UK Football: Raising expectations for the Kentucky defense

UK football coach Mark Stoops and Big Blue Nation recently got word that both Mike Edwards and Josh Allen will not enter the NFL Draft this year. Their return is huge for the UK football program and expectations will now be greater than ever.

Expectations were high for the 2017 UK football season. The excitement in Big Blue Nation was palpable. As the season started, Mark Stoops was as relaxed as he’s been during his time in Lexington. Another big piece to the puzzle was the strength of schedule. Kentucky’s SEC schedule was the easiest UK had seen in quite some time.

Florida and Tennessee both had very underwhelming seasons. The Cats knocked of the Gamecocks in Columbia, South Carolina. Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Ole Miss were hardly teams to that would be considered intimidated. Even so, most of BBN expected better than a 7-5 finish considering the strength of schedule.

Returning starters on defense

Expectations for 2018 will be even higher and it has nothing to do with the strength of schedule. The high expectations have everything to do with the defensive unit for the UK football team in 2018. Big Blue Nation was recently informed that each of the NFL prospects from the Cats’ defensive unit are set to return for another season. Josh Allen and Mike Edwards, both with NFL potential, announced their intentions to return for a special season in 2018. Jordan Jones and Denzil Ware struggled with discipline issues recently, but both are now expected to return for 2018 as well.

Barring injuries or other discipline issues, the UK football team can expect 10 of its 11 starters from the defensive unit to return next season. This, my friends, is why expectations will increased for the Cats next season. No, they won’t be on the same level as Alabama. But I expect that you’ll see a Kentucky defensive unit that will win games for the Cats. UK won’t need an electric offensive output or air-raid offense next year. The defense should always have the Cats in games. Coach Stoops can lean on the defense to make each game competitive and force turnovers.

Due to experience and skill, not only will the defense be good, but they should actually be exciting and fun to watch. With the amount of talent and experience returning, the playbook should open up. More blitz packages and more pressure on opposing quarterbacks are sure to be on the docket next season. This, of course, should lead to an increase in sacks, fumbles and interceptions for the UK defense. Ware, Jones, and Allen should be putting plenty of pressure on SEC quarterbacks. Passes under pressure bode well for the likes of Lonnie Johnson, Derrick Baity, Chris Westry, and Edwards. With a new starting quarterback next year, Kentucky will lean on the defense for takeaways, field position and continuous stops.

With a loaded defensive unit and Benny Snell chewing up clock and yardage, expectations from BBN are going to be at an all-time high next season for the UK football team.