Florida run game provides dilemma for Kentucky defense

In 2019, Kentucky rushed for 350 yards per outing in their last eight games with a rush average of 7.04 yards. With Lynn Bowden Jr. at quarterback, the Wildcats gave defenses fits with their versatile rushing attack that added on some option principles. Florida is doing something similar this year

Except the Gators have an actual quarterback behind center.

Through four games this season, Florida is averaging 322.5 rushing yards per game with a 7.46 per attempt average. The Gators have been effective due to the ability of both Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson to run the football.

“Both of them are really talented with the ball in their hands, and that makes it the most difficult,” said Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White on Wednesday. “When you talk about QB run — when you talk about any running game — it’s about who’s possessing the ball. If you got a really dynamic running back it makes stopping the run hard. If you got a really dynamic quarterback, it makes stopping the Q run hard. They’ve got a good stable of running backs and they’ve got two QBs that can really run it. There’s a reason they’re third in the country in rushing.

Florida’s trio of backs — Malik Davis, Dameon Pierce, Nay’Quan Wright — have 560 rushing yards and are averaging over six yards per rush as a unit, but the quarterback element is what makes this Dan Mullen offense dangerous. Emory Jones is fifth in the SEC in rushing and is doing it on an absurd 53.7 percent success rate. With redshirt freshman Anthony Richardson expected to return to the lineup, the young quarterback has logged 275 rush yards on just 11 attempts and still ranks second on the team in rushing despite just playing in two games. This is a dangerous attack.

“Even when you get them one-on-one, and you fit it up perfect, they’ve got a bunch of guys that when the ball’s in their hand, they can make you miss,” said White.

For Kentucky, the Wildcats know that the defense is going to give up some rushing yards on Saturday. After holding South Carolina to 70 non-sack rushing yards on 24 attempts, Kentucky will have to take a more bend but don’t break approach against Florida.

“For us, I don’t know if it’s so much necessarily a certain number yardage wise as it is don’t give up explosives and eliminate the huge run. They’re gonna run the football and get some yards but you gotta eliminate the leaky yards and the explosive runs,” said co-defensive coordinator Jon Sumrall.

Kentucky is going to give up yards and first downs on Saturday night. The key to success against Florida will be to eliminate explosive plays and win in situational situations (third down, red zone). Do that, and the Wildcats should produce enough stops to win the game.

However, there is no denying that the QB run element that the Gators have this season makes them very dangerous on offense. More often than not, Kentucky may have to isolate their cornerbacks of Florida’s handful of blue-chip wide receivers. That could be dangerous, but it’s a risk that Kentucky must be willing to take.

Dan Mullen makes opposing defensive coordinators pick their poison. Hopefully, Mark Stoops and Brad White pick correctly more often than not at Kroger Field.