Hello all. It's time again for our UK Football Practice Notebook. Now that we're into the season, we'll have updates from Stoops on Monday, Gran & Co. on Tuesday, White & Co. on Wednesday, and Stoops once again on Thursday. Today is defense day, so we'll be checking in with White and some of his guys from that side of the ball. Practice is slated to wrap up sometime around 5 ET, so I'll post all the latest news and notes here shortly. Stay tuned.
DC BRAD WHITE:
* White has a new addition to the family, a daughter born last Friday. White says he's lost more sleep over Auburn than her, though.
* On the Auburn offense and playing fast... It's a huge challenge. Whenever you don't have time to get your feet set and your eyes in the right place, it's hard to make adjustments and checks. Tempo always creates some communication issues as well, both between the players and from the sidelines. It's one of those things that, until you face it live, you really can't replicate it in practice.
* Asked about a lot of changes on the Auburn O-Line, White said the scheme is the main focus, attacking it. The players will be challenged with winning their one-on-one battles. They've had to go watch some film on guys who came in from other programs to join the AU offense.
* On the biggest step the defense took toward the end of camp... Proud of how they practiced. Showed up every day. Coachable. Really attentive in meeting room. This group doesn't want to take days off. It's a pleasure to come out and work with them, the energy that they bring every day. "I'm really lucky. That's what excites me."
* Asked about Chris Oats, White said it will be emotional to play without him. His presence is felt. They'll honor him with the 22 jersey being worn by a select player. (I thought maybe that was just a helmet decal at first, but they may be doing even more to honor him.) The players will take pride in that. He thinks Chris was going to have a huge season if not for what happened.
* On getting pressure on Auburn QB Bo Nix.... You have to be smart about how you do it. He's so good at extending plays with his feet and creating plays. You have to pick and choose when you come after him. You see guys on film with what looks like a free run on him, a good shot, and he just has a knack of making them miss. Said he kind plays like a Brett Favre, loose and fun.
* DBs are excited about the challenge from Auburn's talented WRs. White said it's important to know that they will make some plays against the Cats. You just have to play the next play and be ready to make your play when the time comes.
* On the D needing to win the physical battle... If you don't, you've got all kinds of issues, White said. It's hard to tell sometimes in early games whether you will have the intensity and keep it going. He pointed to the Tulane-Navy crazy game as an example of what can happen if you don't bring it from start to finish. He thinks Coach Stoops has ingrained physicality into them. "At some point, we have to exceed (Auburn's physicality) if we expect to win."
LB JOSH PASCHAL:
* First question for Josh is about the Breonna Taylor grand jury announcement. He said he has been in practice all day, so doesn't really have enough information to form an opinion about it yet. They haven't made any plans for anything, team-wise, on Saturday to reflect their feelings. He said they wouldn't do anything without having a plan though, and being unified. He mentined that Square is wearing Oats' 22 this week to honor him. That's the big thing on his mind right now.
* Paschal likes the upside the defense has with its talent level, experience, and work ethic. A group of competitive guys. When you put all that together, it's a dangerous thing.
* Asked what the Cats are missing from not having Chris Oats on the defense, Paschal says a LB who was just "a dog on the field," who could run and make plays sideline to sideline.
* On Auburn QB Bo Nix... The Cats know they're facing a really good QB. They haven't been able to hit a QB during camp, so the defense is looking forward to it.
* Told that Auburn has a couple of guys who have beaten cancer, too, (I believe on the OL) Paschal said he didn't know much about their story yet, but would like to talk to them about their triumph. "It will be survivor vs. survivor out there."
LB DEANDRE SQUARE:
* On Auburn's RBs... They have some good backs. They have a smaller back and then two guys a little bigger. This is a game where you have to get your fits right and come downhill.
* Asked about wearing Chris Oats' No. 22... (Square was No. 17 last year and will be No. 5 primarily this season.) Square says it's an honor to wear it. It's been tough to not have Chris around because they know how much he wants to be with his team. They're trying to encourage him to keep working hard on his own.
* On being hyped up for this game, especially early on, the first series... Square says he's looking to set the tone from the first series. Looking forward to having a chance to hit a QB for a change.
* On the development of the backup ILBs... Square said they came along pretty well. It took a while to get the hang of it, but they're up to date on everything now. They follow his lead well.
* Asked if there was a particular area that he wanted to work on in camp this year, it was consistency. He made plays here and there in the past, but wants to be a consistent playmaker this season.
* On the UK offense and who we should be excited to see on Saturday, Square points to Terry Wilson making his return at QB. He said the whole unit was spectacular during camp, which is saying something going against their defense.
