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.