Interior OL has received some glowing reports: KSR article

[gamecockcat]

Burton was running at #1 center. Evidently, the IOL was moving the LOS and everyone seemed confident that the IOL is much better and we'll be able to run between the tackles this year. Or...is the DL much worse than last year? So hard to tell when they scrimmage against each other only. IMO, if Burton is the starting anything (normal starting C was out), we're NOT better. I have totally lost confidence in him.

Also, Jason Patterson has done some good things already and the article said don't forget about him. He seems to be especially good as a receiver out of the backfield. Wilcox and Dowdell (xfer from NE) also have been solid. No mention of Mizell. Did mention that UK may look for another RB in the portal after spring practice, so that indicates to me that Mizell is not being looked at as a viable option.

Again, very difficult to judge anything right now. Playing against each other, it has to be difficult to tell if one group looks really good because they're really good or because the opposing group is not good.

Very little info on QB play on any source I've looked at. Is that good? Who knows.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Burton was running at #1 center. Evidently, the IOL was moving the LOS and everyone seemed confident that the IOL is much better and we'll be able to run between the tackles this year. Or...is the DL much worse than last year? So hard to tell when they scrimmage against each other only. IMO, if Burton is the starting anything (normal starting C was out), we're NOT better. I have totally lost confidence in him.

Also, Jason Patterson has done some good things already and the article said don't forget about him. He seems to be especially good as a receiver out of the backfield. Wilcox and Dowdell (xfer from NE) also have been solid. No mention of Mizell. Did mention that UK may look for another RB in the portal after spring practice, so that indicates to me that Mizell is not being looked at as a viable option.

Again, very difficult to judge anything right now. Playing against each other, it has to be difficult to tell if one group looks really good because they're really good or because the opposing group is not good.

Very little info on QB play on any source I've looked at. Is that good? Who knows.

Calzada has been with the first teamers most of the time. Boley and Calzada can both make the throws. Calzada having to work hard to get used to his teammates. But making progress. Allen threw a long pass that Addison had great coverage on but DJ Miller made a great leaping catch on Addison's helmet.

D-line looks smaller without Walker. Gusta not big compared to the OL but uses his quickness to knife between blockers on the inside. I like the size of the two new OLB's and they are both making some plays. Wibberley working with second team because of an injury a few weeks ago.

Kendrick Law is going to be good. Very strong for his size. Has jets to make big plays but caught a lot of inside balls from Calzada. Looks to be a go to when needing to get a first down. Playing really well. Boyer very intriguing at TE. Stands out next to the OL. Wood backing up Pete and Stoops has been happy with his progress. Braun is a powerful road grader.

 

[Tf2217]

You remember I think it was Devin Leary year when the offense was shredding the D and the reports from camp was that the offense was finally at the level we needed to be....... and it turned out our defense was just trash? Yeah me too.
I don't believe nothing coming out of these reports anymore. Show me.

 

[gamecockcat]

You remember I think it was Devin Leary year when the offense was shredding the D and the reports from camp was that the offense was finally at the level we needed to be....... and it turned out our defense was just trash? Yeah me too.
I don't believe nothing coming out of these reports anymore. Show me.

And last year was not the exception. It's been that way for years. "So and so is dominating...", "have several TEs on the team that will be playing on Sunday", " ...unblockable, very disruptive", etc. As I said, impossible to judge playing against your own teammates.

Lack of size on the DL concerns me a bit. Our scheme is predicated on the 3 DL stonewalling blockers to allow the LBs to penetrate and make tackles. If the DL are small, are they going to be able to hold the LOS for the LBs to make plays? Are we going to modify our priorities for the DL so that we expect them to shed blocks, penetrate into the backfield and blow up plays (a pretty big departure)? If they concentrate on shedding/avoiding blocks, do more running lanes open up as a result?

I do think we have some very solid talent sprinkled on both sides. Some younger guys who have to step up and we don't know if they will. OL absolutely HAS to be better. Hamdan and White have to be better, also, in putting their guys in a position to succeed. IMO, they didn't do so nearly often enough last year.

A lot of 'ifs' going into this season, which is critical for the staff to continue as currently constituted. Another dud of a season and Stoops may leave or at least be sitting on a seat that is definitely on fire.

 

[maysvilleky]

This time of year the defense is usually ahead of the offense, so if the D isn’t winning now….to me that’s a red flag!

