Quarterback Will Levis, left, salutes Chris Rodriguez after the running back scored against Mississippi State. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Mike Leach has always had a way with words.
“That running back in particular just pounded us,” the Mississippi State coach said Saturday night after Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez ran 30 times for 196 yards and two scores in UK’s 27-17 win.
It’s not just the yards Rodriguez gains. It’s the way he runs and punishes those trying to tackle him. He runs angry with no regard for his own body and seems to always get extra yards.
“I don’t give a lot of game balls because the strength of the team is the team but he really had some amazingly tough runs that we needed,” said UK coach Mark Stoops. “I gave him the game ball but he turned around and gave it to the offensive line.”
That’s a smart move but also a very humble move. Remember Rodriguez was suspended for four games for a still unspecified offseason incident. That suspension likely cost him a chance to pass Benny Snell as UK’s all-time leading rusher but he never put himself above the team.
When he couldn’t play, he spent time on the scout team getting the first team defense ready. He didn’t miss a single workout all summer knowing he was going to miss games. He’s kept smiling and working.
After Saturday’s win that snapped a two-game UK losing streak, Rodriguez was in no hurry to leave the field. He spent 15 to 20 minutes talking to fans and taking photos with fans before he headed to the dressing room.
Leach said what Rodriguez did against his team was as good as he’s seen any SEC running back play this season. It was Rodriguez’s second-highest rushing game at UK and his second straight 100-yard game.
Offensive lineman Kenneth Horsey is playing his fourth season with Rodriguez. He knows what Rodriguez means to the team.
“The thing about C-Rod is all you need to do is give him a crease and he will find it and hit it with all he has,” Horsey said.
Rodriguez is so good and so beloved that when he does not get the ball, UK fans are not happy. I think he could have 50 carries per game and Kentucky fans would be fine. Stoops obviously wants a balanced offensive attack, especially with a special talent like Will Levis at quarterback.
Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello has only had Rodriguez available for three games. The second one, Levis was out with an injury. The third one against Mississippi State, leading receiver Tayvion Robinson was out with an injury.
When Scangarello doesn’t use Rodriguez and the offense bogs down — as it has — fans are questioning what he’s doing.
“There were some plays in there where he was aggravated. I was aggravated,” Stoops said. “You would like to execute better. Certainly some plays and timing where you would like to have some plays over. He (Scangarello) will learn as you continue to grow and compete in this league.”
But what everyone should already know is that Rodriguez is a special, powerful running back that needs the ball and the more he has it, the better chance UK is going to have to win most games.
“We had to go back and do what we do,” Stoops said.
And that was letting Rodriguez do what he does.
2 Responses
C Rod was the difference in that game against State Saturday night, with near 200 yards rushing. The coach should have used him more against Ole Miss too. UK should be 7-0 right now , at least 6-1, if these coaches had been awake anyway.
Agreed LPup. What is it with offensive coordinators that they feel the need to quit doing what works just to be balanced. Can you see a sales manager looking at his sales team and saying, "I know you guys are all crushing your quotas, but I want you to do something different that will earn you and the company less money so we can be balanced." Yeah, me neither.