Hello HOB. Good Monday morning to everyone. We'll have UK head coach Mark Stoops joining us at Noon ET today for his weekly Monday press conference. Stay tuned for the latest news and notes as the Cats jump back into SEC play and prepare for a Top 25 matchup with Ole Miss...
NOTE: Kentucky WR Barion Brown has been named SEC Co-Freshman of The Week after his two-touchdown performance against NIU.
MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* Looking forward to the challenge of playing on the road again in the SEC. Very good Ole Miss team. Expecting high tempo. Running the ball extremely effectively. It helps them create some explosive plays in the passing game because you get so geared up to stop 2-3 really good tailbacks. "Playing at a very high level." Unorthodox in some of the things they do defensively and the kind of pressure they bring. Thinks the Cats will see some "exotic pressures."
* Film review of NIU showed some really good things and also some really inconsistent things, undisciplined stuff. Have to get that straight this week. Had some things that were uncharacteristic of their defense to date. Putting the ball on the ground, offensively, "that cannot happen." Felt like they were starting to separate and gave them a touchdown there. Lost control of the "middle 8."
* On getting Chris Rodriguez back... Important thing was managing him while he was out and making sure he was getting those reps he needed to be ready. Stayed in good shape. Chris doesn't need to come in and be our savior, just be himself, and for the other guys around him to do their job.
* On OLB JJ Weaver... "Doesn't look good for JJ this week," Stoops said.
* On the approach defensive fronts are taking with UK... Thinks people will try to do stuff like the Cats have seen. NIU, in particular, puts in a new pressure every week. But that also pened some opportunitites for some big plays.
* Stoops thinks they have 5-6 really good receivers who could be in the mix right now, but possessions have been limited of late. Noted that they just had one possession in the first quarter. Defense letting NIU have a couple of long drives also hurt their snap opps as well.
* On Ty Ajian's health... Was dealing with an injury last week. Hopefully better this week and ready to be back out there. Zion Childress had a decent game against NIU. Some good, some bad. Had a couple of plays where he needed better leverage. Jordan Lovett getting better with reps. Needs to play cleaner and learn from mistakes.
* Very tough stretch beginning this week. Need good preparation, leadership from vets.
* On the UK pass rush... Different in a game like this because there's a lot of deception. Have to be more disciplined, locked in on assignments, ready for the play-action. Ole Miss won't do a lot of drop-back passing unless it's a clear-cut, predictable situation.
* Human nature sometimes to hear good things about yourself, get pats on the back, and go out and play very average, Stoops said in regard to some slippage by the defense last week.
* Stoops reiterates that they are committed to playing OT Kiyaunta Goodwin this season.
* Not taking the bait on comparing Ole Miss to anyone on the UK schedule so far. "No matter what I say, that's gonna come back at me," Stoops said.
* Protection has been really good at times on the drop-back passing game. OL deserves more credit for helping them create some of the explosives they've had.
* On Jacquez and Keidron playing against their old team... Both older, mature guys, so they probably understand that they just have to go out and play their game.
* Stoops notes this is one of the few places in college football he's never been. Looking forward to the rumored big UK travel contingent being in Oxford.
* On the OL continuity... You can see it coming along on film. "There's optimism there from that growth."
* On his record against Western Division teams... "I'm not even sure what it is. I'm sure you'll point it out to me."
UPDATED UK DEPTH CHART:
*
NOTE: Kentucky WR Barion Brown has been named SEC Co-Freshman of The Week after his two-touchdown performance against NIU.
MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* Looking forward to the challenge of playing on the road again in the SEC. Very good Ole Miss team. Expecting high tempo. Running the ball extremely effectively. It helps them create some explosive plays in the passing game because you get so geared up to stop 2-3 really good tailbacks. "Playing at a very high level." Unorthodox in some of the things they do defensively and the kind of pressure they bring. Thinks the Cats will see some "exotic pressures."
* Film review of NIU showed some really good things and also some really inconsistent things, undisciplined stuff. Have to get that straight this week. Had some things that were uncharacteristic of their defense to date. Putting the ball on the ground, offensively, "that cannot happen." Felt like they were starting to separate and gave them a touchdown there. Lost control of the "middle 8."
* On getting Chris Rodriguez back... Important thing was managing him while he was out and making sure he was getting those reps he needed to be ready. Stayed in good shape. Chris doesn't need to come in and be our savior, just be himself, and for the other guys around him to do their job.
* On OLB JJ Weaver... "Doesn't look good for JJ this week," Stoops said.
* On the approach defensive fronts are taking with UK... Thinks people will try to do stuff like the Cats have seen. NIU, in particular, puts in a new pressure every week. But that also pened some opportunitites for some big plays.
* Stoops thinks they have 5-6 really good receivers who could be in the mix right now, but possessions have been limited of late. Noted that they just had one possession in the first quarter. Defense letting NIU have a couple of long drives also hurt their snap opps as well.
* On Ty Ajian's health... Was dealing with an injury last week. Hopefully better this week and ready to be back out there. Zion Childress had a decent game against NIU. Some good, some bad. Had a couple of plays where he needed better leverage. Jordan Lovett getting better with reps. Needs to play cleaner and learn from mistakes.
* Very tough stretch beginning this week. Need good preparation, leadership from vets.
* On the UK pass rush... Different in a game like this because there's a lot of deception. Have to be more disciplined, locked in on assignments, ready for the play-action. Ole Miss won't do a lot of drop-back passing unless it's a clear-cut, predictable situation.
* Human nature sometimes to hear good things about yourself, get pats on the back, and go out and play very average, Stoops said in regard to some slippage by the defense last week.
* Stoops reiterates that they are committed to playing OT Kiyaunta Goodwin this season.
* Not taking the bait on comparing Ole Miss to anyone on the UK schedule so far. "No matter what I say, that's gonna come back at me," Stoops said.
* Protection has been really good at times on the drop-back passing game. OL deserves more credit for helping them create some of the explosives they've had.
* On Jacquez and Keidron playing against their old team... Both older, mature guys, so they probably understand that they just have to go out and play their game.
* Stoops notes this is one of the few places in college football he's never been. Looking forward to the rumored big UK travel contingent being in Oxford.
* On the OL continuity... You can see it coming along on film. "There's optimism there from that growth."
* On his record against Western Division teams... "I'm not even sure what it is. I'm sure you'll point it out to me."
UPDATED UK DEPTH CHART:
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