Brad White Doesn’t Think the UK Defense has Lost any Confidence

Brad White knows South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers can be elusive. (Vicky Graff Photo)

After Eastern Michigan shredded Kentucky’s defense for 461 yards and 23 points, UK defensive coordinator Brad White was visibly upset and harshly criticized his overall defense but especially his starters for too many lapses.

“Were there plenty of plays (against Eastern Michigan) that were really good? Heck yeah,” White said Wednesday. “There was about 63 of them. But there was about seven or eight that were just really disappointing and we have to clean those up because those lose you ballgames.”

White and the defense spent UK’s bye week working to correct the mistakes/lapses against Eastern Michigan and get back to the way it played against Ole Miss going into Saturday night’s game at South Carolina.

“I think they’ve done a nice job responding in the meeting room and then coming out to the practice field,” White said. “But you just don’t know until they get another opportunity at it.”

Even though White let the defense know he was disappointed in its last game, he doesn’t think the overall defense has lost any confidence in its ability.

“We’ve talked about it all year, this game is about confidence. You have to be confident when you step on the field. It doesn’t mean you can’t get criticized. It doesn’t mean that if you can’t take criticism, then you’re not going to be able to play in our defense,” White said.  “And, to a man, they would not be proud of the performance against Eastern Michigan.”

Neither was UK head coach Mark Stoops.

“We just need to play better. We need to be more fundamental, play cleaner, be in position,” Stoops said. “Generally, we’re a good tackling team when we’re in good position on the football. We’ll be tested here this week, and need to play better.”

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers put his name on the national radar last year with his performance against UK. He was injured in South Carolina’s home loss to Vanderbilt but has still thrown for 733 yards and four scores. He also rushed for one touchdown.

“You can’t just force him in a direction he doesn’t like to go,” White said. “He doesn’t mind doing any which way. He throws an absolute dart. We got our hands full.”

South Carolina running backs Rahsul Faison and Oscar Adaway had no luck against Missouri in last week’s loss but White is not underestimating what they can do.

“We are very aware how talented their running backs are, scheme-wise,” White said. “Obviously, then you throw Sellers in the QB run game, so at any moment that thing can explode.”