Mark Stoops Monday Press Conference
2017 Mark Stoops News Conference
Kroger Field – Lexington, Ky.
Sept. 18, 2017
Mark Stoops
Kentucky Football
Head Coach Mark Stoops
Lexington, KY
September 18, 2017
Opening Statement …
I was pleased with our team’s performance this past week. I thought we played exceptionally hard. I thought they showed great poise, great toughness, and we really executed very well in critical situations in a tough, hostile environment. I really believe that was the difference in the game, short yardage, goal line, third downs. Our team did some good things. So, we are excited about that win and we’re excited to get back to work. It is very short lived and we will have our hands full this week. We are excited to be back home and playing a great Florida team. So, we will be excited and ready to go.
On LB Jordan Jones’ status for Saturday…
Doubtful. I didn’t even put him on there. He’s, like I said last week, it will be a stretch. If something changes, I will let you know.
On teammates stepping up in Jordan Jones’ absence…
Eli (Brown) was just cramping. He went in and took an IV. I am not even sure how many plays he missed but he got back pretty quick. But, I was very pleased with the way Eli (Brown) played. I said that really all camp. He has been much more consistent with his work. You know, going back to last winter and trying to gain weight and get stronger and really had a good fall practice camp. As I told you, I guess Thursday, I was excited to see him play. He needed the opportunity to get quality reps and he didn’t disappoint us. He played very well.
On LB Jamar “Boogie” Watson…
Boogie just played a few plays and he did some good things. He’ll get more as we go. Jamar has been a great team player. We have been bouncing him around. The big thing is getting, as you get so deep in game plans and things change, you know, he has had to play quite a few positions. We appreciate him being very unselfish because we have a lot of confidence in him. He is a good football player. Just like Saturday, went in and helped on a critical stop in a critical situation. So, Jamar has done a great job. He is going to be very good. He is helping us fill some holes right now and play where we need him But, he will settle in and help us play.
On why the team continues to grind as the game continues…
I think it comes from years of training and preparing and building the culture that you want and I think you are seeing great leadership from our team and that doesn’t surprise me. I think emotion is big in this game but it is daily. It is not on Saturdays. It is the will to prepare to win. That is what we are trying to instill in our guys. It is about the preparation and getting in position to win games and having the confidence that you’re going to do it. That doesn’t mean that you are going to win every time. But, that is what we are striving for and you know, we are trying to be perfect. The minute bad things happen, we’ve been there before. Just get back, regroup. Fix the problems and move on to the next play. Our team has that mentality and I love that about them.
On Florida player suspensions and how the team will prepare…
I have no idea. We just prepare for what they have done on the defense end and on offense and what is on film and last year and a lot of things. So, we will just prepare the best we can.
On how much he hears from fans about ending the Florida streak…
I do feel the importance of it. I’ve always accepted that as I’ve accepted rivalries and you know all the negative streaks that you all are so good at telling me every week and all those things. It’s true, I mean I take it personally, I do. I care about our fan base and I do care about the history even if I wasn’t here. I want to make our people happy and supportive of our team, and past players and all the tradition, the whole deal. So, it’s important. It’s part of what motivates you every day, to get up and do the best job you can.
On whether he’ll discuss last year’s lopsided loss at Florida…
We do watch that because that’s very recent and you can’t make the same mistakes again. So, obviously we will have to watch that game film, which again should be no problem with motivating us because we did not play very good.
On Florida QB Feleipe Franks…
I think he’s very talented, very good arm talent. I really think he can throw the football. I thought in the Michigan game they had some big plays there, and credit Michigan I thought their defensive backs made some really good plays on the football that were some fantastic looking passes down the field. So, I think he has a lot of arm talent. That was very evident with the last play that you saw (against Tennessee), just the arm strength to be able to throw that football the way he did I’m sure that will give him some confidence moving forward. But, I think he’s got a lot of talent.
On what he expects the Kroger Field atmosphere to be like on Saturday night…
I hope our fan base is energized. I know our team is looking forward to that and being back home and being in front of them. Again, we all take it serious to put out the best product we can for our fan base. They are a big piece of what we do and we need their support and they make a difference. Playing at South Carolina and playing in that environment it makes a difference.
On the importance of being competitive with teams in the SEC East…
It’s very important. You know, it’s very important. There are always these steps that we need to take to push forward and we don’t dodge those. We embrace those challenges and well do the very best we can.
On the difference in UK’s run defense this season…
There are a lot of things that are different. It always starts with technique, you’ve heard me talk about that. I think Derrick LeBlanc has done a great job with the technique part of it. I think Matt House has done a great job with the structure of the defense, out position on the football. We were determined as I’ve mentioned many times to get some things fixed and it starts with just the overall structure and position on the ball. It comes from experience, it comes from guys being around, it comes from strength and depth. There’s a lot of things that go into it. But, you know the number one thing it starts with is pride. The guys have a great sense of pride about them to do things the right way.
