Kentucky football hosts a top ten team in the LSU Tigers on Saturday under the lights at Kroger Field. We have previewed the explosive offense Lane Kiffin is bringing to Lexington on Saturday. Kentucky is going to have to score points to keep up and have a chance at an upset. Let's take a look at offensive X factors that will make an impact in this football game.
QB Kenny Minchey
After the first five games of the season, quarterback Kenny Minchey is settling in and is following the footsteps of the previous quarterbacks coached by Will Stein. Minchey looks comfortable in this offensive scheme and he has shown phenomenal poise on the road in the SEC. Minchey struggled against Alabama, and he gets an opportunity to redeem his first ever SEC start as LSU brings
in a defense that is one of the best in the country. Minchey has to continue to play with poise and take care of the football in this game.
WR Kenny Darby
I don't think there is a single player on this roster who has been more eye opening than true freshman Kenny Darby. Darby is from Louisiana, where he broke a ton of records in high school and was committed to LSU at one time. Darby is a special player and he is dynamic with the ball in his hands but also just a great feel for creating separation on routes. I am sure this game will mean a little bit more to him personally, and he will have multiple targets to show LSU what they missed out on.
TE Willie Rodriguez
Willie Rodriguez has been steady at tight end, and last week he caught the two-point conversion for the win that will cement his legacy as a Wildcat. Rodriguez also had catches down the field at South Carolina on crossing routes, which was an area he had yet to put on film this season. This offense utilizes tight ends more than any team in the country, and all three will need to show up in this game. LSU has not faced a team with a tight end room like Kentucky has, and that could create a real mismatch in the passing game.
QB Sam Leavitt
Sam Leavitt leads the SEC with seven interceptions on the season and has struggled in his two road starts in this conference. Minchey has played very clean this season and Leavitt has the tendency to put the ball in harms way. The biggest area to watch is how mobile Leavitt is, he has been dealing with a hamstring and his mobility could play a big factor. Leavitt runs with his hair on fire and that is something the Wildcats defense has struggled with this season, they have done well when quarterbacks try to make plays from the pocket.
WR Winston Watkins Jr.
Winston Watkins followed Lane Kiffin over from Ole Miss and he currently leads LSU in targets. Watkins and teammate Jackson Harris both have seven explosive catches on the season. Watkins will be targeted early and often in this football game; he has more on his plate with the injury to tight end Trey'Dez Green. He leads LSU in receptions and receiving yards this season, and Kentucky will have to limit explosives in the passing game.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky vs LSU: Offensive x-factors for week six
