Good morning, HOB. Back over at the JCFTC for today’s practice report. It’s “defense day,” so we’ll have DC Brad White and select players/coaches from that side of the ball. Stay tuned…
DC BRAD WHITE Q&A:
* On the defense looking really good Saturday… “Truly unofficial,” White jokes, if the fans scored the defense as “winning” Fan Day. It’s been back and forth on most days, but that was a pretty good day.
* Older guys are helping them go fast right now. Wants to keep it fast and see who can retain.
* It’s been good, it’s been bad, it’s been ugly at times, but that’s why you practice, and it’s good that you get 25 of these before you play.
* On transfer DBs… Can handle the volume of info quicker than younger guys. The terms may be different, but the coverages are fairly similar to what they’ve been used to. “We’ve been lucky. They’re smart and conscientious.”
* DBs have made some competitive plays. Lost some, too, but that’s part of the process. Feels like they've played the ball better. Still looking for technical expertise on the ball and off.
* Saturday scrimmage will be a good test to see if they can do it in a game scenario. Usually see who’s willing to be physical in that setting. Who hangs their head after a tough play, who elevates.
* New DB transfers: Biggest thing they all offer is competition. Everybody knows why they were brought it, and it may make some guys uncomfortable, but that’s OK because it’s to make everyone better. The DBs have checked their egos at their door in that regard.
* Keidron is really savvy, Zion really strong in zone coverage at safety, and Jordan is really long, athletic guy. Still working on refining his technique, but they’re excited about him when the dust settles.
* On the ILBs… Depth will allow them to roll guys in and out and keep guys fresh, highlight a guys’ strength for a certain situation. Wallace will admit that he’s still learning what it means to be a true ILB, so it’s good that he’s got guys like Square and Jones back for another year to learn from.
* More on Keidron: Understanding route combos, stems, the pace of the routes. He can play big picture and understand what the offense is trying to do. “He’s done some good things with that.”
* On the unit’s intelligence… The older guys, in particular, really understand what they’re trying to get done. What I need from those guys is to push the younger ones and pass that on. The young guys can feel like they’re dealing with a foreign language the first seven days.
* Nickel options: Still trying to figure it out. Rolling a few guys in and out of that role.
* On their approach…. “Always going to be who were are.” Sounds like they have a good identity going into the season.
CB COACH CHRIS COLLINS Q&A:
* Tight group in the DBs room. They've checked their egos, worked to get each other better. Guys have bought in, used competition the right way, embraced it.
* Conceded they were pretty thin in the spring, but Coach Stoops made it a major point of emphasis to address it and find the right people to bring in.
* Keidron Smith has really good preparation. What he does in the meeting room/film room, asks a lot of questions, and it carries over to the field. That also sets a good example for the younger guys. His football savviness is really high.
* Zion Childress has really good versatility, a former QB, so he really understands what the offense is trying to do and times things really well at safety.
* Jordan Robinson is still really raw, but they're extremely excited about his potential with a 6-4, 202-pound corner. Really gets out of his cuts well for someone that size.
* Andru Phillips is really competing and getting better on a daily basis. Has gotten better in the meeting room, paying attention to those details like Keidron Smith does. He's very intentional about his approach now and competing on the field.
* On what he's eager to see in Saturday's scrimmage... Want to see guys have fun, compete, finish plays, get guys on the ground. A guy lke Carrington Valentine has really improved at finishing plays in this camp, he added.
* Some good WRs to challenge his guys on a daily basis. It's been fun. They've pushed each other.
* On which guys from offense are giving them headaches... "Really glad that 7's on our side." (Laughs) And Tayvion Robinson has been really good. Tough guy. Physical with his catch radius. Dane Key keeps doing good things. Barion Brown can fly, really good ball skills. Jordan Anthony makes the DBs' GPS trackers spike when they have to cover him.
DL TRE'VONN RYBKA Q&A:
* Feels good about where he's at right now in camp with his technique, strength. He's the same weight, but feels like he got stronger and faster. Transformed a little of that weight to hold up better in the run game. He struggled with that a bit when he got here. Now he feels like the strength is helping him get off blocks and play the run a lot better.
* Got some good momentum at the end of last year. He wasn't as locked in as he should have been because Josh Paschal played so many snaps. But he knows he's got to be locked in and ready to roll this season.
* On being player-led on defense... The coaches don't have to say a whole lot. The leaders on defense do a great job.
* Rybka says he likes squaring off with Tayshawn Manning, Kiyaunte Goodwin, and Eli Cox. Those guys have been fun to work against. Their standard remains high on the "Big Blue Wall."
* Asked if the D-Line needs some love and a cool nickname, Rybka says it would be cool to have that. They call themselves the "Trench Killers."
DL KAHLIL SAUNDERS Q&A:
* Good first week of camp. A lot of good work in. He's got a goal of earning a starting spot. Feels like the work he put in the off-season helped him get in position to do that.
* On the biggest area of strength for this UK defense... the box, front 7
* Saunders really likes competing in the 1-on-1s with Jager Burton and Tayshawn Manning. Likes how Burton respects the game and plays hard every snap. Manning is a guy who will really test your strength.
* Defense was really having fun Saturday, flying around, making plays. Let the offense know they got 'em. All in good fun.
* Getting those four games in last year helped him know that he'd be ready to go into this camp. His confidence is in a good place.
