(Eastern Kentucky Athletics Photo)
Last year Eastern Kentucky quarterback Parker McKinney threw for 3,956 yards and a school-record 33 touchdowns while also rushing for 350 yards. He’s already thrown for over 10,000 yards and almost 100 touchdowns going into Saturday’s game at Kentucky.
However, Eastern Kentucky is coming off a lopsided loss to Cincinnati to open the season and EKU coach Walt Wells says the “team made mistakes” that contributed to the loss.
“Everybody thinks Parker is perfect but he does not always play a perfect game,” Wells said. “We have got to understand the team made mistakes. It was a combination of both players and coaches.”
McKinney knows there will definitely be a “speed difference” against Kentucky’s defense versus the one he faced at Cincinnati.
“If the players we are playing are faster, we just have to play faster. I have to anticipate throws better,” McKinney said.
He has been impressed with a lot of things on Kentucky’s defense.
“Up front they are really good and their D-linemen will give us trouble,” McKinney said. “Overall I think they are a great defense and we are going to have to play really well offensively to put points up and move the ball hopefully.”
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops feels McKinney does a job staying in the pocket and eluding pressure much like UK quarterback Devin Leary did against Ball State.
“Devin did a nice job in the pocket of eluding pressure and buying time. Retreating sometimes and getting off a fantastic throw that drew a flag that led to seven points. That’s a big difference there. Instead of a sack and taking a longer field goal, he retreated and made a great throw, we got a PI [pass interference] and ended up scoring. There’s a big difference and I think EKU is the same way,” Stoops said.
“He (McKinney) does a very good job being savvy in the pocket and extending plays and making plays. Again, watching all their film from last year, they have been very efficient. So, I expect them to make great improvement between week one and week two.”
