The 4-0 Kentucky Wildcats are in joint pole position in the SEC East as we head into Week 5 of the season. This Saturday sees a huge matchup as the Wildcats take on 2-1 South Carolina knowing that a win over the Gamecocks will see Kentucky secure their ranking in the division. Kentucky has won four in a row in the series, will that streak continue in Lexington?
By Steve Wright
Here are the three keys:
Make the pass a weapon
Kentucky may be 4-0, but to this point the passing game isn’t working very well. The Wildcats rank last in the SEC in passing and are putting up just 158.3 yards per game though the air. This number is a little distorted because quarterback Terry Wilson is a dual-threat, but at some point an enterprising team is going to take away the legs of Wilson and running back Benny Snell, making Kentucky beat them though the air.
This technique is similar to the way that Kentucky handled the treat of Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald last weekend. Fitzgerald is considered the best dual-threat in the conference, but Kentucky took him completely out of the game by forcing him to win with the pass. Mississippi State scored just seven points as their high scoring offense was shut down.
Wilson doesn’t have to put up Hawaii Air-Raid type numbers, but he does have to have the ability to make the big throws when needed.
Don’t let Jake Bentley take over
Bentley has been good without being great in 2018. He will be the best passer that Kentucky has faced so far this season as he is averaging 268 yards per game though the air with three picks and six touchdown passes. Those are good numbers – as is his 68.3-percent completion percentage – but they are not game breaking numbers that should have Kentucky terrified of the South Carolina quarterback.
The worry for Kentucky is that Deebo Samuel seems to be rounding into form. The Gamecocks best player was lost for the season in the reverse fixture last year after going down with a leg injury. He has caught at least six passes per game in each of the Gamecocks three contests so far this season, but he has yet to show the explosive speed he was known for. Kentucky will have to make sure this isn’t the game in which he breaks out.
Win the rushing battle
This game will likely be won on the ground. Kentucky needs Snell to be at his grinding, chain moving best, while the defense has to throw the South Carolina ball carriers to the ground whenever they have the chance.
The South Carolina defensive front will be among the best that Kentucky has faced so far in 2018, but that shouldn’t phase the Cats. After rushing for over 300 yards against Florida and then 227 more against Mississippi State, Kentucky has proven that it can move the ball on the ground against SEC level defensive fronts.
Move the ball this well again on Saturday and the Wildcats will move to 5-0 on the season.
Be the first to comment