September 03, 2004
Running Game key to Kentucky v. Louisville
In this match-up of traditional high flying aerial attacks, it will be the team that controls the running game will win this match up of Blue Grass Titans.
In the last five meetings between Kentucky and Louisville, the traditional season opener for both schools, the ground game that was more proficient won the day.
Here's more on this Kentucky state rivalry game from the Louisville Courier-Journal.
"It was tough," he said. "We just couldn't run the ball. And when you can't do that, you're not going to win. In this game, you have to be able to run."So what does that mean for Sunday's matchup? Statistically speaking, it could be good news for the Cards. They led the nation in yards per carry last season and return the top five runners who accomplished that, along with three offensive-line starters and a pair of seasoned step-ins.
Against UK the Cards averaged 5.5 yards per carry — under their season average of 5.7 — and freshman Michael Bush ran the ball only twice. UofL burned up the game's final eight minutes on one extended drive and held the ball for all but 1:03 of the final quarter after UK had rallied within two points.
UK improved significantly on defense after that game, but not in stopping the run. The Cats allowed teams to rush for 186.7 yards per game, a dozen more than in 2002. UK ranked 11th in the Southeastern Conference and 88th out of 117 NCAA Division I-A teams in 2003.
"You've got to run the football, and you've got to stop the run," UK defensive coordinator Mike Archer said. "In last year's game we were 0 for 2, because we didn't run the ball and we didn't stop the run. You can't go back and throw it every single down. If you look at the stats, teams that throw for 400 yards usually lose."
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