* Square is showing off some nice "guns" in his cut-off T-shirt today. He said he's really happy with the extra muscle he put on for this season. Should help him take on guys a lot stronger.
In the meantime...
JD's SONG OF THE DAY:
Happy 71st birthday to The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, born on this day in 1949.
DC BRAD WHITE:
* White has a new addition to the family, a daughter born last Friday. White says he's lost more sleep over Auburn than her, though.
* On the Auburn offense and playing fast... It's a huge challenge. Whenever you don't have time to get your feet set and your eyes in the right place, it's hard to make adjustments and checks. Tempo always creates some communication issues as well, both between the players and from the sidelines. It's one of those things that, until you face it live, you really can't replicate it in practice.
* Asked about a lot of changes on the Auburn O-Line, White said the scheme is the main focus, attacking it. The players will be challenged with winning their one-on-one battles. They've had to go watch some film on guys who came in from other programs to join the AU offense.
* On the biggest step the defense took toward the end of camp... Proud of how they practiced. Showed up every day. Coachable. Really attentive in meeting room. This group doesn't want to take days off. It's a pleasure to come out and work with them, the energy that they bring every day. "I'm really lucky. That's what excites me."
* Asked about Chris Oats, White said it will be emotional to play without him. His presence is felt. They'll honor him with the 22 jersey being worn by a select player. (I thought maybe that was just a helmet decal at first, but they may be doing even more to honor him.) The players will take pride in that. He thinks Chris was going to have a huge season if not for what happened.
* On getting pressure on Auburn QB Bo Nix.... You have to be smart about how you do it. He's so good at extending plays with his feet and creating plays. You have to pick and choose when you come after him. You see guys on film with what looks like a free run on him, a good shot, and he just has a knack of making them miss. Said he kind plays like a Brett Favre, loose and fun.
* DBs are excited about the challenge from Auburn's talented WRs. White said it's important to know that they will make some plays against the Cats. You just have to play the next play and be ready to make your play when the time comes.
* On the D needing to win the physical battle... If you don't, you've got all kinds of issues, White said. It's hard to tell sometimes in early games whether you will have the intensity and keep it going. He pointed to the Tulane-Navy crazy game as an example of what can happen if you don't bring it from start to finish. He thinks Coach Stoops has ingrained physicality into them. "At some point, we have to exceed (Auburn's physicality) if we expect to win."
LB JOSH PASCHAL:
* First question for Josh is about the Breonna Taylor grand jury announcement. He said he has been in practice all day, so doesn't really have enough information to form an opinion about it yet. They haven't made any plans for anything, team-wise, on Saturday to reflect their feelings. He said they wouldn't do anything without having a plan though, and being unified. He mentined that Square is wearing Oats' 22 this week to honor him. That's the big thing on his mind right now.
* Paschal likes the upside the defense has with its talent level, experience, and work ethic. A group of competitive guys. When you put all that together, it's a dangerous thing.
* Asked what the Cats are missing from not having Chris Oats on the defense, Paschal says a LB who was just "a dog on the field," who could run and make plays sideline to sideline.
* On Auburn QB Bo Nix... The Cats know they're facing a really good QB. They haven't been able to hit a QB during camp, so the defense is looking forward to it.
* Told that Auburn has a couple of guys who have beaten cancer, too, (I believe on the OL) Paschal said he didn't know much about their story yet, but would like to talk to them about their triumph. "It will be survivor vs. survivor out there."
LB DEANDRE SQUARE:
* On Auburn's RBs... They have some good backs. They have a smaller back and then two guys a little bigger. This is a game where you have to get your fits right and come downhill.
* Asked about wearing Chris Oats' No. 22... (Square was No. 17 last year and will be No. 5 primarily this season.) Square says it's an honor to wear it. It's been tough to not have Chris around because they know how much he wants to be with his team. They're trying to encourage him to keep working hard on his own.
* On being hyped up for this game, especially early on, the first series... Square says he's looking to set the tone from the first series. Looking forward to having a chance to hit a QB for a change.
* On the development of the backup ILBs... Square said they came along pretty well. It took a while to get the hang of it, but they're up to date on everything now. They follow his lead well.
* Asked if there was a particular area that he wanted to work on in camp this year, it was consistency. He made plays here and there in the past, but wants to be a consistent playmaker this season.
* On the UK offense and who we should be excited to see on Saturday, Square points to Terry Wilson making his return at QB. He said the whole unit was spectacular during camp, which is saying something going against their defense.
* Square is showing off some nice "guns" in his cut-off T-shirt today. He said he's really happy with the extra muscle he put on for this season. Should help him take on guys a lot stronger.
In the meantime...
JD's SONG OF THE DAY:
Happy 71st birthday to The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, born on this day in 1949.
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