One of the major focuses for Kentucky offensive coordinator Neal Brown heading into the week was improving the running game. After the Wildcats opened the year with at least 230 rushing yards in three of their first five games, Kentucky has faced stout defensive efforts from its last two foes, at LSU and vs. No. 1 Mississippi State last week.In those games, the Tigers limited UK to 71 rushing yards and the Bulldogs held UK to 103 yards on the ground. “Well, I think it’s two-fold,” Brown said, pinpointing the obstacles in running the football the last two weeks. “I think, No. 1, let’s not — I think I said this after the game too — let’s not take away from those guys. I mean, they’re good. You know what I mean? 91, Preston Smith is a really good player, a guy that will make a solid living in the NFL. The two d-tackles are really big. They really rotate four in there. So they gave us some issues, but we had some technique. We leaned, and when you lean good players are going to put their hands inside and go around you. We didn’t do a good job getting depth, and our communication was off a little bit. So, we can play better. Our guys are disappointed in how they played up front, and we had a good practice, maybe our best practice in probably a couple weeks up front, today. So, (offensive line) Coach (John) Schlarman will get those guys straight.”When Brown met with the media following Tuesday’s practice, he emphasized improving the rushing attack before the Wildcats travel to Missouri for a 4 p.m. ET kickoff on the SEC Network on Saturday. “Well, first of all, I’ve got to give them more opportunities,” Brown said about getting the running back’s involved. “When we get those opportunities, we’ve got to run through some tackles. And we’ve got to hold onto the ball. Running back is a lot like a guy that shoots a lot in basketball: you can’t just go out there and give a shooter a couple shots. You’ve got to get him open, and we’ve got to do the same thing. We’ve got to feed the running backs and get them in a rhythm.”Kentucky (6-2, 2-3 SEC) boasts a strong stable of running options, including junior Braylon Heard – who has started seven of eight games in 2014 – sophomore Jojo Kemp, and freshmen Mikel Horton and Stanley “Boom” Williams. Kemp leads UK with 314 yards and four TDs, with Heard charting 299 yards, Williams – who missed last week due to injury – contributing 222 yards and the bruising Horton totaling 201 yards. “Well, it helps us,” Brown said about potentially getting Williams back on the field Saturday. “I mean, he’s one of our better players. And he will play as long as he doesn’t have anything that sets him back this week. He’ll play. Excited to get him back. He’s a guy that we can get in space. I think he’s eager to get back on the field. I don’t think he played his best game against LSU. He realizes that, and he’ll add a spark to us for sure.”UK sophomore quarterback Patrick Towles has also been a dual-threat option for Brown, leading the team with 90 carries, running for 174 yards, and equaling Kemp for the team lead with four TDs. “Early in the game it does.” Brown said about getting Towles settled into the game with an early rush and contact. “Yeah, it does, really. When he has success early in games and when he does get in the flow, whether running or pass, high-percentage pass, I he does get going.”Brown’s unit faces another stiff road test on Saturday with Mizzou, the defending Southeastern Conference Eastern Division Champions. “Missouri is playing with a lot of confidence,” Brown said. “Two really good years in a row. They’re playing their best football right now, starting to gain some momentum on offense. They’ve played good defense all the time. Got a lot of respect for their DC, Coach (Dave) Steckel. Does a good job consistently — they do a good job evaluating talent, very similar to Mississippi State.”Missouri (6-2, 3-1 SEC) ranks second in the SEC in total defense (310 ypg) and third in scoring defense (20.2) in conference games. Last week, Missouri held Vanderbilt to just 240 yards of offense in a 24-14 win, after limiting Florida to 283 yards in a 42-13 win in Gainesville. “We’ve got another stiff test this week with their front,” Brown said. “They’re going to move a lot. They twist, they don’t sit still. They do a good job of speed rushing, and they’re defense is built on making negative plays. They’ve got some linebackers that have got a lot of tackles, solid tacklers, and they’ve got safeties that have experience. Little bit of youth at corner, similar to what we are at wideout. But again, a tremendous challenge. Tough place to go up and play, but our guys will be ready and like I said, we need to put it all together this week.”