Greetings from sunny, 76-degree Lex Vegas on Nov. 9. I’m short-sleeving it and loving it at the JCFTC today. Unfortunately, that’s not going to hold up much longer as the forecast calls for temps in the 40s for this week’s game against Vandy. Anywho… Practice will be wrapping up around 5:30 ET today. We’ll have DC Brad White and some players from that side of the ball joining us to talk about the matchup with the Commodores. Stay tuned…
* Browns scout here in the building today.
BRAD WHITE Q&A:
* On Vandy with a different QB… Play style will be similar. One prefers to push the ball down the field a little more, one will do a bit more with his legs. Wright did a good job last year executing a couple of drives against us. Gotta be solid for either guy. Wright isn’t really a “backup.” Began the season as a starter. Basically were co-starters.
* On Trevin Wallace progress… Played aggressive, played downhill. Trusted what he saw, pulled the pin. As fast as he is, that's what they want him doing. Go get it. Second play of the game for a TFL was big for him. Could see him respond to that and just kept playing better.
* DeAndre Square is still trying to get ready for Saturday, but it’s a Coach Stoops decision.
* Every week you see more confidence growing withh Andru Phillips. The guy they saw in the spring and felt so good about making competitive plays, playing without fear. High ceiling for him at slot corner. High value/demand spot in the NFL, being able to cover and stop the run and blitz on occasion. He’s got a lot of those qualities.
* Vandy has played well against SC and MIZ this season, two UK common opponents. They will come into this game hungry for a win. Cats are preparing for a 60-min game.
* On comparisons to 2018 defense… Ask when season is over. A lot of work left to be done. "We've got to finish. The '18 team finished."
*****
JUSTIN ROGERS Q&A:
* Feels like season is going well for him. A lot of ups and downs, but team is like a brotherhood, especially those guys on the D-Line.
* Understands his role now of taking on two guys, letting those guys behind him make plays.
* Asked about his name showing up on some mocks, says he's not even thinking about anything like that right now. "Three more games to go in this season."
* Once thought he might be an O-Lineman. In high school, people kind of challenged him that he couldn't be a DT, so he wanted to show them he was wrong. His teammates right now still try to recruit him over to offense, but he says "I'm good where I'm at."
* On Vandy... "I hope they're ready to play because we're ready to play."
* Late in the season, everyone is nicked up, banged up, but you just have keep pushing these last three games. Gotta take care of buisness against Vandy with a big game against Georgia coming up next.
* Finishing off the Mizzou game with a W was big for their confidence, to win a game having to fight to the very end.
* Deone Walker is "different," Rogers says. Doesn't even understand the potential he's got yet. He makes Justin feel almost small at times when he's lined up next to him.
*****
JORDAN LOVETT Q&A:
* His mom is in the military so this Veteran's Day tribute game means a lot to him and her. You will probably hear her if you're at the game. "She's the loudest one," he said with a laugh.
* Feels good about the challenges he's faced in the SEC and how his season is developing.
* On what he's learned since Game 1... "The SEC is fast." And big. And tough. Mental toughness is as important as anything.
* Gotta be ready for the challenge of a running QB this week. Nobody really likes it, but they're prepared for it.
* On playing behind LB Trevin Wallace and what he sees there... Really shoots the gaps, plays fast. Speed is very impressive.
* On the mindset of the team right... You could tell last week everyone was locked in and ready to play together at Mizzou. The fight on the sideline was a good example of how tight they are.
* Browns scout here in the building today.
BRAD WHITE Q&A:
* On Vandy with a different QB… Play style will be similar. One prefers to push the ball down the field a little more, one will do a bit more with his legs. Wright did a good job last year executing a couple of drives against us. Gotta be solid for either guy. Wright isn’t really a “backup.” Began the season as a starter. Basically were co-starters.
* On Trevin Wallace progress… Played aggressive, played downhill. Trusted what he saw, pulled the pin. As fast as he is, that's what they want him doing. Go get it. Second play of the game for a TFL was big for him. Could see him respond to that and just kept playing better.
* DeAndre Square is still trying to get ready for Saturday, but it’s a Coach Stoops decision.
* Every week you see more confidence growing withh Andru Phillips. The guy they saw in the spring and felt so good about making competitive plays, playing without fear. High ceiling for him at slot corner. High value/demand spot in the NFL, being able to cover and stop the run and blitz on occasion. He’s got a lot of those qualities.
* Vandy has played well against SC and MIZ this season, two UK common opponents. They will come into this game hungry for a win. Cats are preparing for a 60-min game.
* On comparisons to 2018 defense… Ask when season is over. A lot of work left to be done. "We've got to finish. The '18 team finished."
*****
JUSTIN ROGERS Q&A:
* Feels like season is going well for him. A lot of ups and downs, but team is like a brotherhood, especially those guys on the D-Line.
* Understands his role now of taking on two guys, letting those guys behind him make plays.
* Asked about his name showing up on some mocks, says he's not even thinking about anything like that right now. "Three more games to go in this season."
* Once thought he might be an O-Lineman. In high school, people kind of challenged him that he couldn't be a DT, so he wanted to show them he was wrong. His teammates right now still try to recruit him over to offense, but he says "I'm good where I'm at."
* On Vandy... "I hope they're ready to play because we're ready to play."
* Late in the season, everyone is nicked up, banged up, but you just have keep pushing these last three games. Gotta take care of buisness against Vandy with a big game against Georgia coming up next.
* Finishing off the Mizzou game with a W was big for their confidence, to win a game having to fight to the very end.
* Deone Walker is "different," Rogers says. Doesn't even understand the potential he's got yet. He makes Justin feel almost small at times when he's lined up next to him.
*****
JORDAN LOVETT Q&A:
* His mom is in the military so this Veteran's Day tribute game means a lot to him and her. You will probably hear her if you're at the game. "She's the loudest one," he said with a laugh.
* Feels good about the challenges he's faced in the SEC and how his season is developing.
* On what he's learned since Game 1... "The SEC is fast." And big. And tough. Mental toughness is as important as anything.
* Gotta be ready for the challenge of a running QB this week. Nobody really likes it, but they're prepared for it.
* On playing behind LB Trevin Wallace and what he sees there... Really shoots the gaps, plays fast. Speed is very impressive.
* On the mindset of the team right... You could tell last week everyone was locked in and ready to play together at Mizzou. The fight on the sideline was a good example of how tight they are.
