Kentucky defense has room to improve

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Zion Childress wags his finger - Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio

The Kentucky defense produced a gem on Saturday night against No. 1 ranked Georgia. Head coach Mark Stoops and defensive coordinator Brad White saw their unit hold a potential top-five offense to 5.0 yards per play, a 37.7 percent success rate, and a 12 percent explosive play rate. The Bulldogs only generated 12 first downs in nine non-kneel possessions and were 5-of-13 on third down.

We likely will not see another defense do that for the rest of the year. However, Stoops believes that his Kentucky defense can play better.

“The defense, in general, played extremely hard. A lot of little things are gonna happen with just how precise we want certain movements, certain games,” Stoops explained on Monday. “Getting all that in, getting it all communicated, getting checks to all the different formations. There’s a lot.”

“We have to continue to grow. We could’ve even played better. That’s what’s crazy.”

After some coverage busts led to easy touchdown drives against South Carolina, we saw the Kentucky defense tighten the screws against top-ranked Georgia and give offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and star quarterback Carson Beck some real problems for most of the game. Expectations were high for the defense entering the season, and it appears that the ceiling is extremely high.

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Just how good could this defense become? If Kentucky can tighten up some more smaller details, this group might have a chance to become a top-10 unit.

“Just being a little more precise with certain things,” Stoops said about his unit.

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