Kentucky must slow down Clemson's run game

Kentucky’s defense enters the postseason with some obvious flaws. Pass coverage has been an issue all season. Any team with a good passing game has been able to gain a bunch of yardage and create scoring opportunities for the Wildcats. That has been a clear weakness for this unit all season. What hasn’t been a weakness is stopping the run.

That is important to point out heading into the Gator Bowl matchup with No. 22 Clemson.

Under new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, former five-star quarterback recruit Cade Klubnik (63% completion rate, 6.2 yards per attempt) and the rest of the Clemson passing game have struggled to get off the ground. The Tigers rank No. 51 in passing success rate, No. 79 in passing EPA/play, and No. 115 in yards per attempt. This ineffectiveness has forced the Tigers to get the traditional ground game rolling.

Phil Mafah (894 rushing yards, 5.3 yards per rush, 9 touchdowns) and Will Shipley (798 rushing yards, 5.1 yards per rush, 5 touchdowns) are what makes this Clemson offense go. The Tigers enter bowl season having rushed for at least 175-plus yards in four consecutive wins over Notre Dame, Georgia, Tech, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Riley’s offense must establish the run to have consistent success.

This could play right into Kentucky’s hands.

The Wildcats currently rank No. 20 in yards per rush allowed and No. 21 in rushing EPA/play. Only Georgia and Tennessee have reached 170-plus yards on over five yards per rush against Brad White‘s defense. The best thing this Kentucky defense does is stuff the run. That will be needed against Clemson.

In three of Clemson’s four losses, this offense has rushed for under 150 yards and never reached four yards per rush in contests against Florida State, Miami, and NC State. In the season-opener to Duke, Dabo Swinney‘s team rolled up 213 rushing yards but spoiled a handful of red zone possessions. For this team to score points, this spread run game must lead the way for a tempo offense that ranks No. 3 nationally in plays per game (76.5).

Kentucky has defended the traditional run well all season. That will need to happen in Jacksonville. The Wildcats will see a heavy dose of Mafah and Shipley. Kentucky must get these talented rushers on the ground and force Klubnik to beat them through the air. The Wildcats did not handle Tennessee’s tempo run game well. The Wildcats must have better results in the Gator Bowl.