What Mark Stoops said about South Carolina

Kentucky head football coach Mark Stoops gave his thoughts about Shane Beamer and the South Carolina Gamecocks during his weekly press conference.

OPENING STATEMENT: We have to regroup in a hurry and get ready to go on the road and try to get win number seven for us here this week at a South Carolina team that obviously has played much better the past two weeks.

They’ve also played some very good football teams and are more than capable of playing well in all phases. They’re always strong in special teams. Their offense is extremely explosive. Spencer Rattler is a guy that’s been around for a long time. I feel like their running back is playing at a very, very high level.

Defensively, made a few changes this past week. It’ll be interesting to see which direction they go schematically. Not totally, but definitely some mix-ups that we have to be prepared for, some change-ups. Very good team and we’re looking to just get better, have a great week, and go down there in another very tough environment and try to get a win.

Q: Rattler’s been able to create quite a few explosives. After a pretty rough outing in the secondary, how do you try to get them to regroup?

[$1 for unlimited access to GamecockCentral’s content and community]

A: You’re right, similar in that he can buy time and he’s he’s also very good in the pocket. It was a problem this past week so we have to do a better job in both areas. Our rushes, we need to be better rushing, more disciplined, more relentless.

Secondary guys, getting to the quarterback, not rushing past the quarterback, letting him have that easy pocket to step up into. And then, plastering and covering and being better down the field. Spencer’s got a very good feel for moving around the pocket.

Q: What makes Legette so good for them?

A: He’s a big, strong guy and can really run. So I think that’s the biggest thing is size, speed, and strength and makes competitive plays and been around for a while.

Q: Dowell Loggains’ first year calling plays, what have you seen from him and what kind of challenges does this offense bring?

[Win two tickets to the South Carolina-Kentucky football game]

A: Yeah, I really like Dowell. I like him as a person. As a coach, I think he’s very creative. They create explosive plays, I mean they’re making a lot of hay on first and second down. They like to get the ball moving and when they get moving they can really go. I think they do a nice job of creating explosive plays.

Q: Shane does a lot of things on special teams. You mentioned their offensive coordinator is very creative. Do you try to prepare for everything or do you just say we can’t worry about that, we gotta be fundamental?

A: Yeah, we have to apply rules when it comes to that. You’re talking two different things. If you’re talking offensively or if you’re talking special teams. Special teams you do have to prepare for a lot.

The big thing is apply the rules and have great discipline. Getting back to your question, even in all special teams apply rules because people can get creative with different ways to create formations. College football is way more liberal than pro football with what we can do and how we disguise formations and eligible receivers and things of that nature. That’s the kind of stuff you have to be on point with in that area.

Offensively, I think we all understand that. Run, play action, pass, shots. When are they going to take their shots? When are they going to go for that? Setting them up. What formations. Window dress them different ways. I think just applying our rules in anticipation and then making plays. We talked about some of their wide outs and their big guys that can run and making plays down the field.

[On3 App: Get South Carolina push notifications from GamecockCentral]

Q: There’s a lot of sniping between this fan base and South Carolina, especially in the past year. Have you noticed that maybe this rivalry has intensified since you’ve been here? Obviously you have a lot to do with that because they dominated this rivalry before you got here and you’ve won seven of nine.

A: I haven’t noticed. I don’t notice. About six months ago or five months ago I got a new phone. I don’t know how to work it no more. I don’t know how to work X, so it’s kind of a good thing for me. I don’t see a damn thing.

Q: A rumor has it, I mean correct me if I’m wrong, that the relationship you have with Coach Beamer, there’s a little bit of an edge to it. Does that add any additional spice?

A: I have no idea where you would get that information from. I mean, I don’t feel that way. Maybe he does. You have to ask him. I don’t feel that at all. It’s another game and we need it for our university, for our players. There’s zero to do with me and Shane.

[Newsletters: Get breaking South Carolina news and analysis from GamecockCentral]

We’re going down to a team right now that just won back-to-back games but have had a had a bit of a struggle and their stadium seems to be rocking as well. I would imagine that this Saturday it’ll be rocking down there. It’ll be a great environment, tough environment.

Q: How many times this week do you think you’re gonna hear Sandstorm?

A: You’ll hear it. You guys will come cover us on Tuesday and Wednesday and if you come early enough you’ll be hearing it playing in there you’ll hear it quite a few times. It’s part of our crowd noise. We got to create a lot of crowd noise for our communication for offensively as you know and, yeah that’ll be part of it.”

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!