KSR Monday Huddle: Double Dip
Did you have fun on Saturday? Well, it’s time to do it again. KSR’s Monday Huddle is here to set the stage for another monster home game against an SEC brand name.
Kentucky is 5-0 and 3-0 in the SEC and has everything on the table as the season enters the second weekend in October. In the KSR offices, we’re starting to taste sugar but first, the Wildcats must take care of LSU. The Tigers are fresh off their first home loss to Auburn in two decades, and their head coach is firmly on the hot seat.
This weekend will provide the first double-dip of the season as fans will get to visit Keeneland for the races and then head to Kroger Field for a night kickoff in the SEC Network Saturday Night Special with Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, and Cole Cubelic on the call.
Can Kentucky deliver another big win for a raucous and rabid crowd? We’re about to find out.
First down: Liam Coen, Kentucky offense must find answers
There’s no getting around it, the last 12 quarters have been very tough for first-year offensive coordinator Liam Coen and his unit in Lexington.
The Wildcats have had turnover issues and are averaging just 16.67 points per game in the last three wins. Yet, Kentucky has found ways to win despite the lack of scoring production from the offense. Head coach Mark Stoops believes the unit is close to breaking through.
“We’re going to get better,” Stoops said after Kentucky’s win over Florida. “I know at times Liam and Will and the offense get frustrated, but we’re going to get there. I’m very confident. They just got to stay the course and keep their head up and stay positive and keep that belief system high because we’re doing the right things.
Stay the course they will, but the numbers have been ugly. Levis is averaging under six yards per attempt in the last three games with three touchdowns and four interceptions. Luckily, Chris Rodriguez Jr. is beginning to heat up (63.16% success rate on 19 carries against Florida), and Wan’Dale Robinson is still making huge plays.
When facing LSU, Kentucky will be going against a defense that has some similarities to Florida. The Tigers have pros on the line of scrimmage and are not afraid to isolate their highly recruited cornerbacks in man coverage.
Kentucky must have a better plan and execution on offense if the winning is to continue.
Second down: Good on good
Through five games, LSU currently ranks 12th in the SEC in yards per play offense (5.63). However, that is mainly due to a very ineffective rushing attack. The Tigers rank 126th nationally yards per rush (2.58), and they’ll be facing a Kentucky defense that just put the clamps on the top rushing attack in college football.
However, LSU lives and dies with the vertical passing game under new offensive coordinator Jake Peetz.
Sophomore quarterback Max Johnson leads the SEC in passes of 20-plus yards (20), passes of 30-plus yards (12), and passes of 40-plus yards (9). The Tigers have to get chunk gains in the passing game to move the football.
For the season, Johnson has a passing success rate of 48.07 percent but nearly half of his attempts have gone for a first down or touchdown. The Tigers will challenge a Kentucky defense that ranks No. 1 nationally for big-play prevention. The Wildcats have allowed just five completions of 20-plus yards and one completion of 30-plus yards.
We will see strength on strength at Kroger Field.
Third down: Handling success
The victory over Florida was the biggest win for the Kentucky football program in over a decade. Similar to 2018, Kentucky now controls its own destiny and has an open avenue to win the SEC East. That team responded with a disappointing home effort against Georgia in a top-10 matchup.
How will this team handle all the pats on the back before a huge game with LSU? We won’t know until Saturday night.
Kentucky has opened as a small home favorite against LSU and appears to be the better team entering the matchup. However, positive talk can force a team to lose focus.
The Wildcats and their veteran-heavy roster cannot allow that to happen this week. Want to play in a monster game against Georgia in Athens? Stay focused and take care of business this week.
The week ahead at KSR
Another jam-packed football week full of content at KSR is set to be unleashed as Ed Orgeron, and the Bayou Bengals roll into town.
On Monday afternoon, we’ll have coverage of Mark Stoops’ weekly press conference to go along with his radio show in the evening. Practice reports will come throughout the week. Podcasts galore will be available for your consumption.
Can Kentucky deliver another monster home win? That is the goal for this week.
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