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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 06-17-2015, 09:21 AM:

We as fans always seem to think offense but like this article points out defense is key to victories also and we have not been playing good defense for a long time.

The Kentucky nemesis regarding third down conversions has been on the defensive side of the ball, not on offense. Even the last three Brooks’ teams allowed opponents to convert 48.6%, 51.2%, and 50.5% in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Coach Phillips’ first team improved a little on the Brooks’ record allowing “only” 48.0% conversions, but in his second and third seasons, the opponent third down conversion rate surged to 55.6% and 56.3%.

To put these defensive third down conversion rates into national perspective, none of the UK results are sufficient to place them in the top 100 on college football. Coach Stoops, known as a defensive specialist, has not improved on this track record. His first two teams have allowed 57.1% and 54.9% respectively.

Before the UK program can become legitimate SEC competitors, the defensive numbers simply must improve, and improve dramatically. The third down conversion rate exemplifies the distance that the UK defense must span to achieve competitiveness. Top 100 is 45%; Top 75 is 41%; Top 50 is 38%; Top 25 is 35%; and Top 10 is 32%.

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