AU NOTEBOOK: Thorpe over bad performance vs. Razorbacks

Gene Chizik and cornerbacks coach Phillip Lolley each said they haven’t had to give Neiko Thorpe many pick-me-ups during practice this week.

Thorpe, who was burned on multiple Arkansas deep routes this past week, has taken it all in stride, they said.

That’s the life of a defensive back.

“Sometimes it’s feast or famine,” Chizik said. “Neiko’s had a lot of good days and he had a day that wasn’t as good as we would have hoped or he would have hoped. You’ve got to have a short memory.”

Thorpe has been nothing short of impressive since he filled in for an injured Jerraud Powers throughout his true freshman season. Having a seemingly inherent knack for big-time interceptions, Thorpe had rarely been on the wrong side of pass completions before Saturday.

Earlier this season, Chizik said Thorpe had the potential to be a great player, while wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor said Thorpe was already one of the best in the SEC.

And he was playing that way Saturday, too, Lolley said. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett was just putting the ball where Thorpe couldn’t catch it.

“Most of the time, if everyone is filling correctly on run fits, the ball always spills to you,” Lolley said. “At the same time, you’re facing some of the best athletes in the country when you walk out there and you got to be one yourself.

“You got to have confidence and I’ve got all the confidence in the world in him.”

A potential leak
Though Kentucky coach Rich Brooks wouldn’t confirm it, the Danville Advocate-Messenger reported Thursday that true freshman quarterback Morgan Newton would start Saturday against Auburn.

Sports editor Larry Vaught cited “several sources close to the football team” in learning of the decision, which Brooks has kept to himself.

Newton, who has yet to take a snap this season and was originally envisioned to redshirt, was Indiana’s Mr. Football in 2008.

A strong 2nd impression
Offensive line coach Jeff Grimes had strong praise for offensive guard Byron Isom, who returned to the field last week against Arkansas after serving a two-game suspension.

“He played harder than he has at any other time this season, and I think that several of our guys did,” Grimes said Wednesday. “Certainly you’d like to see that show up in the win column, but it was great to have him back and he’s done a great job, worked hard since he’s been back.

“I think he is ready to have a great second half of the season.”

Chizik said Isom’s suspension was prompted by a violation of team rules.

Catching on
Sophomore wide receiver Quindarius Carr’s 32-yard catch in the Arkansas loss may prove large when it comes to shuffling out the depth chart Saturday against the Wildcats.

“When you make a play in a game, you prove your worth,” Taylor said. “We talk about building credit. Now he’s got a little bit more money in the bank. He can withdraw. Before, he had to put some deposits, and he did that.”

Taylor said the route Carr ran in the game was specifically designed for him.

“That’s why he was in the game,” Taylor said. “He had done it well all week in practice. We try to make them understand that you have to practice like a game, because things are magnified the closer it gets to game day. A drop on Thursday is a lot bigger than it is on Monday.

“We just felt comfortable putting him in there. You could see his confidence grow because he made that play in a game. I’m hoping it will continue.”

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