The 3-2-1: Team health issues, Conrad's role, QB spot settled
One of Cats Illustrated's most popular features, the 3-2-1, returns with a wrap-up of UK-EKU and an eye ahead to Saturday night in South Carolina.
As always, our format is the same: Three things we've learned, two things we're asking, one bold prediction.
WHAT WE'VE LEARNED
Quarterback controversy? What quarterback controversy?
Even coming into the season there were plenty of people wondering whether Drew Barker might have a chance to finish a season that Stephen Johnson started. Now the question seems like it never should have even been floating around. It might not be completely fair to judge Barker on all of two series, when up to that point the offense had only mustered three points anyways, but by this point it's painfully obvious that, for this scheme and personnel, Johnson is Kentucky's QB 1. No ifs, ands, buts about it.
With the offensive line struggling a bit Johnson's mobility is even more important. He extends plays and makes things happen when he's outside the pocket and opposing teams are less likely to bring the house in some blitzing situations. Johnson has always been cool, calm and collected under pressure, but through two games of this season he has also shown improved accuracy and a better overall command of the offense.
The special teams are still a mixed bag.
Kentucky fans have dealt with up-and-down (at best) special teams play for so long, it's almost expected at this point. After Week 1 it seemed like Kentucky had turned a corner. But that regression against EKU was a stark reminder that Kentucky still has a ways to go in terms of establishing consistency when the specialists are on the field.
The one player who can be counted on consistently is Austin MacGinnis, and if you're going to have one reliable specialist there's no one better to have than a kicker who could decide a game on a single play. But the coverage lapses were concerning and Kentucky has to be more the team they were in Week 1 than Week 2 to have a chance against South Carolina, and to fulfill its potential in 2017.
C.J. Conrad may be Kentucky's best big-play threat.
Snell is capable of breaking big runs but he's more of a grind it out runner who "gets his" through quantity and wearing down a defense over four quarters. Blake Bone did have a few big catches against Eastern Kentucky. Garrett Johnson has had some explosive plays during his career at Kentucky.
But C.J. Conrad has emerged as Kentucky's best big play offensive threat in the 2017 season. He's already got two long touchdown receptions and other big plays in the passing game. Whether he can become a volume receiver or not, time will tell. The coaches have made it clear they want to get him even more involved in the game as target. But with Johnson and Conrad's chemistry firmly established as much better than it was a year ago, it seems clear that he's Kentucky's No. 1 big play threat.
Going into South Carolina that's not such a bad thing. The Gamecocks gave up a long touchdown reception to a tight end at Missouri last week.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING
How ready will Benny Snell and Jordan Jones be on Saturday night?
It might not be a stretch to say Kentucky will need both players close to 100-percent in order to have a really good chance of knocking off the Gamecocks. As hard as Sihiem King ran against Eastern Kentucky, the Snell of the second half (more the Snell of last year) against the Colonels is exactly what Kentucky's offense will need to eat up clock and move the chains in a hostile environment. Without him, or with a Snell that's less than 100-percent, the offense takes a big hit.
As for Jones, look simply at the Tennessee game last year without him. That's when 440 rushing yards weren't enough to make the game really close. Kentucky has better depth, talent and ability on defense this year, with or without Jones for a game, but he gives you that "shot out of a cannon" speed to make up for mistakes and he gets to most plays faster than anyone on the field.
How does Kentucky pressure Jake Bentley?
South Carolina's offensive line probably isn't the strength of that team but they did protect Bentley better than expected against a ferocious NC State defensive line and they have held up better than a lot of people expected they would by this point.
How can Kentucky pressure Bentley, as opposed to letting him sit back in the pocket and pick apart zone coverage or exploit matchup problems with Deebo Samuel and Hayden Hurst?
The answer could be Kentucky's safeties. NC State notched a couple of sacks on safety blitzes in the Gamecocks' opener. Mike Edwards and Darius West are certainly capable of pressuring the backfield. As much as Kentucky's defensive line appears to be improved, UK might have to get creative to pressure Bentley.
BOLD PREDICTION
Kentucky won't go totally away from the Wildcat. How bold is that prediction? Probably not very, but Eddie Gran did hint earlier this week, whether he meant it or meant to mislead, that he might be moving away from the formation.
The formation was just too instrumental to Kentucky's success last year, and given the lack of proven playmakers it's still an intriguing look if the Cats can get the snap and line issues straightened out. Expect Kentucky to use the formation some against the Gamecocks but to throw more wrinkles in.
