Lets talk about the returning starters and backups.

[C1180]

There is a lot of last years starters and back ups returning. L:ets talk about what is going to happen to the two deep roster. Will the returning starter be able to hold on to their starting positions? Will back ups move up to take the place of the departed starters?

QB Patrick Towles 6'5"38 start all of last year. Can he hold on to the position
QB Reese Phillips 6'2" 218 was the back up but played very little.
My opinion on this position is that Drew Barker is at least back up and pushes for staring position.

RB Stanley "Boom" Williams 5'9" 200
RB Mikel Horton 6'1" 230
RB Kemp 5'10" 192

WR Blake Bone 6'5" 198

WR Ryan Timmons 5'10" 195

WR TV Williams 5'10" 160

WR Garrett Johnson5'11" 176
WR Dorian Baker 6'3" 197
WR Rashad Cunningham 6'4" 225

The WR position will need much help from the redshirts and the incoming Freshmen

TE no players other than redshirt and incoming Freshman

LT Jordon Swindle 6'7" 306

LG Zack West 6'4" 318
LG Nick Haynes 6'5" 319

Center John Toth 6'5" 30-1
Center Zack Myers 6'3" 287

RG Ramsey Meyers 6'4" 300
RG Cole Mosier 6'6" 348

RT Kyle Meadows 6'5" 294

Four Starters return but IMO these positions need reinforcements fro the Reshirts and Freshmen big time.

 

[C1180]

Continued with the defense

DE Farrington Huguenin 6'4" 275

DT Melvin Lewis 6'4" 320
DT Matt Elam 6'7" 375
DT Jacob Hyde 6'2" 333

DT Reggie Meant 6'4" 286
DT CJ Johnson 6'3" 299

DE/LB Jason Hatcher 6'3" 24

DE/LB Jabari Johnson 6'1" 276
DE/LB needs a lot of help from the redshirts and Freshman class

MLB Josh Forrest 6'3" 236

WLB Ryan Flanigan 6'2 225
TheLB positions need lots of help from the redshirts and Freshmen

NB Blake McClain 5'11" 194
NB Kendall Randolph 6'0"

CB Fred Tiller 6'0" 170
CB JD Harmon 6'2" 201

SS Marcus Wilson 6'0" 210


FS AJ Stamps 6'0" 199
FS Glenn Faulkner 6'2" 195

CB Cody Quinn 5'10 172

IMO the entire secondary need a huge infusion of talent from the red shirts and Freshman class.

 

[UKErik]

Some thoughts C1180;

*We should see a pretty good jump in production at WR, RB, and QB. Last season, those positions featured a lot of guys that were either freshman or hadn't played many snaps. I'm hoping like hell Towles becomes the top quarterback in the SEC. There's no reason he shouldn't be able to at least challenge for that distinction.

*We get Badet and Montgomery back. Timmons could be a superstar if he can become consistent. UK has SO many options at WR. Boom Williams is going to have a monster year. Overall, it's hard not to be excited about UK's o-skill guys.

*I'm cautiously optimistic about the offensive line. Don't get me wrong, I'm guessing UK's starting five will make up one of the bottom 3-4 OL's in the conference, but we should see improved production (despite the loss of Miller). Most nervous about right tackle. And as you eluded to, depth is a massive concern.

*Last years young Cats averaged 384 yards a game. That number will easily exceed 400 this season.

*Lots to follow this spring. I know a lot of people will focus on the backup QB position. The WR rotation. OL improvement. I'm most interested to see what the offense looks like with Dawson at the helm. Can't wait for the spring game. Oh wait

. No spring game this year, unfortunately.

GBB!!!

 

[UKErik]

On defense, UK REALLY needs Hatcher, Elam, Flannigan, and Stamps to play at a very high level. All four have the tools to do it (though I'm a little concerned about Elam's mobility). Of course, four guys playing really well won't lead to a top ten SEC defense, but it might rub off on the other players. Some thoughts;

*DE: Hatcher is perfect for the *Jack* spot, IMO. I'm not confident (yet) in Huguenin. UK will have to get some help from some freshman (Dubose, Ware, etc...). I like Johnson too.

*I like UK's top four tackles (Elam, Lewis, Meant, and Johnson). There's a little depth beyond those guys (not sure about the quality though).

*In the back seven, UK just isn't where they need to be at corner or linebacker. I hope we start hearing about some of the young guys pushing Tiller, Quinn, and Harmon. At LB, well, at least we'll see more experienced players on the field vs. last year. I think Flannigan could be huge (LB is a bitch to learn these days; one year under his belt will be invaluable).

*I still don't know what Eliot wants his defense to look like. He's been so shorthanded in his first two years, it's hard to blame him. At times, UK's 2014 defense was as bad as a defense can get. The Georgia game was a historic low. The Tennessee game wasn't much better.

Overall, I like the fact that UK has more experience at LB. Good safeties. Decent tackles. Still worried about CB and DE. We're not out of the woods yet at LB either.

GBB!!!

