Things are really heating up : Stoops Drops Bombshell After 41-6 Victory: ‘There’s A Lot To Say, But Not Al Of It’s Good………
Coach Mark Stoops says there are still elements in the offense that needs to be fixedperfect game to get them ready for SEC play, and Coach Stoops admits that.One of the things that many people were upset about in this game was the bungled time management at the end of the first half. It was some impressively bad display of how to end a half, with tons of time left on the clock, two time-outs, and on the opponent’s side of the field and still running out of time. “We screwed that up at the end of the first half. That’s on me; I knew better; I knew we should have kicked in on 3rd that I was going to; that’s on me…with no timeouts, we should have kicked it.”
Stoops talked a lot about how he wanted to see the offense cleaned up, and as SEC games start back up again next week against Ole Miss, they have to be cleaner. When asked what that exactly looked like, Stoops said, “The ball on the ground, penalties, pre-snap, holding, there are a lot of things that we can do better. All those things.”
This is important as the SEC will expose more flaws than Ohio did today. I think Kentucky fans also hope to see more from starting QB Brock Vandagriff, who has been underwhelming in SEC play, both against South Carolina and Georgia. “He was 17/24, but that probably doesn’t count, probably running for his life on 6 or 8 and the sacks. But to him, we have to speed up, and he has to go through a progression. For us to progress, we have to give him some time.”
He didn’t address how they would get him more time as the offensive line doesn’t seem to give him much to work with on most plays. Is it scheme? Is it personnel? We will have to see each other next week against Ole Miss. Either way, Coach Stoops says they must play with more focus and discipline, “You always have to play with an attitude and an effort. That’s a non-negotiable for us…I think we need to play disciplined and more focused. Today, at times, we were… we have some areas where we have to get better.”
While Kentucky has already had two SEC games, they are going into the rest of the conference play. They are taking on a top-five ranked Ole Miss next week on the road and a bye week to follow. There isn’t much more time to continue to talk about “getting better.” It’s time to improve, as the SEC schedule kicks into gear now.
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops has made it clear that despite his team’s win over Ohio, there are still several areas within the offense that need improvement, particularly as the team prepares for the tougher SEC schedule. Stoops openly acknowledged the errors in time management, specifically at the end of the first half. The Wildcats squandered a prime scoring opportunity, with plenty of time on the clock, two timeouts, and a position on the opponent’s side of the field, only to come away empty-handed. Stoops took full responsibility for the mishap, admitting, “We screwed that up at the end of the first half. That’s on me… I knew we should have kicked on third down, and that’s on me.”
The poor clock management highlighted some of the broader issues Kentucky needs to address before diving deeper into SEC play, which begins next week against a formidable Ole Miss team. Stoops emphasized the importance of cleaning up mistakes like turnovers, penalties, and pre-snap miscues. “The ball on the ground, penalties, pre-snap, holding – there are a lot of things we can do better,” Stoops explained. These self-inflicted wounds are areas where the Wildcats must improve, as SEC teams are far less forgiving than non-conference opponents like Ohio.
One of the more significant talking points coming out of the Ohio game is the performance of starting quarterback Brock Vandagriff. While Vandagriff completed 17 of 24 passes, Stoops suggested that the numbers didn’t tell the full story, particularly with the pressure Vandagriff faced in the pocket. Stoops noted that Vandagriff was “probably running for his life” on multiple plays due to poor pass protection, resulting in sacks and hurried decisions. For Kentucky to compete in the SEC, Stoops emphasized that Vandagriff would need to speed up his decision-making and work through his progressions faster. However, Stoops also admitted that the offensive line needed to provide more consistent protection, though he didn’t go into detail on whether this would be addressed through changes in personnel or scheme adjustments.
The offensive line’s struggles have been a significant issue for Kentucky throughout the season. The inability to protect Vandagriff not only limits the passing game but also hampers the offense’s rhythm. Kentucky’s offensive line, once a reliable unit, has struggled to maintain the consistency needed to keep defenses at bay. This is something that must be addressed before heading into the game against Ole Miss, a top-five team with a ferocious defense that will undoubtedly expose any weaknesses Kentucky hasn’t resolved.
Kentucky fans are understandably anxious as the Wildcats enter the heart of their SEC schedule. While Vandagriff has shown flashes of potential, particularly in non-conference games, his performances against SEC competition, such as in the games against South Carolina and Georgia, have been underwhelming. Stoops acknowledged this, noting that for the team to progress, both the quarterback and the offensive line must step up their games.
As the Wildcats prepare for Ole Miss, Stoops stressed the need for discipline, focus, and effort, three key ingredients for success in the highly competitive SEC. “You always have to play with an attitude and an effort. That’s a non-negotiable for us,” Stoops said. However, he also pointed out that discipline was lacking at times in the game against Ohio, and that’s something that simply can’t happen in conference play.
Kentucky is about to face the most challenging part of its schedule, and there is no longer time to talk about getting better without putting those words into action. The team’s performance against Ole Miss will be a true test of whether they have made the necessary improvements. With a bye week following the Ole Miss game, this matchup could set the tone for the rest of Kentucky’s season. The Wildcats are out of time to tinker with their offense – it’s time to execute and prove they belong among the SEC’s elite.
