Square
- Thread starter Smashcat
- Start date
Sounds like we are going to be getting some good news to me.
Gonna be a lot of mouths to feed in that ILB room, wonder if Wallace gets some looks at OLB
Hope our young studs are patient enough to stick around.
Square stays then the entire 4 starting linebacker group from 2021 will return, along with solid returning depth for the ILBs. One or two freshmen may have a chance to make the 2 deep on the OLBs or at least get some meaningful snaps depending on injuries etc.
Just can't imagine him starting over Jackson. Or at least not playing more snaps.
I know Wallace stands out because of the giant play he made vs UF, but he's a long way mentally from being ready. Jackson on the other hand is ready now.
We'll see what happens
Wallace came in with the rep as a gym rat. I would be surprised if he isn't the starter in September. He's just too athletic to not get the bulk of the reps. He's a guy that is probably only going to be here three years.
It's a good problem to have as long as UK has a plan.
1. DeRyck Jackson is going to take the starting MIKE job easily IMO. I don't think we'd have even taken Jones if Jackson was not out for year with Achilles.
2. You don't want to screw up Wallace and lose him to portal....he's just too talented.
So will Square and Jones be cool with bench roles as Sr?...>That could be how this plays out.
Or Wallace is the only one who could play the SAM spot...(He didn't play well in short time last year IMO).
1. DeRyck Jackson is going to take the starting MIKE job easily IMO. I don't think we'd have even taken Jones if Jackson was not out for year with Achilles.
2. You don't want to screw up Wallace and lose him to portal....he's just too talented.
So will Square and Jones be cool with bench roles as Sr?...>That could be how this plays out.
Or Wallace is the only one who could play the SAM spot...(He didn't play well in short time last year IMO).
Physically he's ready but mentally he's lost. He killed us when we tried to play him vs MSU and ut. Jackson is ready today. I can't believe how great he looked only months after rupturing an Achilles. Can't imagine him at 100%
I think with Wallace, they got him a bunch of live game reps. That says to me, there is something special there, they're bringing him along a little more rapidly than usual.
Not that I disagree, Wallace is playing a tough position in our defense as a true Freshman. However, drawing conclusions about performance with comparing Iowa to UT and Miss. St., doesn't seem a good comparison. Iowa doesn't stress the MLB position the way the other two do.
Jackson had about 4 solo tackles on Malik Cunningham. That's impressive. Him doing it after rupturing an Achilles 8 months prior is just incredible.
Iirc Wallace didn't play vs Iowa. Him playing significant snaps on D was due to necessity so I agree it's unfair to judge his future based on those games. I think his future is very bright. Just not sure if that future starts in earnest this coming season
With all of the injuries DeAndre Square has endured over the last 2+ seasons, I would be SHOCKED to see him return to play. Would he be OK with a backup roll? We will know this evening. Would love to see him start a coaching career at UK starting NOW!!
Feed them all at the same time, with the personnel we have on defense next year we might be playing a 46 defense
My thoughts exactly. Running back room as well.😳
Interesting to see what's going to happen with those lbrs. That's a jammed room and at least one of the super seniors will not be starting imo
DEEEEEEEEEP!!!
You need this type depth across the board to make it to the ATL!
These boys are on a mission!!!
Now it’s going to be interesting to see what Mike Stoops can do with all these toys he has.
YES!!! Two very good LB's that has played four years of football in the SEC at a high level will be back. You CAN'T replace the experience they have on the field with two guys that hasn't played but part of a season in this league. Yeah, Jackson and Wallace are talented but you are talking about a whole lot of games for them to see all the things Jones and Square have seen and learned from. Imagine all the mistakes two frosh would have to make to gain the experience of Jones and Square. Now we have upper echelon depth at LB. Two great days to be a Wildcat fan!
ok. I'm siging off now because I'm about to start using words that arent allowed on this site.
4 players in the 2 deep of the ILB corps that can play would not be a jammed room at Bama. Stoops likes to rotate 3 guys among those two positions. Jackson, Jones, and Square fit that bill. Throw Wallace into the mix and maybe put Wallace at safety in some formations, and those is a solid rotation. Not sure where Thrower falls into the mix. ButC he was not ready this year.
DeAndre Square is Back and Kentucky is Loaded at Linebacker
Freddie Maggard explains what DeAndre Square's return means for the Wildcats. It's GREAT news for Brad White's defense.
It is especially not jammed if Wallace possibly has the ability to play SAM.
That could possibly provide great depth for 2022 AND build for 2023.
That would allow:
2022
SAM: Wright, Wallace, Wade
WLB: Square, Thrower
MLB: J. Jones, Jackson, Fulton
Jack: Weaver, Fearbry, Dingle
2023
SAM: Wallace, Wade
WLB: Thrower, ???
MLB: Jackson, ???, Fulton
Jack: Weaver, Fearbry
Big question is can Wallace possibly play SAM???
Yes. Rotate these guys like the late, great Coach Schlarman did on the wall. It'll work. Keeps guys healthy and fresh. That's a strong selling point.
I was thinking limited snaps just to get his feet wet…keep the packages small, let him just use his speed & athleticism to rush the passer.
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