The Georgia defense is playing at a "ridiculous level"

Kentucky’s most difficult challenge to date will be when Liam Coen’s offense takes the field against the Georgia defense. The Wildcats have faced some good defensive units throughout Mark Stoops’ tenure, but this one might be the most ridiculous one yet.

“You see why they’re the No. 1 team in the country, leading and dominating the defensive statistical categories and playing extremely well offensively.,” Stoops said Monday.

“They’re just a complete football team that can also hurt you at any given moment on special teams. They’re playing well in all areas, very talented football team, very well coached and a great challenge ahead of us. We’re worried about ourselves and our preparation. That’s why we’ve been getting better as the season’s progressed. It’s because of the way we’ve approached the weeks and the way we’ve approached practice, and that will be no different this week.”

The preparation will be the same to an extent, but Kirby Smart’s defense presents a different kind of challenge.

What makes the Georgia defense so difficult to game plan

To stifle the Kentucky offense, Todd Grantham threw Florida’s kitchen sink at Will Levis, dialing up various pressures and stunts from the defensive line. Georgia doesn’t do anything fancy on defense. They just line up and hit you in the mouth.

“They put a lot of pressure on you because they’re good just lining up in their base defense and playing. They’re good. You start mixing up any kind of pressures or different looks — the big thing for Will (Levis) will be him having some time, protection being good, guys getting open. It’ll be a challenge for everybody. I mean they give up, what 200 yards a game or something ridiculous? They’re No. 1 in our league by like a 100-something yards and giving up 50-something a game in rushing. They’re playing at a ridiculous level defensively.”

Stoops’ estimations are not far off. Georgia allows just 203.5 yards per game, the fewest in the nation, 100 yards better than the Alabama and Kentucky defenses. Opponents are rushing for just over 66 yards per game. This Saturday Auburn became the first team to score on the Bulldogs’ first-team defense.

No Room to Hide from Georgia

The Georgia defense lines up and challenges opponents to win one-on-one situations. It’s no so different on the other side of the ball. Kentucky is limited in how they can scheme up ways to mitigate Octavious Oxendine’s loss.

“There’s no masking things,” Stoops said. “Georgia is so balanced, so physical and so good in so many ways, when we have guys that are out, there’s just no protecting guys. Certain teams we play we can run simulated pressures, do different things, but with them, you just have to man up and play and you gotta play at a high level.”

The Small Margin for Error

“It’s another level of good. It’s really impressive what they’re doing defensively.”

Stoops’ description of the Georgia defense might not even do it justice. There’s no way around it: Kentucky must play some of its best offensive football to win the game. The Dawgs will take advantage of any and every mistake the Wildcats cannot afford to make.

“Your margin of error in this game is so small because they’re so good and talented and can hurt you in so many ways,” said Stoops. “You have to take advantage of any and all opportunities you have.”