Stein, Cats Must 'Turn the Page'
Kentucky lost for the first time this season on Saturday, falling to Alabama at Kroger Field. UK head coach Will Stein has watched the tape and he knows that everyone in the Joe Craft Football Training Facility must get better, including himself.
“We’ve got to play better,” Stein said. “There’s lots to learn from the tape. It really starts with me. I’ve got to do a better job as head coach, get these guys really prepared to finish games. I think that’s the big thing – finishing games.”
After scoring 17 points in the first half against the Tide, the UK offense was blanked in the second half. Stein knows that his offensive unit must play better.
“We did not show up on offense in the second half,” Stein said. “It’s almost impossible to win with three turnovers and making one of 14 on third downs. We’ve got to be able to generate and create explosive plays (and) move the ball down the field.”
While he was frustrated with the offense in the second half, Stein praised his defense, which played well late into Saturday’s game.
“Defensively, I thought we played really exceptionally well for three quarters of the game,” Stein said. “They did everything in their power.”
This weekend, the Cats hit the road for the first time this season, visiting Texas A&M on Saturday. Stein knows that the ninth-ranked Aggies will pose a serious challenge for his team.
“We’re heading to College Station, great college town, elite team, great head coach, Mike Elko. (I’ve) got a ton of respect for him and what he’s done there and throughout his career,” Stein said. “It’s going to be an elite atmosphere, (we’ve) got to be ready for. Great opportunity against a really good opponent.”
While the Cats will spend plenty of time focusing on what Texas A&M does schematically, Stein knows that his team needs to take care of what they can control.
“It’s still about us. It’s our ability to play one snap at a time for four quarters,” Stein said. “That’s our mentality going into this. There’s no poor me, no shoulda, woulda, coulda. We got beat in the last game, now it’s time to turn the page and move on.”
Stein and the Cats hope to learn from last week’s loss and to take those lessons into Saturday’s SEC contest in College Station.
