PuddingTime
10-12-2006, 10:41 PM
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/15737320.htm
By Chip Cosby
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
The formula was simple: Kentucky, a team that had struggled to run the ball, was facing Florida, which had one of the best run defenses in the country. And the Cats were without their top tailback, Rafael Little.
So Kentucky threw 38 passes while the running backs carried 12 times.
The formula kept the Cats in that Sept. 23 game until the fourth quarter, when the Gators pulled away for a 26-7 victory.
Kentucky faces another top defense when it travels to Louisiana State on Saturday night. UK again will be without Little, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Monday.
So logic says that the Cats again should abandon the run, drop back in the shotgun and throw it 40-50 times. Right?
Not so fast, said UK offensive coordinator Joker Phillips.
For starters, Florida, 10th in the Southeastern Conference in pass defense, was a little more vulnerable against the pass than LSU. The Tigers lead the nation in pass-efficiency defense and are fourth in passing yards allowed a game (135.3). They also rank in the top 10 in sacks (3.3 a game) and interceptions (10).
And last but not least, they are the country's No. 1 overall defense in yards allowed and are second in scoring average (10).
LSU ends Tyson Jackson and Chase Pittman have combined for 10 sacks. Safety Craig Steltz leads the league in interceptions (four) despite not being a starter.
"They have no weaknesses," Phillips said. "They're really physical up front, and they come at you with all different kinds of looks. They're good tacklers inside, and their ends can rush the passer. And their linebackers run well and the secondary is extremely fast. This is going to be a huge challenge, an even bigger challenge than Florida."
So while UK was able to line up almost exclusively in one-back sets out of the shotgun against the Gators, the Tigers figure to come after quarterback Andre Woodson. Phillips said the Cats will have to use more two-back sets against LSU to protect Woodson, who was sacked six times by Florida.
Sophomore Tony Dixon and redshirt freshman Alfonso Smith will get the bulk of the work in Little's absence.
"Our backs are going to have to help out," Phillips said. "And we've got to get the ball out of Andre's hands quick."
Even with a healthy Little, Kentucky wasn't able to jump-start the running game. Its yards a game (128.6 to 82.5), yards a carry (3.6 to 2.9) and touchdowns (21 in 11 games to seven in six games) are way off last season's pace.
Coach Rich Brooks said Woodson's improvement and the personnel at receiver have led to more of a commitment to the passing game, which in turn has hurt the running game.
"There's a tradeoff," he said. "Last year we were minus a receiving corps and had some injuries, so we were under center 60-70 percent of the time. When you're in the shotgun, it enhances your passing but negates your ability to run the football, particularly when your quarterback isn't a part of the run game. Therein lies the problem."
Still, Phillips said, the running game will have to be a bigger factor than it was against Florida.
"We've got to try and run it to keep them off balance," Phillips said. "We were able to move the ball some against Florida, but part of the problem when you're one-dimensional is you give up some sacks, and that kills drives."
By Chip Cosby
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
The formula was simple: Kentucky, a team that had struggled to run the ball, was facing Florida, which had one of the best run defenses in the country. And the Cats were without their top tailback, Rafael Little.
So Kentucky threw 38 passes while the running backs carried 12 times.
The formula kept the Cats in that Sept. 23 game until the fourth quarter, when the Gators pulled away for a 26-7 victory.
Kentucky faces another top defense when it travels to Louisiana State on Saturday night. UK again will be without Little, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Monday.
So logic says that the Cats again should abandon the run, drop back in the shotgun and throw it 40-50 times. Right?
Not so fast, said UK offensive coordinator Joker Phillips.
For starters, Florida, 10th in the Southeastern Conference in pass defense, was a little more vulnerable against the pass than LSU. The Tigers lead the nation in pass-efficiency defense and are fourth in passing yards allowed a game (135.3). They also rank in the top 10 in sacks (3.3 a game) and interceptions (10).
And last but not least, they are the country's No. 1 overall defense in yards allowed and are second in scoring average (10).
LSU ends Tyson Jackson and Chase Pittman have combined for 10 sacks. Safety Craig Steltz leads the league in interceptions (four) despite not being a starter.
"They have no weaknesses," Phillips said. "They're really physical up front, and they come at you with all different kinds of looks. They're good tacklers inside, and their ends can rush the passer. And their linebackers run well and the secondary is extremely fast. This is going to be a huge challenge, an even bigger challenge than Florida."
So while UK was able to line up almost exclusively in one-back sets out of the shotgun against the Gators, the Tigers figure to come after quarterback Andre Woodson. Phillips said the Cats will have to use more two-back sets against LSU to protect Woodson, who was sacked six times by Florida.
Sophomore Tony Dixon and redshirt freshman Alfonso Smith will get the bulk of the work in Little's absence.
"Our backs are going to have to help out," Phillips said. "And we've got to get the ball out of Andre's hands quick."
Even with a healthy Little, Kentucky wasn't able to jump-start the running game. Its yards a game (128.6 to 82.5), yards a carry (3.6 to 2.9) and touchdowns (21 in 11 games to seven in six games) are way off last season's pace.
Coach Rich Brooks said Woodson's improvement and the personnel at receiver have led to more of a commitment to the passing game, which in turn has hurt the running game.
"There's a tradeoff," he said. "Last year we were minus a receiving corps and had some injuries, so we were under center 60-70 percent of the time. When you're in the shotgun, it enhances your passing but negates your ability to run the football, particularly when your quarterback isn't a part of the run game. Therein lies the problem."
Still, Phillips said, the running game will have to be a bigger factor than it was against Florida.
"We've got to try and run it to keep them off balance," Phillips said. "We were able to move the ball some against Florida, but part of the problem when you're one-dimensional is you give up some sacks, and that kills drives."