On whether he takes pride in the defensive improvement…
Darn right I do. I do. There will be challenges ahead, just like this week. It is what it is, and we embrace that and we are going to try our very best every week and I appreciate our team’s effort to get things fixed and we’re going to go watch that film for hours again today and see the good things we did and bad things and try to get some things corrected as we move forward.
On Derrick Baity’s performance and if that was the player he envisioned him being …
“Yeah, I thought he played a very good game and we are going to need him to play better. There are still some explosive plays that are happening in the passing game that we have got to get corrected. Some of that is going to happen when you are playing as good of run defense as we are, people are going to start throwing the ball. But overall, I really thought that our defense did some good things. We have a few big plays that we have got to get corrected.”
On if the team is tackling better …
“Yeah, that was a big point of emphasis also in the offseason. You have heard us talk about how strength and technique is a big piece of it. But yes, we did not want to get mushed or pushed around. There were too many yards after contact last year and too many third and mediums and third and shorts. Now, when we are in position, they are second and long or third and long. That is a big difference. Even second and seven vs. second and two. Just being stronger at the point of contact. Part of that is strength and conditioning, I think it is technique and I think it is positioning on the football. But we are better at third downs because we are better at run defense.
On why Stephen Johnson slid down on the long run in the fourth quarter …
“I think he was just getting tracked down. He was probably about to pull a hammy.”
On when he knew Stephen Johnson was the leader the offense needed …
“I don’t remember a specific moment, but I just think over time he got everybody’s confidence and everybody started to believe in him. He is a winner. The bottom line he is a winner. He is making plays when he needs to by every mean necessary. I think that everybody believes in him.”
On if he has a different personality when he steps on the field …
“I think he is gaining confidence as he goes. It has been documented that he is a tremendous young man. He represents us the right way and he is a great human being. I think that everybody respects that about him. His play, he is just getting more and more confident and the more he plays and gets looks, we play better around him. There are still a lot of plays that we are leaving out there. He is putting us in a position to make some plays for him.”
On how the wide receiver position has been playing …
“Yeah, there are mistakes they have made, but I am pleased with them. Number one, they have been very unselfish. It is easy to want the football in this day and age and all they have to hear and listen to. It is constantly about them. They have been very unselfish and I just love their work ethic and their attitude and you can just see that on the sidelines. If they have to go block, four-five-six plays in a row, then they are going to go do that. They are going to do whatever they have to do to help us win and I really appreciate that about them. I thought Juice (Garrett Johnson) made some big third-down catches this past week and I think Chuck (Walker) had one as well. Coach (Eddie) Gran did a nice job of giving us some other options on third down and getting some people off man-to-man on us with some rubs and different ways to create some space. Stephen delivered those balls well and Juice made the catch upfield and got a big first down. Overall, they are doing good and doing what we are asking them to do. I would like to see us make the deep one down the sideline that Kayaune Ross had an opportunity to make. We need to stay inside and stack that defender a little bit better and make that catch for Stephen because I think it could have been a touch more on the inside, but I think we can make that catch.”
On if he talked to Stephen about his dropped catch …
“Yeah, I am going to have to talk to him about that. (Laughter) That is a walk in the endzone. He said he lost it in the lights is what I heard on the field.”
On Lynn Bowden getting some carries in critical situations on Saturday …
“Yeah, I think that is what helps build character being in a tough situation like that. We believe in him and trust him and we need to keep on finding ways to get him the ball and the more and more opportunities he has the more comfortable he will get.”
On the offensive line improvement since the start of the season …
“Just continuity and the opportunity to go out and play. As I said early after game one and game two, we all remember, we are going to get better as we go. It is much different in camp and then you get into games and you are seeing new pictures and new things and new players. It just takes some time. Again, I don’t know of any team in the country that doesn’t make some mistakes early on. You have got to be good enough to overcome your mistakes and there were some things that we were not too far off of in game one and game two. Again, I keep on pointing out, it was the same way last year and we kept on getting better and better and stronger as the year went on. Hopefully, that will be the same this year. I know we have been better in game two, but game three was the best game we have played. Those were tough yards. I thought our offense did an excellent job of moving the football and keeping them off balance. I thought we had some very, very good rush yards. Again, getting into those situations that I was just talking about, when you are off balance and you are getting those aggravating five or six yards per carry those are tough. Those keep defenses off balance and I thought we did keep them off balance. I don’t know if I said it in my opening statement, but I just want to credit the coaching staff. I really think that did a good job this whole season, but especially this past game. I think Dean Hood did an excellent job on special teams. Eddie Gran did a great job of keeping them of balance and Matt House had a really good game plan and made some adjustments and did some really good things. The whole staff was great. It was a good effort and hopefully we will build on that. We have a lot to do this week and we will have a real challenge this week.
On the backup running backs…
It was tough in this last game. Sihiem (King) did some really good things. We need to get him some more touches. The way the game played out, it was unfortunate for him because when we were backed up we needed (Benny Snell) in there. Sometimes we were going in and we need the big guy in there but Sihiem can create some big plays and he did. The third down catch he made was a fantastic play. Two third downs actually and then the sweep, made a great run. So Sihiem is doing some good things, he is going to get some more opportunities. He will definitely be a guy that we need to get involved more.
