Kentucky Football Press Conference
KENTUCKY FOOTBALL NEWS CONFERENCE
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR BRAD WHITE
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BUSH HAMDAN
POST-AUBURN, PRE-TENNESSEE
OCTOBER 28, 2024
Defensive Coordinator Brad White
Opening statement…
“I would just like to start by saying to please keep the entire Stoops family in your hearts and minds on the recent passing of Mark and Mike’s mother, Dee. A really tough and somber day today as they lay her to rest. Please, just a little prayer today would be great.”
On if anything from film changed your perception of the game against Auburn…
“No, and I think it’s what we all saw on Saturday. It’s what we saw live and in person – up front defensively, we need to be better from a run-fit standpoint. Collectively, we are all embarrassed by that performance, especially against the run. For the most part, I thought the secondary capped the defense and that was the goal, other than one scramble play, I thought they did a nice job. What we didn’t do is, and we knew they had a really good running back, but what was unexpected was to fit the run as poorly as we did. Some of the tackling was not good and up to our standards. Obviously, need to get that cleaned up with a really good run game this weekend.”
On what brought most of the problems against Auburn, physicality, gap control?…
“I think it was a little bit of both. When we have played really well, our front seven this year has been dominant. I don’t think we were nearly – obviously, we weren’t dominant. There was nothing dominant about that performance. We need to get back to that, obviously, at this point in the season guys can get nicks here and there, but everybody has that. This is where the true toughness and the true grit and your true character starts to shine through. This sort of back end of the season, you have to play through some of those bumps and bruises and have to play physical. You can’t get worn down physically or mentally. You have to keep fitting and keep striking and you have to keep tackling.”
On if there was any discussion of playing Daveren Raynor against Auburn…
“We have been trying to really be mindful of that one game and which one to use it on. There really wasn’t (that much discussion). If maybe it had happened way before – we have always had him prepped and ready as we go through. We just have to be mindful of when to use that.”
On looking ahead to Tennessee…
“It starts with playing better, regardless of the team that we are playing on Saturday, we have to play better. We have to be sort of efficient in terms of how we play defense. When I say efficient, it can’t be, ‘Hey, we have a couple of good plays and then we give up an explosive (play).’ We have got to stay the course. So much of last week was, ‘Hey make sure these receivers don’t get behind us.’ We do that and then they get explosive in the run game. Explosives are explosive. We have got to be mindful of being able to keep the ball in front of us, force the offense to keep moving the ball and we are trying to take calculated risks and shots to go get pressure on the QB, to try to go create a negative play. But we also have to be mindful of understanding what explosives do to the momentum of the game. They have firepower on the outside edges. Obviously (Dylan) Sampson as the running back is extremely, extremely talented. We saw what he did last year in that game.”
On the importance of getting turnovers in a road game…
“Turnovers are huge. Creating shorter fields for the offense is huge. When you go on the road in a really tough environment you’ve got to play really good complementary football. You’ve got to give the offense possessions and field position where they have a chance to be successful. We know what kind of environment it’s going to be, night game down in Knoxville, it’s going to be loud. We’ve got to give them opportunities. If we can do that through turnovers, if we can do that through three-and-outs that create a punting situation that’s backed up. To me, that was one of the most crucial moments of the game (against Auburn). Every moment has its time but we’re up 10-0 last week – they went three-and-out, two (three-and-out), interception, and were about to go three-and-out again – and it’s third down and we lose contain and he’s able to break the pocket on a scramble drill and get a 25-yard completion. We end up getting off the field forcing a punt but instead of punting from inside their own 10-yard line they’re punting close to the 50. That’s a huge field position difference. That is not playing complementary football from a defensive standpoint trying to help your offense be successful. Those are the moments that we need to do better and capitalize on. It’s just as simple as doing our job, being fundamentally sound, understanding what we’re trying to do. We’re bringing a big, heavy middle pressure. Well, the only place he’s going to escape is outside so making sure we get high and outside to keep him in the middle. Those things are things that we have to do better as a defense, and we have to do better coaching-wise – there’s a complete understanding of what we’re trying to get done on each of our plays.”
