(On the Arkansas team)
“They’re very quick. They’re very experienced. I think they have one redshirt freshman starting at one defensive end, but all of the rest of them are juniors and seniors. So, they’ve played a lot of games. They’re playing a new scheme, but I think it’s pretty similar to the scheme they ran before. They’re playing pretty well. They’re also a very mature team. So, that’s a strength.”
“Offensively, they’re very balanced and they can run the ball. They’ll keep the ball away from us. If you stack up the run too much, they can really hurt you with the pass. So, they’re not a team that’s one-dimentional. They’re going to hit you with both aspects. Defensively, I think they’re a lot like Florida. They’re a very quick team and they swarm the ball.”
(On Arkansas vs. Alabama)
“They dominated Alabama in every sense of the word. It did surprise me a little bit. I expected it might be a little tighter game than it was.”
(On Clint Stoerner, Arkansas QB)
“Stoerner is just a good all-around quarterback. He’s a great talent and he doesn’t make many mistakes. He has got good size and a good throwing arm. ”
(On the Arkansas offense)
“They’re a team that strives for balance. They like to run the two backs at you real hard and they like to play action you. They can also get three or four wides and throw it. All of their receivers are tough. Lucas and Snow, in particular, are two big guys who can run fast.”
(On the Florida game
“This year is more of a disappointment than last year’s game against Florida. Last year, we gained confidence in the system. I think we went down there this year expecting to win. It takes a couple of days to get over the loss.”
(On the U.K. offensive line)
“Our offensive line played well. I thought it was our best effort all year. I don’t want to single out any one player, because I thought that they all played well.”
UK PLAYER QUOTES
DE Gordon Crowe
On the Florida game
“It was a big step for us. We had a lot of confidence going into the game, and I felt like we gave them a good game.”
On what they have improved on most
“Our teamwork is the biggest improvement. In the past, we have had players out there who were just playing for themselves. But now were out there playing for each other.”
WR Lance Mickelsen
On the Florida game
“There is some good to moral victories but the bottom line is that we lost. Every time we felt like we were right there, something would go wrong. It seemed like we were on the verge.”
On the UK receivers
“As a whole, the receivers are catching pretty well. Its not technique. Its just a concentration thing. Playing in the Swamp can have a lot to do with that. We just have to concentrate better.”
WR Jimmy Robinson
On coming back from a loss
“We have some guys on the team who can snap back pretty well and put the game behind us. We just need to go get ready and practice for Arkansas. Were taking it one game at a time.”
On preparing for Arkansas
“We need to get better at doing what we do and then go out there and execute. Were going to worry more about what we do, rather than what Arkansas is going to do. We cant control that.”
LB John Rader
On the Florida game aftermath
“We really felt like we could win the game. We may have come up a little short, but it showed us that we can play with anybody in the country. The game gives us something to build on.”
On UK’s defensive scheme
“This year our style is more smash-mouth. Last year, we laid back and tried to catch things. This year we are much more attacking.”
On the SEC
“It doesn’t matter who you play. Every game is tough. If you don’t prepare well for the game, you’re going to get beaten.”
CB Eric Kelly
On the Florida game aftermath
“The loss kind of brought us back to earth. A loss is never fun, but it will make us play harder this week.”
On the loss of FS Willie Gary
“Willie is the leader of the defensive backfield. If he’s not able to play, the rest of us will just have to step up and fill in while he’s gone.”
