November 15, 2024 • 55 mins
Jeremy Jarmon and Morgan Newton preview Murray State and look back at the season including discussing some young players who have caught their eye.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Behind Kentucky Football, presented by District seven Social.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome back Wildcat fans to another exciting episode of Behind
Kentucky Football. We're diving into this Saturday's game against Murray State.
The Wildcats are coming off of much needed bye week,
recharged and ready to finish the season strong. We got
new talent stepping in, familiar faces getting back on the
field this week, and a great lineup to break down tonight,
(00:28):
including what we can expect from Cutter Bowley if he's
to see extended minutes this week or if he is
expected to get his first start as quarterback. One Joining
us again tonight former UK quarterback Morgan Newton, who knows
exactly what it's like to lead the Kentucky Wildcats. We'll
hear his insights on how young players can seize the
(00:50):
moment and make a lasting impact to jump start their careers.
So Wildcat fans grabby blue and white, sit back, get
ready for an in depth look tonight at what's the
head for Kentucky football. Let's get into it. Former QB
one Morgan Newton, Welcome.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Back, Jeremy.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
How's it going hey man? Pretty fired up? March steeps
this week. He's given us a few things here that
you all let's just jump right into it. There's been
a lot of talk about Cutter Bowlie. You have a
great relationship with Cutter. What is your conversation been like
this week? How is he feeling?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Cutter's stelling good. I think he's excited about the opportunity.
I think he's the type of guy that wants to
go out there and prove what he's capable of. He
really loves the state and he loves the school that
represents the state, and I think he must be a
great player for Blue and White for years to come.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Morgan, take us back to you getting your first start
as a freshman. Have you had a conversation with him
about expectations? What kind of advice have you passed along
to him this week?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I think the biggest thing for Cutter is he's trying
to find himself and who he's going to be as
a as a quarterback and as a leader. I know
that the staff has really allowed him to get reps
with some of the first team and second team for
most of the year, even dating back into Canna, and
so I think trying to find the speed of the game,
(02:16):
the continuity and getting acclimated to that is going to
be a crucial part of his development. The more reps
you get, the better you get at seeing, understanding what
you're seeing on the other side of the field and
distributed at ball to your playmakers. I think coming off
of Byewey, it enables you to get, you know, a
lot of practice and a lot of snaps, both with
(02:38):
guys that you've maybe practiced and gotten reps with early
in the year, but also with some of the guys
you haven't. Right, of course, you're gonna use bi weeks
to get people healthy to try to get him ready
for the home stretch. I think it's also to really
get reps, and for a guy like Cutter, every rep
is valuable, and based on my discussion is a conversation
with him, he's gotten a multitude of reps both against
the two defense and the one defense. Then just trying
(03:01):
to get used to the speed of the game. And
I think when he gets in there and he's starting
to play, even against Murray State, it's going to be
about being able to see and read your keys on
the other side of the field, and the more you
do it, the fast you're able to process it. I
think that for him is going to be huge.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Let's say, let me give a hypothetical here. Cutter gets
extended minutes or he starts, he goes out Morgan and
he lights it up. Yeah, four or five touchdowns, throws
for a few hundred yards, really good decisions. He looks
really Chris, what does that mean for the rest of
the season, Texas the week after and then you close
(03:41):
with Louisville at home.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Yeah, it's tough. And we've talked about this a little bit.
You know, with young players, especially players that you know
that you ideally want to be the future of your
team and of your program going forward, you really want
to bring him along slowly and really do things that
are going to help build confidence. Based on some of
the record and things of that nature, Murray State should
(04:06):
be a great game to build some confidence, build some repport,
have some success. Texas is an entirely different animal. The
rivalry of a Louisville game, and that in state rivalry
is different. And when you talk about a kid that's
from Kentucky, he understands the magnitude of that rivalry game
and it's important to the fan base. I think Cutter's
a very resilient kid. He's a mentally tough player. And
(04:30):
if he does get to a scenario where he's gonna
take some snaps in Texas, I think he's going to
prepare himself, and I think the staff is going to
work really hard to prepare him.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I'm gonna say something that might be the most popular.
I'm gonna say that if Cutter lights it up, I
think that you'll shut him down. And getting ready for springball,
I don't want to see the young quarterback take take
many more extended snaps after after Murray, no matter, no
matter the outcome, he could have a perfect QB rating.
(05:00):
And it's because of some of the things that you're
talking about. Your versus of Texas. They're playing for a lot.
I would expect them to throw so much at him.
And don't let me speak for you as a quarterback,
but I'd like to think that there's a lot of
boxes that a young quarterback that you would want him
to check before he finds himself in a game against
a team that could potentially win the college football championship.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah. Look, there's certainly levels to play in the quarterback
position in this conference. Playing home games against non Conference
opponents is one thing that's the Murray State situation. Being
prepared to be successful in a road SEC game, a
new environment for at Kentucky's never been in against a
team that's going to having shot a winning the championship.
(05:44):
It's a completely different thing. If I was making that decision,
and I was making that call, I probably agree with you.
I lean towards, Hey, let's get these reps this week
and then let's take more mental reps going forward to
finish a game. I think that's the terminology we would
use a football world. Let's let's take some reps, mental
reps from the sideline. And what I hope is that
(06:06):
the staff really looks into that and thinks about it
and it makes a decision that's going to be best
for Cutter going forward, because what's best for Cutter going
forward is going to be what's best for this this
team and this program.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Goal Mark Shoots talked about getting Maxwell Harston back. He
talked about the job that he thought that j Q
Hardaway did in Max's absence.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Also freshman Rayah just all.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I think the defense is definitely going to get a
joke having having Max back. What are your thoughts on
getting our CB one back into the mix.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yeah, you know, it's exciting coming into the year. He
is one of the key, high profile players that everyone
was really excited to see play and truly be a
big factor and who we were defensively. And so it's
unfortunate that he's fought through some challenges and things and
put him in a scenario where he's had to really
miss some games. But I'm excited to get him, see
(07:01):
him back on the field and hopefully he can have
a strong finish to the season. When you have a
guy like Maxwell go out, it allows you an opportunity
who will play some other guys and allow the guys
to step up. I think there's an undertone and a
concern amongst the fan base about how are we going
to continue to build the depth that we need to
(07:24):
build as an SEC program to be successful in the future.
And sometimes you get an you don't want it to
have that way, but you get an opportunity to build
some depth when guys that you expect to play a
lot are out for any specific reason.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
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Speaker 2 (08:01):
Mark was asked about essentially just from a recruiting perspective,
if things are just a little bit harder during a
season like this, you know, not having the season that
you want to have, And Mark thought it was a
positive in some areas of the recruitment where if you
go out and you're targeting the right guys, guys that
(08:22):
want to play right now. He thinks that they're having
some success with those type of players that are just
eager to come in and play as freshmen. But you
know as well as I do, if you're depending on
freshmen to come in and make you a better football team,
there's gonna be some troubles up ahead.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
So I think it's kind of a catch twenty two.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
You want to go out, you want to get really
good players, you want to get really good freshmen, but.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
There's not a lot of guys that are.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Coming in out of high school that are going to
be difference makers.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
In the SEC.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Jeremy, you know, you've that's the job of a head coach,
and in a lot of these programs, you know, you
start to see these general manager positions come open and
and be applied with some of these programs right to
help manage these rosters and ensure that you're putting a
product on the field, in the right personnel on the
(09:18):
field to be successful in this league. As you know,
and as you know many of us though, these guys
that you're playing against weekend at week ow, you know,
half of them on the when you oppotus side of
the ball are probes. And so be it playing where
you've got a lot freshmen, you know, it's good to
see what they can contribute. But the reality is especially
(09:41):
kind of coming on the hills of COVID. You know,
college football is a really old sport right now, and
the maturity that's that's a huge factor. And there's some
programs across the country that are relying almost entirely on
the transfer port and have that perspective. So when you
talk about Kentucky and you think about you know, the
(10:01):
record to this date three and six, and then you
compare it with the investment in this program, but from
a coach a salary perspective, and then from a recruiting
budget perspective, it's been underwhelming, right, and so I'm excited
to see how we've finished the year. Hopefully can weave
a positive taste, a good taste in the fan basis.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Mouth Mark not making any excuses, but he also has
not backed a way from his acknowledgment that in order
to compete, you have to be able to go out
and get players, but not only get players, retain them.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Marcus.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
He's making it pretty clear that in order for Kentucky
football to be able to compete, that we need to
be able to recruit.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
We need to be able to raise money.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
If you have Ohio State here, they possibly have a
twenty million dollars roster, and then you have teams like
Vanderbilt who six and four, three and three in the
conference and.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Competitive have been very competitive this season.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
There's been a substantial difference over the last ten to
fifteen years and what our school's administration and what the
fan base has invested in the program.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
Yes, you and I know that very well.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Stadium upgrades, recruiting budgets, new indoor football facility, the new
indoor practice, tremendous upgrades.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
The investment that a lot of the folks I think
the department calls on to contribute to some of the
things to be successful, but they're there. And you know,
when you think about the people that spend the time
in their resources to come watch this product on the field,
you know, I don't think there's folks interested in hearing
(11:57):
a whole lot of excuses of about investment in players
because some of the teams that we've played, they're not
getting that much more in nil money. Everybody wants more
and I think every team, every staff is going to
want more, and I want to see us give more.
There's more opportunity to go and get better players. I'm
(12:19):
all for it, but I think at some point you've
got to take what's allocated to you and you've got
to be successful with it. Because what I can tell
you is the amount that is being invested in this
program is grown exponentially since I've been following the program
or been around it. So I want to see us
(12:39):
be successful and don't want to hear reasons why we're
not right. I want to hear reasons of how we
how we get successful and make the most out of
what we got.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Yeah, I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
I think when I looked at when I look at
this roster, this is a good roster top the bottom.
