Kentucky Three Keys: Vanderbilt

The 6-1 Wildcats are making a real claim to be the best team in the SEC East, especially after Georgia lost to LSU last weekend. Kentucky must keep its winning momentum going on Saturday against a dangerous Vanderbilt team that feels better than its record would suggest.

By Steve Wright

Here are the three keys:

Run the ball well

There are no surprises when Kentucky takes to the gridiron on a Saturday. The Wildcats are going to pound the ball all day long, relying on Benny Snell to lead a rushing attack that has to make up for the deficiencies in the passing game. Against Vanderbilt, that is pretty much the perfect recipe.

The Commodores have had issues stopping the run all season and the Wildcats have had a week to rest and recover over the bye. When Vanderbilt loses – as it has four times – the Commodores give up over 200 yards on the ground. When Vanderbilt wins – as it has three times – the opponents have rushed for less than 117 yards.

It is hard to see Snell going for less than 125 yards on his own against a defensive front that cannot stop the run.

Be prepared to grind

Kentucky will be able to move the ball on Vandy, but the Commodores have enough weapons to move the ball right back on the Wildcats. The Vanderbilt offense would never be called explosive, by quarterback Kyle Shurmur leads a unit that is at its best when being efficient and taking what the defense is giving it.

That is a recipe for a game that will still be competitive into the fourth quarter, with Vanderbilt trying to muddy things up and make it a long, drawn out bowing match as opposed to an explosive slugfest. Kentucky is much better on third down than Vanderbilt (last in the SEC on third down defense) so as long as the Wildcats hold onto the ball, they should prevail in this type of game.

Stay focused

Team focus is a difficult think to perceive but an important one when facing an opponent such as Vanderbilt.

This – on paper – is one of the easiest games on the Kentucky schedule, yet Vandy almost beat a top five team on the road (Notre Dame) earlier in the season and then let an 18-point lead slip against Florida last Saturday. If those two results are flipped by a couple of big plays, then this would be the best game in the SEC this week.

Vanderbilt’s fail against Florida should act as a warning for Kentucky. The Wildcats are good, but their lack on a passing attack means they can’t get complacent. Using that focus to get out ahead of Vanderbilt early and controlling the tempo of the game is a huge key here.