He thinks there is room for improvement defensively but he was most proud of the intensity from start to finish. He said it's one of the few times this season when he's felt that intensity from start to finish.
He said the defense didn't flinch after the TD drive was allowed before the half to SC. He said that he wrote down on a whiteboard all the penalties and problems on that drive and that they responded in the second half.
He said that the things that are the same from last season are the fronts. Drink said earlier that they've kept some things from last year.
CB Ennis Rakestraw was wearing a non-contact jersey today but he is okay and it was precautionary.
He said the style of game was because they were playing with a lead. He said the front did great winning one-on-one matchups. He said the pass rush has been there but it was good to see them get sacks this time.
He said that Saturday was a great team win in all three phases of the game. He said that the team embracing the defense as the best part of the team doesn't change much. He said preparation is why the team looked good on Saturday at SC. He still thinks the team especially his defense could play better.
He said Daylan Carnell's practice habits are maturing. He said that Carnell is maturing and taking more heed to that. He said those habits are working harder, not taking plays off. He said Carnell is as talent as any player he's been around.
Baker said Dreyden Norwood's INT to seal the game at SC was huge but that he's made those plays in practice. He said Norwood has grown immensely since he's gotten here.
Baker said DJ Coleman's improvement from the FCS level to now is more so mental. Just knowing he has to work hard every day and he does. He's said that he's grown as much off the field as he has on the field.
He said UK's offense is physical, especially the offensive line and RB. He said it starts and stops with their run game. He said every team is physical but he thinks the SEC East is more physical when it comes to running the ball. He thinks the SEC West is rough and tough too.
Baker said McGuire's production is a product of the way he works. He said that he's one of the hardest workers on the team. There hasn't been a change he's just a product of his hard work. He said he doesn't speak often but when he does people listen. He doesn't let the accolades or attention get to his head and said he's one of the most consistent players on the team.
Baker jokingly said he's not denying Schrader is tough but that he will still take DJ Coleman as the tougher player.
Next up is Isaiah McGuire.
He said that the SEC DL of the week award was a reflection of the play of the defensive line as a whole.
McGuire said that he was just happy to be the one to make the plays in the scheme. He said that winning has boosted the morale of the team.
He said Martez Manuel's speech pre-game was about laying it all on the line to win vs. SC. It's been a hot topic since the end of the game about Manuel's pregame speech but no one is spilling the beans.
He said that UK is going to want to run the ball and said that they just have to do their job and stop the run.
He said that there hasn't been a change in his work ethic or anything he's just staying consistent with his prep and work ethic.
Next up is Martez Manuel.
His speech was about not being respected in the SEC and that he lit a fire under the guys. He said it wasn't a speech he prepared for he just did it. He said he doesn't think Mizzou has earned any more respect after the win.
He said the sandstorm celebration was planned after a sack. He said he doesn't regret it. He said it was his towel, not Rattler's towel (some people said it was Rattler's). He
He said the morale is going up but they shouldn't toot their own horn. He feels like they had a good practice and need to take the momentum to Saturday.
He said he loves the defense so much and that no one is envious of who is making plays. The defense works well together and is a brotherhood.
Manuel said that Carnell is so gifted. He said he's better than how he was as a sophomore. He said coach Baker is doing a good job developing him.
He said its a good feeling playing with the lead and it takes unnecessary pressure off of people.
He said UK runs the ball well, he said they have NFL talent RB, QB and offensive linemen. He doesn't like them enough to say too many nice things. At SEC Media Day he noted how he personally feels like they are more of his rival than Arkansas is. He still feels that way now.
He said Coach Baker is a lot of people's favorite coach. He said keeping the terminology from last season has been helpful especially in the offseason it was beneficial.
Next up is Darius Robinson.
Darius said it's been fun playing with a lead and that the team is playing complementary football.
He said that he's enjoyed playing next to DT Kristian Williams. He said he's a great teammate and that they have fun together watching films, playing next to each other and learning from each other.
He said DJ is a really really good player. He thinks DJ has made a lot of progress and he thinks that the defensive line room is the most talented on the team (of course he does).
He also believes that UK is more of a revival than other teams because the game always goes down to the wire.
He said the offense putting together the long drives is helpful -- he notes that he's not trying to put the offense and defense against each other. But he said that it helps when they do their thing.
He said this is a big game not because of the opponent but because it's "our week."
He said he noticed the depth of the defensive line because everyone is getting snaps. Everyone is playing fresh and he likes that. Obviously, its showing that works.