This is not a one in six in the Conference
three and six overall roster.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
I've gone over.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I've seen these guys workout, I've seen them train, I've
seen them practice, size, strength numbers, agility numbers. This isn't
a roster that is void of talent and prototype. So
you know, the devil is in the details. As they say,
this is a mix of execution by players, play calling
(13:32):
at times, competition at times, guys just pushing through at times.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
Just all of these things, in my opinion, compounded.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I don't think that just by being able to have
the best in show or best in class at this
particular position that you get a different outcome over the
course of this season. Now, I will say that you
can make a strong argument that there have been moments,
(14:03):
you know, you go back and you look at the
Georgia game, inability to block maybe some edge guys in
the fourth quarter.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
But at the same time, Morgan, the game has changed.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
There's legitimate four to four guys that are safeties, that
are hybrid guys. They got different names for them, stars
and that are coming off the edge in some of
these critical situations, meaning that if you're a left tackle,
your set has to be perfect. And just because a
guy is maybe a five star, maybe his set doesn't
have to be perfect. But guess what, bro, there's only
(14:36):
a handful of five star tackles coming out of high
school football, the same problems that we're having in the SEC.
When I talk to my buddies on the next level,
they're starving. They're looking for offensive liignment. This is a
systemic issue. Everybody's looking for tackles for gar second pool,
(15:01):
for centers that can work up to the next level.
I mean, you have to develop what you have point
blank and at the offensive line position.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
The only way you're going to develop these.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Guys is not having to rely on the portal being
able to get these guys from high school, keep them,
educate them, train them, make them more expose and keep
them together.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Yeah, it's a unique challenge that you have now in
an era where you bring a lot of transfers in.
You know, just the other night, I was hanging out
with guys that I played with when I was at
UK and it was. It was primarily over about two
or three classes from the UK, but we all came
(15:47):
in together and we went early morning workouts together for
numbers of years because at that time, you if you transferred,
you had it out. So the amount of change and shift,
it was a completely different landscaping environment. And so the
unique challenge I think this coaching staff and these coaching
(16:10):
stats have is how do you build that cohesiveness with
a bunch of transfers. We can go ask Florida State.
I mean, they're having they're having a tough tough time
relying on transfers. And then also how many high school
skiers are going to take and you're gonna develop?
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Right?
Speaker 3 (16:32):
You know, one clear area that I think our entire
fan base and the folks that are stakeholders of the
program I want to see is can this STA recruit
a quarterback and develop a quarterback?
Speaker 4 (16:46):
That's a big one. Look, reality is.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
It hasn't been has that has not been a strong
suit of this stat Can they do it? They've got
an opportunity to do it with Cutter, an in state
guy that they've recruited and have a chance to develop.
There's no secret that what we've put on the field
from an offensive line perspective, the last few years hasn't
(17:13):
been good enough.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
No, No, when you go back, and when you go back,
you look at the tape from twenty seventeen to twenty
twenty one, that was the kind of goal standard off
into line play.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
And it's not the gold standard anymore.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
No, it's not. It is not, And so I don't know.
I don't buy that being able to.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Buy the better players because when you look at when
you look at we're off into linemen are getting drafted
from you get guys that are coming from all over
the place. But then when you look when you look
back at those twenty seventeen to twenty twenty one years,
we were one of the programs at that point where
teams knew that these guys were polished, they were tough,
(18:08):
and these were NFL prototype guys. When you look at
the running backs, I mean it was RBU four reason.
We had the right running backs, put the right offensive
live and it was fun to sit back and watch Morgan.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Yeah, this is a staff that is proven that they
that they can do it. But mixing in three and
six years with the type of investment that everybody puts
into the program. It's been underperforming, and so I'm interested
to see how we bounce back. I'm interested to see
(18:43):
what's going to be that catalyst that changes the trajectory,
you know, based on what we're seeing. We watch the
tape every week, and when we watch the tape, we see,
like you mentioned the term prototypes, they're good players all
over the field.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
There really are.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
You know, it's a couple more million. We're investment invested.
Can you go get some other players? I'm sure you can't.
But one of your wins is against ole miss team
that's the top sixteen that just beat Georgia, just beat Georgia,
another top twelve team.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
And so the team that we played within one point.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Played really well. So is it personnel?
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Some might be motivation.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
It's personnel, But they've got good personnel. There's good personnel.
It's just finding the right balance and the right curation
and then of course the right development in the right discipline.
And so I think that's an opportunity going forward, and
you got to get figured out right because I just
(19:49):
think the fan base isn't going to be tolerant of
one in six in the Coppers.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Who's a young guy that you've been encouraged by.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
There's two guys for me, and you know how Marshof
and Sutton Ball probably more close. You know, the big
tackle for Richmond Malachi would Malachi Man. Malachi took a
lot of slack from PFF and we really got to,
you know, make sure that we're cross reference in the information,
the data we're getting from PFF. Let's put it that way,
(20:19):
because when you turn on the tape, I see a
guy that shows a lot of flashes. He's he's a big,
physical guy, he's got a great frame. Again, another local
kid who cares a lot about this place. I see
a lot of ability in Malachi. The other one the
ones Gilmour. This is a guy that I've been having
(20:40):
conversations with Cutter. He really really likes thinks he's got
a big, big, big time potential and opportunity to be
a great player. And there's just something about the kind
of that camaraderie with guys that come in the same
year as you do, right, that you build when it's
when it's new to about special yes, right, And so
(21:00):
I've been encouraged to see him get out there, get
some reps and continue to get his feet wet. So
those are the tooth jumped off the patient. Mean, what
about you on the defensive side.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
You're on the defensive side to Ryan Nichols, obviously, he's
a guy that he plays with a lot of passion
like and those are the kind of things that I
like to see when you see the young guy, when
you see him make the big time play, it just
means something to him. I mean, just super hype and
what I'm I think one of the things that I'm
(21:29):
really happy about for him is that he hasn't had
to go through He hasn't had those plays that are
just the debilitating play where you're the freshman, you check
in and they have success when they come and they
try to pick on you fresh off the sideline, and
(21:50):
he hasn't had to have that, you know. And I
can think back on a lot of our young dbs
as they come through the program under Mark that had
those plays that were just the growing pains, Carrington, Valentine,
even Nichols as a transfer, even Kelvin Joseph coming from LSU.
But I'm really encouraged by him souls. He's a guy
(22:13):
that I'm really waiting to see him just put it together,
like put put a few series together. Young outside edge rusher.
I think that this guy can be him. And I
say that when I see his skill set, I think
that he's got the potential to come and really challenge
(22:36):
Josh Allen Sack record. That's what I think of him.
And it's just slowing down sometimes letting the game come
to you. He's trying to do too much on special teams,
getting some penalties, just kind of that that blind dog
in the meathouse, slobbering, you know, can't get just all
over the place.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
So I really like that.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
But then when you get to some offensive side of
the ball, our guy will Cox, you know, it gets
the seventeen carries against Tennessee.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
We've been waiting on him to get that bulk of
the carries.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
He's one of these guys, Morgan where I think there's
more of these guys than not where they have this
big playability. They can be, They can be the guy,
but they're fighting, they're resisting their self. And as the coach,
you've gotta make the guy what you need him to be.
(23:27):
You can't sit back and hope that he becomes the guy.
You gotta making be that guy. You gotta tell the guy, look,
we're giving you the ball fifteen twenty times this week.
Get in the playbook, do whatever you need to do,
get in the hot yoga, you know, say some meditation,
Say whatever you gotta do. We're giving you the ball.
(23:49):
We're giving it to you. Be ready, let's go. You
gotta make them. And I think that we've missed the
opportunity this season to do this with multiple players up
front on the defensive lized side of the ball. I
think that there's guys up there that are Sunday players.
Multiple I think there's three, maybe four guys could Hi
(24:10):
Jack coming deer a football game.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
Just take it over.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
And we've not pushed those guys to be that And
that's been frustrating for me as a guy who I
played at a high level. But I'm gonna say this,
I didn't have the chassis that a couple of these
guys got. A Couple of these guys, I mean, they're
sitting on f six fifty chassis, just stuff, brother stuff
(24:39):
stuff that just you know, they just got something a
little different.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
And man, I look at it and I say, what
could have been? Yeah, Look, I think it brings up
I think. I think it's a great point. It's a point,
and it's a point received. But again, it's a different
We're in a different day, Jeremy. It's a different day
and with some of these guys, and you and I
(25:04):
watch it and we see a lot of great things,
but we also see some things that are like, man,
I think we can get more out of some of
these guys just from the way that you just from
the way, because when you see them, you're like, man,
this guy's these guys got a lot of talent, a
lot of potential. Can you, in this day and age
(25:25):
at a place at the University of Kentucky where you
feel like you're limited in what you can invest in
attracting these players to this program, to our program, can
you hold them to the level of accountability to be
great that you speak so passionately about, Because I can
tell you there's a lot of people that are that
(25:48):
followed the program very closely that wonder maybe that's why
we're not the discipline team we need to be. Maybe
that's why we feel like some of our guys that
we've got to have those chassis haven't been able to
reach their potential.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
How do you, in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
At the University of Kentucky hold these guys accountable to
be a great every week, but then being great with discipline.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
That's a great question, and I think it's with consent.
Right when you go and you sit down and mom
and Dad's living room. Are you telling mom and Dad,
I'm going to get Trayvon or I'm gonna get John
or I'm gonna get Dion ready for the NFL. You know,
(26:38):
But first and foremost, there's a lot of boxes we
gotta check before we get down. Don't get him shot
or fast and more explosive. He's gonna be a better person.
We're gonna get him tied locked.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
Into the community. That and when he leaves or when he's.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Out there on the football field, he realizes that he's
playing for the people that love him and that love
the program to put the supporters, playing for defans, he's
playing for the state because Kentucky is the flagship institution.
Like he's playing for the people, the kids at the
children's hospital that want to be out there on the field.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
He's playing for something bigger than himself. And that's what
this thing is about.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
It's about being selfless and about using about using that
uniform to provide happiness and joy for everybody that cares
and loves everything that that represents. So when people ask me, Jimmy,
who's your favorite you know who's some of your favorite players.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
I don't hesitate to say the names of some guys
that we play with.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
I don't hesitate to say guys like Josh Allen, names
like Josh Pascal, a guy that I just absolutely adore
because of the way he emptied the tank for his
brothers and for this program.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
And when I see these guys, I have nothing for
them but love and warm embraces. And that's where they
gotta get.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
They gotta get consent from these guys, from the players
and from the families that say, Hey, when you come here,
do we have your permission to make you an apex predator?