On development of Noah Matthews and Tyreese Fearbry…
“They need to continue to grow and execute at a high level. They both have potential. They are different style players. Noah is a little more physical, Tyreese a little looser, more fluid. They each bring something a little bit different. They have to learn how to play to their strength but they also just need to do it consistently. They’ve each had moments where they’ve done things well and moments where they’ve done sone things that have hurt the defense on that specific play, so we have to get those out.”
On if it is challenging mentally if the offense doesn’t take advantage when an opportunity is created…
“Honestly, if you’re a mentally tough football team the only thing that matters is the next series. It shouldn’t matter the score, it shouldn’t matter where the field position is, it shouldn’t matter. If you’re what you want to be as a defense, every time you step across that line you take it as a challenge, however you got there. If you’re worried how it got there, you’re worrying about the wrong thing. To say momentum doesn’t play a part in football or in sports is completely … that’d be to say you have complete blinders on. It does, the momentum. But as far as going out on the field and whatever happened after a forced turnover, or this or that, you’re worried about the wrong thing if you’re too worried about that. We’ve got to go back out and force another one. We’ve got to go back out and worry about the next play, force it to second down, force it to third down and get off the field. That’s where our eyes, our vision need to be.”
On JQ Hardaway…
“I think JQ has played well for the most part. I think he would be the first to admit there were some tackles on some hitch plays that he should make and he would expect himself to make. But there was also some others you saw what we expect of him. I think of one to their sideline, they throw a hitch, he comes down, bangs it, drives it back four, five yards. Hitch tackles aren’t going to lose you a game in terms of you just, if you make the tackle. Hitch tackles can lose you a game if you miss the tackle. They can create explosives (plays). I think, like most guys on our defense, he has played winning football for a large chunk of his plays and then there are plays like all of us, including me as a coordinator, that you’d like to have back.”
On keeping team morale against a top-10 team on the road…
“I think you just have to stay focused on the task. Listen, we had this same question going into Ole Miss. If you have another opportunity to go on the field you’ve got another opportunity to prove yourself. There is no worse feeling than ending on an embarrassing loss and they give you no more games. We’ve got an opportunity as a defense, as a team, to go back on the field and prove who we really are, to prove what this program is about. You either accept that challenge or you don’t. I’ve got great confidence in this group that they’re going to out, and they’re going to practice, and they’re going to practice hard, and they’re going to prep and they’re going to show up on Saturday ready to go. How that ends up playing out, we’ll all find out on Saturday night.”
On how your play calling changes from Brock Vandagriff vs. Gavin Wimsatt…
“You always change a bit just based off their strength and weaknesses. The decision to play him last week was to give him a chance to be in there the whole time and have the opportunity to have the whole playbook. We had been putting him in there to supplement the running backs, to get some quarterback run going, trying to sneak in a throw here or there to keep the defense honest. You know, again, we got the opportunity last week to see him go out there and get the whole playbook and we’ll go from there.”
Offensive Coordinator Bush Hamdan
“I know Brad has as well, but just wanted to start with thoughts and prayers out to Coach’s (Stoops) family. I know the impact that his mom has made on them and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their whole family.”
On evaluating your quarterbacks ahead of Tennessee…
“We are evaluating everything today. We are getting back with those guys and want to get face-to-face with them. I know we have addressed it [the quarterback change vs. Auburn]. It was something we were going to do in the game; we knew we were going to do that so both quarterbacks were aware of it. We will address that moving forward.”
On if you expect to get any of the three key injured players – Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, Chip Trayanum and Gerald Mincey – back for Tennessee…
“We hope so. We will see. Again, as you guys know, it’s day-to-day and just trying to certainly see where we are at with the running back situation, particularly, and continuing with the O-line as well.”
On how you challenge the offense to push forward despite the struggles…
“It has always been a ‘one-and-oh’ mentality. As hard as that can be, it is really keep the focus, staying within the confines of what we have to get done. A lot of times that is obviously easier said than done. These players have done a tremendous job with their attitudes and coming back to work every Monday; it is no different (today). We have to put a plan together for Tennessee, a really good team, and take that mentality.”
