Aug. 12, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. — After asking his team for more effort and concentration after Wednesday’s two-a-day practice, University of Kentucky football head coach Joker Phillips is looking forward to the team’s first scrimmage Saturday after an improved practice session Thursday.
“We are looking forward to the scrimmage,” Phillips said. “We have a lot of competition going on right now at quarterback, center, linebacker, safety and everyone is gearing up for what we are calling an interview on Saturday. They are trying to win a job.”
The scrimmage will be what Phillips called a “full-bore scrimmage” with some special team plays at the beginning. The scrimmage comes at a good time for the UK coaching staff as the coaches try to grab a firmer grip on several key position battles, especially at quarterback.
“That competition (quarterback) is hot and heavy,” Phillips said. “Every day you are seeing those guys come out with no fear in their hearts, making plays and doing the things that we want them to do at the line of scrimmage.”
Phillips also hopes to be able to tighten down the depth chart after the team’s first scrimmage, saying that he and the UK coaching staff would start to form the depth chart right after the scrimmage was over.
“We have to narrow the amount of people that we are working with,” said Phillips. “It is important for us to make sure that we are working with the people that can help us (in the opening game).”
Phillips said his team responded well Thursday after two practices Wednesday that were far from perfect. The first-year head coach said the scrimmage will be extensive in order to get reps for all the players that they want to see, especially the quarterbacks and the freshman.
“We have to go a lot of plays because we have three quarterbacks that we want to see,” said the UK graduate. “We also have a lot of young guys in this freshman class that we need to see. We have to have a number of plays so that we can get some reps for those guys to see who can help us. This is an important scrimmage Saturday because we have to get going.”
The scrimmage will not be open to the public.
