The 3-2-1: On the eve of game day

Cats Illustrated's 3-2-1 returns on the eve of game day. As you'd imagine it's all about Kentucky and Southern Miss.

The format is as it usually is: Three things we've learned, two things we're asking, one bold prediction.

Use this limited-time offer to go premium at Cats Illustrated

Kentucky's coaching staff trusts its roster's depth a lot more this year than last.

"Trust" has been a buzzword throughout camp for Mark Stoops. He has recently said on one platform or another: Cedrick Dort has earned the "trust" to play in the secondary, Jordan Griffin has earned the "trust" to play extensively this year and the more Eli Brown earns "trust" the more he'll be able to play. Consider also, Davonte Robinson, only a redshirt freshman, is pushing junior Darius West for the free safety spot. Josh Paschal has displaced other potential backup Jacks, behind Denzil Ware, and Jamar Watson has risen to co-second string status with Kash Daniel at the MLB spot.

RELATED: Four Downs asks questions about UK's opener

Contrast that with last year through the Southern Miss game, when Kentucky's coaches had a decided lack of trust in its roster depth. USM ran 96 plays in that game and Kentucky's coaches kept certain first line starters on the field for far more snaps than would ever be ideal. Why? They didn't believe the second string talent was prepared to stand up in a game against a quality opponent.

You'll see a lot more rotations this year. If USM runs 96 plays again, that's a bad sign. That would mean they're converting a lot of third downs, controlling the clock and wearing UK's defense down. But Kentucky's defense is a lot better suited to stand up over four quarters against a tempo offense than they were last year.

The UK-USM dynamics are more promising for UK this year than last year, even though this one's on the road.

Kentucky is the team with quarterback experience, while USM is replacing Nick Mullens with someone else. Who? We're not sure yet, and one of the leading contenders has been dealing with an injured finger.

Not many people probably realized how prepared USM's offensive line was to dominate Kentucky's defensive line in the run game last season, but that line has now been retooled. Gone is all-conference center Cameron Toms, who was outstanding against Kentucky's interior. Some talent and experience returns, but Kentucky's defensive line matches up much better with USM's front five than they did last year.

RELATED: Schlarman focused on finding the right combination of linemen

Going into last year's game Kentucky had not established an identity as a power running program, and while we're not sure how that will work out this year, having a proven Benny Snell guarantees you some share of broken tackles and yards after contact.

Most importantly, last year's Kentucky team of the season's first month was clearly still holding onto a mental and emotional fragility that would not allow it to finish games with gusto. Over the course of last season the team's approach to games as four-quarter battles evolved, their ability to respond to adversity emerged, and its leadership core developed.

The offense may still prove to be the stronger unit, but over the course of camp the outlook for the defense has improved while the offensive forecast now includes more questions.

When you're only practicing and scrimmaging against yourself it's tough to tell whether it's a good thing when one unit plays well and one unit doesn't. But there is some evidence that the defense has narrowed the gap with the offense. In fact, it's now within the realm of possibility that Kentucky's defense could be the stronger unit of the two going into 2017.

RELATED: The Kentucky-centric 2017 college football preview

The linebackers are probably the strongest unit on the team considering depth and talent. The secondary wouldn't be far off. Towards the end of camp and into game week prep the coaching staff had some quality things to say about the defensive line. Eddie Gran said they were giving the offense more problems. The defensive coaches themselves didn't hold back praise from the unit.

Meanwhile, both of the (likely) season-ending injuries to Cole Mosier and Dorian Baker were on the offensive side, both to senior starters, both to established contributors. One was at a position where UK has depth (but it was a hit to the depth), at tackle, while the other was at a position where UK already had some question marks. There's that lingering question of how Kentucky replaces lost explosiveness (Jeff Badet, Boom Williams). There's still the need for Stephen Johnson to show he's more the quarterback of the Louisville win than the Vanderbilt game.

The defense probably has more potential star power than the offense right now and it's the first time we've been able to say that in a while. The defense might have more depth, too.

How much of a workload will fall on Benny Snell's shoulders in Week 1?

There aren't any questions about Benny Snell's durability. He can, if needed, tote the rock far more than would be ideal for most players. That's his build, his running style, his mentality. But how much will the coaches ride him out in 2017?

He had 186 carries last season although that would have been much higher if he wasn't splitting carries (almost perfectly evenly) with Boom Williams and if he had played early in the season. Could Snell eclipse 250 carries? Or will the coaches strive for a more balanced approach to protect his health, render him more effective when he does run, and throw a change of pace with a "lightning" option at opposing defenses?

It's a question that's already important because Kentucky might need to lean heavily on its run game while Johnson develops chemistry with a very unproven group of wide receivers.

Which receivers will emerge as Johnson's top targets?

Garrett Johnson needs to have his best, most consistent season yet for Kentucky's offense to hit its stride in 2017. He's demonstrated that he can have the multi-touchdown breakout performance periodically, but he's never demonstrated that he can be consistent week-to-week (though not all of that falls on him). Gran has been clear that the coaches will move Johnson around, which means they'll be looking for matchups, looking to get other receiver combinations on the field, and trying to get him the ball.

RELATED: Four things to remember going into the 2017 season

Kayaune Ross and Tavin Richardson could both be candidates to emerge as WR2 options, but do they have the makeup for that right now?

Clevan Thomas could be the first freshman to get on the field, the staff has said, but will he or Charles Walker catch more passes from that spot? How often will Johnson throw Lynn Bowden's way?

All questions that remain unsettled.

Kentucky's defense is the most dominant unit on the field in Saturday's game.

It's hard to predict this with too much confidence when there are still so many questions about the defensive line, but a closer look at the matchup reveals a favorable matchup between the USM offense and the Kentucky defense.

Kentucky's linebackers are much better able to handle a solid stable of backs such as the one USM will show on Saturday afternoon. USM's offensive line has probably regressed from last season (though time will tell). New quarterback in Week 1? You'll take that every time.

RELATED: Cats Illustrated staff makes Cats Illustrated predictions