Here is part 2 of the analysis, which goes over the defense. Let me know what you think.
CB:
Key Players: Cody Quinn, Fred Tiller, JD Harmon, Jaleel Hytchye, Jared Tucker, Kendall Randolph
Losses: Nate Willis
Recruits: Kei Bechman, Chris Westry, Derrick Baity
Team Comparison: 2007 (Paul Warford, Calvin Harrison, Trevard Lindley, Shomari Moore)
Summary: There has been a lot of talk this spring about improvement on the field, but one position that you have not heard much about is the cornerback position. The good news is that UK is returning nearly every CB from last year’s team, the bad news is that UK is returning nearly every CB from last year’s team. I am hoping that JD Harmon will have the light come on and become more technically sound. He has the talent but keeping him focused has been a problem. Tiller and Quinn are what they are, which is average at best football players. Hopefully one of the FR will be a big help. I compared this group to 2007, due to the fact that the previous team (2006) gave up a ton of passing yards and improved a lot in 2007. There isn’t a Trevard Lindley on this year’s team, but we do have guys that should be better than Paul Warford and Shomari Moore).
Improvement from Last Season? YES, but not sure how much. It’s going to improve by default because the position only lost Nate Willis, and is adding 3 solid recruits. But if Tiller and Quinn are your starters again than not sure there is going to be major improvement.
S/Nickel
Key Players: AJ Stamps, Blake McClain, Marcus McWilson, Darius West, Mike Edwards,
Losses:: Ashley Lowery
Recruits: Marcus Walker
Team Comparison: 2002 (Mike Williams, Quentus Cumby, David Johnson)
Summary: One of my favorite UK football teams was the 2002 one. The defense played a 4-2-5, and had great safety play that hit you HARD (just ask Dave Ragone at UL). Since that team UK has had a couple of teams with good safety play, but I think this will be the first team to match or even exceed that 2002 club. There are players all over the field and UK is getting even more help with star recruit Marcus Walker.
Improvement from Last Season? YES! UK only lost Ashley Lowery from last season (if you call that a lost), but Marcus McWilson was stealing his minutes anyway. Look for a big improvement from McWilson and Stamps after gaining a ton of experience from last season.
LB
Key Players: Josh Forrest, Ryan Flannigan, Courtney Love, Nico Firios, Khalid Henderson
Losses: TraVaughn Paschal
Recruits: Jordan Jones, Eli Brown,
Team Comparison: Can't think of one. Much better than recent years, but not as good as the talent we saw with Micah, Braxton, Woodyard, Danny, etc).
Summary:This unit will see the biggest improvement from the past season. Last season’s LB was pretty sad at times, and lacked physical play. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. First, UK saw a huge improvement from Ryan Flannigan at the end of the season. It usually takes JUCOs a year to respond, and by all accounts he is really starting to put it together. Additionally, Josh Forrest has added 10 pounds to his frame and is really starting to look the part at LB (reminds me of a Rich Brooks recruit that would take time to develop). If Courtney Love is eligible to play this year, WATCH OUT.
Improvement from Last Season? YES!!!! To me the biggest disappointment of last season was the play from linebackers. Teams were running down UK’s throat as the linebackers were never able to make a tackle at the line of scrimmage. However, I am expecting a big jump this season. If Josh Forrest’s vast improvement is accurate, Flannigan continues his improvement from the end of last season, and Courtney Love receives a hardship waiver than look for the LBs to move from team weakness to team strength.
DT/NT
Key Players: Melvin Lewis, CJ Johnson, Matt Elam, Reggie Meant, Tymere Dubose
Losses: Mike Douglass
Recruits: Javon Provitt, Courtney Miggins
Team Comparison: 2009 (Corey Peter, Rickey Lumpkin, Shane McCord, Mark Crawford, Luke McDermott)
Summary: We finally have DTs that look like SEC DTs. Melvin Lewis will be a NFL player. CJ Johnson is very explosive, especially in passing situations. Meant and Elam have a ton of talent, and will provide quality depth. Plus we add JUCO help with a quality player like Miggins.
One player that we need to watch and see if he makes it to campus is Javon Provitt. His highlight video is one of the most impressive that I have seen from a DT. No one that large should be able to move that fast. HOWEVER, he has grade issues which is one of the reasons we were able to get him. If he makes it to campus, and this is a big “IF” than the future is bright at that position.
Improvement from Last Season? YES Only lost Mike Douglass from last year’s team. Mike was a solid player in his SR year, but not a game changer. The added experience of the other players will more than make up for his departure.
DE/Jack LB
Key Players: Farrington Huguenin, Jason Hatcher, Denzel Ware, Jabari Johnson, Andre Middleton
Losses: Bud Dupree, Za’Darius Smith
Recruits: Kengera Daniel, Alvonte Bell, Josh Allen
Team Comparison: 2007 (Jeremy Jarmon, Dominic Lewis, Nii Adjei Oninku, Jamil Paris, J. D. Craigman)
Summary:: It is going to be really hard to replace Bud and Big Z. No doubt about it. However, we have ton of talent to work with former stud recruits Hatcher and Ware. Additionally, Jabari Johnson really turned it on at the end of the season. I don’t see this position as a weakness at all due to the talent on the roster. Solid group, just not as good as last year.
Improvement from Last Season? NO. You don’t lose a first round NFL draft pick, and a solid 4th round pick and say you are going to be better (unless you are an UL fan).
