Mark Stoops Monday Press Conference
Kentucky Football News Conference
Head Coach Mark Stoops
Monday, Oct. 16, 2017
Kroger Field Media Room
Mark Stoops
Opening Statement …
“It’s been a good off week, the players needed it. We needed some rest. We got healthy and were able to do some self-scouting and get ahead on Mississippi State. So it’s been a good week and we’re going to need to play our best this week, that’s for sure.”
On who benefited the most from bye week …
“I think the whole group did, honestly. We were banged up and there were probably a few guys that probably wouldn’t have been able to play last week. I think it was helpful. I really don’t want to get into the specifics on those guys, but there were a couple of starters that probably wouldn’t have played last week. So that’s good, but overall we were down and beat up a little bit.”
On how coaches benefit from bye week …
“It’s nice. It feels good because it’s not only nice to have a day off on Saturday – it’s the first one since the beginning of July, which is nice – but, I think just mentally last week going back and looking at yourself and examining the things you did good and bad, what areas you can improve, and come up with a game plan for Mississippi State. Getting away from the mental stress for a few days is good for the entire staff.”
On Eli Brown still having a big role with Jordan Jones’ return….
“Yes, he will still have a big role. It’s nice because Eli has realized that when he has to play that many snaps, he’s got to get more physical, put on some weight, and lift some more weights, and all those things and he has. This past year, he’s really been trying to take it to another level and he’s playing better, but you can tell from going through a schedule like that you have to be physical and it’s good to have depth so it’ll be nice to have both of those guys.”
On playing on the road…
“I think you’ve seen that from time to time and you have to embrace the challenge whether it’s at home or on the road. Sometimes I’ve felt like as a coach and through the years it can be good to load up and get on the road. As I told you with playing the Missouri game after their bye week, it was probably better for them at that point to get on the road. Sometimes it works like that. We’re playing football and we have to be able to play well at home or on the road.”
On Nick Fitzgerald…
“He’s a dual threat. He’s just so physical. He’s a big, strong guy, and can throw the ball. He certainly can handle designed quarterback run. I think he’s just a very tough runner and puts a lot of pressure on you.”
On what he is most pleased about after six games…
“The bottom line is that we have won five games, which is very good. We are doing very good in turnover margin and I think the team has found ways to win when maybe the other side is not playing its best. Finding ways to win, and putting yourself in a position to win football games is bottom line and I think this team has done that very well.”
On playing a guy like Fitzgerald and if it puts stress on a specific defensive position…
“It always puts stress on the backend because you have to play with numbers, especially quarterback run game and design quarterback run game. Not only just pulling the ball down and scrambling, but design quarterback run game puts a little pressure on the entire defense. So I think you can see that on the back end. You know at times it depends on what coverage you’re in or what you’re doing.”
On if they have to zero in on some of the easy fixes that he talked about on the defense during the bye week…
“Yeah, I mean by easy fixes, looking at the way something happened, the structure of it. Again, you’ve heard me say a lot, depending on who you’re playing and the personnel that you’re playing against they are going to put you in a bind. They are going to put you in stressful situations and you have to be able to win. It’s just fundamentally the breakdown, that’s what I mean by the easy fix. Maybe easy in theory and hard in application at times. That’s a cornerback’s life.”
On Courtney Love and how him winning the service award transfers from leadership off the field to on the field…
“As I’ve said many times, it does not surprise me with Courtney. Just the type of person that he is and the type of leader that he is, very unselfish. He’s just a special guy. He comes from very difficult situations and made the most of it. He’s overcome a lot. I think anytime you have a player like that its ultimate respect whether it be from the coaches or from his peers.”
On how much he thinks he will need to lean on the freshman in the back half of the season…
“I think you always hope those guys get better as the year goes on and you want to get them some quality reps. You’re starting to see that with Lynn (Bowden). He is one guy that jumps out at you. Really all the receiver position, Isaiah (Epps) is doing some good things so were getting better. I would like to see those guys play a few more snaps as we go.”
On if having the bye week gave the guys a chance to watch other games and if it helped them see where they are at since they are in the race for the SEC East…
“I think it was enjoyable just to sit back and have a half day off. Most of our coaches were on the road. Some of us got back Saturday afternoon some got back Sunday. I think for our players its good just to have the day off. I don’t know if it means anything as far as where we are at. Our players know by now that it’s a one-week season. Let’s just take care of business and do the best we can this week. You can’t look ahead. If you look ahead you are going to get knocked down real quick.”