* Feels like he's done a better job of being a "student of the game" this year. More prepared for a bigger role.
DC BRAD WHITE Q&A:
* On the defense looking really good Saturday… “Truly unofficial,” White jokes, if the fans scored the defense as “winning” Fan Day. It’s been back and forth on most days, but that was a pretty good day.
* Older guys are helping them go fast right now. Wants to keep it fast and see who can retain.
* It’s been good, it’s been bad, it’s been ugly at times, but that’s why you practice, and it’s good that you get 25 of these before you play.
* On transfer DBs… Can handle the volume of info quicker than younger guys. The terms may be different, but the coverages are fairly similar to what they’ve been used to. “We’ve been lucky. They’re smart and conscientious.”
* DBs have made some competitive plays. Lost some, too, but that’s part of the process. Feels like they've played the ball better. Still looking for technical expertise on the ball and off.
* Saturday scrimmage will be a good test to see if they can do it in a game scenario. Usually see who’s willing to be physical in that setting. Who hangs their head after a tough play, who elevates.
* New DB transfers: Biggest thing they all offer is competition. Everybody knows why they were brought it, and it may make some guys uncomfortable, but that’s OK because it’s to make everyone better. The DBs have checked their egos at their door in that regard.
* Keidron is really savvy, Zion really strong in zone coverage at safety, and Jordan is really long, athletic guy. Still working on refining his technique, but they’re excited about him when the dust settles.
* On the ILBs… Depth will allow them to roll guys in and out and keep guys fresh, highlight a guys’ strength for a certain situation. Wallace will admit that he’s still learning what it means to be a true ILB, so it’s good that he’s got guys like Square and Jones back for another year to learn from.
* More on Keidron: Understanding route combos, stems, the pace of the routes. He can play big picture and understand what the offense is trying to do. “He’s done some good things with that.”
* On the unit’s intelligence… The older guys, in particular, really understand what they’re trying to get done. What I need from those guys is to push the younger ones and pass that on. The young guys can feel like they’re dealing with a foreign language the first seven days.
* Nickel options: Still trying to figure it out. Rolling a few guys in and out of that role.
* On their approach…. “Always going to be who were are.” Sounds like they have a good identity going into the season.
CB COACH CHRIS COLLINS Q&A:
* Tight group in the DBs room. They've checked their egos, worked to get each other better. Guys have bought in, used competition the right way, embraced it.
* Conceded they were pretty thin in the spring, but Coach Stoops made it a major point of emphasis to address it and find the right people to bring in.
* Keidron Smith has really good preparation. What he does in the meeting room/film room, asks a lot of questions, and it carries over to the field. That also sets a good example for the younger guys. His football savviness is really high.
* Zion Childress has really good versatility, a former QB, so he really understands what the offense is trying to do and times things really well at safety.
* Jordan Robinson is still really raw, but they're extremely excited about his potential with a 6-4, 202-pound corner. Really gets out of his cuts well for someone that size.
* Andru Phillips is really competing and getting better on a daily basis. Has gotten better in the meeting room, paying attention to those details like Keidron Smith does. He's very intentional about his approach now and competing on the field.
* On what he's eager to see in Saturday's scrimmage... Want to see guys have fun, compete, finish plays, get guys on the ground. A guy lke Carrington Valentine has really improved at finishing plays in this camp, he added.
* Some good WRs to challenge his guys on a daily basis. It's been fun. They've pushed each other.
* On which guys from offense are giving them headaches... "Really glad that 7's on our side." (Laughs) And Tayvion Robinson has been really good. Tough guy. Physical with his catch radius. Dane Key keeps doing good things. Barion Brown can fly, really good ball skills. Jordan Anthony makes the DBs' GPS trackers spike when they have to cover him.
DL TRE'VONN RYBKA Q&A:
* Feels good about where he's at right now in camp with his technique, strength. He's the same weight, but feels like he got stronger and faster. Transformed a little of that weight to hold up better in the run game. He struggled with that a bit when he got here. Now he feels like the strength is helping him get off blocks and play the run a lot better.
* Got some good momentum at the end of last year. He wasn't as locked in as he should have been because Josh Paschal played so many snaps. But he knows he's got to be locked in and ready to roll this season.
* On being player-led on defense... The coaches don't have to say a whole lot. The leaders on defense do a great job.
* Rybka says he likes squaring off with Tayshawn Manning, Kiyaunte Goodwin, and Eli Cox. Those guys have been fun to work against. Their standard remains high on the "Big Blue Wall."
* Asked if the D-Line needs some love and a cool nickname, Rybka says it would be cool to have that. They call themselves the "Trench Killers."
DL KAHLIL SAUNDERS Q&A:
* Good first week of camp. A lot of good work in. He's got a goal of earning a starting spot. Feels like the work he put in the off-season helped him get in position to do that.
* On the biggest area of strength for this UK defense... the box, front 7
* Saunders really likes competing in the 1-on-1s with Jager Burton and Tayshawn Manning. Likes how Burton respects the game and plays hard every snap. Manning is a guy who will really test your strength.
* Defense was really having fun Saturday, flying around, making plays. Let the offense know they got 'em. All in good fun.
* Getting those four games in last year helped him know that he'd be ready to go into this camp. His confidence is in a good place.
* Feels like he's done a better job of being a "student of the game" this year. More prepared for a bigger role.
