Hey all. Back over on campus for today’s UK Football practice report. We should have a good one today as the Cats have moved into the stadium for their first full scrimmage of camp. Mark Stoops is slated to meet with us shortly after things wrap up at approx 12:45 ET. Stay tuned for all the latest news and notes here in this thread...
* Stoops says scrimmage was “just OK. We have a lot of work to do.” Offense got behind the chains a bit with some "typical mistakes" you see early in camp but did pretty well overall. Defense “was not up to the challenge” for most of the day. "The strength of our team wasn't the strength." Seemed to be indicating the D-Line, some of the more experienced guys. Run defense, things of that nature, Stoops added. Had some guys out of position.
* A few good plays from the secondary, Stoops said, "but routine plays have to be routine." Sounds like maybe they missed an opportunity to break up or pick off some passes.
* Asked about WR BJ Alexander, Stoops said he didn't see a lot from him today, but thinks he's continuing to grow and get better.
* TEs Justin Rigg and Keaton Upshaw did some good things, Stoops said. Hit some plays across the middle. “We need to continue to build on that.”
* Lynn Bowden didn’t play a ton of snaps, Stoops said, but made plays when he was out there. They know what they're getting from him.
* With his cancer treatments complete, Josh Paschal wants to go, go, go all the time, Stoops said. He’ll argue to stay out there, but the staff has to be careful with his reps. Stoops said he looked good today when he was out there.
* CB Brandin Echols still bothered a bit by hamstring.
* DB Quandre Mosley has moved around and played a bunch of different spots.
* “We gotta have a high sense of urgency,” Stoops said. “Can’t have any wasted reps” with so many new guys, especially on defense. He said there's no panic because they know these guys can get the job done, but they need to understand the critical nature of urgency.
* RB Kavosiey Smoke was a little banged up (nothing major) in last practice. He didn’t go today. But AJ Rose and Chris Rodriguez had good days.
* Stoops says he has high trust in the O-Linemen who are moving into bigger roles, particularly Kinnard and Fortner. Said he has a lot of trust in those guys, they have earned that. Also said same applies to Wolfe and Watkins. “Feels really good too have three tackles we can depend on.”
* Asked for a run/pass ratio today, Stoops laughed, said he didn’t know, “and I wouldn’t tell you guys anyway.”
* Center Drake Jackson said TJ Carter is having a great camp. Cited him and DeAndre Square as guys standing out on the other side of the ball, giving the offense issues.
* Jackson said Quintin Wilson could go into a game and help the Cats win “right now” if he had to. Obviously, nobody wants to see Drake go down, but good to know that quality depth is there.
* Rigg told us they used a lot of “12 personnel” (two TEs, one RB) today. Said he loves it. He played three different spots, lining up in the backfield, flexed out, and at the end of the line. He says they have the mentality to be the best TE group in the country.
* Jordan Griffin said, now that he’s moved into a leadership role on the defense, it’s his job to get the guys playing with more energy and urgency. I asked him if it would be better next Saturday. He said , “It will be better Monday.”
* Stoops says scrimmage was “just OK. We have a lot of work to do.” Offense got behind the chains a bit with some "typical mistakes" you see early in camp but did pretty well overall. Defense “was not up to the challenge” for most of the day. "The strength of our team wasn't the strength." Seemed to be indicating the D-Line, some of the more experienced guys. Run defense, things of that nature, Stoops added. Had some guys out of position.
* A few good plays from the secondary, Stoops said, "but routine plays have to be routine." Sounds like maybe they missed an opportunity to break up or pick off some passes.
* Asked about WR BJ Alexander, Stoops said he didn't see a lot from him today, but thinks he's continuing to grow and get better.
* TEs Justin Rigg and Keaton Upshaw did some good things, Stoops said. Hit some plays across the middle. “We need to continue to build on that.”
* Lynn Bowden didn’t play a ton of snaps, Stoops said, but made plays when he was out there. They know what they're getting from him.
* With his cancer treatments complete, Josh Paschal wants to go, go, go all the time, Stoops said. He’ll argue to stay out there, but the staff has to be careful with his reps. Stoops said he looked good today when he was out there.
* CB Brandin Echols still bothered a bit by hamstring.
* DB Quandre Mosley has moved around and played a bunch of different spots.
* “We gotta have a high sense of urgency,” Stoops said. “Can’t have any wasted reps” with so many new guys, especially on defense. He said there's no panic because they know these guys can get the job done, but they need to understand the critical nature of urgency.
* RB Kavosiey Smoke was a little banged up (nothing major) in last practice. He didn’t go today. But AJ Rose and Chris Rodriguez had good days.
* Stoops says he has high trust in the O-Linemen who are moving into bigger roles, particularly Kinnard and Fortner. Said he has a lot of trust in those guys, they have earned that. Also said same applies to Wolfe and Watkins. “Feels really good too have three tackles we can depend on.”
* Asked for a run/pass ratio today, Stoops laughed, said he didn’t know, “and I wouldn’t tell you guys anyway.”
* Center Drake Jackson said TJ Carter is having a great camp. Cited him and DeAndre Square as guys standing out on the other side of the ball, giving the offense issues.
* Jackson said Quintin Wilson could go into a game and help the Cats win “right now” if he had to. Obviously, nobody wants to see Drake go down, but good to know that quality depth is there.
* Rigg told us they used a lot of “12 personnel” (two TEs, one RB) today. Said he loves it. He played three different spots, lining up in the backfield, flexed out, and at the end of the line. He says they have the mentality to be the best TE group in the country.
* Jordan Griffin said, now that he’s moved into a leadership role on the defense, it’s his job to get the guys playing with more energy and urgency. I asked him if it would be better next Saturday. He said , “It will be better Monday.”