Or are we telling the guy if you come here,
we're gonna let you be you. We're not going to
be hard on you. We're going to let you develop
at your pace. We're gonna take our time. No, bro,
(28:28):
I'm not saying that that that's the conversation or that's
what I'm hearing. But what I'm saying is is that
you owe it to these guys to let them know
that if you want to be where we think you
can be, you gotta let us break you down and
then build you back up multiple times.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
In the nil era.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Consent, you gotta ask a guy, can I coach you hard?
And if the answer is no, that's not my guy.
But what if he's talented? I mean, what if he's good?
Speaker 3 (29:04):
What if we offered them a buddy?
Speaker 4 (29:06):
It's not good enough?
Speaker 2 (29:07):
There are some guys that can that can be more
beneficial to their team by being guys that just want
to play ball and empty the tank. I'm going to
continue to go back to bandy when I turn on
the tape and I've watched multiple Vanderbilt games this year,
I'm seeing guys that are accountable their gap sound and
(29:29):
they're empty in the tank, and they're lesser talented men
than some of the men that they're lined up across.
Every single week, there's not a game that I've turned
on where I've said, mayn he's got better.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
So it's been so many, it's so many spots.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
I agree with you. We kind of grew up in
college football similarly under Coke Brooks. I hope that we
can get back and find a way at Kentucky to
align what we need to be to be successful in
the field and the accountability that we've got to instill
in these players so the thick every sur potential, but
(30:10):
also so that the program can get back to winning six, seven, eight, nine,
ten games, right because I think the fan base is
starting to expect that. They're expecting that we win eight
nine ten games and are in that playoff conversation, and
it's with the twelve team playoff.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
So let's say we have a guy on our team
we both agreed was or is a lottery pick top
ten talent, and let's say that that guy goes late
first round or falls into the second round for things
that are within his control, gap, integrity, play on the field, hustle,
(30:48):
maybe some character things. Who's the blame?
Speaker 4 (30:52):
Is it just the guy?
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Like, who's the blame for this guy who could have
potentially been a lottery pick now maybe not being a
lottery pick. We see that every single year in the draft,
where there's that player that just didn't play us as
well as you you would have thought.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
I think that there's a lot that goes into being
a top pick right. And I always we always talk about,
especially in the NFL, so much of those top picks,
it's all it's about pedigree, yes, genetics, it's about measurables.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
And you know, we played with them.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
There are certain guys that you play with at the
collegiate level that you're like, that guy's different. And a
lot of those first round picks are that guy is
different type guys they just thought. I mean, that's just
the reality of the situation. Plus a lot of quarterbacks.
You know, I think these pro these NFL teams understand that,
you know, you got to take some shots at quarterback
(31:51):
in the first round to it's such a critical part
of how these teams are successful in the NFL on
Sundays and Mondays, I think it's on all the above.
I think it's first, it's going to beyond the player.
You know, the players got to seek out and do
the things necessary to elevate their game on the field,
(32:14):
off the field, emotionally, spiritually, You've got to do the
things that it requires them to be the most successful
version of themselves. But these high major programs in a
place like UK has the resources two much like what
(32:34):
you say, not allow those high picks in those levels
to come back, you know, fall back to the me right,
whether it's coaches, whether it's strength and conditioning, whether it's
athletic athletic trainers. You know, there's all types of nutritionists,
(32:56):
there's all types of resources available to you. Now, when
we played, you can barely get a mag of peanuts
and a Gatorade shake. These guys have full on everything. Now, yep,
the resources are available to you. And if you don't
play good and you don't take the next step, when
(33:17):
you're already projected to be a Sunday guy, you really
got to look and evaluate the systems. Are the systems
working the way they need to work?
Speaker 4 (33:30):
No, I agree with you. I'm gonna go further in
on this as well.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
If you don't force these guys to live up to
their potential.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
And they're delayed.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
Because they didn't get forced in college, there's some concepts
that they can't grasp quickly.
Speaker 4 (33:49):
In the NFL, you.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
Risk the guys resenting the program and what does that
look like, Guys not coming back to visit, guys not
poring into the young players that knowledge coming back in,
you know, sharing secret insight. And for me, I had
a small window where I had resentment towards UK, but
(34:15):
it quickly left after I had a chance to kind
of sit down and think it through. I gave everything.
I feel like a lot of guys I play with
empty the tank played extremely hard. I was a little
resentful that I didn't take snaps in college as a
true defensive tackle. You know, I was a very athletic
defensive end. Little resentment, But then as I kind of
thought about it, I was like, well, who am I
(34:36):
gonna take snaps from Cory Peters NFL player, Rincky Lumpkin
NFL player, myn prior NFL player, Right, So from a
selfish perspective, yeah, I would have liked to have played
some defensive tackle in college. It would have better prepared
me on the next level. But my team needed me
a defensive end, and me not being a defensive end
(34:58):
and a guy like Corey or Ricky or Myron being
off the field because they're not playing, we're not better.
I promise you that there will be a time where
some of these guys will they will reflect, and they
will look back on this season, on this week where
they look and it's three and six, and they look
around the room and they say, man, look what we had.
(35:21):
Why are we three and six? And those guys they
will have to figure out amongst themselves why that is.
And I'll be curious in the years to come as
they come back in the future to sit around and
listen to these guys and fellowship.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
Yeah, well, there's no question that we have the great
pleasure or anguish, Yeah, whatever terminology you want to use
to be able to reflect right at this point and
they're in the fight. I remember being in the fight
in the arena and having perspectives and opinions, some of
which were healthy, some of which were some of which
(35:59):
were influence, some of which were ones that I created
on my own. But there's no question will you go
back and you reflect, especially if you have the capability aptitude,
if you've got the ability to be successful and to
have a successful season. If the team you beat in
the conference is all miss who's the top team, the
(36:21):
team you take to the wire is Georgia, who's a
top team that you lose to are not necessarily considered
to be the top team. Those are conversations that you
will have late and you're you're exactly right. That impacts
how you can how you contribute to the to the
(36:43):
program going forward, because you have to get over a
right missed opportunity were what missed opportunity looks like. And
that's a perspective. I think when you're in the arena
and when you're in the fight, you don't you don't
really consider. But I don't think it's because this is
the exact point that I think we're talking. I don't
(37:03):
think it's on them alone. No, And I always say,
even when we played, it was clear that the folks
that were coaching and supporting the program were making significantly
more money than those that were playing in the program.
It's a little bit different today, but still when you
(37:25):
think about the quantities of scale, there's a responsibility to
those that are doing this for a living to ensure
that a team that has the talent that this team
has cannot be three and six records the way through
the year. They've got to take responsibility for that also.
And this fan base, and we know this fan base,
(37:50):
this fan base deserves to have a product on the
field that is very hard working, very accountable, and very
discipline because that reflects in this state, that reflects, that
reflects the people in this state and the people in
this stand base and I think the round ball right
(38:14):
that always gets the bounce in this time of year.
I think they it seems like they've figured that out, yes,
and I think this staff historically has known it, and
then they've read the room. I think they got to
get back to that, and I think they got to
get back to that in a hurry, because you're going
to start losing people if you they're capable, Mark Brad
(38:40):
A lot of those guys been a right a long time.
They're capable, they understand it. But they got to get
back to it in a hurry. Fatist recruit and developed.
It can't shift to become one un recruitment and no development.
(39:01):
You can't buy your way into heaven. And you can
try to buy up all the five star guys out here,
but guess what, the guys still have to be developed.
And when you go back and you look at this thing,
and you look at players who really succeeded in this system,
they were guys that they built, they stacked onto. Lord
(39:22):
Josh Allen, he was scrawny coming in as a freshman.
He's a guy you stacked onto him, built him up
so many of these guys, bunch of stallings, not a
highly recruited guy at all, had no power five offers
left in All American Logan Stenberg, good kid comes from
a good family down in Alabama. Wasn't a five star kit.
(39:45):
He's a kid that came here body and continued to
grow boom all America. These aren't five star guys that
you win and you built this program up with.
Speaker 5 (39:56):
These are traditional good th restar football players, kids that
were just gritty, that were identified as being gritty, that
had the white parents at home, and they came here
and they came and took advantage of the resources.
Speaker 4 (40:14):
That's what this is. I don't think that this is
quick fix. I think that this is.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Let's go out and let's find some players that we
can identify that got the intangibles the right size that
we can get in here and get ready to play
in two seasons. There's got to be a few of
those guys, and you can't miss on a lot of them.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
I think the staff's got to change their perspective, what
it's on, what the philosophy is, because you're not gonna
be able to win the arms race.
Speaker 4 (40:52):
You're not even gonna come close to it just on.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
Pair of dollars. It's been around the billionaires some money.
Florus Florida's is much money than Boy. They are trying
to figure out how they got all them players to
spend all that money and or got one win. You
still got to have cultural builders, right and culture have
(41:16):
people that contribute to building culture in your in your door,
in your environment. And I think much. I'm in sales,
and there's some years where you don't make the calls.
You know, you don't stay up calling cold calling, and
it reflects your pipeline. Again, there's some years where you
(41:42):
stay up and you send them pamphlets, and you don't
send them pamphlets, you don't send them emails, and it
reflects your pipeline. And it doesn't mean you can't go
and pick up the phone and start calling them again.
That's not what that means. But there's a path and
a method to success. Especially at a place like Kentucky,
(42:05):
it's gonna be a combination of both. You're not gonna
be able to do it strictly untrestioned, fol You've gotta
be able to develop in state town. Developing in state
twent then cost millions of dollars.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
So you look at Logan Stenberg, that guy that's a
pretty something legitimate six ' six guard, and what's just nasty?
Speaker 4 (42:24):
You bring him here.
Speaker 2 (42:25):
You're remind him that, Hey, a lot of people didn't
want you, but johsh slarmant want you, and we're gonna
make you into something. When the rabbit gets that gun,
after you put into that weight room for a couple
of years, gets slapped around a little bit as a freshman.
