Kentucky Three Keys: Missouri

Three-keys-Kentucky

There are always games in a season where finding a way to survive and win matters more than style points. That is exactly what happened – as expected – when Kentucky hosted Vandy last time out. Next up for the No. 14 ranked Wildcats is a very different test as they face a Mizzou team that can air out the ball as well as anyone in the SEC.

By Steve Wright

Here are the three keys:

Slow down Drew Lock

The Missouri offense is the real deal and this game looks set to be the toughest remaining on the Wildcats schedule.

Mizzou quarterback Drew Lock is a future NFL player. His offense is averaging 46.5 points per game at home and the Tigers just hung 65 on Memphis, including a staggering 48 points in the first half. The Tigers will look to the arm of Lock to undo a Kentucky defense that has been playing at a high level in 2018. The one worry is that the Wildcats haven’t yet seen a QB as talented as Lock, or an offense designed to score points in a hurry.

Mark Stoops has praised Lock for his vision, his quick release, and his accuracy. Stoops will have to find a way for his defense to take Lock out of his rhythm on Saturday if this dream season is to continue to pick up steam.

Win the rushing battle

Kentucky has its identity set at this point and that identity relies on heavy usage of running back Benny Snell.

Snell rushes for 124 yards per game (sixth best in FBS) and has nine rushing touchdowns (eighth best in FBS on the year). He also averages almost 5.5 yards per carry and teams are seeing heavier and heavier usage of Snell as the season grinds towards November.

Missouri has an excellent run defense. The Tigers are ranked 36th in the country in that category and they allow just 3.68 yards per rush against them. They have yet to face a truly elite back however, especially given that Darrell Henderson of Memphis had to leave the game between the two schools last time out.

It is interesting though that Henderson’s backup Patrick Taylor went for 115 yards last week. That total should have Snell licking his lips, knowing that this is another game where he will be needed to carry Kentucky to a win.

Pass the ball

This is a fascinating matchup because Kentucky may have to break tendencies to win in Columbia.

Snell will get his to a degree, but the Mizzou run defense is going to be a problem. This is especially true if Kentucky can’t throw the ball. That same defense, however, ranks 121st nationally against the pass, as the Tigers secondary just isn’t very good. Given what we have seen from Terry Wilson recently – such as his 3-of-9 for 18 yard performance against Vanderbilt – it is hard to see how Kentucky fully exploits what Missouri is bad at defensively.

Don’t be at all shocked if we see other quarterbacks used against Missouri. This is a game when the Wildcats will need to throw the ball to win. Being one-dimensional here would be a killer for Kentucky, so expect Stoops to do something a little different with his offense on Saturday.

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