Good afternoon.
Here's a little update on today's practice plans. UK has begun classes, so the Cats have shifted to their normal afternoon practice schedule for the season. That means practices will typically be wrapping up between 5:30-6:00 ET on a daily basis.
I'll be heading over to campus in a couple of hours to bring you guys all the latest from the JCFTC. It's defense day, so we'll be checking in with DC Matt House, assistant coaches and players from that side of the ball.
Stay tuned...
* House says it’s exciting to get to game prep. He loves training camp, “but this is why we do it — the games.”
* Prep for CMU has been under way for quite a long time. Staff has been looking at them for weeks.
* Jordan Jones doing well this week, makes a big difference with more depth. House says 5 guys he feels comfortable with inside: Jones, Daniel, Davis, Oats and Square.
* McCall had another good practice today. House thinks he’ll contribute, just not sure when.
* Boogie Watson played a lot of Sam last year, but his wiggle and quickness is really standing out on the other side.
* ST coach Dean Hood says he feels a little better about P Max Duffy than he would a typical first-year player because he’s played Australian Rules Football in front of 70,000 people before.
* Hood says the new redshirt rule is both a welcome addition and a challenge with how they’re going to manage it. He says he has to be careful about who he can use for ST. Stoops is being very protective early in the season about using a guy for ST who may fit that 4-game profile at the end of the year.
* Hood said there could be a situation where they have Butler as a short-to-medium range kicker and Poore as a long-range guy. But both have done pretty well so far on the kicks you expect to make consistently. Poor has a big leg, but they just need to see if he can be accurate with it.
* Staff is still looking for the “next Moushey” on ST. “He started a fire,” Hood said. A lot of guys are working hard to be that spark. Hood later told me some of those talented safeties behind Edwards and West could be candidates to emerge as ST stars.
* Kickoff guy has been Grant McKinniss. “He’s been phenomenal with his height and distance,” Hood said.
* Hood labeled safety Jordan Griffin as a “consistent, reliable” guy who’s been doing every they want. All indications are that they’re going to find ways to get him on the field, even though he’s behind a couple of proven veterans. Meanwhile, Robinson has been excelling at nickel. He’s very good at both that spot and strong safety. They’ve been flip-flopping those guys with Edwards in certain situations.
Here's a little update on today's practice plans. UK has begun classes, so the Cats have shifted to their normal afternoon practice schedule for the season. That means practices will typically be wrapping up between 5:30-6:00 ET on a daily basis.
I'll be heading over to campus in a couple of hours to bring you guys all the latest from the JCFTC. It's defense day, so we'll be checking in with DC Matt House, assistant coaches and players from that side of the ball.
Stay tuned...
* House says it’s exciting to get to game prep. He loves training camp, “but this is why we do it — the games.”
* Prep for CMU has been under way for quite a long time. Staff has been looking at them for weeks.
* Jordan Jones doing well this week, makes a big difference with more depth. House says 5 guys he feels comfortable with inside: Jones, Daniel, Davis, Oats and Square.
* McCall had another good practice today. House thinks he’ll contribute, just not sure when.
* Boogie Watson played a lot of Sam last year, but his wiggle and quickness is really standing out on the other side.
* ST coach Dean Hood says he feels a little better about P Max Duffy than he would a typical first-year player because he’s played Australian Rules Football in front of 70,000 people before.
* Hood says the new redshirt rule is both a welcome addition and a challenge with how they’re going to manage it. He says he has to be careful about who he can use for ST. Stoops is being very protective early in the season about using a guy for ST who may fit that 4-game profile at the end of the year.
* Hood said there could be a situation where they have Butler as a short-to-medium range kicker and Poore as a long-range guy. But both have done pretty well so far on the kicks you expect to make consistently. Poor has a big leg, but they just need to see if he can be accurate with it.
* Staff is still looking for the “next Moushey” on ST. “He started a fire,” Hood said. A lot of guys are working hard to be that spark. Hood later told me some of those talented safeties behind Edwards and West could be candidates to emerge as ST stars.
* Kickoff guy has been Grant McKinniss. “He’s been phenomenal with his height and distance,” Hood said.
* Hood labeled safety Jordan Griffin as a “consistent, reliable” guy who’s been doing every they want. All indications are that they’re going to find ways to get him on the field, even though he’s behind a couple of proven veterans. Meanwhile, Robinson has been excelling at nickel. He’s very good at both that spot and strong safety. They’ve been flip-flopping those guys with Edwards in certain situations.