Now he gets in that weight room and starts putting
some muscles, stacking up on that back and in that chest.
(42:47):
That's it, little Josh Allen getting getting bounced out the
sea gap, getting turned out from first couple of years strawning.
That brother hit that weight room going into that senior
year and he came out looking like something totally different.
You know a lot of that that's just the pain.
That's the pain of just realizing I ain't as good
(43:08):
as I thought I was. Let me get in here
and start doing something, start changing my body up.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
It's critical. It's the only way you can survive in Kentucky.
If you miss you miss big. You got a guy
that ain't ready to play yet.
Speaker 4 (43:23):
Well, guess what.
Speaker 3 (43:26):
You put them back, you put them back in the workshop,
and you keep working on. You're gonna have people get
in the poorld. And that's just where we're at in
today's world.
Speaker 4 (43:36):
But what's left? We got three games left? How much meat?
More meat is on the ball, Morgan Murray, Let's just
start there.
Speaker 2 (43:44):
You want to see what some of these young guys
are capable of, right, you know, hopefully you can get
out and get them some film. In my opinion that
there's a catch here too. You get some young guys,
they come into this game, they play extremely well, and
we know that other teams are gonna turn this film.
Speaker 3 (43:58):
Off half empty, half anty. Way of looking at it,
I think sometimes the hardest games to play because if
you go out and you beat them up. S Murray state,
if you go out underperform, you're not as efficient with
what you to do. We know what Texas is.
Speaker 4 (44:18):
What's the expectation? What do you expect from the offense
and the defense?
Speaker 3 (44:23):
I expect it to be very difficult to disrupt what
they're trying to accomplish in that environment. I just think
it's going to be difficult. You're talking about teams that
have two different goals. At this point.
Speaker 4 (44:40):
You want me to be honest. I hear you offensively.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
I expect there to be some challenges right moving the ball,
being able to sustain This is based on history, this
is based on this season. But on the defensive side
of the ball, I'm believed to be fairly healthy. I
expect championship caliber defense.
Speaker 4 (45:00):
What does that mean?
Speaker 2 (45:02):
That means unless the offense is not able to sustain
drives and our defense is just living on the football field.
I expect our defense to be extremely competitive if our
offense is fresh, which Morgan, I expect our offense to
be fresh.
Speaker 4 (45:20):
I expect it to be a game where it's complete
sellout to win it.
Speaker 2 (45:24):
How we did at Ole Miss grit Grin running with
the quarterbacks, both quarterbacks moving the change, Nicolin Diamond two
three yards, just trying to possess the football, get some
first downs, keep the defense fresh, and extend this game
into the second half and give yourself a chance. I
(45:46):
don't think that that's unreasonable.
Speaker 3 (45:49):
All means are reasonable either. I also think it's no
number twenty third at that particular point, you're gonna be
playing for what year? And again, this is why I
say you have different the teams have different goals. You've
got people on that team that some of them are
(46:09):
gonna be looking to put more film to prepare themselves
for what the next step is. Some of them probably
have an attitude that's like.
Speaker 4 (46:21):
Let's get this over with.
Speaker 3 (46:22):
You know, I think you're gonna get both during that
time of year. And I think it's that's why say
I think it's up to the staff to be able
to make a determination who won't play who's gonna really play,
because it ain't gonna be hard of them. It ain't
gonna be hurd from selling they are gonna really, really,
really really play. So you gotta find the guys that
are gonna play. I don't think you understate that.
Speaker 2 (46:43):
Let's look at this defensive side of the ball. Maxwell Harriston,
you gotta play. He's playing pro.
Speaker 4 (46:53):
You got safeties that are fit in six year guys.
Speaker 2 (46:56):
You got guys in Afari Zion Childers, guys that are
very capable.
Speaker 4 (47:03):
You got the other side of the DB's playing really well.
You know JQ.
Speaker 2 (47:07):
We talked about, Ryan, talked about DJ Waller. Let's get
to the interior linebackers. You got two pros in the
inside of your linebacker positions and Pop Johnson and d
Eric Jackson. Now let's get up front. Trayvon Ripka pro prototype.
I think he's got more juice, he's got more to offer.
I think his upside is tremendous. I think that he
(47:31):
has an opportunity to continue to get better. Then let's
bump in. That's go aside, Dion Walker, Keyshawn Silver. These
dudes are just different. The expectation is championship caliber defense.
It's pretty simple. You got pros on all three levels.
I expect you to go to Austin and I try
(47:53):
to take everything that you can in Austin.
Speaker 4 (47:56):
Get to win.
Speaker 2 (47:56):
Take these dudes gloves in the piles, helmet is cow
boy heads. Get them back on the play and come back.
They got a lot to play for in Austin.
Speaker 3 (48:06):
I want to see it. I want to see it.
But the pros on all three levels were pros on
all three levels when they play at Florida too. Me,
that wasn't that long ago. So I'm just saying the.
Speaker 2 (48:25):
Florida game, the Florida games, it's a tricky one. And
here's why the Florida game is a tricky one, because
this this comes back there's another tenant. There's another there's
another pillar to this thing, the mental toughness piece. I
think an argument could be made that this this this
team lacks mental toughness resolved things go bad and how
(48:49):
you respond. Brooks referred to this ass on the football
field that the sudden change. Sometimes the sudden change is
smashing the head. So if your defensive coordinator has been
telling your office coordinator has been telling you all week
when this happens, then this is gonna happen. And you
get out there and these things don't happen. That's where
(49:09):
the mental toughness thing, that's where the wheels.
Speaker 4 (49:11):
Can come off.
Speaker 2 (49:11):
From college, it's very important when you go into a
game like Florida Dj Lagway, you got a freshman quarterback
that you don't try to make too many predictions.
Speaker 4 (49:23):
And you know, I'm just a fat guy working in healthcare.
Speaker 2 (49:27):
But a couple of the things that I said about
DJ Lagway and what I thought Florida would do. Hell true,
get out to the forty and once they do, that's
when they're gonna take their shots. And when you catch
them in obvious passing situations, don't bail them out and
play man coverage run run cover three, run quarters, run
(49:53):
cover two. Make him have to read the coverage. Just
don't get him in position. This is where he can
just man throw throw. That's what he was able to
do time and time again. It's demoralizing to see a
freshman quarterback have that kind of success, not just a
freshman quarterback. But then you look at bald Or running back.
I think he had five touchdowns. So to have two
(50:15):
freshmen for Florida did have the day that they had,
just demoralizing for a defense.
Speaker 4 (50:21):
It's frustrating.
Speaker 3 (50:22):
I want to see him. Look, there would be nobody happier.
Then the CS go down there and play really well
at Texas. But I can't. I don't have that that
men in black pen where they put in there and
they the flashing flash pin and it wipes away your memory.
(50:43):
Can't forget Gainesville. I can't forget.
Speaker 4 (50:50):
Do you think the guys will know thou that?
Speaker 3 (50:53):
Do? I think they were motivated.
Speaker 2 (50:55):
I saw a different team that went to Oxford, that
played Georgia, that went to Knoxville.
Speaker 4 (51:00):
They just looked a little different on film.
Speaker 3 (51:02):
For me, cannot do Auburn, Okay, do that one.
Speaker 4 (51:06):
It's a team that looked very uninspired.
Speaker 2 (51:10):
You get to looking at Auburn's record, they're coming in
and you think, we're not gonna have to be as
up for this one as we had to for some
of these other ones. I can show plays where I say, hey,
this is a different speed. Then in this game, this
guy is playing at a different speed. I can prove that.
Speaker 3 (51:31):
Maybe we need to get the catapult numbers. Right, We'll
get the catapult numbers, and let's see let's see who
ran at what pace and had certain impact plays right,
because you know the staff he uses those catapults.
Speaker 2 (51:44):
Look at this guy right here, look at him getting
off this block this week. And here's a very similar
block here, And why is the result different?
Speaker 3 (51:53):
When I think about games, though, and I think about
team hanging almost hanging a half hundred on us, And
when I think about Auburn and what a running back
who's a good player with that running back? Did our
(52:17):
defense at home? And then you talk about Texas who
had getten This is let's be the third time I
say that, I say this has.
Speaker 4 (52:30):
Different goals. They're praying to a different guy at this
time of the year, and so.
Speaker 3 (52:37):
Yeah, I've got real concern about that game. And you
and I we've been in tough road environments, and sometimes
you get in those environments, even if you have all
the right intentions and even if you bring that level
of effort that we brought ole Miss George, but sometimes
(52:59):
the ball doesn't bounce the right way. It can become
a stampede.
Speaker 4 (53:06):
And so.
Speaker 3 (53:08):
I've got real concerns about Texas. I've got a whole
different perspective on Louisville. To me, Louisville is a one
game season. I throw all of it out the window.
Every bit I can, I can have the men in
Black flash to the energy is completely And here's what
(53:38):
this staff and the history of this staff has convinced
me of in that rivalry, in that game, they gonna
have them guys to play because they understand the assignment
when it comes to playing Louisville.
Speaker 4 (53:57):
They understand the well.
Speaker 2 (53:59):
I hope that they understand the assignment for the next
three weeks, because when I talk about the opportunity to
play against the team that's a contender for the National championship.
Historically Stoops's teams have they've shown up for these games.
They're ready to go for these and if you're a
guy that wants to play on that next level. Man,
(54:21):
this is this is your last opportunity to play against
just an elite football team, and it gives you the ability.
They our fans want to see it. Once again, we talked,
they deserve it. This is a roster that is capable
of being competitive. It's a staff that has the capability
of being able to go call a good game.
Speaker 4 (54:43):
And I think you know the players, they're able by it.
We don't have a lot of injuries.
Speaker 2 (54:47):
Go strain, Go lay out for your brothers, Go lay
it all out there on the line. And I know
it sounds cliche, but that's what this is. This is,
this is one hundred percent at this point, a lot
of it is about the effort you're going into. You know,
we're going into the last games of the season. You
should understand everybody has thrown everything at you at this point.
Speaker 4 (55:09):
Thank you all for.
Speaker 2 (55:10):
Tuning in to another episode of Behind Kentucky Football. Cats
take on the Murray State Racer Saturday, one thirty pm.
