Quarterback Emory Jones has 34 carries for 220 yards and a touchdown in Florida's last two games against Alabama and Tennessee. He's led 10 touchdown drives this season of 79, 75, 75, 99, 75, 66, 59, 78, 70 and 80 yards. (Florida Athletics Photo)
Kentucky has the Southeastern Conference’s leading rusher in Chris Rodriguez but Florida has the SEC’s best and nation’s third best rushing offense. That’s why there could be a lot of running when the two teams meet Saturday night in Lexington.
No. 10 Florida averages 322.5 rushing yards per game and could have backup quarterback Anthony Richardson — who is AVERAGING 25 YARDS PER CARRY on his 11 carries — available again after he missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. The Gators are averaging 7.46 yards per rushing attempt. That’s an amazing turnaround for a team that led the nation in passing in 2020.
Kentucky’s defense is third in the SEC and 21st nationally in run defense. The Wildcats are giving up just 87.5 yards rushing per game and shut down South Carolina’s run game last week. But stopping Florida from running the ball is likely not going to happen.
UK is averaging 443.8 yards of offense per game, eighth in the SEC, while Florida averaged 541 yards per game Overall, the Kentucky defense ranks second in the SEC and ninth nationally giving up 260 yards per game.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops knows his team has to play physically against No. 10 Florida.
“It’s also more than physicality, toughness is the desire to prepare each and every day, all through the week. So there is a lot more that goes into it than just physically. When we have effective runs a lot of times they are physical and finishing and playing hard and playing through the whistle and the backs are running hard, but it’s also executing and targeting the right guys and doing the right things and being on the same page,” Stoops said.
“Of course, it’s a mindset and it’ll be a real challenge because this is one of the most physical teams in the country, there’s no question. You sit and look at them (Florida) and Alabama going at it, you got to have a lot of respect for those two teams and they played them to an incredible game. You don’t do that unless you’re very well-coached and very good in all areas.”
Kentucky won at Florida in 2018 and in the last seven years has lost four one-possession games to the Gators, including a one-point loss in Lexington and overtime loss at Florida.
Kentucky had a 21-10 lead over the Gators in 2019 but Florida scored the game’s final 19 points in Lexington to win 29-21.
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The battle seems to be shaping up as a battle of lines, and which team will be able to run the ball against the other’s defense.
This is not going to be a walk in the park for the Cats, and the must reverse the turnover margin from over -2 per game to a +2 on Saturday to get a win.
Classic SEC football!
yeah different kind of Florida offense this year