Kentucky dominates line of scrimmage in statement win over Florida
Mark Stoops wants his teams to play a physical brand of football. Since 2016, the Wildcats are 59-35 overall with a pair of double-digit win seasons. To get into the win column, this program has often used a ground-and-pound approach. Kentucky wants to win football games at the line of scrimmage.
Early in the 2023 season, things have looked different for the Wildcats. Kentucky is still playing the same defense we’ve grown accustomed to under defensive coordinator Brad White, but the offensive efficiency has disappeared. Kentucky has been heavily reliant on explosive plays to move the football. However, you can be explosive and still run the football.
The Wildcats entered this game ranked No. 18 in yards per rush (5.48) but No. 133 in rush attempts per game (5.48). Against a defensive front that had stopped the run against everyone, Kentucky ripped off 329 non-sack rushing yards on 9.1 yards per attempt.
Kentucky proved that this is a program that can still win a big SEC football game by hammering the rock. In a matchup where Florida felt like they had the advantage at the line of scrimmage on both sides, Stoops’ team delivered a message in the 33-14 win at Kroger Field.
Ray Davis, Big Blue Wall impose their will on Florida
Kentucky entered the season with an offensive line that had major questions. In the backfield, the Wildcats had to replace Chris Rodriguez Jr., and many thought a committee approach could be arriving under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
Through five weeks, we have learned there is no committee. Vanderbilt transfer Ray Davis is the clear RB1 in Lexington. The offensive line has also shown improvement. On Saturday afternoon, Davis and the five guys at the point of attack played ruthless football against a Florida defense that entered Saturday ranked No. 22 in yards per rush allowed (2.88) and No. 2 in rushing success rate (24.0%). Neither of those numbers held up at Kroger Field.
Kentucky finished the game with 326 rushing yards on 36 attempts with a 9.1 yards per rush average. The Wildcats logged a 55.6 percent rushing success rate and a 27.8 percent explosive rush rate. The offense recorded five rushes of 20-plus yards. Davis’ 75-yard spring in the first quarter was a perfect example of how this game went. The home team won at the point of attack, and RB1 ran wild.
Speaking of winning at the line of scrimmage, Devin Leary was kept clean in protection most of the game, and the Wildcats handled a front seven that is likely the second-best one they will see all season. Saturday was a statement game for this program.
Coen did an excellent job scheming up the run game, and Florida defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong appeared to have no answers for most of the game. Saturday’s performance was a masterclass from this run game.
Kentucky can still run the ball down people’s throats. This is Mark Stoops football.
Kentucky’s run defense passes first test
We all think that Kentucky has another defense that can be top-15 caliber. However, we haven’t seen this group really challenged yet. The Wildcats looked good against a Vanderbilt passing game that can create explosives, but many were wondering if the run defense was legitimate or just a product of the competition.
In Week 5, Kentucky faced a Florida ground attack that rolled up over 180 yards against a good Tennessee front plus had another 300-plus yard performance. Play-calling head coach Billy Napier also wants to play ground-and-pound football. With starting center Kingsley Eguakun returning to the lineup, Kentucky’s front faced its first physical challenge of the season.
Kentucky passed the test with flying colors.
Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr. combined to rush 71 yards on 21 attempts on a 3.4 yards per rush average. Kentucky held this duo to a 19.0 percent rushing success rate with a 28.6 percent stuff rate. That means the Gators had more runs go backward than stay ahead of the chains. Kentucky’s front was active and strong at the point of attack. Keaten Wade landed the final blow with a tackle for loss on Florida’s final offensive snap of the game.
Kentucky forced Graham Mertz to beat them through the air. Florida is not built to win games by operating in a pass-first operation. The Wildcats won the point of attack.
The SEC is a line of scrimmage league. Mark Stoops has built a line of scrimmage program in Lexington. That was on full display in Week 5.
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