Our defense vs. their offense: Kentucky Wildcats

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Kentucky is bringing a familiar coach into Saturday’s game against LSU, as former LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan will be the primary play-caller for the Wildcats.

Sloan not only has professional ties to LSU, but he also has very personal ties to Tigers defensive coordinator Blake Baker. When discussing “Our D vs. Their O,” this matchup will also feature two friends and former colleagues trying to defeat each other.

Kentucky’s offense is led by quarterback Kenny Minchey. Minchey is in his fourth year of college football but his first at Kentucky. He transferred after spending the previous three seasons at Notre Dame, where he lost a tightly contested quarterback battle last offseason to CJ Carr.

Minchey has been playing very well through the first five games. He has thrown for 1,148 yards, 11 touchdowns, and just one interception while completing 68.3% of his passes. Kentucky is averaging 229 passing yards per game to start the season.

Kentucky has also done a decent job of pairing Minchey with a consistent running game. The Wildcats feature a couple of running backs who lead the rushing attack.

CJ Baxter and Jason Patterson have combined for 113 carries, 716 yards, an average of 6.33 yards per carry, and nine total touchdowns. Baxter is the primary rusher and currently has 23 more carries than Patterson.

The passing attack features true freshman Kenny Darby. Darby was once committed to LSU and maintained his commitment until the week Lane Kiffin was announced as the Tigers’ head coach.

When Kiffin took over the program and cleaned out the offensive staff, Joe Sloan was eventually hired at Kentucky, and Darby decided to follow him there.

Darby has been playing very well, especially considering he is a true freshman. Through the first five games, he has recorded 25 receptions for 322 yards and three touchdowns.

Kentucky’s offense has key players at important positions, but it’s still not a complete unit.

The offensive line has struggled, allowing 11 sacks so far this season. The matchup against LSU’s interior pass rush, featuring players like Deuce Geralds, will definitely be a major factor in this game.

Kentucky will attempt to use misdirection to get LSU’s defense out of position and create space behind the linebackers and safeties. It will be very important for the Tigers’ defense to remain disciplined in its responsibilities and reset the line of scrimmage.

The Tigers’ defense has been one of the best in the country so far this season.

The loss of Whit Weeks will be a challenge to overcome, and Davhon Keys will have to step up in what will be his first SEC start of the season.

The Tigers lead the nation with 22 sacks, and having a pass rush that features Princewill Umanmielen off the edge and true freshman Deuce Geralds in the interior will be a major factor in this game.

Kentucky wants to keep its offense in rhythm and on schedule. If the Wildcats are unable to get into third-and-five or shorter situations, their offense will usually stall.

Kentucky is the absolute worst team in the nation in third-down conversions, converting just 24.5% of its opportunities. The Wildcats have converted only 13 of 53 third-down attempts, ranking dead last at 138th in the country.

If the Tigers can utilize their defensive advantage along the line of scrimmage, this game could get out of hand.

LSU has one of the best defenses in the country across nearly every major statistical category.

The Tigers are allowing fewer than 200 passing yards per game and fewer than 60 rushing yards per game. This LSU defense also allows a staggering 26.1% conversion rate on third down, which ranks ninth in the country and third in the conference.

Points will be hard to come by for Kentucky if LSU plays the way it has over the first five weeks of the season.

As long as the Tigers can handle the initial energy of playing on the road during the first 10 minutes of the first quarter, stay disciplined defensively, and reset the line of scrimmage, this should be a decisive road victory for LSU.

How do you feel about LSU’s defense matching up against Kentucky’s offense, and do you expect this to be a close game?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos