Mondays with Bobby, featuring Mitchell Henry

Tuesday of Kentucky week, with comments from Western Kentucky offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm, junior quarterback Brandon Doughty and senior running back Antonio Andrews.

Jeff Brohm

    Progress on the gameplan: “We’ve gone through the gameplan very extensively. One of numerous times we’ve been through it and now we’ve kind of closed up some things and finally just finalizing things, just double-checking, making sure we’re doing exactly what we want. Right now the plan’s in affect, we’re gonna try to execute it in practice, get ready to play the game.”

    UK’s defense: “We have an idea, and you never know the first game exactly what’s gonna happen. We’ve practiced against a lot of looks. Our defense in the summer gave us a lot of looks here, as well in this fall camp. I think our guys are ready to go.

“We’ve got to continue to work hard. Today was a day that we’ve got to make a lot of corrections, get things corrected, make sure that the effort’s there, the desire to win is there and that they’re willing to come out and fight to win the game. That’s how you gotta come about winning this game and believing you’re gonna win it and everybody coming together as a team.”

    Players this week: “I think everybody’s ready to play the game. Today was not one of our best practices. But we got a lot of work in, there’s a lot of corrections that need to be made. I think all of us need to understand the hard work that it’s gonna take everyday in practice to earn the right to win on Saturday.

“That’s what we’re trying to do right now, is earn the right to win and then be able to take the field confident come Saturday and execute the plan.”

    SEC opponent: “I think Kentucky, I think they’re gonna come ready to play. They got players on their side of the field that can play the game. It’s gonna be about who’s willing to lay it all on the line and fight and find a way to win.

“I think our guys can matchup, but we have to kind of have the attitude that it’s gonna be a fight, it’s gonna be a struggle. This team is an SEC opponent and we have to come ready to play and then have our arsenal ready to go and everybody has to believe they can get it done.”

    UK matchup problems: “I think they got two defensive ends that are tall and rangy, can rush the passer and look the part and come off the edge. They’re athletic and those are two guys you gotta contain.

“They got some experience in the middle at linebacker. They got a free safety who’s got experience who’s played well. So those are about four or five leaders on the defense that we have to make sure we account for that do have a lot of experience and look the part.

“We’ve got to make sure we know where they’re at at all times and realize that those are the better players. We gotta account for ‘em and execute accordingly.”

    QB play: “They’ve worked extremely hard. The time is here to play. Our guys have put in a lot of effort and hard work. We don’t have a lot of experience at the position right now, that’s always a little bit of a concern, but we’ve tried to put the in as many game situations as we can – live situations.

“Thrown a lot at them. Made it as hard in practice as we possibly can so that when the game comes, they’re tested and ready to go. We’ll see come Saturday, but I feel good about ‘em.”

Brandon Doughty

    Offense: “I think we’re prepared. We’re putting in a couple wrinkles, just seeing some things late. But we’re putting in a couple wrinkles this week and we’re gonna be ready Saturday.”

    Mood of the team: “We’re anxious, man. We’ve been waiting for this day – it feels like yesterday it was a hundred and five days ’til Kentucky. Now it’s at four. It’s approaching really quickly and the excitement in the locker room is unreal.”

   This week: “It’s not much different. You have the scouts out there, giving us our look. We’re not one’s against one’s grinding each other. It’s a little bit different look, they play a little bit different defense than we do, so just getting after them – working on our craft.”

 Being the starter: “It’s awesome, man. God’s blessed me so much, man, and going through that injury (in 2011) I was away from gameplanning not as much as I wanted to do. This year I’m really studying that film and meeting with Petrino and meeting with coach Brohm and really getting after it. So I’m excited.”

    Nerves: “I think you wouldn’t love the game if you didn’t have a little butterflies. I’m anxious right now – not really butterflies, I know God’s in control and He’s got my back out there. I have nothing to worry about. Fear no man, fear the Lord. I’m excited.”

    Antonio Andrews: “It’s awesome. The defenses key on Antonio and he’s also a good safety valve for us. Every time I get in trouble or the team’s down, we just give the ball to 5 and he runs for a bunch of yards.

“It’s awesome having a guy that can make plays out there for you, make you look good.”

Antonio Andrews

    Fans’ perception in UK series: “It’s a real big game, especially for the whole Bowling Green community. Bragging rights. I know a lot of people get mad seeing all the UK stuff on campus. It’s always good to go up there and win, even though we’re going to Nashville, to come back with a win and come back on campus and see how much less blue you see walking around on campus. It’s a good feeling.”

    Breakout game vs. UK in 2012: “I just feel I’ll pick up where I left off. Last year was the first time playing ‘em, this is the second time so hopefully it goes the way it’s supposed to go.

“The O-line’s working hard, the tight ends are working hard, receivers working hard, fullbacks working hard – we’re ready to go.”

    Students wearing UK gear on campus: “I’m going on my fourth year here. Kinda used to it. Been seeing it since freshman year. Ain’t nothing changed. You saw a lot less blue last year because basketball really didn’t go so well.

“Regardless, you’re gonna see UK blue around campus because you get a lot of students from everywhere around the world.

“I feel if you’re gonna rock with the Tops, you’re gonna rock with the Tops. If you like the blue, you’re gonna stay true to it. If you like the red, you’re gonna come with the red. It is what it is.”

Filed under: Football, Talkin’ bout the Tops