 

[R.O.T.Muckinfush]

💩

 

[LosGatos]

This time of year the defense is usually ahead of the offense, so if the D isn’t winning now….to me that’s a red flag!

Especially considering the changes to the OL.

 

[Soupbean]

You remember I think it was Devin Leary year when the offense was shredding the D and the reports from camp was that the offense was finally at the level we needed to be....... and it turned out our defense was just trash? Yeah me too.
I don't believe nothing coming out of these reports anymore. Show me.

May never have been a more polar opposite reality to the pre-season reports than Leary's accuracy talk. He was the most accurate passer anyboyd had ever seen including the WR room and then the season started and he looked like me after I'd spun around a bat ten times trying to throw

 

[UKWINS]

We basically run a prevent defense. Very seldom aggressive.

 

[K_TIME]

And last year was not the exception. It's been that way for years. "So and so is dominating...", "have several TEs on the team that will be playing on Sunday", " ...unblockable, very disruptive", etc. As I said, impossible to judge playing against your own teammates.

Lack of size on the DL concerns me a bit. Our scheme is predicated on the 3 DL stonewalling blockers to allow the LBs to penetrate and make tackles. If the DL are small, are they going to be able to hold the LOS for the LBs to make plays? Are we going to modify our priorities for the DL so that we expect them to shed blocks, penetrate into the backfield and blow up plays (a pretty big departure)? If they concentrate on shedding/avoiding blocks, do more running lanes open up as a result?

I do think we have some very solid talent sprinkled on both sides. Some younger guys who have to step up and we don't know if they will. OL absolutely HAS to be better. Hamdan and White have to be better, also, in putting their guys in a position to succeed. IMO, they didn't do so nearly often enough last year.

A lot of 'ifs' going into this season, which is critical for the staff to continue as currently constituted. Another dud of a season and Stoops may leave or at least be sitting on a seat that is definitely on fire.

Maybe our DL size is a point of concern....but to me the staff intentionally desired to not have Josiah Hayes, Saunders and Kendrick Gilbert starting...so they went after kids that presumably put them on 2nd team....which is fine by me. But I don't want to hear about lack of size.

To not hear of Brian Robinson yet in 2 deep is disappointing...I was hoping to see him take the DT spot.

 

[Tskware]

To not hear of Brian Robinson yet in 2 deep is disappointing...I was hoping to see him take the DT spot.

Also, any mention of the Smith twins?

 

[billoliver40]

Yeah, well the thing is I really don't have much faith in these reports about a group looking good or improved when they are playing against another suspect group. I hope it's all true and EVERYBODY is improved, but until we have the first SEC game I'm going to with hold a lot.

 

[Kentucky NINE]

Burton was running at #1 center. Evidently, the IOL was moving the LOS and everyone seemed confident that the IOL is much better and we'll be able to run between the tackles this year. Or...is the DL much worse than last year? So hard to tell when they scrimmage against each other only. IMO, if Burton is the starting anything (normal starting C was out), we're NOT better. I have totally lost confidence in him.

Also, Jason Patterson has done some good things already and the article said don't forget about him. He seems to be especially good as a receiver out of the backfield. Wilcox and Dowdell (xfer from NE) also have been solid. No mention of Mizell. Did mention that UK may look for another RB in the portal after spring practice, so that indicates to me that Mizell is not being looked at as a viable option.

Again, very difficult to judge anything right now. Playing against each other, it has to be difficult to tell if one group looks really good because they're really good or because the opposing group is not good.

Very little info on QB play on any source I've looked at. Is that good? Who knows.

I'd be wary of taking to heart what KSR says about our OL. They are sunshine pumpers and in good graces of the FB coaching staff. I'd wait for an external SEC review of our OL and QB.

I'm mentally prepared for a train wreck of a season - so any thing other than that will be a pleasant surprise.

 

[gamecockcat]

I'd be wary of taking to heart what KSR says about our OL. They are sunshine pumpers and in good graces of the FB coaching staff. I'd wait for an external SEC review of our OL and QB.

I'm mentally prepared for a train wreck of a season - so any thing other than that will be a pleasant surprise.

