In UK’s 62-42 shootout victory over New Mexico State last weekend, Kentucky starting QB Drew Barker left the game with a back injury after throwing an interception on UK’s first offensive series.
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Stoops revealed that Barker had an MRI to get a closer look at his back and United Kingdom is consulting with a specialist.
“We’ll see how the week goes on”, Stoops said. You can see guys getting better and we will continue to do that.
Jordan Jones raised some eyebrows after last week’s 45-7 loss to No. 23 Florida when he implied that some of his Kentucky teammates gave up, telling reporters: “Sometimes when we’re down, a lot of people on our team just tend to quit and think it’s over, and I don’t think it’s over until it’s actually over”.
“Drew’s listed as the starter on the depth chart for a reason”, Stoops said.
However, Stoops did say that Johnson wouldn’t be nixed from the game plan entirely. However, Stoops said true freshman Gunnar Hoak will get more practice reps this week with Barker injured.
The Kentucky Wildcats offense finally found some life, and backup quarterback Stephen Johnson saved the day.
That’s because Stephen Johnson came in and threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another 51 against New Mexico State.
Let’s be honest. I realize that the Gamecocks are not even a year removed from a crushing defeat to The Citadel – which, to their credit, is a pretty good FCS team, but still an FCS team nonetheless.
Neither QB has played enough at Kentucky – Barker five career starts; Johnson two career games – to have a sample size large enough to merit lasting judgments. I thought he calmed down and made some good decisions – early on it was a little rough. He was very poised. “We came out and got a stop and then another stop”.
“No, no, no”, said Stoops. They need to force the issue on Saturday and make the Wildcats conform to their brand of football (flaws and all), or this one will more than likely turn out to be their third straight loss to Stoops and company.
Regardless of who gets the call this weekend, Stoops isn’t anxious about developing a game plan to tailor either quarterback.
Kentucky ranks seventh in the conference in pass offense.
“They were in man coverage and nobody went with Xavier and (Rogers) just saw something to the field that must have caught his eye and got him off his read”, Martin said.
United Kingdom doesn’t even want to think about November 26, the last game of the season, after seeing what Lamar Jackson and Louisville did to No. 2 Florida State earlier Saturday, putting the Cardinals in the discussion as one of the best teams in the country.
Vanderbilt was held to 275 total yards, including 69 yards rushing on 18 carries by Ralph Webb, who led the Southeastern Conference in rushing through two games.
Despite the numbers that have the Wildcats near the middle of the road in the league, Kentucky’s offense has struggled at times and has committed 10 turnovers, five on the ground and five more through the air. Unfortunately, the Wildcats defense didn’t return the favor.
“It is hard, because these kids, they care”, Stoops said. “Anytime you’re not playing the best defense, you definitely don’t want to be put in bad situations”.
There were some things that United Kingdom could positively take from its first victory of the year. “We’d like to protect the football”. Kentucky rolled up 692 yards of offense – the second-most in program history. That’s not something we learned today, but it’s certainly something relevant.
The big tight end also played big in the victory.
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Whether he’ll be available when United Kingdom (1-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) hosts SC (2-1, 1-1 SEC) and first-year head coach Will Muschamp is a matter for another day.
