Renegades Head Coach Bob Stoops Talks Week 3 Preparation Against Stallions
Image via UFL
A rematch of last year’s champion versus champion adds a new chapter with the undefeated Arlington Renegades facing the defending UFL champions Birmingham Stallions on Friday night.
Renegades head coach Bob Stoops spoke with the media on Wednesday as the team is two days away from playing their first road game of the season. Stoops talked about the importance of playing the defending champs in their building.
“You're playing defending champions at their place. So yeah, that's a big game for us. But also just the way the season has started being 2-0 and hopefully keeping that going.”
The Stallions were stunned in Week 1, losing to the D.C. Defenders 18-11, but they responded with a 21-12 win over the Michigan Panthers last Friday night. Stoops complimented Birmingham on their ability to stay balanced offensively and be effective defensively.
“I think they do a really good job, both sides and all parts of the game, but in particular, offensively, being balanced, being run and pass, being able to do both well, and then defensively, just really sound in everything that they do and they tackle well.”
This will be just the third time Stoops and Stallions head coach Skip Holtz have faced each other. Stoops got the best of Holtz the first time when Oklahoma beat Louisiana Tech 48-16 in 2014, but Holtz got his revenge last year as the Stallions defeated the Renegades 27-14 in Arlington. There is respect from Stoops towards Holtz for the coach and the man that he is.
“Coach Holtz is an excellent man, a great coach. I've watched him for a long time and haven't really had much opportunity other than last year to go against him. But anyway, I've got great respect for him and his father. I knew his father, Coach Holtz, Lou Holtz. Great guy and was always really good to me.”
Arlington enters the game 2-0 after a convincing win against San Antonio 33-9 in Week 1 and barely snuck past the Houston Roughnecks 11-9 on Sunday. Despite having the top passer and top rusher in the UFL, Stoops says the team must clean up the mistakes on the offensive line.
“A little more consistency at the line of scrimmage. I don't think we've been operating very clean at the line of scrimmage. You got a third and two, and it ends up, you get a procedure, it's third and seven, or a third and three ends up third and eight, and you just put yourself behind the chains a little bit too often. If we can operate at the line of scrimmage better than we have, we'll have a chance to be more productive offensively.”
The Renegades and Stallions face off on Friday night at 7:00 pm CST on FOX to kick off Week 3 of the season.
