Deone Walker and UK's defense face a major test against Mississippi. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops had a lot to say about Mississippi during his press conference Monday as UK prepares for its first SEC road game.
The Rebels are unbeaten and continue to be ranked in the top 10 and considered a potential playoff team by many.
On the Ole Miss defense …
Stoops: “They have a lot of guys. They have length up front, and they have length in the secondary, they have length just across the board. Their two outside receivers on offense go up and get it, they’re strong, along with a tough scheme. Defensively, Pete is really good, really solid, you’re going to have to earn every yard you get against them because they’re just always dialed in. They have the bodies defensively up front. Obviously, Walter Nolen is a different type of dude, he’s special, he’s a first-round guy and then all their other guys are very, very good players with good length.”
On the challenges of defending their offense …
Stoops: “Well, I think the first thing with their tempo, obviously that creates a lot of stress, then you put the tempo in there with what they do. With how balanced they are, they’re committed to running the football, and then the RPO’s (Run-pass-option) off of it. Jaxson Dart running this offense now, being so comfortable with it. They put a lot of pressure on you in the run game, you have to have numbers and then the RPO’s are there. Of course they’re play action, deception plays, they’re just well designed, they just stress you. You know the first thing is the urgency to get lined up and then get down and executing our defense. I think that’s a big deal because you have to do it, they put pressure on you every, every play. We have to have consistency in that. We’ve had these before where you play in these games and you play a lot of snaps, but I think that’s part of what they do. They want to be explosive and put that constant pressure, and that’s where we just got to be dialed in and locked in at all times because the moment you’re not they’re going to hit you with a big play.”
On Jaxson Dart’s play and him flying under the radar in the SEC …
Stoops: “Well, I don’t know why because of the eye-popping numbers that he has, and what he’s done, and will continue to do throughout the year. He’s another guy I think, and I’m sure, Tommy Cheek joked about how we get the opportunity to play so many top-10 teams, so like they get the opportunity to play a lot of guys that should be standing there, at the Heisman. We will get several of those guys this year, and he’s one of them. I just think he’s just special, and he’s operating at an extremely high level. Very, very comfortable, great knowledge, and you can tell the coaching that he’s getting from Lane and Charlie Weis Jr., and just the system; he’s very comfortable, and they put a lot of pressure on him.”
On experience playing in Oxford again…
Stoops: “I tell you every year that every year, every game, it’s totally different, but of course familiarity is important. And we’ve been there, and some of our guys have been down there. They were freshmen, and some of the guys that were down there playing a couple of years ago. But this is a new year, new challenge, but you know I hope we can play better in certain areas. I know Ole Miss is better in a lot of ways as well, to credit Lane. I mean, they’ve always been good, but I think they have really built a really special team.”
4 Responses
In this season of lofty high hopes and embarrassing disappointment, the Ole Miss game will be the litmus test of where our season is headed.
UK is 4-8 in the last 12 games. The record reveals the real status of UK FB since the day Stoops hired the “complex” OC. It’s been a downhill slide and a game AT Ole Miss is not going to cure any problems.
I think the SC game reflects the ability of the coaching staff to mentally prepare UK to play FB. On occasions, the players excel in spite of being put to sleep before kickoff.
Ole Miss is for real & will riddle our secondary, especially in 3rd downs.
I’m surprised it’s only a 17 1/2 point spread.
If UK hires a new OL coach who knows how to prepare to block when passing, then the offense may get unleashed against a big boy defense instead of just a cupcake
The absence of interest in the SC game and the play calling by the coaches which destroyed any chance of wrong UGA has me as disgusted as in the days when chjoker was in the sidelines. I see little difference.
I predict we’ll be 4-9 in our last 13 games.
The offensive line isnt going to start being good at pass blocking. Stoops recruits run blocking offensive lineman. We have a couple kids who look like they would be good at pass blocking but that doesnt mean they will be. Lineman who are tall and long with weight usually make better pass blocking lineman. Usually teams mix it up with 3 great pass blocking lineman and 2 good run blocking lineman and visa versa. Usually 6-5-6-8 290-305 pounds. not 350 pounds or 340 pounds and so on. These kids can only move if they are rated high and that always isnt correct. Remember the 5* lineman we got from jeffersonville indiana and louisville. he transferred to florida and then to louisville but he was just to big. I dont understand why coaches think 285 pound offensive lineman cant block?