By: LONNY DEMAREE
Mark Stoops said they have had a good week of practice and it has been tough. Consequently they felt the need to bone up on their toughness, in particular in the offense line. Because of his concentrating on those that are on the practice field, Stoops chooses to stay mum on the nature of his injury list, Ala Jordan Jones and Charles Walker.
The coach has a lot of confidence in his squad when it comes to qualified body's. A couple of games ago Stoops said they played twenty-four players on defense in crunch time. That number seems to be growing in that they played nine-players on the interior line in the last game. This depth on the defensive side will be a plus against the Missouri Tigers.
“We've been practicing physically on the offensive line,” Stoops expressed in his explanation to be more cohesive. “We've been fooling around with different rotations (8-players).” He said they intend to still use combinations on the line including the center position. “We need to increase the number of snaps in the game.” Though the Cats got five seconds more position time (30:05 – 29:55) they got ten less plays 74-64.
This is a team that runs a tempo offense which tends to test the stamina of a team. “It's nears impossible to substitute during a series,” Stoops said. The UK defense has it's hands full getting to the quarterback because they have allowed only 24-sacks on the season. Quarterback Drew Lock gets the ball out quick which puts pass rusher in peril.
The Wildcats on Offense:
Run the football
Get in the offense in third and short
Keep your defense off the field
Set up play-action
Use the very good tight end play the Cats possess
Take care of the football (turnovers) +7 on the season.
The Wildcats on Defense:
Continue to stop the run – Third in the conference
Force field goals in the red zone
Swarm to the football
Get the first pick-six in two years.
Special teams:
Special teams coach Dean Hood said he has talent on the teams
What is a good number in net punting? Hood said 40- yards – UK's 40.4.
Speed on coverage teams but stay in your lane
Continue to utilize the passion of Charles Moushey on cover teams
Good hang time on punts
Lynn Bowden caught a lot of punts on Wednesday.
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