Vicky Graff Photo
Mark Stoops has not only a dismal record in the game after a bye week but his team has often also played uninspired in those losses.
Kentucky has this week off before playing at South Carolina Sept. 27 in what could be the biggest game of the year for the Cats (2-1).
That’s why I liked what Stoops said on the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday.
“I’ve really tried to talk to quite a few of my colleagues and talk to friends around the country, and just get different ideas for the bye week,” Stoops said. “I’ve been here 13 years, and just don’t want to stay stagnant. We want to try to get better and are looking at a lot of different options.”
Say amen BBN fans because no matter what UK does it is hard to imagine the Cats playing any worse after a bye game than what they consistently have the last 12 years. One might also wonder why it has taken Stoops so long to reach out to others for possible advice/suggestions on how to handle bye week practice and preparation.
“This is a bit early for a bye week, so I really wanted to take the approach that we obviously need to work, and so really put in a big, heavy week this week. Also, you’ve got to be cognizant of getting their bodies right and making sure they can get some lifts in and even some running, and just making sure our bodies are prepped for the tough season that lies ahead,” Stoops said Wednesday.
“The bottom line for us this week is we’re going to push hard and do a lot of work because we need it.”
Kentucky has games coming up against Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Auburn and Florida. Florida is the only team not in the top 22. Stoops admitted that looked “unrelenting” but that’s nothing new for a SEC team.
“It’s very, very difficult. It always has been, and probably always will be,” Stoops said. “You just have to embrace it and stay within the moment, stay week to week, day to day, and that’s what we’re trying to do.
“I feel like we have a better football team, but we haven’t always shown it this year, and so we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
2 Responses
He should have done this 12 years ago. The offense has looked dead since 2021. We've had 3 different play callers since then. Scangerello, Coen, and Hamden. Coen was the best out of the 3 and even he had problems in 2023 moving the football. After he left the job he said "We had 0 playmakers except at running back" which the running back was Ray Davis. I think Kentucky's biggest problem is finding separation at the wide receiver position. How much different do you think the offense would be if Key and Brown would have came back for there senior season? It's like we brought them in at Kentucky they started there true Freshman season. Then they started as sophomores and they both had a sophomore slump. It seemed like Brown stayed in the sophomore slump for his junior year. Key is actually playing good at Nebraska I haven't checked on Browns stats but it's like we brought these 2 all the way up and they bail on what's supposed to be both of there best year. There senior year. I think if both came back out offense would be night and day better. Our first and second receiver on this team which is Gilmore and Law. I've said all summer Maclin will struggle again. He didn't impress me last year. It's he same this year. To me it's like he's scared of contact. Even on punt returns last year he didn't want to return the punt. He's scared and as soon as he catches the ball he runs straight for the sidelines. Watch the next time he makes a catch he will run out of bounds. Maclin would be the 5th receiver on this team if Key and Brown came back. I also think Calzada wouldnt have struggled as much. We will see how good Cutter Boley really is when we play South Carolina. You can't judge his performance against Eastern Michigan. They are literally the worst defense we will play all season. Cutter and Zach both have terrible field vision. I've never seen so many missed open receivers through 3 games. We had Law wide open in the end zone and instead Boley throws it to a covered Rodriguez. Even the announcers were like wow the position coach is going crazy trying to get Boleys attention about Law. He didn't see Law he didn't see the position coach. He seen a covered Rodriguez. I do agree through playing time he will hit more of the open receivers. Stoops needs to pull the trigger and say Boley is our man going forward. The QB needs as much confidence as he can get. Stoops is terrible at giving confidence in players.
How about playing to win instead of playing not to lose? At least give it a try at South Carolina next Saturday.