“Stevie got loose.”

It’s the nickname for one of the most famous plays in Commonwealth Stadium history, Stevie Johnson’s 57-yard touchdown catch that beat ninth-ranked Louisville in 2007. Johnson also made the catch that provided the margin over victory over number one LSU later that year but he says the one against the Cards stands out.

“The Louisville game is the best one for me. It did a lot for the team, it did a lot for Lexington and it just put the Kentucky Wildcats over the Louisville Cardinals,” Johnson told “The Leach Report” radio show this week.

Johnson caught a touchdown pass last Sunday in the Buffalo Bills’ shockingly easy win over Kansas City. He has emerged as the Bills’ go-to receiver over the past couple of years after coming into the league as a seventh-round draft pick. What was the key in making the transition from college to the NFL?

“Mental toughness. I didn’t come in and play right away. Being patient and waiting for my turn,” Johnson said. “Coming from Kentucky, we ran that pro-style offense and it was easy to pick up the playbook.”

And Johnson hopes the week one performance by the Bills portends big things for 2011.

“It’s only one win but at the same time, it showed a lot, with a new group of guys around here in the locker room. We gotta have confidence. In the NFL, you gotta have confidence, period,” he said. “It’s about going there and doing what we’re supposed to do.”

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While Kentucky’s offense struggled to move the ball through most of the first two games, an improved and aggressive defense kept the opponent sufficiently in check to assure a victory.

But Donte Rumph says there’s no need to worry about the defensive guys lamenting the pressure on them.

“We’re all brothers here. We have our brothers’ back. They depend on us to do our job, just like we depend on them to do their job,” said the sophomore defensive tackle. “Fortunately, it worked out well for us.”

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So who does freshman running back Josh Clemons remind you of?

I’ve heard suggestions like former UK stars Artose Pinner and Sonny Collins but Clemons’ teammates have another idea.

“They joke around with me and say I run like him and I’m big like him. He was a really good running back,” Clemons said. “I don’t think I can put myself up there right now.”

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Perhaps Clemons’ emergence will give a much-needed boost to the Wildcats rushing attack. Coach Joker Phillips knows that is a crucial element to this offense finding its identity.

“It gives you confidence when you run the ball at will. We haven’t been able to do that yet,” said Phillips. “The running game is about attitude.”