Mark Stoops breaks down battle at Kentucky's right tackle spot

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops has some questions at the right tackle position that he hopes to have answered soon.

Jeremy Flax started the season at the right tackle position but Courtland Ford started in Week 2 after Flax was out for an undisclosed reason. Flax returned to the starting lineup in Week 3 but Ford did rotate in at some points.

But who will be the start going forward is far from settled, as Stoops said during his Monday press conference.

“We need to continue to work better at that position and cohesively with the line at handling movement,” Stoops said. “I think we’re off balance there a little bit at that position and can play better. We just got to continue to evaluate it, play both guys. We’ll see who plays the best this week in practice and go from there.”

Flax was the starting right tackle for the Wildcats last season, starting 12 games for the team. Ford transferred in from USC in the offseason. With the Trojans, Ford started 11 games at left tackle over the previous two seasons.

The Wildcats are undefeated after the first three games of the season, and now have their first SEC opponent of the season this upcoming weekend in Vanderbilt.

Transfer quarterback Devin Leary has completed 61.7 % of his passes through the first three games with 855 passing yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions.

But the team still has more work to do to get itself in its best position to make a run in the SEC East. After playing the Commodores, the Wildcats will host Florida and then go on the road to play Georgia.

“You have to get better,” Stoops said of the team. “We’re going into the SEC play next week. The nice thing is, we are 3-0. And I like the work ethic and the way we have been practicing. We will continue to do so. We will get better, and, you know, I think the team will be eager to get back out to practice next week, and we have to get things cleaned up.

”We are not playing to our standard upfront on the offensive line, whether we are getting beat, whether it is snaps, holds, you know, just things of that nature. But there is enough blame to go around to all groups in all areas, so we will address it and continue to work to get better.”