Speaker 4 (55:19):
Good Night and go Cats.
Welcome to Behind Kentucky Football, presented by District seven Social.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome back Wildcat fans to another exciting episode of Behind
Kentucky Football. We're diving into this Saturday's game against Murray State.
The Wildcats are coming off of much needed bye week,
recharged and ready to finish the season strong. We got
new talent stepping in, familiar faces getting back on the
field this week, and a great lineup to break down tonight,
(00:28):
including what we can expect from Cutter Bowley if he's
to see extended minutes this week or if he is
expected to get his first start as quarterback. One Joining
us again tonight former UK quarterback Morgan Newton, who knows
exactly what it's like to lead the Kentucky Wildcats. We'll
hear his insights on how young players can seize the
(00:50):
moment and make a lasting impact to jump start their careers.
So Wildcat fans grabby blue and white, sit back, get
ready for an in depth look tonight at what's the
head for Kentucky football. Let's get into it. Former QB
one Morgan Newton, Welcome.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Back, Jeremy.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
How's it going hey man? Pretty fired up? March steeps
this week. He's given us a few things here that
you all let's just jump right into it. There's been
a lot of talk about Cutter Bowlie. You have a
great relationship with Cutter. What is your conversation been like
this week? How is he feeling?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Cutter's stelling good. I think he's excited about the opportunity.
I think he's the type of guy that wants to
go out there and prove what he's capable of. He
really loves the state and he loves the school that
represents the state, and I think he must be a
great player for Blue and White for years to come.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Morgan, take us back to you getting your first start
as a freshman. Have you had a conversation with him
about expectations? What kind of advice have you passed along
to him this week?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I think the biggest thing for Cutter is he's trying
to find himself and who he's going to be as
a as a quarterback and as a leader. I know
that the staff has really allowed him to get reps
with some of the first team and second team for
most of the year, even dating back into Canna, and
so I think trying to find the speed of the game,
(02:16):
the continuity and getting acclimated to that is going to
be a crucial part of his development. The more reps
you get, the better you get at seeing, understanding what
you're seeing on the other side of the field and
distributed at ball to your playmakers. I think coming off
of Byewey, it enables you to get, you know, a
lot of practice and a lot of snaps, both with
(02:38):
guys that you've maybe practiced and gotten reps with early
in the year, but also with some of the guys
you haven't. Right, of course, you're gonna use bi weeks
to get people healthy to try to get him ready
for the home stretch. I think it's also to really
get reps, and for a guy like Cutter, every rep
is valuable, and based on my discussion is a conversation
with him, he's gotten a multitude of reps both against
the two defense and the one defense. Then just trying
(03:01):
to get used to the speed of the game. And
I think when he gets in there and he's starting
to play, even against Murray State, it's going to be
about being able to see and read your keys on
the other side of the field, and the more you
do it, the fast you're able to process it. I
think that for him is going to be huge.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Let's say, let me give a hypothetical here. Cutter gets
extended minutes or he starts, he goes out Morgan and
he lights it up. Yeah, four or five touchdowns, throws
for a few hundred yards, really good decisions. He looks
really Chris, what does that mean for the rest of
the season, Texas the week after and then you close
(03:41):
with Louisville at home.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Yeah, it's tough. And we've talked about this a little bit.
You know, with young players, especially players that you know
that you ideally want to be the future of your
team and of your program going forward, you really want
to bring him along slowly and really do things that
are going to help build confidence. Based on some of
the record and things of that nature, Murray State should
(04:06):
be a great game to build some confidence, build some repport,
have some success. Texas is an entirely different animal. The
rivalry of a Louisville game, and that in state rivalry
is different. And when you talk about a kid that's
from Kentucky, he understands the magnitude of that rivalry game
and it's important to the fan base. I think Cutter's
a very resilient kid. He's a mentally tough player. And
(04:30):
if he does get to a scenario where he's gonna
take some snaps in Texas, I think he's going to
prepare himself, and I think the staff is going to
work really hard to prepare him.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I'm gonna say something that might be the most popular.
I'm gonna say that if Cutter lights it up, I
think that you'll shut him down. And getting ready for springball,
I don't want to see the young quarterback take take
many more extended snaps after after Murray, no matter, no
matter the outcome, he could have a perfect QB rating.
(05:00):
And it's because of some of the things that you're
talking about. Your versus of Texas. They're playing for a lot.
I would expect them to throw so much at him.
And don't let me speak for you as a quarterback,
but I'd like to think that there's a lot of
boxes that a young quarterback that you would want him
to check before he finds himself in a game against
a team that could potentially win the college football championship.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah. Look, there's certainly levels to play in the quarterback
position in this conference. Playing home games against non Conference
opponents is one thing that's the Murray State situation. Being
prepared to be successful in a road SEC game, a
new environment for at Kentucky's never been in against a
team that's going to having shot a winning the championship.
(05:44):
It's a completely different thing. If I was making that decision,
and I was making that call, I probably agree with you.
I lean towards, Hey, let's get these reps this week
and then let's take more mental reps going forward to
finish a game. I think that's the terminology we would
use a football world. Let's let's take some reps, mental
reps from the sideline. And what I hope is that
(06:06):
the staff really looks into that and thinks about it
and it makes a decision that's going to be best
for Cutter going forward, because what's best for Cutter going
forward is going to be what's best for this this
team and this program.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Goal Mark Shoots talked about getting Maxwell Harston back. He
talked about the job that he thought that j Q
Hardaway did in Max's absence.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Also freshman Rayah just all.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I think the defense is definitely going to get a
joke having having Max back. What are your thoughts on
getting our CB one back into the mix.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yeah, you know, it's exciting coming into the year. He
is one of the key, high profile players that everyone
was really excited to see play and truly be a
big factor and who we were defensively. And so it's
unfortunate that he's fought through some challenges and things and
put him in a scenario where he's had to really
miss some games. But I'm excited to get him, see
(07:01):
him back on the field and hopefully he can have
a strong finish to the season. When you have a
guy like Maxwell go out, it allows you an opportunity
who will play some other guys and allow the guys
to step up. I think there's an undertone and a
concern amongst the fan base about how are we going
to continue to build the depth that we need to
(07:24):
build as an SEC program to be successful in the future.
And sometimes you get an you don't want it to
have that way, but you get an opportunity to build
some depth when guys that you expect to play a
lot are out for any specific reason.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
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Speaker 2 (08:01):
Mark was asked about essentially just from a recruiting perspective,
if things are just a little bit harder during a
season like this, you know, not having the season that
you want to have, And Mark thought it was a
positive in some areas of the recruitment where if you
go out and you're targeting the right guys, guys that
(08:22):
want to play right now. He thinks that they're having
some success with those type of players that are just
eager to come in and play as freshmen. But you
know as well as I do, if you're depending on
freshmen to come in and make you a better football team,
there's gonna be some troubles up ahead.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
So I think it's kind of a catch twenty two.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
You want to go out, you want to get really
good players, you want to get really good freshmen, but.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
There's not a lot of guys that are.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Coming in out of high school that are going to
be difference makers.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
In the SEC.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Jeremy, you know, you've that's the job of a head coach,
and in a lot of these programs, you know, you
start to see these general manager positions come open and
and be applied with some of these programs right to
help manage these rosters and ensure that you're putting a
product on the field, in the right personnel on the
(09:18):
field to be successful in this league. As you know,
and as you know many of us though, these guys
that you're playing against weekend at week ow, you know,
half of them on the when you oppotus side of
the ball are probes. And so be it playing where
you've got a lot freshmen, you know, it's good to
see what they can contribute. But the reality is especially
(09:41):
kind of coming on the hills of COVID. You know,
college football is a really old sport right now, and
the maturity that's that's a huge factor. And there's some
programs across the country that are relying almost entirely on
the transfer port and have that perspective. So when you
talk about Kentucky and you think about you know, the
(10:01):
record to this date three and six, and then you
compare it with the investment in this program, but from
a coach a salary perspective, and then from a recruiting
budget perspective, it's been underwhelming, right, and so I'm excited
to see how we've finished the year. Hopefully can weave
a positive taste, a good taste in the fan basis.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Mouth Mark not making any excuses, but he also has
not backed a way from his acknowledgment that in order
to compete, you have to be able to go out
and get players, but not only get players, retain them.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Marcus.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
He's making it pretty clear that in order for Kentucky
football to be able to compete, that we need to
be able to recruit.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
We need to be able to raise money.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
If you have Ohio State here, they possibly have a
twenty million dollars roster, and then you have teams like
Vanderbilt who six and four, three and three in the
conference and.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Competitive have been very competitive this season.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
There's been a substantial difference over the last ten to
fifteen years and what our school's administration and what the
fan base has invested in the program.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
Yes, you and I know that very well.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Stadium upgrades, recruiting budgets, new indoor football facility, the new
indoor practice, tremendous upgrades.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
The investment that a lot of the folks I think
the department calls on to contribute to some of the
things to be successful, but they're there. And you know,
when you think about the people that spend the time
in their resources to come watch this product on the field,
you know, I don't think there's folks interested in hearing
(11:57):
a whole lot of excuses of about investment in players
because some of the teams that we've played, they're not
getting that much more in nil money. Everybody wants more
and I think every team, every staff is going to
want more, and I want to see us give more.
There's more opportunity to go and get better players. I'm
(12:19):
all for it, but I think at some point you've
got to take what's allocated to you and you've got
to be successful with it. Because what I can tell
you is the amount that is being invested in this
program is grown exponentially since I've been following the program
or been around it. So I want to see us
(12:39):
be successful and don't want to hear reasons why we're
not right. I want to hear reasons of how we
how we get successful and make the most out of
what we got.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Yeah, I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
I think when I looked at when I look at
this roster, this is a good roster top the bottom.