On clarifying comments made on his call-in show about addressing positively in the program …
“I don’t need to get in to that, but I don’t have the same problems he (Nick Saban) does. I think we all know that, so that’s kind of what I meant by that. I don’t think I have to fight that battle. But I will say he (Saban) does a phenomenal job with that. They have a bullseye on their chest every week. He does have to combat that, and he does have to combat his players hearing how good they are individually all the time. There’s a lot to it. And we have a guy or two here or there we’ve got to talk about that, but not the same issues.”
On offensive line improvement …
“Yeah, we did. I think we’re starting to find a good mixture the way we have it now with Drake (Jackson) playing at center and Bunchy (Stallings) playing more guard. I think that helps. I think Nick’s (Haynes) situation and his health is a big key to us as we move forward trying to get his weight and his strength back up.”
On Nick Haynes’ health looking forward …
“It is important for him. I had the opportunity to see Nick this weekend and spend some time with him Saturday afternoon and he looked rested. Feeling good. It’s still one thing to be rested, but to put on the weight that’s necessary. It’s hard.”
On Nick Haynes’ leadership role while unable to play …
“Definitely, Nick is one of the leaders on this football team and has a lot of experience at offensive line. He’s played a lot of positions. He’s very versatile. And I think the players have great respect for him both on the offensive line and all positions. I think he’s very helpful. He’s been very unselfish through this process.”
On what Drake Jackson has brought to the center position …
“He’s brought some consistency. He’s brought us depth. He gives us another number and fundamentally he’s doing a very good job.”
On plans for Drake Jackson in the coming week …
“Just by the way we play in general there’s times where the center gets some protection and some help. He will have a challenge as the year goes on. We play some very talented defensive linemen. But I think all of our linemen will tell you that. Welcome to the league. But he’s done a really good job. He’s responded well. The great thing about Drake is he’s always been a fundamental football player. He’s getting experience now. He’s been consistent in the snaps, but he’s a fundamental guy. Really that’s what you need on offensive line. Obviously size and strength and athletic ability is very important, but also it’s a technique game there.”
On Mississippi State’s defensive …
“They’re disruptive. Todd (Grantham) does a great job. They’re multiple. They’ve always been athletic. Just big and long and got good looking players. They’re very disruptive, and again, I think Todd Grantham does a very good job with them and keeping you off balance.”
On Drake Jackson seeing himself on video and improving from that …
“I think that is real important and that is always the case when guys get into games. Because we see them in practice all the time and how a guy respond in a game-like situation is always a little bit different. There is no replacing game reps. The more reps he gets and the more comfortable he gets the better he will get.”
On if he has any update on QB Luke Wright …
“Yeah, just the same as I gave you last week. That all the reports that are coming back have been positive and things look good and are looking better and everything has been steady since that episode that he had on the sideline. Hopefully, he will continue to recover well and they are checking to see if he can travel with us this week.”
On how the secondary has responded to some challenges against Missouri …
“I think it was a good week for us last week. No. 1, to just get a little bit of rest and get their legs back underneath them so they can play fast and finish this season strong. I think it was good fundamentally to look at some of the issues we have had and try to get them corrected. It was also good to get some fast work against our offense and go good vs. good to get the speed that we need to see in practice. Overall, it was very helpful for us.”
On if the tempo of Missouri’s offense caused the defense problems …
“Oh, there is no doubt it causes some, there is no doubt. That is why teams do that. There is advantages and disadvantages to a lot of things, but that is definitely one that causes some issue at times, yes.”
On if it made him feel better that Missouri had success throwing the ball deep vs. Georgia …
“It didn’t make me feel better, at all. But I was basically saying, ‘I feel your pain.’ That is a great defense and a great team, we all know, and to see them strike that fast and that early is very difficult. What helped them and helped us at times is if the offense can get going as well and possess the ball a little bit and get them off the field, that makes a big difference when you are playing up tempo. It is just a difference of philosophy obviously. There are teams in the Big 12 that are very, very hard to defend and Missouri is a lot like that.”
