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FILM ROOM: Breaking down every run from the Wildcat against USM

There's been a lot of talk about the Wildcat formation since Kentucky's win against Southern Miss, when the Cats didn't have much success with the running backs taking snaps.

The formation was a significant part of the program's success in 2016, but it will be under the microscope moving forward after a rocky start.

Here's a comprehensive, in-depth look at what happened with analysis of every Wildcat snap in Saturday's 24-7 win against the Golden Eagles.

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Wildcat Play 1: The second play of the game was a poor snap from Bunchy Stallings to Benny Snell. It was bobbled, understandably, and turned a 2nd and 2 into a 3rd and 13 from which UK did not recover on that drive.

Wildcat Play 2: Inside the five yard line on Kentucky’s second drive, on first down, Snell took the snap and tried blasting over the left guard. Unfortunately, the defensive tackle got inside on Logan Stenberg, and while Stenberg remained engaged there wasn’t really a hole. Snell ended up running right into the defensive tackle and this caused a fumble.

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Poor snaps played a role in two botched Wildcat plays, most notably the nine-yard loss on the second play but also here, slowing Snell's burst to the line of scrimmage
Poor snaps played a role in two botched Wildcat plays, most notably the nine-yard loss on the second play but also here, slowing Snell's burst to the line of scrimmage

Wildcat Play 3: On the first play of the third drive, score still 0-0, Bunchy Stallings made a somewhat high snap to Benny Snell. Remember, when Stallings is snapping to Johnson he’s snapping to someone who is 6’2 and accustomed to taking the snap and getting into his drop. Snapping to Snell, he’s snapping to someone three inches shorter who then has to get low and move forward. It is a very different snap to different players making different motions. Snell went off right guard and was stood up with no extra forward motion. The offensive line was not able to get to the second level and USM’s linebackers were free to make plays.

RELATED: The good, the bad and the ugly (USM edition)

Wildcat Play 4: Not actually a play, a Wildcat formation that ended before it started with a Stenberg false start penalty. There was a linebacker lined up not far off the ball and with Snell taking the snap Stenberg may well have been anticipating a run blitz on his side.

Wildcat Play 5: First play of the seventh drive, Kentucky up 14-3, Snell lines up in the Wildcat and takes a free play because of a false start.

On one of Kentucky's more successful rushing plays of the game, the offensive line created much bigger running lanes and also managed to get to the second level with the receivers in good blocking position as well
On one of Kentucky's more successful rushing plays of the game, the offensive line created much bigger running lanes and also managed to get to the second level with the receivers in good blocking position as well

Wildcat Play 6: On the second play of the second half, on 2nd and 10, Snell takes the Wildcat snap with Conrad in the H on the right side. Young (LT), Stenberg (LG) and Haynes (C) blocked down while Asafo-Adjei (RG) pulled left with Conrad following him into the gap. Asafo-Adjei seemed to hit his assignment but it appears that defensive lineman LaDarius Harris slipped past Conrad and made the play on Snell over the left guard spot.

Wildcat Play 7: On the first play of the ninth drive (second of the second half), Snell followed Conrad and some nice blocking for a gain of nine on first down but comes up gimpy.

RELATED: What every Kentucky fan needs to know about Week 1 of the college football season

Wildcat Play 8: With King in the game two plays after Snell came up gimpy, he takes the Wildcat snap on a pivotal 3rd and 1. The right interior of the line is a mess on this play, with USM’s defensive tackle knocking Asafo-Adjei into the backfield with his first two steps and strike and Haynes missing the blitzing middle linebacker. A punt is forced.

Wildcat Play 9: On 1st and 10 operating from inside USM’s 30 yard line, well into its drive, Snell takes the Wildcat snap off the left guard with Greg Hart in the ‘H’ on the left side. Hart downblocked the right defensive end but Asafo-Adjei’s assignment broke through the right guard spot and came across the line to stuff the play at the line of scrimmage.

Wildcat Play 10: Benny Snell took the Wildcat snap on the first play of Kentucky’s drive which started with 4:39 in the fourth quarter at the 31-yard line. Stenberg pulled over to the right side and Snell gutted out a couple of yards.

Wildcat Play 11: The very next play, on 2nd and 7, Snell took another Wildcat snap and went over the left side this time. There were actually three tight ends (Conrad left, Rigg right, Hart in the backfield) on the field on this play. The problem was Meadows got beat inside and the defensive end got to Snell before he could get past the line of scrimmage.

The 13th time UK showed the Wildcat formation, when UK showed a three-tight end set, Meadows couldn't effectively down block the defensive end shooting the gap
The 13th time UK showed the Wildcat formation, when UK showed a three-tight end set, Meadows couldn't effectively down block the defensive end shooting the gap

Wildcat Play 12: On 1st and 10 with three minutes left in the game, while trying to run the clock, Snell took the snap and went off right tackle between Meadows and Conrad. The blocks were set, the defenders engaged, but those USM defenders disengaged effectively and stopped Snell after three yards.

Wildcat Play 13: On 2nd and 7, Snell took the Wildcat snap over the left guard, but Stallings and Stenberg didn’t get much push off the snap and Asafo-Adjei couldn’t down block someone before he shot the gap and made first contact with Snell. He was stood up at the line of scrimmage.

RELATED: Game grades on this week's report card for each position unit

Conclusions: Two of the 13 Wildcat snaps were impacted by botched snaps: The game's second play, a nine yard loss, and later a high snap to Snell that contributed to a tackle at the line of scrimmage. It's possible that the Wildcat change might not only impact the quarterback's rhythm, but also the center's. He's snapping to a 5'11 running back who's less accustomed to taking snaps and ready to move forward to the line, whereas a 6'2 quarterback is normally setting or getting into his drop. It's a different snap.

Some of the unsuccessful plays were a result of missed line assignments or players simply getting beat by quick defensive linemen and linebackers. Kentucky's linemen struggled getting to the second level all game.

After the game Gran admitted he might have leaned too heavily on the formation. Kentucky ran 55 plays and 12 of those were from the Wildcat (22-percent). That’s a large percentage especially in hindsight when it’s clear the formation produced so little and produced so many negative or unhelpful plays including some very bad plays. But it’s also easy to understand why the staff would lean on the formation after making it such an emphasis in the offseason and pregame practices.

It also seems clear that Kentucky didn't do enough that was creative presnap or during the play on the Wildcats they called. They motioned Stephen Johnson on one play but it went for a penalty and didn't show that again.

What's the future of the Wildcat? It's likely that we'll continue to see it through the EKU game but how much it will be used in the South Carolina game may hinge on whether Kentucky can polish the snap/handle and improve the line's consistency.

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