Why playing less could actually help former Moore star J.J. Weaver and Kentucky football

LEXINGTON – By almost every measure, former Moore star J.J. Weaver has already wildly exceeded expectations in his return from a torn ACL for Kentucky football.

But as the Wildcats enter a pivotal four-game stretch leading to the team’s off week, less could be more for the junior outside linebacker.

“Probably putting a lot on him, to be honest with you,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said this week. “So, need to try to be conscientious of that and try to back off a touch for him.”

Through three games, Weaver ranks sixth in the Southeastern Conference with 4.5 tackles for loss and eighth with 2.5 sacks. Weaver recorded 1.5 tackles for loss and sacks while playing limited snaps in the season-opening blowout of Louisiana Monroe.

He tallied Kentucky’s only sack of the week-two win over Missouri on the defense’s second-to-last play of the game. Despite playing almost every snap of the week-three win over Chattanooga, Weaver’s production dropped to just one tackle for loss and no sacks.

Weaver’s role increased the last two weeks when an injury to senior outside linebacker Jordan Wright left the Wildcats thin at the “Jack” linebacker position, but Wright is expected to be available for Saturday’s game at South Carolina.

“I think it’s good for (Weaver) to experience that, to understand his knee is good and he can trust it,” defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Brad White said. “I think he does, but we have to do a good job of managing and not pushing too hard.”

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Weaver said he played less than 10 snaps in the ULM win. That number increased to around 25 against Missouri and more than 70 against Chattanooga with Wright unavailable for the whole game.

Since Weaver’s ACL injury happened in late November at Florida last season, he remains within the one-year timeline that many athletes need to fully return from the injury. UK coaches insist Weaver is 100% healthy now, but they acknowledge a cumulative effect of playing so many snaps so early in the season.

“Last week, for sure, my tendons were sore, but I’m still out there practicing with the team now,” Weaver said. “I’m ready. My blood be running, so I’m ready for anything.”

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After Kentucky ranked 113th nationally in sacks per game last season (1.36) preseason questions about the pass rush appeared answered when the Wildcats tallied 14 tackles for loss and six sacks in the blowout of ULM.

Those worried have returned in the last two games though with only one sack against Missouri and none against Chattanooga. White pointed to the nine quarterback hurries against Chattanooga as proof the pass rush is still affecting the game – especially on the game-clinching pick six from safety Tyrell Ajian that was set up by a pressure from defensive lineman Octavious Oxendine – but UK coaches acknowledge improvement is still needed.

Weaver might be the Wildcats’ best pass rusher, but playing too many snaps this early in his return to the field can reduce his effectiveness.

For that reason, Stoops hopes to be able to maximize Weaver’s snaps in predictable passing situations like third-and-longs to replicate plays like his late sack against Missouri when White was able to load the pressure onto one side of the line of scrimmage and scheme a clear path to the quarterback for Weaver.

“It’s just getting his legs back up underneath so he can play as fast as we need him to play critical moments and predictable pass and things that he’s good at,” Stoops said. “We all know we need some pass rush. He’s a guy that can do it if he’s fresh and rested and coming in in certain situations.”

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Weaver acknowledged before the season being anxious to contribute on the field once again, even as doctors, coaches and his mother constantly reminded him to not overexert himself. He was held out of contact for most of preseason practice.

Now that he has proven capable of making a difference for Kentucky’s defense again, Weaver said he is not worried about the injury.

“It helped me, and it helped my injury, helped my leg,” Weaver said of playing so much against Chattanooga. “Once my number is called, once Coach White says J.J. get out there, I’m ready. I’m stepping up first play.”

Email Jon Hale at jahale@courier-journal.com; Follow him on Twitter at @JonHale_CJ.