Jordan Wright and the UK defense cannot get discouraged Saturday if Tennessee hits a big play. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Even though he’s a defensive-minded coach, Mark Stoops knows Kentucky is going to give up big plays and points at No. 3 Tennessee Saturday because the Vols have a very potent offense.
“You’re definitely going to take some shots. They’re going to get some explosives. You’ve got to try and limit that as best as you can,” said Stoops. “Obviously, the explosives that we gave up a year ago (in a 45-42 loss) didn’t help us in the game.”
“Again, you’ve seen them do it this year at an even higher clip, so you can’t just sit back and give them everything in front of you either, like you can against some other teams, because they go so fast and they could rip off chunks. So anything underneath they could catch and run. Even the run game is explosive, so it’s a double-edged sword there.”
So can a defense handle giving up yards and not get discouraged?
“I don’t think it’s fun for anybody to give up yards, whether you’re a defensive guy or an offensive guy,” Stoops said. “I don’t think anybody likes giving up yards. I don’t think anybody is capable of completely shutting down this offense.”
Tennessee plays at a fast pace. So did Mississippi when it beat Kentucky 22-19 earlier this season. Stoops said the offenses are different.
“I think it helped us in the preparation, in the urgency of getting the calls, getting lined up, but different offenses, yes. Some things carry over as far as just the communication and urgency and getting lined up and making us practice it and be prepared for it, knowing going into the season, we’re going to play at least two teams that want to go as fast as possible,” Stoops said.
The Vols jumped on UK quickly last year with big pass plays for touchdowns. The Vols have 21 pass plays for 40 yards or more this season.
But Stoops said what happened last year does not help that much this season.
“Year to year, it really doesn’t make a difference. The previous years didn’t matter for them (Tennessee) versus Alabama. This year is a different, totally new year and new teams,” Stoops said.
“Sure, you look at schemes, you look at the ways you beat yourself or that they beat you and try to improve on those, but last year we played much of the game very efficiently, but in certain situations, we fell short.”
“We talked about that all the time. You guys (in the media) have heard me say that a hundred times, you could play the vast majority of a game very, very good, but you don’t know what situation or what play is going to determine the outcome of the game.”
