commodores wide receiver Trent Sherfield (10) during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
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Sep 17, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky football running back Benny Snell Jr (26) runs the ball for a touchdown against the New Mexico State Aggies in the first half at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky football running back Benny Snell Jr (26) runs the ball for a touchdown against the New Mexico State Aggies in the first half at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

3. Establish The Run

The Kentucky Wildcats have a three-headed running back monster. Stanley Boom Williams has been one of the Top 5 running backs in the SEC in 2016, Jojo Kemp showed signs of life in Week 5, and Benny Snell Jr. is a freshman sensation.

If the Wildcats hope to defeat the Vanderbilt Commodores, they must keep the chains moving—a burden that falls directly onto the running backs.

Williams has run for 486 yards, which is No. 5 amongst SEC players and No. 24 in the country. Jojo Kemp has struggled to pick up yardage, but has run for two touchdowns and ran the ball 10 times for a decent 39 yards against Alabama.

Snell has only played three games thus far, and he already has 247 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 6.0 yards per carry.

With Vanderbilt giving the ball to running back Ralph Webb, Kentucky’s defense could have trouble staying off the field. That means the offense will be tasked with giving the defense time to rest by moving the chains itself.

Kentucky certainly has the personnel to run the ball effectively, but it needs to execute and alleviate pressure from both Stephen Johnson and the defense.

Schedule

Schedule