Some thoughts on the gameday strategies Stoops, Gran, and Eliot will employ to give us the best shot at beating Mizzou.
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
OFFENSE:
- "Straight at 'em, Mr. Gran" - It goes without saying that UK wants to run the ball. It is our strength and their weakness. What's more, I think we see UK run the ball right at them. Injuries to Mizzou's MLB and DL make an already weak defense particularly vulnerable. UK doesn't get cute today, no double reverses or flea flickers. Look for Benny, Boom, and Kemp to get up close and personal with Mizzou's gut early and often.
- "Time in on Our Side" - Kentucky's defense is effective, but its also very thin. Look for Gran to do the defense a big favor by keeping Mizzou's bunny-on-meth offense on the sideline by milking the play clock between snaps. I wouldn't be surprised if we see the team hurry to the line and then stand in formation until the play clock winds under five. This strategy milks the clock and keeps Mizzou's defense on the field, an especially useful tactic when we have a personnel advantage.
- "Body, Body, Knockout" - Any boxing fan will tell you that going for the knockout is more effective after you've beat up the body, enticing your opponent to overcompensate and drop their hands. If Mizzou is unable to stop the bleeding in the run game, they'll put eight in the box. Eventually, their corners will even be a little slow in their backpedal, peeking into the backfield. Gran is no fool. When those hands drop, the jaw becomes vulnerable. In the late second / early third quarter (score permitting) Gran will take his shots, and one of them could be the one that puts Mizzou on the canvas.
DEFENSE:
- "Passivity Equals Vulnerability" - Kentucky cannot sit passively in a zone and hope Mizzou makes a mistake. Mizzou's offense is predicated on wearing out your defense by running plays quickly, making short completions (with YAC), and keeping your base personnel on the field to the point of exhaustion. Sitting back and watching receivers chip away at you seven yards at a time plays right into their hands. UK will send heat, and they will occasionally be burned, but being burned for a couple of scores and some quick 3 and outs is better than being dead tired in the 4th quarter of a close game.
- "You Gotta be Flexible" - Because Mizzou forces you to keep one package on the field for long stretches, choosing the dominant package for the game-plan is of paramount importance. Today, I expect Kentucky to primarily play in the "Amoeba" package, a 2-4-5 alignment with Ware and Allen over the tackles; Middleton and Miggins over the guards; Jones and Love at ILB, and a secondary of Baity, Westry, Edwards, McClain, and McWilson. This alignment gives UK maximum flexibility, with the ability to play zone, man to man, blitz, and even walk into an eight man front to stop the run. It also keeps DT's off the field, a good thing since they're most vulnerable to a quick-paced attack.
- "The Kids are Alright" - In the past, Stoops has been reticent to playing young players, placing trust upperclassmen as a matter of course. With injuries to the defense and Mizzou's face-paced offense, he will have to play young players today. Daniel will get more time at MLB, Robinson and Griffin will get time at corner, Eli Brown may have to spell all three LB positions. With some solid play and a little luck, the score will allow us to play more young kids than usual.
