WATCH: Mark Stoops recaps Kentucky's win over Toledo

A win is a win, but even Mark Stoops acknowledged that one wasn’t pretty. The Cats squandered a hot start against the Rockets with an error-ridden second quarter, which included a fumble by Willie Rodriguez after a big catch and a safety. Thankfully, the defense held strong for three quarters and Kentucky’s running game came alive in the second half, highlighted by a 79-yard touchdown run by Dante Dowdell, allowing the Cats to come away with the 24-16 win.

“There are things that we did to shoot ourselves in the foot that we have to get corrected,” Stoops said in his postgame press conference. “But the good side of it is, is that we overcame those bad plays and won the football game and beat a very good team that’s getting [AP] Top 25 votes. So it’s not like they’re a bad team, and we got the victory.

“We all know we need to get better. We all know the competition is going to improve, but it’s one game, and it’s a step in the right direction, and we’ve got to go back to work in and hopefully get that improvement that we all like to see between week one and week two.”

Kentucky totaled 220 rushing yards but only 85 passing yards. In his first game as a Wildcat, Zach Calzada finished 10-23 for 85 yards, one interception, and one rushing touchdown. Five of those ten completions were to tight ends, which Stoops said was just how the game played out. As for Calzada, Stoops believes he will improve — although taking that safety was unacceptable.

“Zach’s got a hand the football [off],” Stoops said. “Bottom line, we had the edges protected. I think he got a little spooked, but we had it protected. You’ve just got to get some tough yards there.”

See everything Stoops said below. Lots to clean up before No. 21 Ole Miss comes to town next weekend.

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Mark Stoops Transcript

MARK STOOPS:  You know, there are many things to improve on. We all know that, our team knows that.  I don’t think they are satisfied.  But again, we will take the victory at any time.  Our players are appreciative to be 1 and 0.  You know, we all know what Toledo is capable of and they weren’t going to go away.  I would have liked to have seen us get a stop once we go up 15, and credit them, they make the plays and get the big drives started with a 22-yard gain on the first down.  Got them moving and got the score and made it close there late.  You know, on the other side of the ball I would like to see us get a first down and have an opportunity to put the game away in the four-minute drill prior to them taking that position at the end.  So, you know I thought we did some good things early in the game.  In particular, defense was playing very good.  How do turnover that set us up for the first score.  Offensively, I felt like we were going to get in rhythm, and we hurt ourselves.  We had the decision on the safety, Zach is going to hand that ball off, he knows that.  There is no read there.  He’s going to hand it and, you know, we’ve got to grind our way off the goal line there.  And that took a complete possession away for us because that was first down.  And then, I believe we get the fourth-down stop, and it was on second down that we fumble.  You know, I feel like we were going to get into a rhythm and get moving and get good field position and the fumble hurt us.  There is things that we did that shot ourselves in the foot that we have to get corrected.  But the good side of it is that we overcame those bad plays and won the football game.  We beat a very good team that’s getting top 25 votes.  It’s not like they’re a bad team.  We got the victory.  We all know we need to get better.  We all know the competitions going to improve.  But it’s one game.  It’s a step in the right direction and we have to go back to work and hopefully get that improvement that we all like to see between week one and week two.  

Q Coach, – Dante (Dowdell) and Seth (McGowan) both had good games, can you just talk about those guys?  

MARK STOOPS: They are good players.  I’m glad you saw that today and I’m glad we had an opportunity to get them in the open field.  Dante, there was an impressive run after the long drive that Toledo had to cut it.  And one play drive and Dante rips off the touchdown run.  You can see the big guy, we talked about in the off-season.  Yes, he’s a big boy and he’s powerful but he showed great speed there again to take it for a 78 yard run.  The same with Seth.  I think both of them, both of those guys, need reps on our field as well.  In the scrimmages they were really limited.  They both played a lot of football.  They are running backs and they are going to take a lot of hits through this year.  I think the footwork and footing of our field, hopefully they will continue to improve and get more comfortable because they did slip a few times as well.  

Q Did the offense look better in the scrimmages?  Did you have normal rhythm or were you expecting the passing game?  

MARK STOOPS: Yeah, I did expect the passing game to be better today.  I felt like we were off on some shots down the field.  You know, I think we connect on one or two of those that were close.  I think you feel a little different, we all feel a little different.  So, I think working on that and trying to push the ball down the field.  You know, it was off today.  We need to improve and I’m sure we will.  

Q – A lot of targets today. Was that kind of the game plan going into it?  

MARK STOOPS: It’s just where it falls.  And on the reads and on its progressions and where it’s at.  We believe in those guys and we want to continue to get them touches.  Like you’ve heard me say many times, as we get first downs and we don’t have a one play drive that goes for a safety.  We don’t have we don’t have a two play drive and turn it over.  If we get more reps, more first downs, we are going to get more touches and yards and so on.  

Q Is the pass rush today, is that sort of what you expected to see from the setting?  

MARK STOOPS: Yeah, I did.  They were disruptive.  You know, we need to be.  I’m not sure how many sacks we had but I know we were very disruptive.  You know, in his face.  As I’ve mentioned prior to this game, their QB is used to that, he does a really nice job under duress.  Buying time in the pocket.  Throwing with people in his face.  And also scrambling to throw the ball when he has time.  

Q Steven had two strip sacks today, we saw that last year, – what kind of weapon.  What kind of weapon can Steven (Soles) be?  