On if there is a common thread with scoring inside the five-yard line…
“I think consistency is always something there. I think it is a mixture. I feel like—with you guys—I’ve owned up to it. Are you just going to be able to line up and be able to run it in all the time? You’re not. We have got to change that focus a little bit—throw the ball even more when we are down in those situations with the defenses we are playing and how packed they were inside. We attempted to do that one time last week and probably could have had success with it. We tried it again at the end there [against Auburn]. I have got to do a good job. It starts with me on putting the best scheme together to finish those drives because that’s obviously been a huge frustration for us this whole year. We have to go execute and have that mentality—when it is one yard away, two yards away—to go get that done.”
On how you feel Malachi Wood did against Auburn…
“I think he took huge strides against Florida. Like any young freshman, certainly, just took him a little bit of time to get comfortable, if you will, in this last game. He is a guy we are excited about. He has a ton of potential, a ton of athleticism. He will continue to get better as he plays.”
On if your quarterback strategy for the upcoming week will be based on how they performed against Auburn or more about the upcoming opponent in Tennessee…
“Probably a little bit of both. I think we are taking into account the whole thing, if you will. How they’ve looked all year and how we have had them. Again, in some ways, last week, based off of our running back situation, impacted that a little bit. This week will be staying focused on Tennessee and what we have to do to win this game.”
On how your play calling changes from Brock Vandagriff to Gavin Wimsatt…
“You always change a bit just based off their strength, their weaknesses. The decision to play him last week was to give him a chance to be in there the whole time and have the opportunity to have the whole playbook. We had been putting him in there to supplement the running backs, to get some quarterback run going, trying to sneak in a throw here or there to keep the defense honest. We got the opportunity last week to see him go out there and get the whole playbook and being able to go from there.”
On Gavin Wimsatt’s preparation to lead a Southeastern Conference team…
“We’re extremely fortunate to have him. I think it’s a tough question, from the standpoint anytime you’re a backup or the number two guy, the limited reps you are taking week in and week out, to go in there in that situation. But as you know, you have to be ready when your number is called. We think he did some good things, and we’re just continuing to evaluate that.”
On if there is a comfortability with Brock Vandagriff going into Tennessee because he helped lead Kentucky to a win at Ole Miss…
“Yeah, absolutely. Again, I’ve said it many times, Brock is extremely steady. He’s never too high, never too low, he’s a guy that understands what it takes to win in this conference. I think the biggest thing with him is consistency. I think in back-to-back games he’s made some plays; we’ve got to continue to build with him and continue our third down execution and things of that nature and continue that consistency and get better.”
On if Chip Trayanum or Demie Sumo-Karngbaye will be back this week…
“I think it is to be determined.”
On if teams are adjusting their defensive looks for Gavin Wimsatt, his running seems less effective than it was earlier in the season…
“I think for the most part he’s done enough (passing). Whether it be for the Ohio game or recent games that people respect his throwing ability. So, it’s certainly not a situation when he is in there where it’s obvious throw situations for us. Defenses are still playing guys on the back end, taking away explosives there, but, again, I think the biggest thing is we know exactly where we’re at right now and we’re not going to just sit there and do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. That’s the offensive line movement and the different guys we’ve played there, the running back situation, finding out who can create explosives. It always is going to fall on me and I understand that in every way and we’re working to actively see who the best rotations are and what we can get done to create more consistency, to create more explosive plays and that’s what it is going to come down to.”
On how Brock Vandagriff reacted to not playing in the second half against Auburn…
“Fantastic. The guy is everything you want, everybody knows that about him. Again, it was important for me to have that discussion with him before the game, so it wasn’t a surprise, and ultimately, it was ‘Whatever we’ve got to do to win the game I’m all in.’ So there’s nobody more that exemplifies what this team is about than that guy. And I very much know going through similar situations in my college career, how hard that is. But he’s going to come back in the building, ready to do get back to work and ready to do whatever it takes to go beat Tennessee and so, again I can’t say enough good things about him.”
