Mark Stoops preaches consistency in defense's tackling abilities
One constant for Mark Stoops’ Kentucky teams in recent memory has been its defensive prowess. Being a former defensive coordinator and a defensive back during his playing days — there’s a certain pride Stoops takes in having a stellar defense.
Stoops will always have something to pick apart with his defense during the postgame presser. He’s a perfectionist when it comes to his team’s defensive consistency and is holding his players accountable for everything, especially something as basic as fundamental tackling.
“You’ll hear me talk about it, and you have through the years, and probably after the game one way or another we’ll talk about it,” Stoops said on Monday. “The tackling, a lot of it has to do with position on the football. If we’re in the right spot and not getting fooled, and guys playing out of control, not where they need to be, not containing the football, not leveraging the football, and letting guys run wild, then you’ll see good, clean tackling.
“You may see a miss, or two, because it is early and it happens, and you play against other players that are talented, and make people miss. Overall, good structure and good defense helps a lot on that.”
In 2022, Kentucky flirted with elite status defensively, ranking third in the SEC in total team defense (320.17 yards allowed per game) behind the eventual national champions in Georgia (292.1 yards) and Alabama (311.3 yards). Scoring wise, they were third as well allowing 19.1 points per game compared to Georgia’s 12.8 points allowed, and Alabama’s 18. The same goes for total touchdowns allowed.
That’s good company, and Mark Stoops knows it. Defensive coordinator Brad White has been tabbed as one of the most underrated assistants in the country throughout the offseason, and has once against quietly pieced together what is expected to be one of the most physical defenses in the conference.
Kentucky returned three of its five top tacklers in linebackers D’Eryk Jackson (65 solo) and Trevin Wallace (54), as well as Jordan Lovett (62). The experience continues, as UK also returned three-year starter JJ Weaver to the linebackers mix as well. That isn’t even mentioning 6-foot-6, 350-pound defensive lineman Deone Walker, who is expected to have a breakout season during his true sophomore year.
There’s no shortage of talent at Stoops and White’s disposal in 2023, and the Wildcats will be set on proving that once again. Now, it’s on Liam Coen, Devin Leary and the Kentucky offense to match that same success.