Aug. 18, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky football head coach Joker Phillips was pleased with how his defense played Wednesday at practice, saying the unit forced the UK offense to several turnovers. But on the team’s final two-a-day practice of the week the offense responded in the morning session, answering the defense’s challenge.

“Yesterday, I felt the defense got after the offense,” Phillips said. “This morning I think it was reversed and the offense got after the defense and challenged the other groups.”

Overall, both of Thursday’s practices were competitive and, most importantly, Phillips thinks both helped accomplish one of the main goals of fall camp: to help Kentucky get better.

“Today, was really, really competitive and I like how both sides of the ball competed against each other,” Phillips said. “We got better today as a football team. Yesterday I thought we got better on defense, this morning I thought we got better on offense and this afternoon I think we got better as a football team.”

Phillips continued to rave about the team’s level of competition on both sides of the ball, saying that there are several spots on the depth chart that are still up for grabs. Although the tight end position seems to be one the most competitive positions, Phillips says very few starting positions have been decided.

“There are not a lot of positions that are sewed up, but there are some,” Phillips said when asked what positions other than tight end are still up for grabs. “Because there is so much competition at each position, especially the skill positions on offense, there are still spots open.”

Phillips said that he thinks not having more positions locked up this time of year is a good thing because it keeps competition high and keeps players on their toes.

“I think it’s good because it is allowing us to have some depth at those positions,” Phillips said. “It is not because we don’t have guys, because we have guys that can make plays for us, but it’s because of the level of competition. I am glad that we can’t make a decision right now. It keeps those guys on their toes and they are now competing as hard as they can to try to win a job.”

Kentucky returns to the practice field Friday afternoon.