Happy September, y’all. Back over on campus today for the end of Wednesday’s practice. After the hand-me-downs from Ida soaked us on Tuesday, it’s an almost perfect day in Lexington. Cats are back outside under blue skies and a really nice 80-degree day. We are scheduled to speak with the defensive players and coaches today at approx 5:30 ET. Stay tuned for the latest news and notes…
Q&A WITH UK DEF. COORDINATOR BRAD WHITE:
* On what he’s looking for Saturday not knowing a whole lot about ULM and what they want to do: “The best version of us, execution, no matter who’s out there, no matter what system we're facing … Play clean, Kentucky football.” He acknowledged there's a bit of guesswork in this opening game with their coordinators and personnel.
* Asked about Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald winning the third DL spot: Consistency, finishing plays. He's done a good job through camp, earned the job.
* On the unit’s growth from the start of camp until now: Younger guys learning what is expected of them, the older guys growing in their capacity to understand what the opponent is doing and how to make adjustments. "Helps to have old guys," White added.
* Any snap counts for older guys/younger guys? White says no. Everybody has to be ready to go and expect a four-quarter dogfight.
* Will this be a good tackling team? White initially pauses… He thinks the drill work has shown that potential. Good job with the feet and the eyes. But until it’s a live game situation, you don’t know. Poor in scrimmage 1, better in scrimmage 2. Wants to see what it looks like when "the bullets are flying for real" on Saturday. They have goals to be a great defense, and if you want to be that, you have to tackle well.
* On what makes the best pass rush: coverage or pressure? Chicken or the egg, White says. Usually takes both.
* ULM has some playmakers, dangerous with the ball in space, White said. Still a bit of a mystery to some extent with all the transfer portal guys. Did not single out any of their players. A little unusual for game week.
* KD McDaniel has a chance to be an important piece of this defense, White said, especially from a pass-rush standpoint. Still a lot of work to do, but the athleticism is there. He’ll get a chance on Saturday, White adds.
Q&A with DL ABULE-ABADI FITZGERALD:
* Abule said he's had the butterflies all week, can't wait to get out there and play and show the hard work that the D-Line has put in all summer.
* On how much of this game is scouting ULM vs. just being the best version of yourself: Abule says they've been looking at some ULM stuff for 2-3 weeks. They'll be ready for whatever they see.
* D-Line is determined and motivated to show what they've got, Abule said. They have a strong bond between each other.
* Asked what he may have done in camp/scrimmages to elevate to a starting job: Confidence, playing faster, more aggressive. He made those things his goals since the start of camp. More aggression, less thinking.
* On how to calm his mind to ease some of the anxiousness of game week: video games help, Abule said.
* Abule thinks he's mentally tougher this year. Says Coach Stewart has really pushed him to be tougher.
* On going up against Rosenthal in practice... "Fun, competitive," Abule said. Those two groups really go at it in practice, but they're close as teammates, too.
* On knowing the playbook, Abule jokes, "Well, I've been here five years, so if I don't know the playbook by now, something's wrong."
* On having five years in the S&C program... He arrived at UK weighing 260. Now he's at 300 pounds and feels really good. He said there were times when he had to adapt to carrying that much weight and pick up his conditioning, but he feels great now. Doesn't feel like he's actually 300.
* Abule says he's really looked forward to playing beside Marquan McCall and Josh Paschal. On Saturday, he's looking forward to seeing Bully dominating the point of attack like a bulldozer and Josh running around "like the Terminator."
Q&A with DB CARRINGTON VALENTINE:
* No nerves for Carrington. Says getting to play late last season and that bowl game really helped.
* Thinks the secondary made big strides since the start of camp, how to work together.
* On what the coaches have stressed this week: Do your job, knowing your role.
* Asked about the team's tackling, Valentine said he feels like they're really good in that area. They do a lot of work on it in their individual work with Coach Collins. Says that's the main thing they do during that segment of practice. A big focus.
Q&A WITH UK DEF. COORDINATOR BRAD WHITE:
* On what he’s looking for Saturday not knowing a whole lot about ULM and what they want to do: “The best version of us, execution, no matter who’s out there, no matter what system we're facing … Play clean, Kentucky football.” He acknowledged there's a bit of guesswork in this opening game with their coordinators and personnel.
* Asked about Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald winning the third DL spot: Consistency, finishing plays. He's done a good job through camp, earned the job.
* On the unit’s growth from the start of camp until now: Younger guys learning what is expected of them, the older guys growing in their capacity to understand what the opponent is doing and how to make adjustments. "Helps to have old guys," White added.
* Any snap counts for older guys/younger guys? White says no. Everybody has to be ready to go and expect a four-quarter dogfight.
* Will this be a good tackling team? White initially pauses… He thinks the drill work has shown that potential. Good job with the feet and the eyes. But until it’s a live game situation, you don’t know. Poor in scrimmage 1, better in scrimmage 2. Wants to see what it looks like when "the bullets are flying for real" on Saturday. They have goals to be a great defense, and if you want to be that, you have to tackle well.
* On what makes the best pass rush: coverage or pressure? Chicken or the egg, White says. Usually takes both.
* ULM has some playmakers, dangerous with the ball in space, White said. Still a bit of a mystery to some extent with all the transfer portal guys. Did not single out any of their players. A little unusual for game week.
* KD McDaniel has a chance to be an important piece of this defense, White said, especially from a pass-rush standpoint. Still a lot of work to do, but the athleticism is there. He’ll get a chance on Saturday, White adds.
Q&A with DL ABULE-ABADI FITZGERALD:
* Abule said he's had the butterflies all week, can't wait to get out there and play and show the hard work that the D-Line has put in all summer.
* On how much of this game is scouting ULM vs. just being the best version of yourself: Abule says they've been looking at some ULM stuff for 2-3 weeks. They'll be ready for whatever they see.
* D-Line is determined and motivated to show what they've got, Abule said. They have a strong bond between each other.
* Asked what he may have done in camp/scrimmages to elevate to a starting job: Confidence, playing faster, more aggressive. He made those things his goals since the start of camp. More aggression, less thinking.
* On how to calm his mind to ease some of the anxiousness of game week: video games help, Abule said.
* Abule thinks he's mentally tougher this year. Says Coach Stewart has really pushed him to be tougher.
* On going up against Rosenthal in practice... "Fun, competitive," Abule said. Those two groups really go at it in practice, but they're close as teammates, too.
* On knowing the playbook, Abule jokes, "Well, I've been here five years, so if I don't know the playbook by now, something's wrong."
* On having five years in the S&C program... He arrived at UK weighing 260. Now he's at 300 pounds and feels really good. He said there were times when he had to adapt to carrying that much weight and pick up his conditioning, but he feels great now. Doesn't feel like he's actually 300.
* Abule says he's really looked forward to playing beside Marquan McCall and Josh Paschal. On Saturday, he's looking forward to seeing Bully dominating the point of attack like a bulldozer and Josh running around "like the Terminator."
Q&A with DB CARRINGTON VALENTINE:
* No nerves for Carrington. Says getting to play late last season and that bowl game really helped.
* Thinks the secondary made big strides since the start of camp, how to work together.
* On what the coaches have stressed this week: Do your job, knowing your role.
* Asked about the team's tackling, Valentine said he feels like they're really good in that area. They do a lot of work on it in their individual work with Coach Collins. Says that's the main thing they do during that segment of practice. A big focus.