Like many others on here, I've been burned too many times over the past 5+ decades listening to how good the team looks and how they're going to really surprise some folks (sadly, most years, it's been long-suffering UK fans who ended up 'surprised'). I'm going to withhold any judgment either way until I see them against some SEC teams and then I'll be more likely to proclaim improvement, stagnation or worse. Now, if they manage to look completely awful vs OOC opponents early, I may make up my mind then. But, looking like a well-oiled machine against inferior opponents is not going to move the needle for me anymore.

 

[Rembrandt90]

Maybe our DL size is a point of concern....but to me the staff intentionally desired to not have Josiah Hayes, Saunders and Kendrick Gilbert starting...so they went after kids that presumably put them on 2nd team....which is fine by me. But I don't want to hear about lack of size.

To not hear of Brian Robinson yet in 2 deep is disappointing...I was hoping to see him take the DT spot.

Brian Robinson is a DE, not a DT. I'm trying to get my head around your disappointment in him not taking a DT spot yet. Robinson is a redshirt freshman. His career at UK is about to get started. Let's give the guy a chance. The players currently ahead of him are more experienced and probably a little stronger, but it's way too early to draw any conclusions on Robinson.

Kendrick Gilbert's problem is that he is underweight. He can't increase his playing time until he gets bigger and stronger. That takes time. Fortunately for Gilbert, he has an excellent frame and should be able to add good weight easily.

I certainly haven't seen anything from the staff to indicate a lack of confidence in Hayes or Saunders. In fact, Hayes had an Achilles tendon injury last year. The staff was impressed by how hard he rehabbed. He will play a lot and might start. Saunders is a solid football player. But Gusta will take time away from one of them. BTW, Gusta is not a small football player. Gusta was one of the best defensive players in the portal.

 

[Boz]

If Burton is a starter and Woods in the two deep the OL hasn't improved. Every year you hear the OL is improving same with the safeties and corners then the season comes, and our units are still bad

 

[Rembrandt90]

If Burton is a starter and Woods in the two deep the OL hasn't improved. Every year you hear the OL is improving same with the safeties and corners then the season comes, and our units are still bad

In the present case, that conclusion is a big leap when it's still the spring and most of the OL starters are new. Both OTs are new. Braun is a proven player who received all SEC recognition at AR. Malachi Wood has nothing to do with it. Wood is a sophomore backup, and you aren't granting the possibility that he will be improved. Fan impatience is about the past. I fully expect an improved OL next fall, but I can't pass judgment either way until I at least get a chance to watch them play.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

I too am concerned about the d. Not sold we can adequately replace silver. However today im pretty sure at least a chunk of the game was two hand touch.

On O i think people are underselling how much better we got up front.

 

[Rembrandt90]

I too am concerned about the d. Not sold we can adequately replace silver. However today im pretty sure at least a chunk of the game was two hand touch.

On O i think people are underselling how much better we got up front.

Certainly agree about our OL. It's much better. Braun and Wollschlaeger are brutes. I figure Pete will be another. Farmer has gotten better.

But Silver did not have a good 2024 season. He blew assignments, took plays off, and didn't contribute anything to team cohesion. I think SCal took him for the same reason UK and NC took him, and nobody has taken his negative intangibles into account yet. The guy is an underachiever. I would rather have Gusta and am also a believer in Kalen Edwards.

 

[pappy52]

NOT TO BE MEAN OR HATEFUL...... but after last year im taking the show me approach instead of tell me.

 

[gamecockcat]

Impossible to fairly judge, but the recap of the showcase highlighted several big plays by the offense. If the defense is normally ahead of the offense at this point, it makes me wonder how good our defense will be this fall. A lot of things can and will happen but long runs and pass plays throughout the showcase is a bit concerning. Of course, if the offense did nothing I'd be concerned, too.

I'll wait until mid September before I make any judgment.

 

[Lost In FL]

Brian Robinson is a DE, not a DT. I'm trying to get my head around your disappointment in him not taking a DT spot yet. Robinson is a redshirt freshman. His career at UK is about to get started. Let's give the guy a chance. The players currently ahead of him are more experienced and probably a little stronger, but it's way too early to draw any conclusions on Robinson.

I think the "disappointment" regarding Robinson is that he looked the part in high school. The kid looked like a monster and so most of us were "hoping" for immediate impact.

I hope he stays all 5 years and ends up a 2 time AA, so please don't get me wrong.

 

[Rembrandt90]

I think the "disappointment" regarding Robinson is that he looked the part in high school. The kid looked like a monster and so most of us were "hoping" for immediate impact.