 

[mrschwump]

Won't matter how much the O improves unless UK is markedly and significantly improved on D. The D's inability to make plays, get off the field on 3d down, force turnovers, etc puts tremendous pressure on the O. It's time the guys we heard so much about when they were recruited/signed, Hatcher, McWilson, etc, start making winning plays. We'll get an early indication this spring. If UK ends spring practice with the same guys still at the top of the depth chart as last fall, we'll likely see the same results. These younger guys who are supposed to be better have GOT to make a move.

 

[Rhavicc]

Originally posted by UKErik:
On defense, UK REALLY needs Hatcher, Elam, Flannigan, and Stamps to play at a very high level. All four have the tools to do it (though I'm a little concerned about Elam's mobility). Of course, four guys playing really well won't lead to a top ten SEC defense, but it might rub off on the other players. Some thoughts;

*DE: Hatcher is perfect for the *Jack* spot, IMO. I'm not confident (yet) in Huguenin. UK will have to get some help from some freshman (Dubose, Ware, etc...). I like Johnson too.

*I like UK's top four tackles (Elam, Lewis, Meant, and Johnson). There's a little depth beyond those guys (not sure about the quality though).

*In the back seven, UK just isn't where they need to be at corner or linebacker. I hope we start hearing about some of the young guys pushing Tiller, Quinn, and Harmon. At LB, well, at least we'll see more experienced players on the field vs. last year. I think Flannigan could be huge (LB is a bitch to learn these days; one year under his belt will be invaluable).

*I still don't know what Eliot wants his defense to look like. He's been so shorthanded in his first two years, it's hard to blame him. At times, UK's 2014 defense was as bad as a defense can get. The Georgia game was a historic low. The Tennessee game wasn't much better.

Overall, I like the fact that UK has more experience at LB. Good safeties. Decent tackles. Still worried about CB and DE. We're not out of the woods yet at LB either.

GBB!!!

As far as the offense goes, I agree 100% Erik. All of the necessary tools to be an explosive offense, and we're projected to have either the best, or 2nd best QB in the SEC (Behind Dak Prescott in some cases). Boom Williams can carve up any defense, and though I know that this discussion is about returning starters and backups, I think Sihiem King will offer a lot at the RB position as Boom's backup.
Defensively, where I tend to agree with you as well, there are some things I would take note of. We technically would be getting a returner in Courtney Love, if he is waived to play (albeit, he would be returning to Nebraska this year if not for him transferring here). I think with the guys coming off of the redshirt at the linebacker spots, we'll add a lot of big, fast, athletic depth at those positions, and if Love is allowed to play, I see him being the anchor of the interior defense.
I think we return all of our secondary players (With the exception of one, maybe two?), and I think they will definitely get a push from these incoming CB's and Safeties. Many performed well last year, some rose to the occasion later in the year (This happened at both the Safety, and OLB positions), but with all of these incoming secondary players, due to their size, speed, and versatility, our current secondary will definitely get a push.
I expect the team to improve ten-fold this upcoming season on both sides of the ball. I think the two hires that we made in the off-season will pay off tremendously as well. (Dawson with his aggressive offensive style, using similar and in some cases, more talented pieces in our offense to that of West Virginia, and Andy Buh as our new LB coach, who has excelled as a LB for the length of his career at schools that have been known to have good interior defense under him).

 

[2bunnies]

Most of it comes down to reading the run play and our DL being effective against it. I think everything else will come together with more experienced players and newly available talent in redshirts, transfers and true freshmen that will give much needed depth.

 

[hmt5000]

west, edwards, and randolph will make a huge impact before seasons end. those 3 guys are just way more talented than most db's we get... outside the occasional trevard lindley. lol

 

[C1180]

There was some talk of not redshirting Krok and playing him last year before he was injured pre season and had a set back so he is likely to be "BIG" in the plans at OT this season.

I am sure that all or at least most of those that got experience last year will be better. The 64 thousand dollar question is will they be enough better to stave of completion from maybe physically more talented redshirt Freshmen and True Freshmen? An example is TE where it is certain that a redshirted player or a true freshman will start and WR where three redshirted players are going to figure prominently in the 2 deep and maybe a True Freshman or two. TE Conrad, DE/LB Denzil Ware, and DE/LB Kengera Danials are almost certain to be at least in the two deep and not redshirt.

I think it would be interesting to have speculation on some positions where you think the younger players are going to move in because of a vacancy because of graduation or because they will have beaten out the returning player. IMO we are going to have some surprises across the board on both offense and defense.

 

[hmt5000]

i think conrad at least plays half the time with long getting the other half of the snaps. he is a weapon at a position we've lacked for 10 years.... seems like it anyway.

 

[UKCatnNC]

A special thanks to C1180 for starting these very informative threads about our team. I am really enjoying reading these posts. I am excited about next year. I think we are going to see some significant improvements. Go Cats!!

 

[C1180]

Just trying to get some meaningful discussion of football and the UK football going instead of some of the Jibber Jabber so prevalent on this board.

