Wednesday Night Practice Notes: Kentucky Defense has Room for Improvement

The first time we saw Brad White’s Kentucky defense take the field in 2023, the Wildcats held their opponents to only 295 yards and 14 points. They also tallied eight tackles for loss and three sacks, but it was far from a complete game in the eyes of the Kentucky defensive coordinator.

When the Wildcats convened for their Monday team meeting, Mark Stoops made it clear that while he enjoyed his team’s effort and enthusiasm, they were far from a polished product. That was evident offensively, but it also applies to Brad White’s group.

“In the second half we may have kept points off the board with the goal line stand and the blocked field goal, but what we didn’t do, we had these long extended drives and we never let the offense get the ball,” White said after Wednesday’s practice. “That’s on us as a defense.”

Kentucky Responds to Adversity

Ball State converted on 9-of-17 third downs to keep long drives alive in the second half. Kentucky was bleeding yards. One way they did it was through penalties. It was a bad call, but Zion Childress was flagged for defensive pass interference in the end zone on a play where he picked off the quarterback. It was a disappointing turn of events, but White loved what he saw next, a goal line stand.

“We needed to be able to handle adversity and respond. That was one of those times I was proud of them. They rose up in that instance and made four really good stops,” White said.

“After he makes the pick, he gets the PI, we’re down in a goal line defense and he makes a one-on-one tackle on the running back that was really good. On the previous goal line attempt where they did end up scoring a touchdown earlier in the first quarter, Jalen (Geiger) made similar hit, which was great to see. It was great to see those safeties down there on the goal line bring their pads and knock ball carriers back in one-on-one situations down there on the one.”

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Deone Walker’s Impact isn’t on the Stat Sheet

If you scroll through the box score, it will take you a while before you find Deone Walker. The All-SEC defensive lineman had just two tackles, but that does not accurately reflect the impact Walker made on the game.

“Deone’s stat sheet may not have looked overwhelming, but if you really watched the tape, how much he influenced that game. There was at least three that I can think of off the top of my head where he literally has his hand on the quarterback…. He was that close to putting up the sack, but it was that influence, that presence in there,” said White.

It wasn’t just Deone that was creating havoc behind the line of scrimmage. White was proud of the entire Kentucky defensive line, particularly the nost guards.

“I thought the whole D-line was physical at the point of attack. It was good to see Keeshawn (Silver), Josaih (Hayes) and (Jamarius) Dinkins at the nose really controlling the middle. It makes a big difference for those backers when that line of scrimmage is getting controlled by big bodies.”

Parker McKinney is a Ball-Player

He didn’t fill up the box score vs. Cincinnati, but EKU quarterback Parker McKinney is a bonafide baller. Last fall he was ASUN Co-Offensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the FCS’ best football player. He set EKU single-season records in passing yards (3,956) and touchdowns (33). Not only can he beat you through the air, Kentucky must be prepared for the quarterback to make some plays with his legs.

“He’s a playmaker. He does a great job of extending plays. He knows where to go with the ball. He’s all kinds of savvy in that regard,” said the Kentucky defensive coordinator.

“Even when he runs the ball in the zone read, I think people don’t realize how fast he is. He’ll run away from defenders. If he’s got a one-on-one, he can make a defender miss. He’s far more athletic than people give him credit for, and when he’s pitching the ball around the field, he knows where to go with it. The ball placement is really good. He’s going to be a handful.”

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