Chris Rodriguez Injects Energy Into Evolving Kentucky Offense
The Kentucky football team is different with Chris Rodriguez back in the lineup.
“I’ve seen him for what, three, four years now? But for some reason it was a little different in this game,” Vince Marrow said Tuesday night. “He was running violently. I don’t think he fell backwards one time. One run he had should have been a two-yard loss. It was like a three, or four-yard gain.”
Before No. 24 ever took a snap, Kentucky’s associate head coach could feel a difference in the team.
“It’s different. It’s like when you add Wan’Dale (Robinson) or Lynn Bowden. Chris is in that same thing. It’s just everybody from the staff, and I think even the administration, just felt comfortable having him back… It’s just kind of the same way whenever we get J.J. (Weaver) back. You feel good having all your bullets and he’s a big one. I’m just glad he’s back.”
The First Hit Felt Different for Chris Rodriguez
Speaking publicly for the first time since his four-game suspension was lifted, Chris Rodriguez was happy to be back in the action. It only took one carry for him to feel the difference between getting tackled in a game and what it’s liked to get popped in practice with a padded guardian on his helmet.
“It felt great, it just felt great to get out there and knock the rust off a little bit. Now I’m ready,” he said. “That first hit, I was like God bless. I forgot what it felt like to get hit. As a running back and my play style, I like it, I couldn’t wait to feel that again and when I felt it, it was like whoa.”
Those hits sound different when No. 24 is carrying the ball. Tashawn Manning had never blocked for Rodriguez before. It was an eye-opening experience.
“On Saturday I was blocking. I just hear C-Rod come behind me and I just hear a clash. I don’t know what that was. Then out the corner of my eye I just see C-Rod running past me with like four people on his back. I’ve never seen that before,” said Manning. “It was exciting to watch and it was exciting to play with him, for real.”
The Kentucky running back was not even in peak form. He totaled 72 yards on 19 carries. He could feel the weight of those collisions in the second half. Hopefully that experience at Ole Miss knocked off all of the rust.
“I’ve done a lot of training, but I just knew that once that first game came around, for me there’s nothing I could do to prepare for that moment,” said the Kentucky running back.
Rising Tide in Passing Game Improves Entire Offense
“I tell all the receivers they can learn a thing or two from me,” Rodriguez joked after catching three passes for 40 yards, the second-most in each category for the Wildcats vs. Ole Miss.
He’s not known for his receiving ability, but offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello knew it was in the running back’s arsenal.
“It was exciting. I mean the guy is everything. I knew what he was, but to see it live and to just watch his presence, he’s just one of those physical guys and he just has great feel,” said Scangarello. “He’s a really good pass-catcher and it was underrated when I got here. I’ve known that about him and I thought he did a nice job in the pass game catching some balls. He had a good feel and is doing some good stuff.”
Wide receiver Tayvion Robinson was happy to welcome back Chris Rodriguez, even if it means he won’t be targeted as often in the passing or running game.
“It’s amazing. He’s a special back, a special talent,” Robinson said. “Sometimes it may mean less targets for us, sometimes it may mean bigger plays for us. But you gotta be unselfish and do what you gotta do to win.”
This version of the Kentucky offense is different than the last time we saw Rodriguez in a Kentucky uniform. Wide receivers like Robinson, Barion Brown and Dane Key have created an explosive Kentucky passing attack, providing more opportunities to create big plays.
“They make it easier on me,” said the UK running back. “A lot of last year was, ‘C-Rod is bringing everybody down to open up the pass game.’ They’re opening up the run game for me. You got, I call him Big Play Barion (Brown). He gets the job done. He’s explosive. We got a lot of guys in that receiver core that can go (to the house) at any time. It just opens a lot more up for me.”
The Kentucky offense has only scratched the surface of its potential. With Chris Rodriguez back in action, it’s time for the Wildcats to take their game to the next level.
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