I just can't get over how bad our defense is

JRM being out has been a big time issue for our run defense.

Our depth is Colton Jumper and Elliot Berry (he's looked good). One is a walk-on and the other has little to no experience.

Gavin Bryant, Bates, etc are all busts in my mind. That's been our issue, quality depth. Not having Cam hasn't helped either.

My point is that I don't want to blame coaching when our defense has been decimated by injuries all year.

Even with JRM was healthy they looked pretty weak against the run

More than injuries it seems like guys are constantly out of position. DEs struggle with contain, LBs can't seem to get off blocks (prob has to do with DTs getting whipped and OL getting to second level), safeties tend to blow assignments (again could have to with being depended on so much in run support).

Love TKjr but he is slow. Defense has obviously suffered from injuries but agree with supra that it didn't look real good before all the injuries.

Edit: Seems like Shoop makes great adjustments but has shitty game plans.

Agree with all of that. Idk if they are thinking too much or what but they almost always seem to be a step away from where they should be and/or they react way too late.

I really thought this defense was going to be stacked this annum

Losing essentially your entire DT rotation, and your star LB will do that to you. I really don't get why people are so chapped about the D. We've been absolutely ravaged by injury. You can't just plug in DEs at the tail end of the season and expect them to have even remotely close to the same productivity as your DTs.

Misdirection run plays have destroyed us all year from App State on. Part of that is coaching, though injuries have exacerbated the problem. Our pass D is serviceable largely thanks to a strong pass rush that has come along in recent weeks. I feel better about us going up against a fun n gun passing scheme like Mizzou's than I ever did about UK's ground based offense.

I feel no better watching knowing Kentucky had a record day against these VOLS

I just remember those second half "we aren't losing this fricking game" stands the defense had against VT, Florida, Georgia, and even A&M for awhile.

Might had made it seem better than it actually was.

VOLS rushing D game log


So basically we have had 3 all time bad performances (Bama, A&M, UK). I thought we did a good job against Florida and VT, as Kraven noted nearly half of VT's yards came on one busted play. I was surprised to see SCe only averaged 3.2 ypc. It seemed like they gashed us much more than that.

Georgia was meh but not that bad considering their running backs.