MARK STOOPS: Yeah, Steven is a guy that plays with high energy.  He plays very relentless.  You know, he plays hard.  He’s a bit undersized, but he plays extremely hard and brings us a lot of juice and energy.  It’s good to see that and good to see him get the pressure.  

Q Mark, how did you feel about your offensive line?  I don’t think Toledo had a sack and you did run the ball.  

MARK STOOPS: We did run the ball.  You know, I thought that was important.  220 (yards), that was good.  Obviously, a big improvement in that area.  They did have some pressure.  I don’t think Zach was real comfortable.  I think that led to some incompletions and some of our timing and things that I would like to improve on.  But overall, very good. As I mentioned, it’s important to them.  When the game was on the line and things got close they wanted to be able to run the ball.  For the last possession we did kill the clock and that situation was good to get those tough yards on third down there.  That’s what we are looking to improve on.  

Q Mark, JQ (Hardaway) had a big play initially and then you all were able to punch it in 29 yards.  How important was that to do that on a short game?  

MARK STOOPS: It was really important, really nice play by JQ.  You know, early in that game, it was great to get some field position and get the seven nothing.  We all get antsy, and the team, we try to head that off.  Everybody, you all have been writing about it, talking about it, you know, and we appreciate that.  We are all excited about the season.  Game one can be frustrating in that way because you just want to play very well and usually it’s a bit sloppy.  To play with the lead even though it wasn’t a big lead, you know, to play with the lead was helpful.  

Q Mark, you know a couple of times last year that – had really long range and made some kicks in practice at 60.  I don’t think it was quite 60 but you are in the fringe kind of zone a couple of times.  Did you consider going out there for a long kick?  

MARK STOOPS: No, I didn’t at that point in time.  The way our defense was playing, you know, I know he has the leg for that.  You know, I don’t know what the percentage is on that. It’s not like we kick them 60 yards.  It might be one per day.  I felt like field position was a big part of it.  We had a lead and field position was critical.  When it was eight, yes, I would have kicked.  In any situation there.  That was makeable to get it to a two score game.  

Q Mark, it did look like Jamarion Wilcox was on the sideline.  What is the situation there?  

MARK STOOPS: Yeah, Jamarion was out today.  I will update you this week.  Violation of team rules and I will give you more information when I can.  

Q Mark, we hear so much about Zach being mature.  What was his mindset heading into the game?  Were you happy with the way he played?  

MARK STOOPS: Yeah, I think he was probably pressing.  He seemed fine to me leading into the game and warming up and all of that.  He cares, he wants to play well.  He cares about his teammates.  You know, he will look at this film and there is things he can do better but that will be the same with everybody that played.  Everybody can improve and hopefully he will make a big jump and settle in and play some ball.  

Q Mark, do you know what you are thinking about scoreless defense for 50 minutes –?

MARK STOOPS: A little of both, a little of both.  I think going into the game you know what their quarterback and what he’s capable of.  I was quite pleased the way we were containing him for the majority of that game.  All you have to do is go to their bowl game last year and watch that.  And you want to get aggravated, be the defensive coordinator on that.  Because that’s what he’s capable of.  I say that with a lot of respect. Because again, he takes shots and getting hit and delivers the football.  They are a resilient team.  That’s a good victory.  I’m proud of the way our guys played.  Yeah, I wish we would have finished a little cleaner on that side of the ball.  

Q Mark, what happened on the safety?  

MARK STOOPS: Zach’s got to hand the football.  Bottom line.  We had the edges protected.  I think he got a little spooked, but we had it protected.  You just got to get some tough yards there.  

Q Grant Godfrey was rotating in quite regularly, is that part of the plan trading him forward?  

MARK STOOPS: Yeah, I think a lot of the guys like that.  We know it is a long season.  We have to develop our younger players and the guys that are coming along and protect some of the other guys from playing so many snaps.  

Q Mark, – you talked about the importance of (Ty Bryant) just catching the ball (on punts).  How much does that drive you crazy?  

MARK STOOPS: He’ll get better, you know, that’s the tough thing. In the stadium we talked about in the summer and try to get him as many catches in there.  It’s different with the wind blowing and the turf and all of that. He will get more and more comfortable.  But it’s not an easy job and he’ll do it.  

Q You mention the passing game needs to improve.  How did you kind of turn that around with just seven days to go with conference play starting?

MARK STOOPS: You know, day-to-day through camp.  One day may look better than the other.  We’ve done some good things and will continue to work and we are not by any stretch going to panic or anything.  We just got to get back to work.  I also think that JJ’s catch, you know, that was fractions off.  And we are really moving early there again, feel a little different, you know, there’s things we could do different.  We can get to the ball and run a play and not give them time to review it too.  We thought it was a catch.  And again, as I mentioned, we were fractions off of some others, so we are not far off.  

Q Just a quick comment on Chip (Trayanum)– 

MARK STOOPS: Yeah, Chip, I saw him before the game and I saw him after and I’m very happy for him and very proud for him.  You know, he’s an absolute fantastic young man and a really good player.  He’s tough to bring down and he had a good game.  I give him a lot of credit.  

Q Alex Had 13 (tackles) –   

MARK STOOPS: I knew he had a great day. I didn’t know how many tackles or I didn’t know his stats or anything, but I know he was around the football.  He’s been very very steady, very good player, great young man, again, great leader.  So happy for Alex.  That’s the way he’s been playing.  All right, thank you all.  Appreciate it.