Vandy QB Pavia Presents All Kinds of Issues

Safety Try Bryant and the UK secondary will be tested by Vanderbilt's offense. (Vicky Graff Photo)

It’s no secret why No. 12 Vanderbilt is 8-2 this year. Quarterback Diego Pavia has given fits to almost every team Vanderbilt has played and led the Commodores to a 38-35 win over Auburn in Vandy’s last game.

“It adds an extra dimension, as soon as you get a mobile quarterback and someone as mobile as he is,” Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White said. “He’s built sturdy. It’s not just that he’s athletic, but he’s hard to tackle and he’ll try to run you over.”

White knows there is no magic formula for stopping Pavia.

“He presents all kinds of issues that you have to now account for and you have to rush smart,” White said. “There’s that fine line between rush and rush smart and still having to pass rush with some pace and aggression. He’s going to make some plays. What you have to do is try to limit some of the major ones.”

Kentucky faced a mobile quarterback last week against Tennessee Tech but not one with Pavia’s running ability or playmaking skills as a passer since he’s completing 73 percent of his throws.

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said facing a mobile quarterback last week helps in some ways but not enough.

“When plays break down, there’s no coaching that, on either side. There is as far as plastering, finishing coverage, finishing rushes, of course, you could coach and build on that, but when these quarterbacks create, they just create,” Stoops said. “And the things that Diego does, again, you’ve heard me say it many times, but that’s between him and God.”

The Cats have allowed 10 or fewer points in the last three games, all Kentucky wins.

“I like how they practice, I like how they prep, I like how they care about each other. That’s a big deal for me. How you go about your business is going to show up on Saturday and you can feel it during the week,” White said about his unit’s practice habits.

“We talk about the word character and then competitive toughness. It’s what I think these guys have. You get to the end of the season and guys are having to grind through bumps and bruises but instead of dwelling on it or feeling sorry for themselves they look to the guy next to them and say, man, I’ve got to do it for him.”

Stoops said the defense has to be careful not to forget that even as good as Pavia is, Vanderbilt has an improved running game.

“They are very good. They can create many different sets, like with the unbalanced sets. They can do a lot of different things,” Stoops said. “Of course, you’ve got a quarterback that can run that puts stress on you. Again, I give them credit because a lot of it is dressed up and everything, but it comes – the root of it is being physical.

“They’re a physical football team. Very, very good at the offensive line, very good at running back, very unselfish. They block extremely well on the perimeter. The running backs block very well. So, just good and multiple.”