Hello HOB. Greetings from beautiful LEX. Another amazing fall day in progress for the Cats’ Tuesday practice. It’s offense day, so we’ll be talking with OC Rich Scangarello, offensive coaches and players this afternoon as they prepare for a Top 25 clash with Ole Miss. Practice is slated to wrap up around 5:30 ET. Stay tuned for the latest news and notes…
NOTE: Chris Rodrguez was not made available to the media today.
RICH SCANGARELLO Q&A:
* On C-Rod’s return… Nice feeling. Good guy, good player, makes us so much better offense. Big persona. Likes the way he carries himself as a veteran in this league.
* C-Rod should have fresh legs, could really benefit him. Just want to see how he handles being taken to the ground. Not worried about it, per se. He's shown he can handle it. Likes how he's mentally handled a tough situation.
* Some runners have a real special gift in a good wide zone-blocking scheme. C-Rod has that natural ability, patience to let things develop, set up his blocks, ability to run through contact. "He's going to be a good NFL running back."
* Ole Miss is a little unconventional on D, plays a lot of DBs on field together. Coverage-wise, it's sound. Just a different way of attacking things. Scang has appreciation for it in this spread offense world of football. You do what you need to do to counter it. One of their best players is a safety on the back end they have to account for.
* UK has faced 3 unconventional defenses so far, so it could help. The team has seen a lot of different stuff early in the season. "There's always an evolution." Hoping they're improved, tighter against some looks they've already seen.
* What Tulsa did last week against Ole Miss doesn't really translate to what UK is doing, Scang said.
* Does he ask Keidron Smith and Jacquez Jones for intel on the Ole Miss defense? "ABBBBBBSOLUTELY NOT," he says with a wink. "I'd be crazy not to have them give me some rules and scouting reports." Then says Bill Belichick signs a guy off someone's practice squad every week in the NFL trying to do that. LOL
* Without giving too much away, Scang says he’s excited about having all the backs healthy and the different looks they can throw at people with them on the field together. Had some cool packages in fall camp they thought they could use but haven't been able to yet, flexing out a C-Rod or McClain and having the other guy in the backfield.
* Excited about C-Rod’s pass-catching ability, the way he was running routes in camp, and he just helps overall on third down because of his blocking in pass pro. Gives Will another outlet option under pressure.
* On whether he expects Ole Miss to "bring the house." ... "I hope so. This offense is built for it."
* C-Rod just has to be the best version of himself, nothing more, like Stoops said Monday. Not asking him to be a savior of the offense. "What that brings to the table, I can't wait to see what it looks like."
* OL is starting to gel a bit, showing more synergy. Having Manning back helps. You want that same lineup out there each game, and they haven't had it since camp. Need to step it up to beat good football teams. “We can’t let up.”
* On Barion Brown taking the screen pass to the house... He and T-Rob both have that natural feel, spacial awareness to turn those into big plays. The pass is almost treated like a run play, but with a chance to really explode for a big gain. Loves Brown's attitude and work ethic. Excited to get him the rock more often.
WR COACH SCOTT WOODWARD Q&A:
* On keeping the WRs pushing to get even better... Still a lot of work to be done, a lot to correct, even though they've played well. There is competition pushing guys to keep working.
* Unique thing about the WR room is they're all excited about the other guy's success. They're the first to run out there and celebrate when the other guy has his moment. Dane Key didn't have his best game Saturday, but he was really happy for T-Rob and Brown.
* On the Ole Miss secondary... There's a lot of them out there. They like to play a 3-2-6 look, so there's a ton of speed on the field and ability to cover.
* Blocking from WRs was better last week. Still some things to clean up. No "critical errors" last week. They were physical and gave max effort.
* You strive to be perfect, but it's nice to have that explosive ability to mask some mistakes. Great to know you've got a bunch of guys who can take any pass and make it 6. Knew Barion was going to score on the dig route as soon as it developed.
* Noted he's never had a guy grade out 100. Likes to use it as a carrot. Even T-Rob, who had a huge game Saturday and was 7-for-7 on targets, was singled out for a "loaf" a time or two, he said with a laugh.
