Better Offense Helps Everything for Cats

Dane Key helped the UK offense generate a lot more explosive plays against Ole Miss. (UK Athletics Photo)

Obviously Kentucky coach Mark Stoops liked what his offense did in the 20-17 win at Ole Miss and made that clear when he was asked how the UK defense slowed down Ole Miss’ high powered offense.

Before he praised the defense, he talked about his offense.

“I think just a variety of everything; it’s always a team effort. It’s not always intentional but I think offense possessing the football and getting first downs just helps everything,” Stoops said on the SEC coaches teleconference. “It helps with field position, it helps defense, and again, that’s not always just our intention. It’s not just to kill the clock or anything like that, but it’s offense moving the ball.”

However, Stoops did have plenty to say about his defense that gave up a game-opening TD drive but just one other TD drive the rest of the game thanks to allowing the Rebels to convert just one of 10 third-down chances.

“Defensively, it all starts up front. We’ve got to be very stout in the run game and try to get in some longer second downs and third downs.,” Stoops said. “I thought in this last game, it’s the best we’ve done against an opponent like that on third down.”

Stoops got a chance later on the teleconference to praise his offense — as he should have after UK had seven pass plays of 15 yards or more including that 63-yard bomb to Barion Brown that almost no one was expecting. Remember in the 31-7 loss to South Carolina the Cats had only one pass play over 15 yards.

Stoops said the offense is getting better and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan is getting a “clearer understanding” of what the team does well.

“I thought we’ve improved a great deal in some of our protections. We want to be able to run the ball and play-action pass and keep on getting better in the drop-back game, but I think we’re just improving, certainly moving the ball and getting tough yards against quality opponents,” Stoops said.

“I think also this past game, creating some explosives helped us win the game because I think everybody’s looking for explosive plays, and sometimes it’s been hard to come by for us. But I think with pounding it out, getting some tough dirty yards, being efficient on third down and fourth down, and then also creating the explosives was probably the difference as well.”