This is not a one in six in the Conference
three and six overall roster.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
I've gone over.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I've seen these guys workout, I've seen them train, I've
seen them practice, size, strength numbers, agility numbers. This isn't
a roster that is void of talent and prototype. So
you know, the devil is in the details. As they say,
this is a mix of execution by players, play calling
(13:32):
at times, competition at times, guys just pushing through at times.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
Just all of these things, in my opinion, compounded.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I don't think that just by being able to have
the best in show or best in class at this
particular position that you get a different outcome over the
course of this season. Now, I will say that you
can make a strong argument that there have been moments,
(14:03):
you know, you go back and you look at the
Georgia game, inability to block maybe some edge guys in
the fourth quarter.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
But at the same time, Morgan, the game has changed.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
There's legitimate four to four guys that are safeties, that
are hybrid guys. They got different names for them, stars
and that are coming off the edge in some of
these critical situations, meaning that if you're a left tackle,
your set has to be perfect. And just because a
guy is maybe a five star, maybe his set doesn't
have to be perfect. But guess what, bro, there's only
(14:36):
a handful of five star tackles coming out of high
school football, the same problems that we're having in the SEC.
When I talk to my buddies on the next level,
they're starving. They're looking for offensive liignment. This is a
systemic issue. Everybody's looking for tackles for gar second pool,
(15:01):
for centers that can work up to the next level.
I mean, you have to develop what you have point
blank and at the offensive line position.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
The only way you're going to develop these.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Guys is not having to rely on the portal being
able to get these guys from high school, keep them,
educate them, train them, make them more expose and keep
them together.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Yeah, it's a unique challenge that you have now in
an era where you bring a lot of transfers in.
You know, just the other night, I was hanging out
with guys that I played with when I was at
UK and it was. It was primarily over about two
or three classes from the UK, but we all came
(15:47):
in together and we went early morning workouts together for
numbers of years because at that time, you if you transferred,
you had it out. So the amount of change and shift,
it was a completely different landscaping environment. And so the
unique challenge I think this coaching staff and these coaching
(16:10):
stats have is how do you build that cohesiveness with
a bunch of transfers. We can go ask Florida State.
I mean, they're having they're having a tough tough time
relying on transfers. And then also how many high school
skiers are going to take and you're gonna develop?
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Right?
Speaker 3 (16:32):
You know, one clear area that I think our entire
fan base and the folks that are stakeholders of the
program I want to see is can this STA recruit
a quarterback and develop a quarterback?
Speaker 4 (16:46):
That's a big one. Look, reality is.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
It hasn't been has that has not been a strong
suit of this stat Can they do it? They've got
an opportunity to do it with Cutter, an in state
guy that they've recruited and have a chance to develop.
There's no secret that what we've put on the field
from an offensive line perspective, the last few years hasn't
(17:13):
been good enough.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
No, No, when you go back, and when you go back,
you look at the tape from twenty seventeen to twenty
twenty one, that was the kind of goal standard off
into line play.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
And it's not the gold standard anymore.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
No, it's not. It is not, And so I don't know.
I don't buy that being able to.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Buy the better players because when you look at when
you look at we're off into linemen are getting drafted
from you get guys that are coming from all over
the place. But then when you look when you look
back at those twenty seventeen to twenty twenty one years,
we were one of the programs at that point where
teams knew that these guys were polished, they were tough,
(18:08):
and these were NFL prototype guys. When you look at
the running backs, I mean it was RBU four reason.
We had the right running backs, put the right offensive
live and it was fun to sit back and watch Morgan.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Yeah, this is a staff that is proven that they
that they can do it. But mixing in three and
six years with the type of investment that everybody puts
into the program. It's been underperforming, and so I'm interested
to see how we bounce back. I'm interested to see
(18:43):
what's going to be that catalyst that changes the trajectory,
you know, based on what we're seeing. We watch the
tape every week, and when we watch the tape, we see,
like you mentioned the term prototypes, they're good players all
over the field.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
There really are.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
You know, it's a couple more million. We're investment invested.
Can you go get some other players? I'm sure you can't.
But one of your wins is against ole miss team
that's the top sixteen that just beat Georgia, just beat Georgia,
another top twelve team.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
And so the team that we played within one point.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Played really well. So is it personnel?
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Some might be motivation.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
It's personnel, But they've got good personnel. There's good personnel.
It's just finding the right balance and the right curation
and then of course the right development in the right discipline.
And so I think that's an opportunity going forward, and
you got to get figured out right because I just
(19:49):
think the fan base isn't going to be tolerant of
one in six in the Coppers.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Who's a young guy that you've been encouraged by.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
There's two guys for me, and you know how Marshof
and Sutton Ball probably more close. You know, the big
tackle for Richmond Malachi would Malachi Man. Malachi took a
lot of slack from PFF and we really got to,
you know, make sure that we're cross reference in the information,
the data we're getting from PFF. Let's put it that way,
(20:19):
because when you turn on the tape, I see a
guy that shows a lot of flashes. He's he's a big,
physical guy, he's got a great frame. Again, another local
kid who cares a lot about this place. I see
a lot of ability in Malachi. The other one the
ones Gilmour. This is a guy that I've been having
(20:40):
conversations with Cutter. He really really likes thinks he's got
a big, big, big time potential and opportunity to be
a great player. And there's just something about the kind
of that camaraderie with guys that come in the same
year as you do, right, that you build when it's
when it's new to about special yes, right, And so
(21:00):
I've been encouraged to see him get out there, get
some reps and continue to get his feet wet. So
those are the tooth jumped off the patient. Mean, what
about you on the defensive side.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
You're on the defensive side to Ryan Nichols, obviously, he's
a guy that he plays with a lot of passion
like and those are the kind of things that I
like to see when you see the young guy, when
you see him make the big time play, it just
means something to him. I mean, just super hype and
what I'm I think one of the things that I'm
(21:29):
really happy about for him is that he hasn't had
to go through He hasn't had those plays that are
just the debilitating play where you're the freshman, you check
in and they have success when they come and they
try to pick on you fresh off the sideline, and
(21:50):
he hasn't had to have that, you know. And I
can think back on a lot of our young dbs
as they come through the program under Mark that had
those plays that were just the growing pains, Carrington, Valentine,
even Nichols as a transfer, even Kelvin Joseph coming from LSU.
But I'm really encouraged by him souls. He's a guy
(22:13):
that I'm really waiting to see him just put it together,
like put put a few series together. Young outside edge rusher.
I think that this guy can be him. And I
say that when I see his skill set, I think
that he's got the potential to come and really challenge
(22:36):
Josh Allen Sack record. That's what I think of him.
And it's just slowing down sometimes letting the game come
to you. He's trying to do too much on special teams,
getting some penalties, just kind of that that blind dog
in the meathouse, slobbering, you know, can't get just all
over the place.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
So I really like that.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
But then when you get to some offensive side of
the ball, our guy will Cox, you know, it gets
the seventeen carries against Tennessee.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
We've been waiting on him to get that bulk of
the carries.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
He's one of these guys, Morgan where I think there's
more of these guys than not where they have this
big playability. They can be, They can be the guy,
but they're fighting, they're resisting their self. And as the coach,
you've gotta make the guy what you need him to be.
(23:27):
You can't sit back and hope that he becomes the guy.
You gotta making be that guy. You gotta tell the guy, look,
we're giving you the ball fifteen twenty times this week.
Get in the playbook, do whatever you need to do,
get in the hot yoga, you know, say some meditation,
Say whatever you gotta do. We're giving you the ball.
(23:49):
We're giving it to you. Be ready, let's go. You
gotta make them. And I think that we've missed the
opportunity this season to do this with multiple players up
front on the defensive lized side of the ball. I
think that there's guys up there that are Sunday players.
Multiple I think there's three, maybe four guys could Hi
(24:10):
Jack coming deer a football game.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
Just take it over.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
And we've not pushed those guys to be that And
that's been frustrating for me as a guy who I
played at a high level. But I'm gonna say this,
I didn't have the chassis that a couple of these
guys got. A Couple of these guys, I mean, they're
sitting on f six fifty chassis, just stuff, brother stuff
(24:39):
stuff that just you know, they just got something a
little different.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
And man, I look at it and I say, what
could have been? Yeah, Look, I think it brings up
I think. I think it's a great point. It's a point,
and it's a point received. But again, it's a different
We're in a different day, Jeremy. It's a different day
and with some of these guys, and you and I
(25:04):
watch it and we see a lot of great things,
but we also see some things that are like, man,
I think we can get more out of some of
these guys just from the way that you just from
the way, because when you see them, you're like, man,
this guy's these guys got a lot of talent, a
lot of potential. Can you, in this day and age
(25:25):
at a place at the University of Kentucky where you
feel like you're limited in what you can invest in
attracting these players to this program, to our program, can
you hold them to the level of accountability to be
great that you speak so passionately about, Because I can
tell you there's a lot of people that are that
(25:48):
followed the program very closely that wonder maybe that's why
we're not the discipline team we need to be. Maybe
that's why we feel like some of our guys that
we've got to have those chassis haven't been able to
reach their potential.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
How do you, in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
At the University of Kentucky hold these guys accountable to
be a great every week, but then being great with discipline.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
That's a great question, and I think it's with consent.
Right when you go and you sit down and mom
and Dad's living room. Are you telling mom and Dad,
I'm going to get Trayvon or I'm gonna get John
or I'm gonna get Dion ready for the NFL. You know,
(26:38):
But first and foremost, there's a lot of boxes we
gotta check before we get down. Don't get him shot
or fast and more explosive. He's gonna be a better person.
We're gonna get him tied locked.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
Into the community. That and when he leaves or when he's.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Out there on the football field, he realizes that he's
playing for the people that love him and that love
the program to put the supporters, playing for defans, he's
playing for the state because Kentucky is the flagship institution.
Like he's playing for the people, the kids at the
children's hospital that want to be out there on the field.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
He's playing for something bigger than himself. And that's what
this thing is about.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
It's about being selfless and about using about using that
uniform to provide happiness and joy for everybody that cares
and loves everything that that represents. So when people ask me, Jimmy,
who's your favorite you know who's some of your favorite players.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
I don't hesitate to say the names of some guys
that we play with.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
I don't hesitate to say guys like Josh Allen, names
like Josh Pascal, a guy that I just absolutely adore
because of the way he emptied the tank for his
brothers and for this program.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
And when I see these guys, I have nothing for
them but love and warm embraces. And that's where they
gotta get.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
They gotta get consent from these guys, from the players
and from the families that say, Hey, when you come here,
do we have your permission to make you an apex predator?