He called Realus George a great teammate. He said George going from FB in JUCO to a DT in the SEC is a huge accomplishment and that he has that grind from switching positions.
He said the defense didn't flinch after the TD drive was allowed before the half to SC. He said that he wrote down on a whiteboard all the penalties and problems on that drive and that they responded in the second half.
He said that the things that are the same from last season are the fronts. Drink said earlier that they've kept some things from last year.
CB Ennis Rakestraw was wearing a non-contact jersey today but he is okay and it was precautionary.
He said the style of game was because they were playing with a lead. He said the front did great winning one-on-one matchups. He said the pass rush has been there but it was good to see them get sacks this time.
He said that Saturday was a great team win in all three phases of the game. He said that the team embracing the defense as the best part of the team doesn't change much. He said preparation is why the team looked good on Saturday at SC. He still thinks the team especially his defense could play better.
He said Daylan Carnell's practice habits are maturing. He said that Carnell is maturing and taking more heed to that. He said those habits are working harder, not taking plays off. He said Carnell is as talent as any player he's been around.
Baker said Dreyden Norwood's INT to seal the game at SC was huge but that he's made those plays in practice. He said Norwood has grown immensely since he's gotten here.
Baker said DJ Coleman's improvement from the FCS level to now is more so mental. Just knowing he has to work hard every day and he does. He's said that he's grown as much off the field as he has on the field.
He said UK's offense is physical, especially the offensive line and RB. He said it starts and stops with their run game. He said every team is physical but he thinks the SEC East is more physical when it comes to running the ball. He thinks the SEC West is rough and tough too.
Baker said McGuire's production is a product of the way he works. He said that he's one of the hardest workers on the team. There hasn't been a change he's just a product of his hard work. He said he doesn't speak often but when he does people listen. He doesn't let the accolades or attention get to his head and said he's one of the most consistent players on the team.
Baker jokingly said he's not denying Schrader is tough but that he will still take DJ Coleman as the tougher player.
Next up is Isaiah McGuire.
He said that the SEC DL of the week award was a reflection of the play of the defensive line as a whole.
McGuire said that he was just happy to be the one to make the plays in the scheme. He said that winning has boosted the morale of the team.
He said Martez Manuel's speech pre-game was about laying it all on the line to win vs. SC. It's been a hot topic since the end of the game about Manuel's pregame speech but no one is spilling the beans.
He said that UK is going to want to run the ball and said that they just have to do their job and stop the run.
He said that there hasn't been a change in his work ethic or anything he's just staying consistent with his prep and work ethic.
Next up is Martez Manuel.
His speech was about not being respected in the SEC and that he lit a fire under the guys. He said it wasn't a speech he prepared for he just did it. He said he doesn't think Mizzou has earned any more respect after the win.
He said the sandstorm celebration was planned after a sack. He said he doesn't regret it. He said it was his towel, not Rattler's towel (some people said it was Rattler's). He
He said the morale is going up but they shouldn't toot their own horn. He feels like they had a good practice and need to take the momentum to Saturday.
He said he loves the defense so much and that no one is envious of who is making plays. The defense works well together and is a brotherhood.
Manuel said that Carnell is so gifted. He said he's better than how he was as a sophomore. He said coach Baker is doing a good job developing him.
He said its a good feeling playing with the lead and it takes unnecessary pressure off of people.
He said UK runs the ball well, he said they have NFL talent RB, QB and offensive linemen. He doesn't like them enough to say too many nice things. At SEC Media Day he noted how he personally feels like they are more of his rival than Arkansas is. He still feels that way now.
He said Coach Baker is a lot of people's favorite coach. He said keeping the terminology from last season has been helpful especially in the offseason it was beneficial.
Next up is Darius Robinson.
Darius said it's been fun playing with a lead and that the team is playing complementary football.
He said that he's enjoyed playing next to DT Kristian Williams. He said he's a great teammate and that they have fun together watching films, playing next to each other and learning from each other.
He said DJ is a really really good player. He thinks DJ has made a lot of progress and he thinks that the defensive line room is the most talented on the team (of course he does).
He also believes that UK is more of a revival than other teams because the game always goes down to the wire.
He said the offense putting together the long drives is helpful -- he notes that he's not trying to put the offense and defense against each other. But he said that it helps when they do their thing.
He said this is a big game not because of the opponent but because it's "our week."
He said he noticed the depth of the defensive line because everyone is getting snaps. Everyone is playing fresh and he likes that. Obviously, its showing that works.
He called Realus George a great teammate. He said George going from FB in JUCO to a DT in the SEC is a huge accomplishment and that he has that grind from switching positions.