I hope he stays all 5 years and ends up a 2 time AA, so please don't get me wrong.

Again, Brian Robinson is a redshirt freshman. His UK career hasn't even begun yet. I think he will be a good player for us. But he played standing up for most of his hs career. Then he changed programs as a senior and learned a new system. Then he came to UK and is learning to play with his hand on the ground. Let's see how he does, but the physical tools are obvious and he is known to be a hard worker with good habits.

 

[CRZ4UK]

If Burton is a starter and Woods in the two deep the OL hasn't improved. Every year you hear the OL is improving same with the safeties and corners then the season comes, and our units are still bad

Honestly Burton in the starting lineup tells me all I need to know. If we don’t have anyone to beat him out. We are screwed again.

 

[Lost In FL]

Again, Brian Robinson is a redshirt freshman. His UK career hasn't even begun yet. I think he will be a good player for us. But he played standing up for most of his hs career. Then he changed programs as a senior and learned a new system. Then he came to UK and is learning to play with his hand on the ground. Let's see how he does, but the physical tools are obvious and he is known to be a hard worker with good habits.

I get all that ...every single bit. All of it.

I tried to offer why fans would be "disappointed" ... because we think so highly of him already.

 

[Rembrandt90]

If Burton is a starter and Woods in the two deep the OL hasn't improved. Every year you hear the OL is improving same with the safeties and corners then the season comes, and our units are still bad

Honestly Burton in the starting lineup tells me all I need to know. If we don’t have anyone to beat him out. We are screwed again.

One critical mistake I see fans making over and over is to overlook the proven fact that a college athlete can improve year over year. In our fan base, I believe that mistake in logic has been fed by years of OAD basketball and by the mistaken assumption that a player's ability and value are set on day #1. In football, that clearly isn't the case. Players can learn, develop, and improve.

Burton was considered a recruiting win for our coaches. But he came to UK with two big problems. First, the level of hs competition in Lexington is far below the average level of hs competition across the entire SEC recruiting footprint, so Burton was going up against SEC defensive linemen who were way ahead of him on the learning and development curve.

Besides that, Burton came to UK weighing <280# and initially had a difficult time adding good weight. Now he weighs 320# and is in his 5th year in the program. I have no trouble if he beats out Wibberley fair and square.

No one here can predict the future although some believe they can. People believe what they want to believe. But each year is different. It is sad that so many here are stuck in the negative narrative and can't even acknowledge other possibilities. They sound miserable. That's an obsession.

 

[Rembrandt90]

I get all that ...every single bit. All of it.

I tried to offer why fans would be "disappointed" ... because we think so highly of him already.

I also think highly of Robinson. Hard worker with a killer frame.

The immediate future at DE seems to be Jerod Smith and Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace. Both were highly rated recruits for us. But I still think Robinson will get better and better with SEC playing experience and work his way into the rotation as a RS freshman.

 

[CRZ4UK]

One critical mistake I see fans making over and over is to overlook the proven fact that a college athlete can improve year over year. In our fan base, I believe that mistake in logic has been fed by years of OAD basketball and by the mistaken assumption that a player's ability and value are set on day #1. In football, that clearly isn't the case. Players can learn, develop, and improve.

Burton was considered a recruiting win for our coaches. But he came to UK with two big problems. First, the level of hs competition in Lexington is far below the average level of hs competition across the entire SEC recruiting footprint, so Burton was going up against SEC defensive linemen who were way ahead of him on the learning and development curve.

Besides that, Burton came to UK weighing <280# and initially had a difficult time adding good weight. Now he weighs 320# and is in his 5th year in the program. I have no trouble if he beats out Wibberley fair and square.

No one here can predict the future although some believe they can. People believe what they want to believe. But each year is different. It is sad that so many here are stuck in the negative narrative and can't even acknowledge other possibilities. They sound miserable. That's an obsession.

Everyone knows athletes can improve. The biggest jump is usually between freshman and sophomore years. Burton didn’t improve much , if any at all during that year. He won the starting job again last year and committed stupid penalties and missed assignments left and right. Remember the straight up jump landing his helmet in a guy on the ground that canceled a 20 yard gain 10 yards behind the play???? I do. We actually improved when he was injured. You could not have watched the last 3 years and think he is gonna make some kind of dramatic improvement after 3 years of none. The only reason he keeps starting is because we can’t recruit any good linemen.
If we roll with Burton again we are gonna be worse than I thought. He is not an SEC lineman and never was.
I don’t enjoy dumping on a Kentucky kid but he has had chance after chance to improve since being forced into the worst line in UK history and hasn’t improved a lick.