CB:
Key Players: Cody Quinn, Fred Tiller, JD Harmon, Jaleel Hytchye, Jared Tucker, Kendall Randolph
Losses: Nate Willis
Recruits: Kei Bechman, Chris Westry, Derrick Baity
Team Comparison: 2007 (Paul Warford, Calvin Harrison, Trevard Lindley, Shomari Moore)
Summary: There has been a lot of talk this spring about improvement on the field, but one position that you have not heard much about is the cornerback position. The good news is that UK is returning nearly every CB from last year’s team, the bad news is that UK is returning nearly every CB from last year’s team. I am hoping that JD Harmon will have the light come on and become more technically sound. He has the talent but keeping him focused has been a problem. Tiller and Quinn are what they are, which is average at best football players. Hopefully one of the FR will be a big help. I compared this group to 2007, due to the fact that the previous team (2006) gave up a ton of passing yards and improved a lot in 2007. There isn’t a Trevard Lindley on this year’s team, but we do have guys that should be better than Paul Warford and Shomari Moore).
Improvement from Last Season? YES, but not sure how much. It’s going to improve by default because the position only lost Nate Willis, and is adding 3 solid recruits. But if Tiller and Quinn are your starters again than not sure there is going to be major improvement.
S/Nickel
Key Players: AJ Stamps, Blake McClain, Marcus McWilson, Darius West, Mike Edwards,
Losses:: Ashley Lowery
Recruits: Marcus Walker
Team Comparison: 2002 (Mike Williams, Quentus Cumby, David Johnson)
Summary: One of my favorite UK football teams was the 2002 one. The defense played a 4-2-5, and had great safety play that hit you HARD (just ask Dave Ragone at UL). Since that team UK has had a couple of teams with good safety play, but I think this will be the first team to match or even exceed that 2002 club. There are players all over the field and UK is getting even more help with star recruit Marcus Walker.
Improvement from Last Season? YES! UK only lost Ashley Lowery from last season (if you call that a lost), but Marcus McWilson was stealing his minutes anyway. Look for a big improvement from McWilson and Stamps after gaining a ton of experience from last season.
LB
Key Players: Josh Forrest, Ryan Flannigan, Courtney Love, Nico Firios, Khalid Henderson
Losses: TraVaughn Paschal
Recruits: Jordan Jones, Eli Brown,
Team Comparison: Can't think of one. Much better than recent years, but not as good as the talent we saw with Micah, Braxton, Woodyard, Danny, etc).
Summary:This unit will see the biggest improvement from the past season. Last season’s LB was pretty sad at times, and lacked physical play. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. First, UK saw a huge improvement from Ryan Flannigan at the end of the season. It usually takes JUCOs a year to respond, and by all accounts he is really starting to put it together. Additionally, Josh Forrest has added 10 pounds to his frame and is really starting to look the part at LB (reminds me of a Rich Brooks recruit that would take time to develop). If Courtney Love is eligible to play this year, WATCH OUT.
Improvement from Last Season? YES!!!! To me the biggest disappointment of last season was the play from linebackers. Teams were running down UK’s throat as the linebackers were never able to make a tackle at the line of scrimmage. However, I am expecting a big jump this season. If Josh Forrest’s vast improvement is accurate, Flannigan continues his improvement from the end of last season, and Courtney Love receives a hardship waiver than look for the LBs to move from team weakness to team strength.
DT/NT
Key Players: Melvin Lewis, CJ Johnson, Matt Elam, Reggie Meant, Tymere Dubose
Losses: Mike Douglass
Recruits: Javon Provitt, Courtney Miggins
Team Comparison: 2009 (Corey Peter, Rickey Lumpkin, Shane McCord, Mark Crawford, Luke McDermott)
Summary: We finally have DTs that look like SEC DTs. Melvin Lewis will be a NFL player. CJ Johnson is very explosive, especially in passing situations. Meant and Elam have a ton of talent, and will provide quality depth. Plus we add JUCO help with a quality player like Miggins.
One player that we need to watch and see if he makes it to campus is Javon Provitt. His highlight video is one of the most impressive that I have seen from a DT. No one that large should be able to move that fast. HOWEVER, he has grade issues which is one of the reasons we were able to get him. If he makes it to campus, and this is a big “IF” than the future is bright at that position.
Improvement from Last Season? YES Only lost Mike Douglass from last year’s team. Mike was a solid player in his SR year, but not a game changer. The added experience of the other players will more than make up for his departure.
DE/Jack LB
Key Players: Farrington Huguenin, Jason Hatcher, Denzel Ware, Jabari Johnson, Andre Middleton
Losses: Bud Dupree, Za’Darius Smith
Recruits: Kengera Daniel, Alvonte Bell, Josh Allen
Team Comparison: 2007 (Jeremy Jarmon, Dominic Lewis, Nii Adjei Oninku, Jamil Paris, J. D. Craigman)
Summary:: It is going to be really hard to replace Bud and Big Z. No doubt about it. However, we have ton of talent to work with former stud recruits Hatcher and Ware. Additionally, Jabari Johnson really turned it on at the end of the season. I don’t see this position as a weakness at all due to the talent on the roster. Solid group, just not as good as last year.
Improvement from Last Season? NO. You don’t lose a first round NFL draft pick, and a solid 4th round pick and say you are going to be better (unless you are an UL fan).