Kentucky Defense must Weather the Anthony Richardson Storm

In the days leading up to the Top 25 matchup between Kentucky and Florida, much of the analysis is simply summarized by pundits as Will Levis vs. Anthony Richardson. The highly-touted quarterbacks will draw a crowd of NFL scouts to see who is the next great SEC quarterback. The Kentucky defense is ready for the challenge.

“We just gotta embrace it,” said Super Senior linebacker Jacquez Jones. “We know it’s not going to be easy but we don’t want nothing easy. To be who we want to be at the end of the season, we gotta take care of this right here. That’s our mindset.”

Even dominant pitchers give up home runs

Levis and Richardson each possess physical tools desired by NFL teams. Richardson is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound athlete with a big arm that uses his legs to extend plays and create explosive plays in space. Stopping Richardson is a task best reserved for Sisyphus. Kentucky is simply looking to contain the elite athlete.

“He’s going to make plays. You gotta do a good job of trying to limit the big ones and respond when he does make plays,” said defensive coordinator Brad White.

“You have to control your emotions and you have to control the ebb and flow of good plays and bad plays, good drives and bad drives. You could be in the perfect position, you could have the perfect play-call, you could do everything you’re coached to do and he can make a guy miss, he can make a miraculous throw. You sort of tip your hat and go on to the next one. Dominant pitchers give up home runs. It happens, but you gotta come back and try to be dominant again.”

Maintaining disciplined pass rush lanes is vital for the front end of the Kentucky defense. On the back end, the Wildcats’ secondary must play sticky.

“You’re definitely going to be in coverage a little bit longer with him having the ability to scramble,” said cornerback Keidron Smith. “You’re going to have to be locked in on the receivers a little longer than usual.”

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Richardson is not Florida’s only runner

In the season-opening win over Utah, Florida was efficient on the ground. The Gators gained 283 rushing yards on 7.3 yards per carry. Richardson led the way, while three running backs combined for 178 yards (6.6 yards per carry).

“They got some great backs,” Jones told KSR. “They run hard, so we know that we’re going to have to tackle. And then of course you know the QB can make stuff happen with his legs. We gotta be ready for that too.”

Unlike previous Florida teams, this rushing attack does not rely on misdirection and elite athleticism. It all starts up front with physical play on the offensive line.

“They really run the ball well,” said White. “I think the thing that jumped out to me on film, maybe the most of anything, is the difference in the O-line. I just feel like the line, you can feel them. They’re physical, they move people off the ball and they’re big, but they move well. They’ve really embraced this offensive scheme. All three backs are talented, so we’ve got our work cut out for us. Then you throw in Richardson into that Q-run, so you’ve got a physical running game, you add in the quarterback play, and then you’ve got speed and talent on the outside edges.

“Everybody knows it’s going to be a challenge and we gotta play.”