Mark Stoops’ Monday Transcript

Oct 4, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats running back Jojo Kemp (3) runs for a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Kentucky defeated South Carolina 45-38. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Q.  (Question regarding if the offensive line has more success blocking when UK is in the Wildcat formation.)

COACH STOOPS:  Sometimes if you can get somebody removed from the core like the one we hit for a touchdown, you got the middle third guy out of there.  But I don’t know if it changes them.  Their rules and all that doesn’t change.  Their mentality shouldn’t change, either.

I guess some of the runs we’re doing and what we are featuring out of that, we had good success with.

Q.  In laymen’s terms, why is it (Wildcat formation) so hard to defend?

COACH STOOPS:  Well, when I talked to Neal about doing some of that, because it had hurt me, so over the years you know some things that hurt you, and you say, Look at this, because in certain ways you do it, it changes.  It does change.

We all have rules to go by on defenses and that stuff starts happening and your quarterback is in different motions, it changes things.

Sometimes you have a hard time adjusting to it and sometimes you don’t.  We’ve gone to some things that we do, rule‑wise, because of trial and error, some things that have hurt us in the past.

So we look at it.  It’s hard to explain, other than it’s not as simple as it looks (Laughter.)  I understand.  Take it from a defensive guy that’s been burned on it before, it’s not always that simple.

Q.  The offensive playbook, have you guys got some left?

COACH STOOPS:  Sure, there is always more you can do.  I tell them all the time, This is what you guys do?  This is fun!  Draw stuff up and make defensive coordinators crazy.

Oct 4, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Ryan Timmons (1) runs for a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Kentucky defeated South Carolina 45-38. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Q.  (Question regarding UK having to lean on freshmen much of this season but how nice it was to have some older players make plays on Saturday.)

COACH STOOPS:  Extremely important.  They’ve been great and they’ve been leaders and working hard.  We’re all one team.  I know a lot of people talk about that, and the guys that came in, this, that, whatever.  They’re all my guys.  I care about all of ’em.  Our coaches do and we’re trying to do the best we can with all of them.

Q.  (Question regarding Jeff Badet and Alex Montgomery’s status.)

COACH STOOPS:  No, continue to work and rehab and run around, and they’re doing some things.  If they were 100% and ready to practice 100%, then I would have a decision to make.  At this point they’re not 100%.

Q.  Does that make the decision for you?

COACH STOOPS:  We’ll see.  I’m not ready to put that on them.  They read these quotes, too, and they lay off.  I need them to get back 100% and get ready to go.

Q.  Does that depend on your current guys staying healthy, too?

COACH STOOPS:  It does, it does.

Q.  I thought a huge play in the game was Landon Foster getting field position in the second quarter, how nice of a luxury is it to have him?

COACH STOOPS:  Very.  You take him for granted sometimes and people don’t talk about him much, but he is so solid, along with Kelly Mason and just that whole unit.

Coach (Craig) Naivar has done a great job with special teams, he really has.  We’ve been really solid.  I thought the guys have been really motivated and very unselfish and playing well on special teams.

Q.  (Question regarding how important it is to have a guy like Jojo Kemp running the Wildcat formation.)

COACH STOOPS:  It helps.  Some guys have a good knack for it, good patience and vision, and he’s been very effective out of there.