By LARRY VAUGHT
Redshirt sophomore running back Chris Rodriguez wouldn’t say he needed the bye week UK got but admits he was “thankful” for it going into Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt.
Kentucky is only 2-4 and has struggled offensively but Rodriguez has been one consistent positive for the offense. He has rushed for 413 yards and four scores this year — and had two 100-yard games — to push his career totals to 989 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s had 148 career carries and is averaging about 6.5 yards per attempt.
“I think I have played well but there are some areas I need to work on. Better (pass) protection, better catching out of the backfield. Basically things like that,” he said.
Kentucky fans love Rodriguez because he often refuses to be tackled. He has a propensity for dragging would-be tacklers with him and he won’t change that style no matter what physical toll it takes on him.
“The way I play is the way I have always played my whole life. That will not change,” he said “If I am not in the league (NFL) as long as I want (because his body wears out), that’s God telling me (to quit).”
He insists he’s not trying to make a statement to fans, teammates or opponents when he refuses to be tackled.
“But if they cannot get me down, why go down,” Rodriguez said.
The sophomore from Georgia said he felt like there were a “few changes” the UK offense could make to find its best style.
“We have always been doing other stuff. It’s just a matter of perfecting it,” Rodriguez said. “All the teams try to stack the box. If they ain’t stopping it (UK’s running game), that’s on them. We are just going to keep doing what we are doing and then perfect everything else.”
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