Physicality will be key in game against LSU
October 14, 2014
By Joshua Huff
Physicality will be the main focus for UK football as they travel down to the depths of Louisiana for an SEC showdown against LSU in Death Valley.
The Cats will be squaring off against a perennial SEC contender that revels in its ability to push opponents around and run the ball down their throats.
“They’re just very physical,” UK head coach Mark Stoops said. “That’s what you expect when you play LSU. I’m sure Coach Miles prides himself on that, and they are. They’re big and physical up front, big strong backs.
One of those strong backs UK will be forced to contain will be freshman Leonard Fournette. He is coming off a career night Saturday against Florida, a game in which he had 225 all-purpose yards, 140 coming on the ground. He also had two touchdowns.
The key for the Cats will be winning the battle at the line, an advantage UK took and ran with against Louisiana-Monroe. UK had six sacks against ULM’s Pete Thomas and limited the Warhawks rushing game to just 77 yards.
“We need to continue to play great technique up front,” Stoops said. “We’re going to need improved play from the linebackers and we’re going to need great support from our secondary as well. So it’s always team defense.”
The Cats will also need their offense to start bursting out of the gate instead of coming out sluggish. UK managed just three points against ULM in the first quarter, a feat that cannot be repeated heading back into conference play.
The running game, with the exception of Stanley “Boom” Williams, struggled as well. Jojo Kemp was the second leading rusher with just 27 yards.
“It was always one guy,” Stoops said. “You know, that’s the good news because we talk about being flat and whatever. There’s no excuses. They performed better than we did. It was a breakdown here or there, and those are things that we (have to) get fixed.”
The one guy UK won’t have to worry about is Williams, who came back on the scene after his one-game suspension. His 104 yards led the team and put him over 100 yards in a game for the first time this season.
“It was great to get him back again last week, he had a big impact,” Stoops said. “He’s explosive. You know, the kickoff return, getting him on the perimeter with some of those runs. He’s got big-play capability.”
UK will need more players to play with big-play capability Saturday, especially playing in front of the rowdy LSU crowd in Tiger Stadium.
“They are passionate fans, and it’s a hostile environment, and that’s why we play,” Stoops said. “That’s why we coach. We want to continue to win big games to put ourselves in position to play in big games. So this will be a great challenge.”
