Kentucky Defense Plagued by Poor Tackling vs. South Carolina

by:Nick Roush•10/10/22•

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The Wildcats were in a 7-0 hole, yet the Kentucky defense stood strong at the start of the South Carolina game. In the first half the Gamecocks had two turnovers, five first downs and only 90 yards of offense. The dam broke in the third quarter, thanks to poor tackling on big plays.

The Kentucky defense simply could not get off the field. South Carolina continually converted on third and longs to extend drives, ultimately chewing up more than nine minutes on a pair of 70+ yard scoring drives that ultimately served as a dagger. Despite the offensive deficiencies, what left Mark Stoops at a loss of words Monday afternoon were the defensive miscues.

“Very disappointed to be honest with you. In some support — without getting too in detail or throwing any any person under the bus or any any one group — it just was missed plays, missed plays.”

Stoops was speechless. You could see the metaphorical hamster wheel spinning in his head as he tried to pinpoint the problem, without naming who was going to get chewed out in Monday afternoon’s film session.

“Really no excuse for it. I mean honestly,” he said. “No disrespect to them because we do it too, but even the screen. It wasn’t pulling them back, it took forever. When we do that usually we get blown up. It goes for a touchdown and just a poor angle, wrong fit. There’s no excuse. It’s very aggravating.”

According to PFF, Kentucky missed a season-high 12 tackles against South Carolina. On the play Stoops was referring to, the Kentucky defense had three players in the area, yet the routine screen pass was still popped for a 42-yard touchdown.

Kentucky Defense Faces High-Powered Mississippi State Offense

After allowing South Carolina to gain 7.6 yards per play in the second half, the Kentucky defense must now face a foe averaging more than 38 points and 461 yards per game. Will Rogers leads the SEC in passing yards per game (351.7) and completion percentage (71.6). He’s thrown for 22 touchdowns and only three interceptions in his third year as the starting quarterback in Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense.

“Obviously, anytime you’re playing Mike Leach, he can move the football,” said Stoops. “They’re very good at what they do. Their quarterback Will Rodgers is playing at a very, very high level. Extremely comfortable in total command of that offense. They have two dynamic running backs, and always have playmakers on the perimeter.”

That’s right, Leach’s Air Raid is attacking opponents on the ground too. Dillon Johnson and Jo’Quavious Marks combine to average 116 rushing yards per game, 24 more yards than UK’s offense this fall. The Kentucky defense will have its hands against Mississippi State. If they replicate their tackling efforts from last Saturday, it could be another long night at Kroger Field.