 

[lz]

C1180, fine thread! What do posters know about our backup kickers in the unlikely event of an injury to our regulars (fingers crossed)? I also wonder if the walkon R/S frosh Kirshe can take over the punting in 2016 since Foster will be a senior next fall?

 

[CatDaddy4daWin]

Erik I think we're gonna be pleasantly surprised by the back 7 this year. By the end of the year believe this is an SEC caliber LB and secondary crew. We'll obviously need some young guys to step up but there's some talent there in Firios, Walker and hopefully Love.

 

[jauk11]

Originally posted by hmt5000:
west, edwards, and randolph will make a huge impact before seasons end. those 3 guys are just way more talented than most db's we get... outside the occasional trevard lindley. lol

You do realize that you are comparing three FOUR star recruits on this team (all a year out of high school, even though two missed playing last year) to a 5.2 two star, I'm sure.

Tremendous upgrade in our raw talent level under Stoops, and while in an individual case Lindley may have turned out better than most four stars I really like the chances of these four stars Stoops is bringing in improving our chances against the SEC schools that have four stars starting at almost all their positions.

 

[fromthe25ydline]

I think Middleton's name will be in the conversation before the season is over.

 

[MrHotDice]

If defense doesn't get better it really makes no difference if the offense improves 50%. Everyone in the sec recruited players that on paper are better than ours so we must coach up the players we have, have defensive schemes that puts pressure on the other teams and basically play better than advertised. Having a new OC will be a good thing especially if we play like West Virginia. Browns offense was predictable and hopefully our new coach will utilize the entire field. IMHO Conrad will be the key to controlling and keeping the ball and making first downs.

The SEC is all about defense and speed.

 

[RV2]

Here's how I see it setting up for the fall. Of course this assumes no attrition which basically doesn't ever happen. It's easy to see we're getting deeper and more talented by the class which can only help improve our special team coverages.

QB- Towles, Barker/Phillips
RB - Boom, Horton, Kemp/King, Mahone
TE - Hart?, Conrad/Long, Kazunas
X - Bone/Badet, Gosier, Cunningham
Y - Montgomery, Herrick, Richardson
Z - Baker, Snodgrass/Greenwood
H - Timmons/Johnson, Williams, C Walker
FB - Witthuhn, Collins
LT - Swindle, Meadows, Krok, Livingston
LG - Haynes/West, LaRubbio, Baumer, Wolfe[/B]
C - Toth, Stallings, Greenberg, Z Myers
RG - R Meyers, Mosier, Richardson/George AA[/B]
RT - Meadows, Krok, Stenberg

DE - Miggins/Huguenin, Dubose, Daniel
NT - Lewis/Elam, Hyde, Provitt
DT - CJ Johnson, Meant, Middleton, Z Williams
Jack End - J Johnson/Bell, Tubman, Hatcher
Sam LB - Hatcher/Ware, K Walker?, Allen
MLB - Love/Forrest, Firios, Hendrix
WLB - Flannigan, Henderson, K Walker?, Jones, D Blaylock, Brown
Nickel - Randolph, Beckham
Boundary CB - Harmon, Westry, Baity, Jackson
FS - Stamps, M Walker, Faulkner, Z Blaylock
S - McClain, McWilson, West
Field CB - Quinn/Tiller, Tucker/Edwards, Hytche

I need to see the spring before some of these guys position will be nailed down but that's the best I can do at this point.

 

[BlueRaider22]

-The QB was young, inconsistent, and inexperienced. The WRs were consistently out of position running poor routes, couldn't break jams, and often dropped balls. The oline struggled mightily in pass pro. Since all of these exist n a symbiotic nature, if all 3 positions are improved a little bit the offense will be improved by a lot. Which I think it will.

-The defensive front 7 was softest in the middle with little LB help to back it up. (Which made us vulnerable to runs) This also rendered our good DEs at a disadvantage......(and therefore hurt our pass defense). And we had little depth. And we didn't have a consistent offense to give our shallow defense rest. Almost all of this will be improved for next year, but how much?

I think we see an improved tea, across the board and go 6-6 or 7-5.

 

[C1180]

Originally posted by BlueRaider22:
-The QB was young, inconsistent, and inexperienced. The WRs were consistently out of position running poor routes, couldn't break jams, and often dropped balls. The oline struggled mightily in pass pro. Since all of these exist n a symbiotic nature, if all 3 positions are improved a little bit the offense will be improved by a lot. Which I think it will.

-The defensive front 7 was softest in the middle with little LB help to back it up. (Which made us vulnerable to runs) This also rendered our good DEs at a disadvantage......(and therefore hurt our pass defense). And we had little depth. And we didn't have a consistent offense to give our shallow defense rest. Almost all of this will be improved for next year, but how much?

I think we see an improved tea, across the board and go 6-6 or 7-5.

It is true that the parts of a football team are symbiotic as all are interdependent on one another and as in nature it is not always a good relationship. I would prefer there be a synergistic relationship where when combined the whole is greater than the parts. IMO an example is you put Randall Cobb who is IMO an A1 synergist on a team and all parts of that football team become better.