The Bodda Getta

By Jeff Drummond, BigBlue247.com

Athletic quarterbacks who can hurt opponents with their arm or legs have played the kryptonite role to Kentucky’s defense in recent years. Last week proved to be another example as Mississippi’s Jeremiah Masoli threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score in the Rebels’ 42-35 victory.

Now all the Wildcats have to do is bounce back from that loss against one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, Auburn’s Cameron Newton.

“Another big challenge,” UK coach Joker Phillips said during Monday's press luncheon. “The thing that we have to do is prepare for a quarterback who’s probably playing as good as anyone in the country at the position – a big, strong physical guy. (Newton is) one of the leading rushers not only in this conference but in the country. For some reason, they did not run him last week. I guess they were holding him for this week.”

The 6-foot-6, 247-pound Newton is more physically imposing than all of UK’s linebackers and is nearly as big as both starting defensive ends. He is the SEC’s fourth-leading rusher at 94.8 yards per game, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. But he’s also throwing the ball well, leading the league in passing efficiency at 191.4. He’s only thrown the ball 87 times for the Tigers, but 12 of those have gone for touchdowns.

“He’s a guy that they create open opportunities in the passing game for him with his ability to run because you have to pack the box so much and come up and play the run and play-action with him stepping forward,” Phillips said.

Last week, Newton completed a 94-yard touchdown pass to Emory Blake as the No. 8 Tigers rolled to 5-0 with a 52-3 win over Louisiana-Monroe.

"They've got more of the quarterback run game than they had last year," Phillips said of the difference between this Auburn team and the one UK defeated 21-14 last season on the road. "He's added that dimension to them. Last year, they didn't have that... He's added a different spark to them offensively. He's the guy you have to stop in their offense. If you stop him, you've got a chance."

Kentucky ranks 11th in the SEC in scoring defense (28.8 ppg) and rushing defense (166.2 ypg). The Wildcat pass defense is No. 1 in the SEC at 141.8 yards per game, but much of that is owed to the number of rushing attempts they have faced.

http://kentucky.247sports.com/Article/Newton-latest-dual-threat-challenge-for-Cats-D-2164