By LARRY VAUGHT

Sophomore Randall Cobb, Kentucky’s most exciting and productive offensive player this season, has been encouraged by what he has seen in practice this week.

“Our tempo in practice has been really good. We have come out and worked really hard and I think the mood has changed and we are moving on and are ready to get back on track,” Cobb said.

Here are other insights he offered as the Cats prepare to host Eastern Kentucky Saturday.

Question: Are you too hard on yourself?
Cobb: “Some people say that, but I have never been satisfied and was taught never to be satisfied. I always push to be better and improve. I want to be the same for my teammates and make sure they are pushing for the same goals that I am.”

Question: Have you been harder on some teammates this week?
Cobb: “I have because we need that. We need the person to come down on somebody. When the coaches try to, they don’t really get the same vibe as from a teammate. I have to do that more.”

Question: Can you still have a good season now that you are 4-4 with four games left?
Cobb: “We can still have a good season. We have to take care of Eastern Kentucky and then move forward. But we have to concentrate on this week first. That is one of the things we didn’t do last week very well. We looked forward and bypassed the game last week and it hurt us.”

Question: How could Kentucky overlook anyone, much less a Southeastern Conference foe?
Cobb: “Things just happen. People think different and fans might not understand how that could happen, but when you think of the big picture this program could have done something really big and made a big step and we didn’t accomplish what we wanted to. But we can still reach some good goals and that’s what we have to do.
“We have to come back and get a win this week and then prepare to win some more games. We still have a chance to be 8-4 and that is our goal.”

Question: How has freshman quarterback Morgan Newton seemed mentally this week?
Cobb: “I think he is coming along great. He is starting to understand the defensive schemes better and defensive blitzes and pick them up and make plays off them. He knows he has to put that loss behind him and just make plays this week.”

Question: Any chance UK will throw the ball more this week?
Cobb: “I think so. We have been practicing the passing game a lot more just to try and open it up a little bit and try to get defenses more where they have to stop both pass and run.”

Question: What has happened to keep you from throwing the ball out of the wildcat package since going into the season coach Rich Brooks said that is partially why the package would be unique?
Cobb: “I can tell you Mississippi State prepared well for it and shut it down right off the top. They packed it in for the run, and we only threw it once. That’s not on me. That’s the coaches and their decision about what they think will work best. They know what they are doing.
“I think the pass could add something, but the wildcat is not a primary package that you can use because good teams can find a way to shut it down.”

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