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Cats getting ahead in preparations for WKU
By Guy Ramsey
After starting game week
a couple days early on Thursday, Kentucky continued to prepare for its
season opener vs. Western Kentucky University on Saturday.
UK
went through the type of practice the Wildcats will typically hold on
Wednesdays before games. Mark Stoops is looking to position his team
for light work late next week before traveling to Nashville.
"It
just gets us ahead a little bit," UK's head coach said. "The only thing
it'll affect, it'll help us possibly taper a little bit earlier next
week. I just wanted to get ahead of the chains this week for our first
game and just be prepared and just put a little extra time."
Stoops
was pleased with UK's work overall, while Neal Brown was particularly
encouraged by the offense's day. The team is still getting a feel for
how things will work under a new coaching staff as the season begins,
but Brown sees the adjustment happening quickly.
"I thought
today was much better than yesterday, and yesterday was not bad," Brown
said. "But we did a Wednesday practice today and I think an in-season
practice, our kids had a little better feel for it today. They knew
what to expect and executed much better and knew what we expected of
them."
Reporters were permitted to watch approximately 50
minutes of the Saturday practice, and they saw quarterbacks Maxwell
Smith and Jalen Whitlow split time during a walkthrough. Stoops and
Brown expect them to do the same next Saturday.
"I don't see the
reason to (name a starter), really," Stoops said. "I think both guys
are working extremely hard, and there's probably no reason for me to
name a starter."
Though UK's starter at quarterback remains a
mystery, Stoops shed some light on how he and his offensive coordinator
will work together on game day.
"He'll call all the plays, but
obviously I'll make all the decisions, whether it's four-down territory
or when to take a shot and have some input and things like that,"
Stoops said. "But he'll call the plays. But I'll just be there to
manage it, and like I said make the decisions on four down or punting
and going for it and just, you know, here or there."
Brown will
call plays from the sideline, relying on wide receivers coach Tommy
Mainord to be his eyes in the press box. Offensive coordinators have
different philosophies on game-day positioning, but Brown has good
reason why he wants to be as close to the action as possible.
"I
think you've got a little bit better feel when to use tempo, when to
not," Brown said. "I like seeing the quarterback when they come off. If
they did something well or they did something poorly, I like to be able
to immediately talk to them and discuss it."
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