Following along with the HBC's weekly radio show again tonight for those of you who may not be able to hear it live...
* Felt good about last week's performance. Nine possessions, scored on six of 'em. Still want to see more TDs on those. Defense only gave up one drive, and that was largely because of his decision to go for it once. Shoulda been a shutout.
* Protection is No. 1 key moving forward. We need time to get it downfield.
* Laros looked good on the one punt he had in the Ohio game. That job is up for grabs. Loved the distance and hang on it. Both punters were inconsistent in camp, so still looking at it as a competition.
* We have to play a complete game this week. "A definite challenge" because Ole Miss is really good on both sides of the ball. It's not just the offense, which gets all the attention. Long on defense at every level.
* Game is now slated for ABC, Tom Leach notes. It had been listed as ABC or ESPN. Still a Noon ET kickoff.
* Loves Soles' "relentless energy" on the edge. Really excited about some of the young players they have in the program. Plays fast and is versatile. Thinks they could be multiple with him and even drop him into coverage with his athleticism.
* Caller wants to know why Cats are going to Ole Miss two games in a row. Stoops says he'd like to know that, too. Think it just comes down to the conference "reboot" with Oklahoma and Texas coming in. "Every time there's a reboot, seems like we catch it." Noted how many times they've run into Bama that way compared to some other old East teams.
* Gotta be ready to play. Ole Miss starts fast, something like 100-7 on the season.
* You can't substitute defensively in this game unless there's a stoppage, Stoops said. Guys have to be ready for that.
* Asked what his opinion is of the new NFL kickoff rule and whether he thinks it will come to CFB, Stoops said he's not sure we'll see that in the college game. Thinks people are just going to kick it out of the end zone now that we've seen some returns against it.
* UK's kicking ability makes it where you have to change your philosophy and thinking if you can get points around the 40 yard line.
* Sounds like Leach is getting some info on next year's SEC games in live time on the air. He says Texas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Florida will be slated to come to Lexington, but they're double-checking to see if that's accurate. Seems like it would be, based on this year's schedule, but no one was quite sure how the SEC would handle it moving forward. Stoops says his understanding was that the league wants it to where every kid in the league, if they stay 4 years, they'll play in every stadium in the SEC, and every stadium will host all the league members once. Still waiting on A&M to get to Lexington. (laughs)
* RB Chip Trayanum is cleared by the doctors to play, Stoops says. They'll see as the week goes along how he's handling it.
* Caller asks if there is one part of the defense that has to really play well Saturday, Stoops says he knows it needs to be all 11 guys, but if he was pinned down to one position group, it's the secondary. They will be put in some very stressful situations against skilled receivers and a talented QB. Those guys have to play at a really high level. Pleased with how they're playing right now. Not going to win all the 1-on-1s vs. an offense like Ole Miss, but we have to win our share.
* More on Daveren Rayner... We'll see how that RS plan goes. Part of that is staying healthy. If he can add a year and put on some size and strength, it would be really big for next year.
* Felt good about last week's performance. Nine possessions, scored on six of 'em. Still want to see more TDs on those. Defense only gave up one drive, and that was largely because of his decision to go for it once. Shoulda been a shutout.
* Protection is No. 1 key moving forward. We need time to get it downfield.
* Laros looked good on the one punt he had in the Ohio game. That job is up for grabs. Loved the distance and hang on it. Both punters were inconsistent in camp, so still looking at it as a competition.
* We have to play a complete game this week. "A definite challenge" because Ole Miss is really good on both sides of the ball. It's not just the offense, which gets all the attention. Long on defense at every level.
* Game is now slated for ABC, Tom Leach notes. It had been listed as ABC or ESPN. Still a Noon ET kickoff.
* Loves Soles' "relentless energy" on the edge. Really excited about some of the young players they have in the program. Plays fast and is versatile. Thinks they could be multiple with him and even drop him into coverage with his athleticism.
* Caller wants to know why Cats are going to Ole Miss two games in a row. Stoops says he'd like to know that, too. Think it just comes down to the conference "reboot" with Oklahoma and Texas coming in. "Every time there's a reboot, seems like we catch it." Noted how many times they've run into Bama that way compared to some other old East teams.
* Gotta be ready to play. Ole Miss starts fast, something like 100-7 on the season.
* You can't substitute defensively in this game unless there's a stoppage, Stoops said. Guys have to be ready for that.
* Asked what his opinion is of the new NFL kickoff rule and whether he thinks it will come to CFB, Stoops said he's not sure we'll see that in the college game. Thinks people are just going to kick it out of the end zone now that we've seen some returns against it.
* UK's kicking ability makes it where you have to change your philosophy and thinking if you can get points around the 40 yard line.
* Sounds like Leach is getting some info on next year's SEC games in live time on the air. He says Texas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Florida will be slated to come to Lexington, but they're double-checking to see if that's accurate. Seems like it would be, based on this year's schedule, but no one was quite sure how the SEC would handle it moving forward. Stoops says his understanding was that the league wants it to where every kid in the league, if they stay 4 years, they'll play in every stadium in the SEC, and every stadium will host all the league members once. Still waiting on A&M to get to Lexington. (laughs)
* RB Chip Trayanum is cleared by the doctors to play, Stoops says. They'll see as the week goes along how he's handling it.
* Caller asks if there is one part of the defense that has to really play well Saturday, Stoops says he knows it needs to be all 11 guys, but if he was pinned down to one position group, it's the secondary. They will be put in some very stressful situations against skilled receivers and a talented QB. Those guys have to play at a really high level. Pleased with how they're playing right now. Not going to win all the 1-on-1s vs. an offense like Ole Miss, but we have to win our share.
* More on Daveren Rayner... We'll see how that RS plan goes. Part of that is staying healthy. If he can add a year and put on some size and strength, it would be really big for next year.
