Following practice on Monday Butch Jones met with the media to talk about how he thinks the Bearcats are progressing.

This morning's overview

"You know today-great learning day.  Obviously, today was a helmet and shorts practice. You have to have three (as) mandated by the NCAA.  I thought we got a lot out of it as a pick-me-up for us for our scrimmage on Saturday--to come out and kind of refine all the fundamentals and attention to details and review all the situations that have occurred throughout spring.  You talk about offense, defense and special teams-I thought today was a great mental day, but also a great fundamental day as well."

Is the team where he wants them to be?

"No.  I wish we had another spring ball.  I think as a coach you know, you're never satisfied where you're at.  We still have only installed probably half our offense.  It comes down to execution and having a great base for the next phase in your program and that's our summer strength and conditioning program.  Obviously, Tuesday and Thursday are going to be critical practices for us, concluding with the spring game."

Is the team where he thought they could be?

"Yeah.  It's a process and each day it's been improvement, some days more than the next or the other.  We still have a long, long way to go in our depth, in the depth of our football team.  Not just defense, but our special teams performers as well.  And, us just understanding situational football.  We always talk about 'FBI', football intelligence and understanding what we're trying to accomplish and understanding our opponent and their techniques and their body language and everything that goes into playing a game."

Format of Bearcat Bowl IV?

"It'll be offense/defense, but it'll be divided into the # 1 offense vs. the #2 defense and vice-versa.  It'll be a game format, just with our numbers the way they are.  Again, I don't want to miss another opportunity to put our players in game situations.  It's a reward for spring ball, it's also another critical point in developing our football team-being able to play a little bit more when the pressure's on, the lights are on.  The spring game we take very, very seriously."

Just two quarterbacks based on Kay's injury?

"Correct. Yep."

More emphasis on Bearcat Bowl IV than the other 14 practices?

"We grade everything.  Even all of our individual periods.  I don't believe in gametime players, or 'gamers'.  I think you're going to perform on game day (from) the hard work you put in during practice.  Everything's been evaluated from the time we walked in here and our strength and conditioning, all the way to the spring game.  It's a combination of everything."

On Isaiah Pead's development....

"Well. I think his thing is becoming a complete back.  We're going to expect him to pass protect as he's not going to be extended out in formation.  We always talk to our running backs, 'You have to be a complete running back,'.   It's easy to find a runner or a pass catcher, but a running back can do all the fine details-they've got to be able to pass protect, run block, make great play fakes, they've got to understand the run system and the tempos in the run plays and obviously, be able to catch the ball. That's what we've been working on each and every day with these individuals."

Pead need help with his blocking?

I think his overall skills at being a running back-yes-from the blocking standpoint be it run or pass protecting.  I like Isaiah's mentality.  He's an extremely competitive young man.  There isn't anyone that wants to do better than Isaiah Pead.  You can work with that."

On Walter Stewart's defensive position....

"He's a hybrid guy.  Really excited about the development he's made from day one to the next day, to the following day.  He's another individual who needs football in his life.  He's very hungry and he takes coaching and I'm excited about him."

Meaning of Stewart "needing football in his life"?

"It's important to him.  He lives it every day. 'Coach, what do I need to do, what can I do, how can I take my game to the next level?'  He's like a sponge, he wants to learn more.  Every time an individual has that, they're going to develop just on those expectations they've placed on themselves."