QB WILL LEVIS Q&A:
* On having C-Rod back... He's been bringing it all along at practice, but it's gone to a whole new level this week. He's an extra playmaker that they're excited to have back. Cats aren't changing anything with C-Rod back, just see it as a talented guy coming back to do what the offense has already been doing.
* Vision in the run game is one of C-Rod's best attributes. Sees blocks and how to set them up before they develop. "He just makes stuff happen." Very rare that the first guy takes him down.
* On Keidron and Jacquez giving scouting reports on Ole Miss D... They were actually doing that last night in film study. They sat in with the offense.
* Both Ole Miss safeties are really good. No. 3, who will miss the first half after targeting call last week, is really good in run support. Have to take advantage of that before he gets back out there in the second half.
* On NIU bringing the blitz all night long... UK wants people to do that. They'll use it to their advantage. You just have to make sure you're assignment-sound against that kind of defensive strat. The offense is set up to take advantage of those. You have to know where the answers are before the snap. Says he can help the O-Line by knowing that and getting the ball out quicker.
* On his play so far this season... Thinks he's played well, but still a lot of room to grow and improve. Wants to get better at progressions and decisions. "I know I can do better."
C ELI COX Q&A:
* Have to be on point Saturday against this Ole Miss defense and the pressure they like to bring.
* Feels like continuity will be better with all the OL being healthy and playing together for a couple of weeks in a row. Better chemistry.
* On C-Rod's return... It gives everyone confidence. Really experienced player who knows what he can do.
* On the explosive plays... Takes the pressure off. In college football, it's hard to sustain execution for 15-16 plays, so being able to get explosive plays helps you shorten drives and make the entire offense click.
* Fun to watch a quick dump-off to T-Rob or Brown go for a touchdown. Gives the team and the whole stadium a lot of energy.
RB JuTAHN McCLAIN Q&A:
* Happy to be back out there healthy and doing his thing again. Glad the whole RB room is together for the first time this season. Gotta be patient and realize it's a long season, that everyone will get their chance. Thinks being fresh will help later in the season.
* RB room is pumped up for C-Rod. It was a downer for him to miss the first four games with so much riding on this season for him personally.
* C-Rod has definitely added some energy to the offense this week. Guys are pumped up.
NOTE: Chris Rodrguez was not made available to the media today.
RICH SCANGARELLO Q&A:
* On C-Rod’s return… Nice feeling. Good guy, good player, makes us so much better offense. Big persona. Likes the way he carries himself as a veteran in this league.
* C-Rod should have fresh legs, could really benefit him. Just want to see how he handles being taken to the ground. Not worried about it, per se. He's shown he can handle it. Likes how he's mentally handled a tough situation.
* Some runners have a real special gift in a good wide zone-blocking scheme. C-Rod has that natural ability, patience to let things develop, set up his blocks, ability to run through contact. "He's going to be a good NFL running back."
* Ole Miss is a little unconventional on D, plays a lot of DBs on field together. Coverage-wise, it's sound. Just a different way of attacking things. Scang has appreciation for it in this spread offense world of football. You do what you need to do to counter it. One of their best players is a safety on the back end they have to account for.
* UK has faced 3 unconventional defenses so far, so it could help. The team has seen a lot of different stuff early in the season. "There's always an evolution." Hoping they're improved, tighter against some looks they've already seen.
* What Tulsa did last week against Ole Miss doesn't really translate to what UK is doing, Scang said.
* Does he ask Keidron Smith and Jacquez Jones for intel on the Ole Miss defense? "ABBBBBBSOLUTELY NOT," he says with a wink. "I'd be crazy not to have them give me some rules and scouting reports." Then says Bill Belichick signs a guy off someone's practice squad every week in the NFL trying to do that. LOL
* Without giving too much away, Scang says he’s excited about having all the backs healthy and the different looks they can throw at people with them on the field together. Had some cool packages in fall camp they thought they could use but haven't been able to yet, flexing out a C-Rod or McClain and having the other guy in the backfield.
* Excited about C-Rod’s pass-catching ability, the way he was running routes in camp, and he just helps overall on third down because of his blocking in pass pro. Gives Will another outlet option under pressure.
