It’s not just Kentucky football’s offense that needs work over the bye week

We have a tendency to focus on the offense. And in Kentucky football’s current two-game losing streak, Liam Coen’s unit has struggled. But the other side of the ball has not been holding up its end either.

Yes, Missouri’s pass for a touchdown off a fake punt turned the tide in the Tigers’ 38-21 win over Kentucky last Saturday, but it’s easy to forget that Mark Stoops’ team actually reclaimed the lead 21-20 with 3:39 left in the third quarter.

Here’s the thing: After that, Missouri scored on its next two possessions to jump back out in front 35-21 with 11:07 remaining. The first TD drive covered 70 yards in nine plays. The second TD drive covered just 34 yards — a 26-yard punt gave Mizzou great field position — in three plays.

The Cats did force a punt on Missouri’s next possession, but not until Eli Drinkwitz’s team had moved from its own 14 to the 39. When Missouri got the ball back at the UK 14 after intercepting a Devin Leary pass, the Cats did hold the Tigers to a 29-yard Harrison Mevis field goal. Too little too late, however.

In all, starting with the fake punt, Missouri had the ball for nine possessions, not counting the kneel down at the end of the game. Seven of the nine ended in scores — four touchdowns and three field goals. There was one missed field goal. And one punt.

That showing came a week after the 51-13 beatdown at No. 1 Georgia. In Athens, the Bulldogs scored on nine of their 11 possessions, including the first six. Georgia led 21-0 with 11:03 left in the second quarter and 34-7 at the half. Kirby Smart’s club rolled up 608 total yards, the most allowed in a game by the Kentucky defense since 2013, Stoops’ first year on the job.

So what gives? For starters, Georgia is very good. The Bulldogs have now won 24 straight games. Carson Beck hasn’t received enough credit for the job he has done as a first-year starter at quarterback. The Bulldogs had a healthy Brock Bowers when UK came to town and the Cats just could not cover the nation’s best tight end.

Missouri is a good offensive team. Drinkwitz is a creative offensive mind. Quarterback Brady Cook is having a stellar year. The Cats kept star wide-out Luther Burden in check (15 yards on two catches), but were hurt by other Tigers.

As a result, Kentucky is now 47th nationally in total defense, 82nd in pass efficiency defense and 102nd in passing yards allowed per game. They are 54th in passing yards allowed per attempt.

Another glaring number: Kentucky is now 107th in third down defense allowing opponents to convert 43.88 percent of the time. Not good. It’s one reason UK is 105th nationally in defensive plays. The best defense is less defense.

Injuries have been a factor. Daveren Rayner played well against Missouri, but not having leading tackler Trevin Wallace in the lineup hurt. Jalen Geiger, a leader in the secondary, is out. Teammates are playing with bumps and bruises. And a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties by the defense — each borne out of frustration — played a role in the loss to Mizzou.

Here’s the thing: The Saturday (Oct. 28) after the bye week won’t be any easier. Tennessee comes to town with Josh Heupel’s ultra-fast-tempo attack. It’s the same scheme Tennessee used to put 45 points up on the Cats in a 45-42 victory at Kroger Field in 2021. And it’s the same scheme the Vols used to whip Kentucky 44-6 last season in Knoxville.

So yes, Kentucky’s offense needs work. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen was the first to admit that after the Missouri game, saying, “We’ve got to get a lot better. In a hurry.”

No doubt defensive boss Brad White feels the same way. He’s a terrific coordinator with the tools for better production than the Cats have shown the past two outings. Kentucky needs to get better on defense, too. In a hurry.

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