Good morning all. Back over at the JCFTC for today’s practice wrap-up. It’s another not-ideal weather day here in Lexington, so once again, the Cats are indoors at the fieldhouse. It’s offense day for us, so we’ll have Rich Scangarello and a few players from that side of the ball joining us to talk about the 10th day of 15 spring practices. They’re scheduled to join us at approx 10 ET. Stay tuned…
RICH SCANGARELLO Q&A:
* On film from the first “live” scrimmage… Liked energy, efficiency. Got lined up. Not a lot of mental mistakes. Guys made some plays. Really good overall attention to detail by the 1s.
* Anyone stand out? OL doing well. Physical, played well together. Collectively, they were sharp on Saturday.
* Threw the ball quite a bit in the scrimmage. Wanted to get a good look at what everyone could do in that aspect, the QBs and WRs. Guys behind will have a good competition going on. Making each other better. Constant evaluation.
* On spring game… One of the advantages that UK has right now is the unknown, so it may be a little vanilla on Saturday. They don’t want to open the playbook to the world. It will be similar to their controlled scrimmages with the reps and getting a good look at everybody.
* Outside zone blocking and run game has been good. “Feel very strongly that we’re on pace.” Says that’s the identity at UK, so it’s not going anywhere.
* Core of his offense is “putting defenders in conflict.” The whole goal is whether you can make everything look the same, whether it’s run or pass, play action or bootleg. Everything is packaged to keep the defense from knowing what’s coming. On the flip side, defenses are evolving and doing different things to adjust. What Brad White is doing now is kind of en vogue right now, Scangarello says, to stop explosives down the field.
* Having a QB and C who can handle a lot really helps when putting in this new scheme. Really helps that the staff has recruited a lot of smart players, he adds.
* Between now and summer he wants to get to know the league as well as possible and learn what they’re doing defensively in order to help his guys be as good as they can be when the season begins.
ZACH YENSER Q&A:
* Thought OL played well on Saturday. Threw the ball quite a bit. Thought they did well in that regard, protected well.
* Flax really good over at RT. Feels comfortable there. Good battle going on at LT with Buford and Wohlabaugh and Goodwin working there. Trying to bring guys along there. Nothing really set in stone.
* Goodwin is a guy who should still be in HS but has been impressive. “Big son of a gun.” When he knows what he’s doing, the talent shines through. Every day he steps on the field, he gets better.
* Manning is “a bull.” … “That dude can move people off the line, a very, very talented football player.” Thinks he’s going to thrive in this style.
* Cox at center has been a really nice transition. Very bright guy. Gets everyone on the same page. Big shoes to fill with the guys who have come before him, but hes been “phenomenal.”
* Loves the culture in the O-Line room. Tribute to Stoops and Schlarman. Loose group, fun group, but when it’s time to get down to business, they’re all about it. “Awesome group… and I think they’re having fun.”
* Would love to have an 8-man rotation for the fall, kind of an NFL model with backup center, a guard who can flip sides, and one more versatile guy who can be out at either tackle.
* John Young has done a good job at LG behind Horsey. His first true spring. He’s been around for a while, but in a lot of ways, it’s his first real spring. Pad level and lower body strength are keys moving forward. Needs to play lower. But they like his athleticism and length.
* Deondre Buford haas worked both sides, splitting reps on both sides with David Wohlabaugh. “Athletic as all get out.” Could play anywhere right now except maybe center. Athleticism lends itself to LT right now.
* Jager Burton a kid who could be “special” with time. Loves the way he plays. Smart and athletic. Will be even better as he adds strength, but he’ll probably be one of those guys ready to rotate in this season.
DEONDRE BUFORD Q&A:
* Learning the game, taking steps forward this spring.
* Tough getting used to new coaches, but Yenser took a smoother approach than Wolford. More relatable.
* Very motivated to fill some big shoes, reach that standard.
* JJ WEaver has been a challenge this spring. He’s been “that guy.”
* Came in around 280-290 out of high school. Probably 315-ish now. Feels good. Helps him against the SEC type OL.
RICH SCANGARELLO Q&A:
* On film from the first “live” scrimmage… Liked energy, efficiency. Got lined up. Not a lot of mental mistakes. Guys made some plays. Really good overall attention to detail by the 1s.
* Anyone stand out? OL doing well. Physical, played well together. Collectively, they were sharp on Saturday.
* Threw the ball quite a bit in the scrimmage. Wanted to get a good look at what everyone could do in that aspect, the QBs and WRs. Guys behind will have a good competition going on. Making each other better. Constant evaluation.
* On spring game… One of the advantages that UK has right now is the unknown, so it may be a little vanilla on Saturday. They don’t want to open the playbook to the world. It will be similar to their controlled scrimmages with the reps and getting a good look at everybody.
* Outside zone blocking and run game has been good. “Feel very strongly that we’re on pace.” Says that’s the identity at UK, so it’s not going anywhere.
* Core of his offense is “putting defenders in conflict.” The whole goal is whether you can make everything look the same, whether it’s run or pass, play action or bootleg. Everything is packaged to keep the defense from knowing what’s coming. On the flip side, defenses are evolving and doing different things to adjust. What Brad White is doing now is kind of en vogue right now, Scangarello says, to stop explosives down the field.
* Having a QB and C who can handle a lot really helps when putting in this new scheme. Really helps that the staff has recruited a lot of smart players, he adds.
* Between now and summer he wants to get to know the league as well as possible and learn what they’re doing defensively in order to help his guys be as good as they can be when the season begins.
ZACH YENSER Q&A:
* Thought OL played well on Saturday. Threw the ball quite a bit. Thought they did well in that regard, protected well.
* Flax really good over at RT. Feels comfortable there. Good battle going on at LT with Buford and Wohlabaugh and Goodwin working there. Trying to bring guys along there. Nothing really set in stone.
* Goodwin is a guy who should still be in HS but has been impressive. “Big son of a gun.” When he knows what he’s doing, the talent shines through. Every day he steps on the field, he gets better.
* Manning is “a bull.” … “That dude can move people off the line, a very, very talented football player.” Thinks he’s going to thrive in this style.
* Cox at center has been a really nice transition. Very bright guy. Gets everyone on the same page. Big shoes to fill with the guys who have come before him, but hes been “phenomenal.”
* Loves the culture in the O-Line room. Tribute to Stoops and Schlarman. Loose group, fun group, but when it’s time to get down to business, they’re all about it. “Awesome group… and I think they’re having fun.”
* Would love to have an 8-man rotation for the fall, kind of an NFL model with backup center, a guard who can flip sides, and one more versatile guy who can be out at either tackle.
* John Young has done a good job at LG behind Horsey. His first true spring. He’s been around for a while, but in a lot of ways, it’s his first real spring. Pad level and lower body strength are keys moving forward. Needs to play lower. But they like his athleticism and length.
* Deondre Buford haas worked both sides, splitting reps on both sides with David Wohlabaugh. “Athletic as all get out.” Could play anywhere right now except maybe center. Athleticism lends itself to LT right now.
* Jager Burton a kid who could be “special” with time. Loves the way he plays. Smart and athletic. Will be even better as he adds strength, but he’ll probably be one of those guys ready to rotate in this season.
DEONDRE BUFORD Q&A:
* Learning the game, taking steps forward this spring.
* Tough getting used to new coaches, but Yenser took a smoother approach than Wolford. More relatable.
* Very motivated to fill some big shoes, reach that standard.
* JJ WEaver has been a challenge this spring. He’s been “that guy.”
* Came in around 280-290 out of high school. Probably 315-ish now. Feels good. Helps him against the SEC type OL.
