Kentucky's new pass defense will be tested early by Miami (Ohio)

The 2021 season was not a great year for the Kentucky secondary. Despite not having awful total yardage numbers, the season was disappointing as this group had a lack of ball production on top of very bad days against the best three passing offenses the Wildcats saw on the schedule.

All three of those bad days led to the only losses of the season. Kentucky gave up 910 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns, 11.5 yards per attempt, and had zero interceptions in games against Georgia, Mississippi State, and Tennessee. Improving this part of the defense was a point of emphasis for the football program in Lexington.

Defensive coordinator Brad White believes his unit is determined to right those wrongs in 2022.

“I think we’re further along this year than maybe we’ve been in the past,” White said about Kentucky’s pass defense as a whole on Wednesday. “So much of that is coverage, it’s pass rush, it all works together. I don’t know until we see what Saturday brings. I feel comfortable with where we are, but we’ll find out who we are here in a couple of days.”

Yes, we will. Awaiting Kentucky in Week 1 is Miami (Ohio) redshirt junior quarterback Brett Gabbert who has been starting for the RedHawks since 2019. The St. Louis (Mo.) Christian Brothers product averaged 8.9 yards per attempt last season while throwing for over 350 yards in three conference games to close the year. Gabbert’s average depth of target (11.7) was one of the highest in college football. Miami (Ohio) wants to get vertical and has the guy behind center who can challenge Kentucky’s typically stout big-play prevention via strong zone coverage.

Specifically, Gabbert’s accuracy and moxy emerge as the two strengths that stand out the most on tape.

“Ball placement,” White told KSR when asked what makes Gabbert a good quarterback. “I think he’s really savvy, he throws a really catchable deep ball. I think he doesn’t get rattled. He’s an uber competitor in that regard. Been playing since, essentially, his freshman year. When you watch him play at Iowa in game one in that kind of environment at night as a true freshman and not get rattled. So you know the kid’s a gamer.”

Through high school and transfer portal recruiting, Kentucky feels better about this year’s depth in the secondary. Development of underclassmen is also baked into that confidence coming out of fall camp. But it’s not just the secondary that is locked in on improving last year’s numbers.

“Those guys have taken that personal and not just on the backend. It’s across the board,” White said about his defense. “They want to be considered a top-notch defense and know they have to earn it in every game, in every category.”

We’ll learn soon just how much progress the pass defense has made since last season. On Saturday, Kentucky will face a Group of Five foe that could tell us how much improvement has been made.

“We got a challenge on our hands,” said White.

Physical traits are getting Andru Phillips on the field

One of the biggest surprises when Kentucky’s first depth chart was released on Monday was that redshirt sophomore Andru Phillips has kicked down inside to nickel. The Mauldin (S.C.) High product was a legacy recruit for the Wildcats who was competing with Ole Miss transfer Keidron Smith for the CB2 job opposite Carrington Valentine.

Smith appeared to win that battle, but the Kentucky coaching staff has a clear plan for Phillips. Mark Stoops has confirmed that the former high three-star recruit will have a big role on third down.

Phillips has physical traits that are helping him stand out at that fifth defensive back position.

“He’s got quick twitch inside. Burst,” White told KSR when asked why the defensive back is a good fit at nickel. “Andru’s done a great job from that nickel spot. He’s got really good ball skills, good feel, instincts. Especially when you slide in and play nickel, out on the edges you can be a little bit longer. Even if you’re a step behind your length helps you. Once you get inside and you go against quicker slots, option routes…you’ve gotta be able to redirect, explode. He’s got those quick twitch traits that you’re looking for.”

Smith has the length (6-foot-2) on the outside that can make him a more valuable asset in Kentucky’s zone-heavy scheme. However, more man coverage skills are needed when playing over the slot. Andru Phillips is looking to give the Kentucky defense some of that when White calls for both nickel and dime packages.

“He’s got really good presence in terms of playing lateral and being able to get sticky and aggressive on guys,” said defensive backs coach Chris Collins. “He’s worked really hard at understanding zone concepts and spacing in there.”

The former All-State performer in South Carolina has a track and field background bringing home a state championship in the triple jump. Phillips has some valuable physical traits that are now showing up at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility.

Kentucky is hopeful that Phillips will help the unit produce some more ball production as the pass defense looks to make some real strides this fall at Kroger Field.

“He’s really got a good knack for the football,” said White. “He’s made a lot of plays on the ball this fall, and we’re going to need him to do that on Saturday and throughout the whole year.”