Brooks: Defense lacked discipline
November 1st, 2009 | 
Author: By LARRY VAUGHT
Since Rich Brooks is a former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator, I thought it might be interesting Sunday to find out what glaring holes he found in Kentucky’s defense after Mississippi State’s Anthony Dixon gashed the Cats for 252 yards on 33 carries Saturday.
Brooks said more than anything, it was gap control — or lack of being in the right gaps.
“We had linebackers out of position a bunch. They were either short of their gap or over running the gap,” Brooks said. “Safeties had similar problems. On the option run by the quarterback, we had two guys on the pitch man and nobody on the quarterback.
“It was just a lack of discipline of responsibility. Plus, they played physical ball as well. We were not as physical or aggressive as them. The focus and discipline of our defense just was not there.”
Brooks said the frustrating part is that it was the same players who played physical, disciplined defense to shut down Auburn two weeks. That’s the same Auburn team that has beat Tennessee and Mississippi.
“This same group made all the disciplined reads against a similar style at Auburn. But we were more emotionally ready for that game. We were not nearly as well prepared mentally and it impacted us physically and with our discipline,” Brooks said.
The coach said even the offensive line lacked its usual aggressiveness.
“We did not play as well as we have been. We have been pretty physical, but there were moments we were not. We had busted assignments. We broke down in pass protection. We gave up three sacks,” he said.
Will this performance impact his team’s emotional approach the rest of the season?
“I was worried last week, too, and it was warranted,” Brooks said. “I worry every week about our mental preparation and if we get the importance of what we are telling them. Obviously last week the message didn’t get across.”
Posted in UK Football
Only one word is needed to sum up last night’s defensive performance: DISAPPOINTING. Oh well, a lot of teams aren’t able to stop Mississippi State’s Adrian Peterson, I mean Jerome Bettis, no wait, Barry Sanders. Oh crap, what’s his name again? Dixon, that’s right. I felt, at different times, that UK made Dixon look like all of the above. They knew it was coming and still couldn’t even slow it down, much less stop it. This was a defensive train wreck and I just hope they can put it behind them and focus on the task that needs to be done the next four weeks.
Steve Brown said, “I knew Dixon was good, but not that good.” This makes me think the defensive coordinator did not show the proper respect to Miss State in his attitude and preparation and that lack of respect bled over to the defense.
Something certainly was wrong. I kept thinking how much longer before they decide not to let Dixon beat them. and yet they never adjusted.