* On whether he expects Ole Miss to "bring the house." ... "I hope so. This offense is built for it."
* C-Rod just has to be the best version of himself, nothing more, like Stoops said Monday. Not asking him to be a savior of the offense. "What that brings to the table, I can't wait to see what it looks like."
* OL is starting to gel a bit, showing more synergy. Having Manning back helps. You want that same lineup out there each game, and they haven't had it since camp. Need to step it up to beat good football teams. “We can’t let up.”
* On Barion Brown taking the screen pass to the house... He and T-Rob both have that natural feel, spacial awareness to turn those into big plays. The pass is almost treated like a run play, but with a chance to really explode for a big gain. Loves Brown's attitude and work ethic. Excited to get him the rock more often.
WR COACH SCOTT WOODWARD Q&A:
* On keeping the WRs pushing to get even better... Still a lot of work to be done, a lot to correct, even though they've played well. There is competition pushing guys to keep working.
* Unique thing about the WR room is they're all excited about the other guy's success. They're the first to run out there and celebrate when the other guy has his moment. Dane Key didn't have his best game Saturday, but he was really happy for T-Rob and Brown.
* On the Ole Miss secondary... There's a lot of them out there. They like to play a 3-2-6 look, so there's a ton of speed on the field and ability to cover.
* Blocking from WRs was better last week. Still some things to clean up. No "critical errors" last week. They were physical and gave max effort.
* You strive to be perfect, but it's nice to have that explosive ability to mask some mistakes. Great to know you've got a bunch of guys who can take any pass and make it 6. Knew Barion was going to score on the dig route as soon as it developed.
* Noted he's never had a guy grade out 100. Likes to use it as a carrot. Even T-Rob, who had a huge game Saturday and was 7-for-7 on targets, was singled out for a "loaf" a time or two, he said with a laugh.
QB WILL LEVIS Q&A:
* On having C-Rod back... He's been bringing it all along at practice, but it's gone to a whole new level this week. He's an extra playmaker that they're excited to have back. Cats aren't changing anything with C-Rod back, just see it as a talented guy coming back to do what the offense has already been doing.
* Vision in the run game is one of C-Rod's best attributes. Sees blocks and how to set them up before they develop. "He just makes stuff happen." Very rare that the first guy takes him down.
* On Keidron and Jacquez giving scouting reports on Ole Miss D... They were actually doing that last night in film study. They sat in with the offense.
* Both Ole Miss safeties are really good. No. 3, who will miss the first half after targeting call last week, is really good in run support. Have to take advantage of that before he gets back out there in the second half.
* On NIU bringing the blitz all night long... UK wants people to do that. They'll use it to their advantage. You just have to make sure you're assignment-sound against that kind of defensive strat. The offense is set up to take advantage of those. You have to know where the answers are before the snap. Says he can help the O-Line by knowing that and getting the ball out quicker.
* On his play so far this season... Thinks he's played well, but still a lot of room to grow and improve. Wants to get better at progressions and decisions. "I know I can do better."
C ELI COX Q&A:
* Have to be on point Saturday against this Ole Miss defense and the pressure they like to bring.
* Feels like continuity will be better with all the OL being healthy and playing together for a couple of weeks in a row. Better chemistry.
* On C-Rod's return... It gives everyone confidence. Really experienced player who knows what he can do.
* On the explosive plays... Takes the pressure off. In college football, it's hard to sustain execution for 15-16 plays, so being able to get explosive plays helps you shorten drives and make the entire offense click.
* Fun to watch a quick dump-off to T-Rob or Brown go for a touchdown. Gives the team and the whole stadium a lot of energy.
RB JuTAHN McCLAIN Q&A:
* Happy to be back out there healthy and doing his thing again. Glad the whole RB room is together for the first time this season. Gotta be patient and realize it's a long season, that everyone will get their chance. Thinks being fresh will help later in the season.
* RB room is pumped up for C-Rod. It was a downer for him to miss the first four games with so much riding on this season for him personally.
* C-Rod has definitely added some energy to the offense this week. Guys are pumped up.
