Kentucky Football: Eddie Gran Preparing For Florida's Defense

The Kentucky football program hasn’t defeated the Florida Gators since 1986. Offensive coordinator Eddie Gran is preparing to end that endless drought.

The Kentucky football program is in danger of opening the 2016 season at 0-2. Following a 44-35 collapse of a loss to the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, the Wildcats will play what may be the most important game of the season.

Forget about rivalries and bowl games; in Week 2, Kentucky will look to end a 30-year drought.

Drew Barker threw four touchdown passes in the first half to help the Wildcats get off to an explosive start to the season. The offense stalled in the second half, however, as Kentucky scored zero points between the third and fourth quarters.

According to Jon Hale of The Courier-Journal, offensive coordinator Eddie Gran has turned the offense’s attention to preparing for one of the best defenses in the country.

“Their front four are really, really powerful and quick, athletic,” he said. “Their linebackers are solid and their secondary. Great defense. When you talk about a top 10 defense, they’re doing something right. You know, normal Florida.”

“We’re harping on the details and the little things,” Gran said. “And the little things make the big things happen.”

The task at hand may be the biggest of the season.

Eddie Gran has the unenviable task of leading a Kentucky offense that had its confidence shaken against Southern Miss. Blowing a 25-point lead is a tough pill to swallow, even when the offense did post 35 points.

The Wildcats will be granted no gifts when it takes on the Florida Gators in Gainesville on Saturday, September 10.

Florida’s offense struggled in Week 1, but it still pulled out a 24-7 victory over the Massachusetts Minutemen. Florida has lost some talent since 2015, but it ranked No. 6 in yards allowed per game and No. 8 in points allowed per game.

In other words, Kentucky’s young and inexperienced offense will have its hands full with Florida’s defense.

If Kentucky succeeds in running its offense, it may beat Florida for the first time since 1986.