Or are we telling the guy if you come here,
we're gonna let you be you. We're not going to
be hard on you. We're going to let you develop
at your pace. We're gonna take our time. No, bro,
(28:28):
I'm not saying that that that's the conversation or that's
what I'm hearing. But what I'm saying is is that
you owe it to these guys to let them know
that if you want to be where we think you
can be, you gotta let us break you down and
then build you back up multiple times.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
In the nil era.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Consent, you gotta ask a guy, can I coach you hard?
And if the answer is no, that's not my guy.
But what if he's talented? I mean, what if he's good?
Speaker 3 (29:04):
What if we offered them a buddy?
Speaker 4 (29:06):
It's not good enough?
Speaker 2 (29:07):
There are some guys that can that can be more
beneficial to their team by being guys that just want
to play ball and empty the tank. I'm going to
continue to go back to bandy when I turn on
the tape and I've watched multiple Vanderbilt games this year,
I'm seeing guys that are accountable their gap sound and
(29:29):
they're empty in the tank, and they're lesser talented men
than some of the men that they're lined up across.
Every single week, there's not a game that I've turned
on where I've said, mayn he's got better.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
So it's been so many, it's so many spots.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
I agree with you. We kind of grew up in
college football similarly under Coke Brooks. I hope that we
can get back and find a way at Kentucky to
align what we need to be to be successful in
the field and the accountability that we've got to instill
in these players so the thick every sur potential, but
(30:10):
also so that the program can get back to winning six, seven, eight, nine,
ten games, right because I think the fan base is
starting to expect that. They're expecting that we win eight
nine ten games and are in that playoff conversation, and
it's with the twelve team playoff.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
So let's say we have a guy on our team
we both agreed was or is a lottery pick top
ten talent, and let's say that that guy goes late
first round or falls into the second round for things
that are within his control, gap, integrity, play on the field, hustle,
(30:48):
maybe some character things. Who's the blame?
Speaker 4 (30:52):
Is it just the guy?
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Like, who's the blame for this guy who could have
potentially been a lottery pick now maybe not being a
lottery pick. We see that every single year in the draft,
where there's that player that just didn't play us as
well as you you would have thought.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
I think that there's a lot that goes into being
a top pick right. And I always we always talk about,
especially in the NFL, so much of those top picks,
it's all it's about pedigree, yes, genetics, it's about measurables.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
And you know, we played with them.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
There are certain guys that you play with at the
collegiate level that you're like, that guy's different. And a
lot of those first round picks are that guy is
different type guys they just thought. I mean, that's just
the reality of the situation. Plus a lot of quarterbacks.
You know, I think these pro these NFL teams understand that,
you know, you got to take some shots at quarterback
(31:51):
in the first round to it's such a critical part
of how these teams are successful in the NFL on
Sundays and Mondays, I think it's on all the above.
I think it's first, it's going to beyond the player.
You know, the players got to seek out and do
the things necessary to elevate their game on the field,
(32:14):
off the field, emotionally, spiritually, You've got to do the
things that it requires them to be the most successful
version of themselves. But these high major programs in a
place like UK has the resources two much like what
(32:34):
you say, not allow those high picks in those levels
to come back, you know, fall back to the me right,
whether it's coaches, whether it's strength and conditioning, whether it's
athletic athletic trainers. You know, there's all types of nutritionists,
(32:56):
there's all types of resources available to you. Now, when
we played, you can barely get a mag of peanuts
and a Gatorade shake. These guys have full on everything. Now, yep,
the resources are available to you. And if you don't
play good and you don't take the next step, when
(33:17):
you're already projected to be a Sunday guy, you really
got to look and evaluate the systems. Are the systems
working the way they need to work?
Speaker 4 (33:30):
No, I agree with you. I'm gonna go further in
on this as well.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
If you don't force these guys to live up to
their potential.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
And they're delayed.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
Because they didn't get forced in college, there's some concepts
that they can't grasp quickly.
Speaker 4 (33:49):
In the NFL, you.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
Risk the guys resenting the program and what does that
look like, Guys not coming back to visit, guys not
poring into the young players that knowledge coming back in,
you know, sharing secret insight. And for me, I had
a small window where I had resentment towards UK, but
(34:15):
it quickly left after I had a chance to kind
of sit down and think it through. I gave everything.
I feel like a lot of guys I play with
empty the tank played extremely hard. I was a little
resentful that I didn't take snaps in college as a
true defensive tackle. You know, I was a very athletic
defensive end. Little resentment, But then as I kind of
thought about it, I was like, well, who am I
(34:36):
gonna take snaps from Cory Peters NFL player, Rincky Lumpkin
NFL player, myn prior NFL player, Right, So from a
selfish perspective, yeah, I would have liked to have played
some defensive tackle in college. It would have better prepared
me on the next level. But my team needed me
a defensive end, and me not being a defensive end
(34:58):
and a guy like Corey or Ricky or Myron being
off the field because they're not playing, we're not better.
I promise you that there will be a time where
some of these guys will they will reflect, and they
will look back on this season, on this week where
they look and it's three and six, and they look
around the room and they say, man, look what we had.
(35:21):
Why are we three and six? And those guys they
will have to figure out amongst themselves why that is.
And I'll be curious in the years to come as
they come back in the future to sit around and
listen to these guys and fellowship.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
Yeah, well, there's no question that we have the great
pleasure or anguish, Yeah, whatever terminology you want to use
to be able to reflect right at this point and
they're in the fight. I remember being in the fight
in the arena and having perspectives and opinions, some of
which were healthy, some of which were some of which
(35:59):
were influence, some of which were ones that I created
on my own. But there's no question will you go
back and you reflect, especially if you have the capability aptitude,
if you've got the ability to be successful and to
have a successful season. If the team you beat in
the conference is all miss who's the top team, the
(36:21):
team you take to the wire is Georgia, who's a
top team that you lose to are not necessarily considered
to be the top team. Those are conversations that you
will have late and you're you're exactly right. That impacts
how you can how you contribute to the to the
(36:43):
program going forward, because you have to get over a
right missed opportunity were what missed opportunity looks like. And
that's a perspective. I think when you're in the arena
and when you're in the fight, you don't you don't
really consider. But I don't think it's because this is
the exact point that I think we're talking. I don't
(37:03):
think it's on them alone. No, And I always say,
even when we played, it was clear that the folks
that were coaching and supporting the program were making significantly
more money than those that were playing in the program.
It's a little bit different today, but still when you
(37:25):
think about the quantities of scale, there's a responsibility to
those that are doing this for a living to ensure
that a team that has the talent that this team
has cannot be three and six records the way through
the year. They've got to take responsibility for that also.
And this fan base, and we know this fan base,
(37:50):
this fan base deserves to have a product on the
field that is very hard working, very accountable, and very
discipline because that reflects in this state, that reflects, that
reflects the people in this state and the people in
this stand base and I think the round ball right
(38:14):
that always gets the bounce in this time of year.
I think they it seems like they've figured that out, yes,
and I think this staff historically has known it, and
then they've read the room. I think they got to
get back to that, and I think they got to
get back to that in a hurry, because you're going
to start losing people if you they're capable, Mark Brad
(38:40):
A lot of those guys been a right a long time.
They're capable, they understand it. But they got to get
back to it in a hurry. Fatist recruit and developed.
It can't shift to become one un recruitment and no development.
(39:01):
You can't buy your way into heaven. And you can
try to buy up all the five star guys out here,
but guess what, the guys still have to be developed.
And when you go back and you look at this thing,
and you look at players who really succeeded in this system,
they were guys that they built, they stacked onto. Lord
(39:22):
Josh Allen, he was scrawny coming in as a freshman.
He's a guy you stacked onto him, built him up
so many of these guys, bunch of stallings, not a
highly recruited guy at all, had no power five offers
left in All American Logan Stenberg, good kid comes from
a good family down in Alabama. Wasn't a five star kit.
(39:45):
He's a kid that came here body and continued to
grow boom all America. These aren't five star guys that
you win and you built this program up with.
Speaker 5 (39:56):
These are traditional good th restar football players, kids that
were just gritty, that were identified as being gritty, that
had the white parents at home, and they came here
and they came and took advantage of the resources.
Speaker 4 (40:14):
That's what this is. I don't think that this is
quick fix. I think that this is.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Let's go out and let's find some players that we
can identify that got the intangibles the right size that
we can get in here and get ready to play
in two seasons. There's got to be a few of
those guys, and you can't miss on a lot of them.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
I think the staff's got to change their perspective, what
it's on, what the philosophy is, because you're not gonna
be able to win the arms race.
Speaker 4 (40:52):
You're not even gonna come close to it just on.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
Pair of dollars. It's been around the billionaires some money.
Florus Florida's is much money than Boy. They are trying
to figure out how they got all them players to
spend all that money and or got one win. You
still got to have cultural builders, right and culture have
(41:16):
people that contribute to building culture in your in your door,
in your environment. And I think much. I'm in sales,
and there's some years where you don't make the calls.
You know, you don't stay up calling cold calling, and
it reflects your pipeline. Again, there's some years where you
(41:42):
stay up and you send them pamphlets, and you don't
send them pamphlets, you don't send them emails, and it
reflects your pipeline. And it doesn't mean you can't go
and pick up the phone and start calling them again.
That's not what that means. But there's a path and
a method to success. Especially at a place like Kentucky,
(42:05):
it's gonna be a combination of both. You're not gonna
be able to do it strictly untrestioned, fol You've gotta
be able to develop in state town. Developing in state
twent then cost millions of dollars.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
So you look at Logan Stenberg, that guy that's a
pretty something legitimate six ' six guard, and what's just nasty?
Speaker 4 (42:24):
You bring him here.
Speaker 2 (42:25):
You're remind him that, Hey, a lot of people didn't
want you, but johsh slarmant want you, and we're gonna
make you into something. When the rabbit gets that gun,
after you put into that weight room for a couple
of years, gets slapped around a little bit as a freshman.
Now he gets in that weight room and starts putting
some muscles, stacking up on that back and in that chest.
