Mark Stoops was clearly relieved to get a win Saturday night, but his post-game press conference was far from a victory lap. While he was quick to praise the performance of sophomore quarterback Cutter Boley, he spent most of his time lamenting the same "sloppy" mistakes and defensive lapses that have been a recurring theme for this team.
The message was clear: the win was nice, but this team is still a major work in progress.
A positive debut for the new QB
Stoops was visibly happy with what he saw from Boley in his first start, emphasizing his command of the offense.
"I was pleased with the way he operated," Stoops said. "He has a very live arm, he can rip it, he can make throws. I thought he was very poised. For the first real start, I thought he did a nice job."
Boley himself echoed that sentiment, saying, "It’s a lot of fun. Getting the start, it’s a dream come true for me. First start in Kroger Field, it was awesome."
"Sloppy" play and self-inflicted wounds
That praise, however, was quickly followed by a critique of the team's overall execution. Stoops was particularly frustrated with a fumbled snap on the 2-yard line that cost the team a touchdown.
"That’s a problem," Stoops stated bluntly. "Jager and him, we fumbled a snap on the 2... that can’t happen. That is a simple fundamental that we have to get corrected."
A defense that "gave up too many explosives"
Despite the lopsided score, Stoops was not happy with his defense, which gave up 461 total yards, including 330 through the air.
"Defensively, we gave up too many explosives," he said. "We got a little soft in our zone... gave up some big plays that we shouldn’t have. We have to be firmer."
The takeaway from the coach's comments is clear. While the quarterback change provided a much-needed spark, the fundamental issues of sloppy execution and a vulnerable secondary are still front and center as the team enters a critical bye week.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premier League soccer. Micah 7:7. #UpTheAlbion