How Kentucky's ground game gashed Florida
Kentucky is an explosive offense in 2023, but that does not mean that the Wildcats cannot run the football. This is still a team coached by Mark Stoops. In Saturday’s 33-14 win over Florida at Kroger Field, Liam Coen‘s offensive coordinator leaned on the rushing attack to seize control of the game.
Behind a monster day from tailback Ray Davis (26 carries, 280 rushing yards, 4 total touchdowns), Kentucky manhandled Florida in a 33-14 win. Most notably, the ground game dominated the football game.
Let’s take a look at how Kentucky controlled the game with a strong rushing attack that rolled up 329 yards on 9.1 yards per rush.
Feel, patience, and strain
After forcing a Florida three-and-out to start the game, Kentucky started their first possession of the game at their own 12. After a 10-yard rip by Ray Davis on the first snap, the redshirt senior followed that up with a 19-yard gain.
This run was a sign of things to come on Saturday. On the downhill concept, Davis flashed feel and patience to create an explosive play and get the early drive rolling.
Kentucky does not get any movement in the middle, but Davis puts his head down and plows forward. The tailback then takes advantage of a strong vertical block by Jeremy Flax who finishes the play with a pancake block. The boundary cornerback cannot make a tackle, and Davis is out in open space. The tailback then makes the safety in space, and the first drive is rolling.
The chunk play was only the beginning.
Kentucky’s front creates haymaker
After a Florida penalty gave Kentucky’s third possession new life, Offensive coordinator Liam Coen went to the hammer.
In a heavy personnel set, Kentucky goes formation into the boundary and wins with power. Brenden Bates clears out the playside defensive end, Jordan Dingle climbs to the second level to take care of the playside linebacker, and Tayvion Robinson gets to the playside safety. On the backside, Jeremy Flax has a knockdown block.
Kentucky wins at the point of attack, and Ray Davis is off to the races.
The big explosive gave Kentucky a 16-0 lead before the first quarter ended. That lead felt insurmountable when you considered Florida’s passing personnel going against Kentucky’s defense. Davis made many tacklers miss on Saturday, but his biggest run was the easiest he will have all year.
Scheme and execution joined forces to create a 75-yard touchdown.
Another boundary run
For the second week in a row, Kentucky’s defense could not get a 2-minute stop to end the second quarter, and allowed Florida to gain some momentum entering halftime. Holding a 23-7 lead, Kentucky got the ball back to begin the second half and was looking to avoid last week’s slow second-half start.
After an 11-yard completion from Devin Leary to Tayvion Robinson got Kentucky out to their own 46. The Wildcats went right back to Ray Davis again with another run into the boundary.
On the gap scheme concept left guard Jager Burton gets a kickout block, and tight end Brenden Bates climbs up to the second level to pick up the backside linebacker. The playside linebacker takes himself out of the play on what appears to be a stunt. Left tackle Marques Cox clears out the playside defensive tackle. At the second level, Davis easily makes the playside safety miss in space. The play goes for 31 yards and gives Kentucky another scoring opportunity. The Wildcats score a touchdown four snaps later to take a commanding 30-7 lead.
Kentucky’s scheme opened up opportunities. The Wildcats took advantage of those opportunities with executed blocks and great individual efforts from Davis. Coen’s offense established the run with authority on Saturday afternoon.
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