On this year’s Florida team being less scary than past Florida teams…
You’re crazy. I’ve watched them play and they are the same Florida team. They are a very, very good football team. Don’t you put words in my mouth. But again, like always, it is really about us and our preparation and how we play. Our team heard that all last week. All we need to be is the best version of ourself. We need to worry about us and how good we can play.
On Florida’s offensive weapons…
“Well you see the playmakers on their field, you really do. They’ve only played two games unfortunately for them. I’m sure they wished they had an opportunity to play game two. But you see playmakers, you see explosive guys all over the field. Like I said I saw some very good passes that were well defended in game one. In game two, they had one that was six inches away from being another explosive play that was a touchdown that you have to credit the defender from Tennessee. The phenomenal play he made to punch that touchdown up, that was another one right there. I’m not going to count on those kind of plays, I’d rather defend it at the front end. So they are explosive, they’re good. They are ready to score a lot of points, you see that. They are the same Florida team, they got explosive wide receivers, physical great running backs. Again I think Feleipe (Franks) has a lot of talent and great arm talent. So we just got to do our job.
On defensive turnaround…
In certain regards, I feel very good. I have a lot of confidence going into the game. That again I feel good about how the guys are preparing. The structure of things, there is going to be big plays in the run game and pass game, it’s going to happen. But you know I just feel confident that whatever happens, we can get corrected and move on to the next play. That feels very good. It feels different in that regard. I feel like we have guys that take great pride in the way we are going about our work, each yard and each first down. You have to have a mentality that those yards and first downs are personal. We are starting to feel that in this group.
On mentality after giving up a big play…
There is a lot of good things going on within the team in that way. Also on the other side of that, I saw some things happen where there were some mess-ups and I saw some guys like it was personal to them that mistakes were happening and jumping on guys in a good way of like that’s not acceptable. If you’re playing corner, you’re going to get beat every once in a while which by the way wasn’t all on him at all. We were in a three-deep zone there. But I saw it both ways so guys are going to make mistakes and everybody is human and we all accept that. We are all in this together and we move on. But I also see a great sense of pride of when nonsenses are going on and things that we can control are happening. The guys are not accepting that and that is growth to me.
On keeping the underdog motivation and keeping team in check…
No I’m not worried about losing the motivation at all. We will stay on this week and we’ll see how it goes but it’s about staying consistent in our preparation. I have no reason to believe that this team won’t do that.
On getting fans to buy in…
Well, I’m not going to say my chips are all in (on the result of one game). It’s not ever the case. It’s always a one-week season to us but on the other side of that I don’t deny that it’s a big game at home that I’d desperately like to win for the fan base included.
On Florida looking any different defensively with Coach Shannon….
Not much different. There’s a lot of carryover, maybe not as must odd front, but I had the opportunity to work with Randy. We were together for three years at Miami and he’s a very good coach, great person, I enjoyed working with him so I’m sure he’s doing a great job with them.
On Austin MacGinnis …
He’s very important as we all know just with the pressure kicks that he made a year ago. He’s just been resilient, he’s been consistent and again, if he’s made any mistake or anything, he’s bounced right back and delivered the next time. I have a lot of respect for Austin. He’s a tough guy and he’s been great under pressure.
On working at various Florida schools and feelings about the University of Florida…
It’s always been a rival. At one time it was ridiculous how much on the winning end I was and I’ve got to get that going again here. When I was at Miami, I don’t think I lost to any Florida school, when I was at Florida State I don’t think I lost to any Florida school, and so on. The only thing that I always see when you play a team like that is that they are really good athletes. A lot of good players and very explosive.
On offense starting off games….
Play one was a great success Saturday. I thought we had a well-designed play and it was there and we executed quickly. I thought play two was also a very well designed play. You have to give credit to Skai. Skai Moore (South Carolina linebacker) is a very good football player and he made a very good play. So I think that structurally we were set up right and I think he made a very good play. You have to give credit to him and Stephen needs to see that or put more pressure under it or go to a different guy. But he made a good play. Then the snaps and some fumbles are some things that we have to get cleaned up for sure. We’ll continue to work at that. We are getting fewer of those things. I think they had more pre-snap penalties than we did and that’s a good thing for our offense and for our team.
On Mike Edwards’ back to back games with interceptions…
He’s been that, he’s been consistent. He’s been a consistently good football player and very rarely does he ever make the same mistake twice. He has a way of applying things from practice and carrying it over from practice to the game. He has a very good feel and good instincts, overall plays very good. I thought Darius West also played a very good game. I think that with more and more reps he brings a nice physicality to the game and he really played hard. Overall, all the guys did. One thing we talked about last week was matching their intensity and I know our guys did that.
On reserve offensive lineman Mason Wolfe’s performance last week…
I think Mason did a good job in that heat and excitement. Nick (Haynes) needed some rest and it’s nice to rely on Mason to get in there and get us some quality reps that he ended up playing. He was actually in during two long touchdown drives in the first half. Those were his series and they went long and he ended up getting some really quality snaps.
