Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White has talked about how important it is for his team to get off the field on third down. It’s crucial for the UK defense to stop the opposition so that the Kentucky offense can get back on the field.
In Saturday’s loss to South Carolina, the Cats had a couple of opportunities to stop the Gamecocks in the third quarter. However, the UK defense was not able to get off the field and South Carolina would score on both drives, extending their lead. White knew that the Cats had their chances and were not able to take advantage of them.
“We’ve talked about this before. You don’t know when those big moments are going to arise,” White said. “And you don’t know if those moments are going to be the ones that change the game. When those moments arose, we had some opportunities to change the momentum of the game and we let it slip through our fingers. And they capitalized on the moments when they came for them. That was the story of the game.”
On third downs, the Cats held their own on the day, according to White. However, he also knows that his unit must finish plays and get off the field.
“On third and long, they were three of 10 on the day,” White said. “One of the third downs was third-and-one, so they converted two and we stopped them on five. So, three of seven. We want to go seven for seven, not five for seven. On one of them, we had an opportunity, missed a sack. Didn’t run the contain correctly up front so he was able to push away from the sack. The route concepts, if it gets that deep into the down, has a chance to break away. If we make the sack, if we get the contain, it would be hard for him to find someone.”
White is not discouraged, in any way, about his team’s effort. He knows that it’s just a matter of winning some battles, creating opportunities and taking advantage of those chances.
“We’ve got to win our one-on-ones, both from a pass rush standpoint and coverage,” White said. “I know we’re all hurting from last year. If we started from scratch this year, I don’t think people would think we had a third and long issue. There were plays to capitalize on. We get them to fourth and one, we can’t jump offsides.
“Yes, we need to execute better. But was it a full system failure? No.”
6 Responses
Gave up 32 points.
No system failure!
Brad White has definitely been drinking too much of the Stoops-kool-aid.
UK could give up 70 points to UGA & there will not be a system failure on Defense.
Michigan, defending National Champion, just gave a $6 million contract to the HC. So UK should be producing 50% better results than Michigan based on HC salaries.
Don’t believe your lying eyes.
Far too often, UK has 2 or 3 breakdowns per game that cost them touchdowns. It is a System Failure because it happens way too often. It may not be more than 2 or 3 times in a game, but it’s when it happens that counts. It’s hard to stop a 3rd and 18 when you rush 3 against 5 and everyone else is playing 10-15 yards off their man and no one is sure who is covering who! That’s a system breakdown because it happens several games a year. It is not just limited to 1 game per year or only when someone had to come in and fill in for the starter. Teams are way too successful against UK in 3rd and long situations.
White is a good coach. He has had more than one top ten defense at the end of the year. It’s about the Jimmy’s and Joe’s. Not X’s and O’s. Georgia can run the same five plays all game and will win 99% of the time because they have 85 studs. Now it takes lots of money to get them. Ky can’t get that type of money no matter who thinks they can.
Jimmy: you"re 90% right. But KY does not play GA every Saturday. There are games KY should win.
South Carolina was one of those games we should have won. Games against Georgia, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Texas are automatic losses. Now games against Florida, Auburn, and Louisville don’t look favorable. The game with Vanderbilt is even in doubt! Unlike with basketball, the football transfer portal flushes out kids who don’t play much with their team for a reason. Jimmy is right. The best players go to the schools with the big bucks. With SEC expansion bringing in better teams, the football fortunes for Kentucky don’t look too bright in the foreseeable future.