(42:47):
That's it, little Josh Allen getting getting bounced out the
sea gap, getting turned out from first couple of years strawning.
That brother hit that weight room going into that senior
year and he came out looking like something totally different.
You know a lot of that that's just the pain.
That's the pain of just realizing I ain't as good
(43:08):
as I thought I was. Let me get in here
and start doing something, start changing my body up.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
It's critical. It's the only way you can survive in Kentucky.
If you miss you miss big. You got a guy
that ain't ready to play yet.
Speaker 4 (43:23):
Well, guess what.
Speaker 3 (43:26):
You put them back, you put them back in the workshop,
and you keep working on. You're gonna have people get
in the poorld. And that's just where we're at in
today's world.
Speaker 4 (43:36):
But what's left? We got three games left? How much meat?
More meat is on the ball, Morgan Murray, Let's just
start there.
Speaker 2 (43:44):
You want to see what some of these young guys
are capable of, right, you know, hopefully you can get
out and get them some film. In my opinion that
there's a catch here too. You get some young guys,
they come into this game, they play extremely well, and
we know that other teams are gonna turn this film.
Speaker 3 (43:58):
Off half empty, half anty. Way of looking at it,
I think sometimes the hardest games to play because if
you go out and you beat them up. S Murray state,
if you go out underperform, you're not as efficient with
what you to do. We know what Texas is.
Speaker 4 (44:18):
What's the expectation? What do you expect from the offense
and the defense?
Speaker 3 (44:23):
I expect it to be very difficult to disrupt what
they're trying to accomplish in that environment. I just think
it's going to be difficult. You're talking about teams that
have two different goals. At this point.
Speaker 4 (44:40):
You want me to be honest. I hear you offensively.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
I expect there to be some challenges right moving the ball,
being able to sustain This is based on history, this
is based on this season. But on the defensive side
of the ball, I'm believed to be fairly healthy. I
expect championship caliber defense.
Speaker 4 (45:00):
What does that mean?
Speaker 2 (45:02):
That means unless the offense is not able to sustain
drives and our defense is just living on the football field.
I expect our defense to be extremely competitive if our
offense is fresh, which Morgan, I expect our offense to
be fresh.
Speaker 4 (45:20):
I expect it to be a game where it's complete
sellout to win it.
Speaker 2 (45:24):
How we did at Ole Miss grit Grin running with
the quarterbacks, both quarterbacks moving the change, Nicolin Diamond two
three yards, just trying to possess the football, get some
first downs, keep the defense fresh, and extend this game
into the second half and give yourself a chance. I
(45:46):
don't think that that's unreasonable.
Speaker 3 (45:49):
All means are reasonable either. I also think it's no
number twenty third at that particular point, you're gonna be
playing for what year? And again, this is why I
say you have different the teams have different goals. You've
got people on that team that some of them are
(46:09):
gonna be looking to put more film to prepare themselves
for what the next step is. Some of them probably
have an attitude that's like.
Speaker 4 (46:21):
Let's get this over with.
Speaker 3 (46:22):
You know, I think you're gonna get both during that
time of year. And I think it's that's why say
I think it's up to the staff to be able
to make a determination who won't play who's gonna really play,
because it ain't gonna be hard of them. It ain't
gonna be hurd from selling they are gonna really, really,
really really play. So you gotta find the guys that
are gonna play. I don't think you understate that.
Speaker 2 (46:43):
Let's look at this defensive side of the ball. Maxwell Harriston,
you gotta play. He's playing pro.
Speaker 4 (46:53):
You got safeties that are fit in six year guys.
Speaker 2 (46:56):
You got guys in Afari Zion Childers, guys that are
very capable.
Speaker 4 (47:03):
You got the other side of the DB's playing really well.
You know JQ.
Speaker 2 (47:07):
We talked about, Ryan, talked about DJ Waller. Let's get
to the interior linebackers. You got two pros in the
inside of your linebacker positions and Pop Johnson and d
Eric Jackson. Now let's get up front. Trayvon Ripka pro prototype.
I think he's got more juice, he's got more to offer.
I think his upside is tremendous. I think that he
(47:31):
has an opportunity to continue to get better. Then let's
bump in. That's go aside, Dion Walker, Keyshawn Silver. These
dudes are just different. The expectation is championship caliber defense.
It's pretty simple. You got pros on all three levels.
I expect you to go to Austin and I try
(47:53):
to take everything that you can in Austin.
Speaker 4 (47:56):
Get to win.
Speaker 2 (47:56):
Take these dudes gloves in the piles, helmet is cow
boy heads. Get them back on the play and come back.
They got a lot to play for in Austin.
Speaker 3 (48:06):
I want to see it. I want to see it.
But the pros on all three levels were pros on
all three levels when they play at Florida too. Me,
that wasn't that long ago. So I'm just saying the.
Speaker 2 (48:25):
Florida game, the Florida games, it's a tricky one. And
here's why the Florida game is a tricky one, because
this this comes back there's another tenant. There's another there's
another pillar to this thing, the mental toughness piece. I
think an argument could be made that this this this
team lacks mental toughness resolved things go bad and how
(48:49):
you respond. Brooks referred to this ass on the football
field that the sudden change. Sometimes the sudden change is
smashing the head. So if your defensive coordinator has been
telling your office coordinator has been telling you all week
when this happens, then this is gonna happen. And you
get out there and these things don't happen. That's where
(49:09):
the mental toughness thing, that's where the wheels.
Speaker 4 (49:11):
Can come off.
Speaker 2 (49:11):
From college, it's very important when you go into a
game like Florida Dj Lagway, you got a freshman quarterback
that you don't try to make too many predictions.
Speaker 4 (49:23):
And you know, I'm just a fat guy working in healthcare.
Speaker 2 (49:27):
But a couple of the things that I said about
DJ Lagway and what I thought Florida would do. Hell true,
get out to the forty and once they do, that's
when they're gonna take their shots. And when you catch
them in obvious passing situations, don't bail them out and
play man coverage run run cover three, run quarters, run
(49:53):
cover two. Make him have to read the coverage. Just
don't get him in position. This is where he can
just man throw throw. That's what he was able to
do time and time again. It's demoralizing to see a
freshman quarterback have that kind of success, not just a
freshman quarterback. But then you look at bald Or running back.
I think he had five touchdowns. So to have two
(50:15):
freshmen for Florida did have the day that they had,
just demoralizing for a defense.
Speaker 4 (50:21):
It's frustrating.
Speaker 3 (50:22):
I want to see him. Look, there would be nobody happier.
Then the CS go down there and play really well
at Texas. But I can't. I don't have that that
men in black pen where they put in there and
they the flashing flash pin and it wipes away your memory.
(50:43):
Can't forget Gainesville. I can't forget.
Speaker 4 (50:50):
Do you think the guys will know thou that?
Speaker 3 (50:53):
Do? I think they were motivated.
Speaker 2 (50:55):
I saw a different team that went to Oxford, that
played Georgia, that went to Knoxville.
Speaker 4 (51:00):
They just looked a little different on film.
Speaker 3 (51:02):
For me, cannot do Auburn, Okay, do that one.
Speaker 4 (51:06):
It's a team that looked very uninspired.
Speaker 2 (51:10):
You get to looking at Auburn's record, they're coming in
and you think, we're not gonna have to be as
up for this one as we had to for some
of these other ones. I can show plays where I say, hey,
this is a different speed. Then in this game, this
guy is playing at a different speed. I can prove that.
Speaker 3 (51:31):
Maybe we need to get the catapult numbers. Right, We'll
get the catapult numbers, and let's see let's see who
ran at what pace and had certain impact plays right,
because you know the staff he uses those catapults.
Speaker 2 (51:44):
Look at this guy right here, look at him getting
off this block this week. And here's a very similar
block here, And why is the result different?
Speaker 3 (51:53):
When I think about games, though, and I think about
team hanging almost hanging a half hundred on us, And
when I think about Auburn and what a running back
who's a good player with that running back? Did our
(52:17):
defense at home? And then you talk about Texas who
had getten This is let's be the third time I
say that, I say this has.
Speaker 4 (52:30):
Different goals. They're praying to a different guy at this
time of the year, and so.
Speaker 3 (52:37):
Yeah, I've got real concern about that game. And you
and I we've been in tough road environments, and sometimes
you get in those environments, even if you have all
the right intentions and even if you bring that level
of effort that we brought ole Miss George, but sometimes
(52:59):
the ball doesn't bounce the right way. It can become
a stampede.
Speaker 4 (53:06):
And so.
Speaker 3 (53:08):
I've got real concerns about Texas. I've got a whole
different perspective on Louisville. To me, Louisville is a one
game season. I throw all of it out the window.
Every bit I can, I can have the men in
Black flash to the energy is completely And here's what
(53:38):
this staff and the history of this staff has convinced
me of in that rivalry, in that game, they gonna
have them guys to play because they understand the assignment
when it comes to playing Louisville.
Speaker 4 (53:57):
They understand the well.
Speaker 2 (53:59):
I hope that they understand the assignment for the next
three weeks, because when I talk about the opportunity to
play against the team that's a contender for the National championship.
Historically Stoops's teams have they've shown up for these games.
They're ready to go for these and if you're a
guy that wants to play on that next level. Man,
(54:21):
this is this is your last opportunity to play against
just an elite football team, and it gives you the ability.
They our fans want to see it. Once again, we talked,
they deserve it. This is a roster that is capable
of being competitive. It's a staff that has the capability
of being able to go call a good game.
Speaker 4 (54:43):
And I think you know the players, they're able by it.
We don't have a lot of injuries.
Speaker 2 (54:47):
Go strain, Go lay out for your brothers, Go lay
it all out there on the line. And I know
it sounds cliche, but that's what this is. This is,
this is one hundred percent at this point, a lot
of it is about the effort you're going into. You know,
we're going into the last games of the season. You
should understand everybody has thrown everything at you at this point.
Speaker 4 (55:09):
Thank you all for.
Speaker 2 (55:10):
Tuning in to another episode of Behind Kentucky Football. Cats
take on the Murray State Racer Saturday, one thirty pm.
Speaker 4 (55:19):
Good Night and go Cats.
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