 

[gamecockcat]

One critical mistake I see fans making over and over is to overlook the proven fact that a college athlete can improve year over year. In our fan base, I believe that mistake in logic has been fed by years of OAD basketball and by the mistaken assumption that a player's ability and value are set on day #1. In football, that clearly isn't the case. Players can learn, develop, and improve.

Burton was considered a recruiting win for our coaches. But he came to UK with two big problems. First, the level of hs competition in Lexington is far below the average level of hs competition across the entire SEC recruiting footprint, so Burton was going up against SEC defensive linemen who were way ahead of him on the learning and development curve.

Besides that, Burton came to UK weighing <280# and initially had a difficult time adding good weight. Now he weighs 320# and is in his 5th year in the program. I have no trouble if he beats out Wibberley fair and square.

No one here can predict the future although some believe they can. People believe what they want to believe. But each year is different. It is sad that so many here are stuck in the negative narrative and can't even acknowledge other possibilities. They sound miserable. That's an obsession.

I hope you're right about Burton. But, as a 4th year junior last year (and after numerous starts), he still looked overmatched and ineffective. He may very well be much improved this year. From my untrained perspective based on last year's performance, he needs a LOT of improvement to put my concerns at ease. OTOH, I was never all that impressed with Eli at C. Seemed like he got bullrushed too often, whiffed a few critical blocks, never got much push in short yardage downs, sometimes would not engage anyone on passing downs even when an interior DL came clean. He was OK but I had high expectations after his FR year at OG. Maybe he just wasn't cut out to be a top notch C, I don't know. Not having ever played OL, I have no technical knowledge of what his assignments were each play, but it didn't appear that he was more than a match for whomever he lined up against.

 

[sieken]

Everyone knows athletes can improve. The biggest jump is usually between freshman and sophomore years. Burton didn’t improve much , if any at all during that year. He won the starting job again last year and committed stupid penalties and missed assignments left and right. Remember the straight up jump landing his helmet in a guy on the ground that canceled a 20 yard gain 10 yards behind the play???? I do. We actually improved when he was injured. You could not have watched the last 3 years and think he is gonna make some kind of dramatic improvement after 3 years of none. The only reason he keeps starting is because we can’t recruit any good linemen.
If we roll with Burton again we are gonna be worse than I thought. He is not an SEC lineman and never was.
I don’t enjoy dumping on a Kentucky kid but he has had chance after chance to improve since being forced into the worst line in UK history and hasn’t improved a lick.

While I agree he hasn't been great, or even good a lot since he's been here. The thing with Burton, it isn't a talent issue, he's plenty talented, his problem is blown assignments, that can be corrected if he is willing to study.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Honestly Burton in the starting lineup tells me all I need to know. If we don’t have anyone to beat him out. We are screwed again.

Lord knows i am critical of Burton dating way back to them unnecessarily inserting him in the starting line up as a freshman and watching him both twist after twist or endless whiffing.

While its mainly his assignments, he also routinely did nothing on run blocks even when he didn't whiff.

Cox was only slightly better despite the weird and undeserved pub he got early. Those two were entirely responsible for our horrendous qb sneak results because they both came off the ball way too high.

Hopefully this is an improved year for him. He needs a good unit to help him. We'll see.

 

[megablue]

You remember I think it was Devin Leary year when the offense was shredding the D and the reports from camp was that the offense was finally at the level we needed to be....... and it turned out our defense was just trash? Yeah me too.
I don't believe nothing coming out of these reports anymore. Show me.

Zacklee … show me !!
No more talk and hype !!

 

[yoshukai]

Lord knows i am critical of Burton dating way back to them unnecessarily inserting him in the starting line up as a freshman and watching him both twist after twist or endless whiffing.

While its mainly his assignments, he also routinely did nothing on run blocks even when he didn't whiff.

Cox was only slightly better despite the weird and undeserved pub he got early. Those two were entirely responsible for our horrendous qb sneak results because they both came off the ball way too high.

Hopefully this is an improved year for him. He needs a good unit to help him. We'll see.

I’ll believe Burton is a competent SEC starter when I see it . It’s been 4 years.