Stoops likes Cats’ progress before spring game

Published 10:20 pm Sunday, April 7, 2019

LEXINGTON, Ky. (KT) — Mark Stoops will get one more look at his Kentucky squad before taking a summer break.

The Wildcats will conclude spring practice with the annual Blue-White game set for 6 p.m. Friday night at Kroger Field. The format will feature the Blue team against the White team in four 10-minute quarters. The team’s quarterbacks and specialists will play for both teams and scoring will be similar to a regular-season game.

“I’m looking forward to the spring game (Friday), wrapping up the spring,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Thursday. “It’s been a very productive spring. It’s been a long time. Guys have put in a lot of work. We had a good, strong winter. Guys were lifting and running and the spring, we stretch it out. Going three days a week for five weeks, it’s a lot of work.”

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Kentucky finished 10-3 last season and defeated Penn State in the VRBO Citrus Bowl, the team’s best finish in 41 years. Kentucky returns several players from last year’s squad, including quarterback Terry Wilson and linebacker Kash Daniel. Kentucky is looking to replace linebacker Josh Allen and Benny Snell.

I’m pleased,” Stoops said. “We have a long way to go, but that’s what spring’s for. We gotta wrap this up and continue to have a really solid summer, but it’s been productive. We know we have some holes to fill and guys are working hard and we’re well aware of that. I feel like there are some other areas of this team that there’s some strength and we have some experience and some really good players. We’re looking to grow in those areas and looking to improve where we’re inexperienced.”

Stoops added the overall roster is stocked with talent, giving his team more depth at several positions.

“I think just in general I feel good about where we’re at,” Stoops said. “The progression, all of our guys seem to be improving. There’s not a whole heck of a lot of dead weight anymore in our program. If there is they have a tendency to move their way out and move on. I think most of our guys are progressing.”

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Allen invited to NFL Draft

Allen will be among 23 college standouts who have been invited to the NFL Draft set for April 25-27 in Nashville.

Allen is a projected first-round pick, was a pass rush terror for the Wildcats the entire 2018 season. With 31.5 career sacks and 17 sacks in 2018, he broke UK’s career and single-season records and moved up to No. 9 on the Southeastern Conference’s career sacks chart.

His 11 career forced fumbles tied former Wildcats and current Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan for UK’s career mark. He led the team with 88 tackles and paced the SEC in sacks, tackles for loss (21.5) and forced fumbles (5). He also was among the NCAA leaders in sacks, TFL and forced fumbles. Thirteen of Allen’s 17 sacks were in the second half, four in the third quarter and nine in the fourth quarter. In five of UK’s wins, Allen had a sack in the fourth quarter that was crucial to the Wildcat victory, including two sack/fumble/UK recoveries on the opponent’s final possession of one-score games.

The NFL Draft Red Carpet will take place on April 25 at The Green at Riverfront Park.

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LEXINGTON (KT) — Mark Stoops was in a good mood following spring practice on Saturday.

Stoops was especially pleased with Kentucky’s defensive performance as the Wildcats prepare for their annual spring game set for 6 p.m. Friday night at Kroger Field.

“I felt like a week ago, (we) just kinda milled around out on the field,” Stoops said. “(We) didn’t have the intensity that we’re looking for. This week, (it was) a different story. The defense came out and really played very dominant up front. We were very physical at the point of attack. Created some turnovers. Played a really good scrimmage. I’m pleased.”

Stoops said the offensive unit “did some good things late in the scrimmage.”

“(We) made some big plays down the stretch,” he said. “Lynn (Bowden) made a big play to kind of cap the scrimmage off. Just like typical spring — a little bit of give and take. Felt better about it defensively today. But offensively we were still doing some big plays.”

Stoops is looking for more from his team’s outside linebackers. Kentucky will be replacing Josh Allen and 14 departing players, including running back Benny Snell.

“They played better,” Stoops said. “We’re not as deep as we’d like to be right now at that position. But having Boogie back at full strength, he’s been limited for most of the spring. Now that he’s back it gives him a little bit more pop.”

The team’s most experienced linebacker is junior Jamar “Boogie” Watson. Alex King, Jordan Wright, and Jared Casey also are expected to be in the mix for significant playing time next fall.

Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White said earlier this week “we’re not clearly where we need to be.”

“We’ve got a lot of steps to take,” he said. “That’s really the bottom the line. To play in a 3-4 defense, you’ve got to have dominant outside edge guys. Every 3-4 team that you think about that is a really good defense, one of the first names that pop in your head is an outside backer. We need to find some guys that can step up, and right now that’s one of the positions we really need to grind hard.”

Another major concern for the defense is in the secondary.

“Let’s put it this way, it’s not like we’re going out there and noticing it being terrible during the scrimmage,” Stoops said. “They’re holding their own. They gave up very few big plays. We gave up one today on first down — (gave up a) play-action (play) late in the scrimmage, but overall they’re doing OK.”

Overall, Stoops said the Wildcats are ahead of schedule because of the leadership of the team’s 16 seniors and running back Benny Snell.

“I felt like this group was definitely further along than I anticipated because of the blueprint that was set by the 16 seniors that we lost and the good things in the program,” he said. “I feel like they’re doing a good job. That can’t be forced. They have to work their way and earn that trust and respect from their teammates and they’re starting to do that.”

As for a format for Friday’s game, Stoops foresees a routine game.

“We’re going to look at it. I’m going to look at depth and see where we’re at. I’d like to have a regular game rather than offense and defense. I think our players enjoy it that way. I think the fans do. If we have enough numbers I’d like to do it that way. I’ll take a look at it.”