By LARRY VAUGHT

Christian Johnson knows no matter who Kentucky plays at quarterback against Auburn, it’s up to him and his offensive line teammates to make sure he has a chance to be successful.

“Mike Hartline is a great quarterback and you could tell he had taken off as a quarterback. He was playing his butt off and it hurts that he is injured and out. But the train must go on. He will be aboard, but somebody else will be running the show,” said Johnson, a senior guard. “We have other quarterbacks that can play. We’ve got to get ready to help the quarterback.

“I have confidence in our other quarterbacks. They threw Will (Fidler) in at South Carolina and he did fine. We will have some packages with (Randall) Cobb. Morgan (Newton) is young and is a developing quarterback and has promise. I don’t doubt him at all. I am anxious to see who the quarterback will be, too, but no matter who it is my job is to protect him and let him make plays.”

Johnson knows the better the offensive line blocks and gives UK a chance to run the ball more and protects the quarterback, the easier it will be on Hartline’s replacement against Auburn.

“South Carolina had more sacks than any team in the league and no other offense had run the ball on them like we did,” Johnson said. “I don’t want to say this is a must-win for us. I have been here going on five years and see things happen and seen other great players get hurt. We are getting better and believe our team can win at Auburn with whoever we have at quarterback. We will miss Mike, but we have other guys that can play, too.”

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