On how to get other receivers involved beyond Dane Key and Barion Brown…
“It’s never one thing or another as you guys know. I think for us, just our evaluations as an offense as a whole, from a protection standpoint, it’s been there. We’re constantly thinking about how we can do a better job of one, getting the ball out of Brock’s hands faster. I think when I look back at it that’s something that’s just on my mind, of how we can get the ball out of his hands quicker, and then certainly shoring those things up. When you have a guy who has been as consistent as Dane, when you do have an explosive player like Barion, as you know it gets harder and harder, who is the third guy, who is the fourth guy, to get those touches, especially in this kind of conference. We feel good about those guys in that room and what we’re building there, getting those guys touches is important, but we’ve got to make sure we’re getting the ball in those other guys’ hands as well.”
On how the Tennessee defensive front compares to other opponents you have seen this season…
“As good as anybody in the conference. So, just top to bottom, I think defensively these guys have game-wreckers. I think that has been the thing. We have seen pretty much every week, we have gone up against some of the better defensive fronts in the conference week-in and week-out, and we’re prepared to get ready for another one of the best in the conference this week.”
On James Pearce Jr. getting a lot of NFL Draft talk…
“I just think it’s one of those rare combinations of length, athleticism, strength, but in some ways, it is maybe similar to the South Carolina situation where there is a ton of talk on him as it is deserved, but the guy on the other side is every bit as good a player as we’ve seen in the country. They play a lot of guys on that defensive front, and a lot of guys maybe don’t receive as much attention, but this is an extremely talented group.”
On how Jason Patterson and Jamarion Wilcox played against Auburn…
“You know, it’s all relative. I think they did a good job. I don’t think the moment was too big for them. You’ve got to take into account the fact that these guys are freshmen who are really getting some of their first live action. So, certainly a lot of things to be improved on, not necessarily with how they ran the football, but with also the protections and handling those things. There is just a lot more on the running back than maybe what meets the eye in the run game. We’re trying to simplify it for those guys, trying to make sure they know what plays they’re in for so they know exactly what they need to get done. We’re excited about their growth.”
On if Brock Vandagriff is locking on to receivers or if he doesn’t have enough time in the pocket…
“I think that is the experience part. In a lot of ways, especially in third down situations when the defense knows you’re in a throwing situation and the ability for them to disguise coverage, and like you said, getting through certain progressions, and that will get better over time. I think he is in a situation where he is a mature guy. When you guys meet with him, you know he’s a mature guy, you’re not dealing with a freshman, but experience is experience and he is going to continue to get better. But I would agree. I think that is something that we have talked about in back-to-back weeks, certainly in third-down situations and fourth-down situations. They’re playing man or they’re playing zone and the direction it goes based off what they play, your progression changes and the recognition of that is going to be critical to take the next step.”
On how you balance play calling with consistency and also playing different players…
“It’s never perfect. Anytime you’re in a situation where you’re maybe midway through the year and trying to figure out who some of those critical pieces are, you do the best you can with it. That’s where we’re at. Obviously, you want to be in a situation where you know exactly who it is and they’ve played in the system for multiple years and have that SEC experience, but we’re taking one day at a time, that’s the biggest focus, one week at a time, who is going to give us the best chance to win this game, and with that being said, making sure guys are given opportunities who deserve opportunities and go from there.”
On what problems the Tennessee stadium presents…
“I think we all know. You know what I mean. It’s a loud environment. This will be my, I think my third or fourth time being there on the road, but an awesome challenge in a lot of ways for us, especially offensively. It’s critical, the messages, we’re all we need, the guys in that room. This is why you come to Kentucky, this is why you play in the SEC. Maybe not to be exactly where we’re at right now, but this is the test of all tests, and I’m excited to get back in there with those guys and that’s what it’s about. Eliminate the outside noise. Get on the road in a hostile environment and go play one play at a time.”
