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2 things I'm watching Saturday- MUST improve

  • 1- Will a "playmaker" emerge in the UK offense outside of Larod King and Josh Clemons? The current group of WRs, TEs, and RBs are all guys that Joker and Randy Sanders recruited to UK because they felf they fit in to UK's pro-style offense.

    WR- King has stepped up, but outside of him, not one player at that position has shown they can consistently be a threat at that spot. Yes, UK lost Cobb, but losing one player earlier than expected should not completely handicap an offense like it has thus far.

    TE- I've watched and rewatched both games closely, and one thing that has been evident is the TEs aren't getting any seperation from defenders, including Aumiller. I know they've been asked to block more, but someone at this spot simply has to step up and become a receiving threat.

    RB- Clemons and ???? Can Jon George become a playmaker? Coshick? Gainer?

    Simply put, there are 20+ guys on scholarship at these 3 positions. Only 2 have stood out. That simply CANT happen. Can anyone at these 3 spots turn into playmakers?

    #2- Will UK finally get some push off the edge from the DE positions? SImilar to last year and each season since the departure of Jamron, UK just hasn't gotten anything from the DEs in the pass rush. Collins Ukwu was hyped up big time in the pre season, but thus far he's been pretty average. Wyndham has been invisable. These are the 2 guys getting 95% of the snaps on the ends when UK goes to a 4 down linemen look. UK simply has to get some production from them.

    MinterWonderlnd

  • Ukwu has been very solid in two games.
    A short passing game would help

    NAZMAN

  • Ukwu is a strong side DE and is mostly responsible for controlling the run. He has been very good this year including making the stop on the big 4th down call. Way out of line calling out Ukwu. Not sure what Wyndham provides them rushing from the DT spot. That hasn't worked at all.

    I really wish Kendrick or Shelds would get a chance but Joker likes toughness so the tougher kids play. Likely you won't see much out of them as far as WRs.

    I'm at a loss with the other WRs. Just unreal how bad they have been.

    UL scares the fire out of me. They have significantly better skill kids, especially at WR and TE.

    bigcat65

  • While UK has sacked the QB only once they have hurried him a lot and have 5 interceptions. You generally don't do that without pressure.

    zcats

  • Regarding Ukwu- in Fall Camp Joker said that Ukwu would be a "violent pass rusher" and someone that they needed to get to the QB. That's why I said it was dissapointing that in 2 games, he hasn't really even hurried the opposing QBs.

    MinterWonderlnd

  • "UL scares the fire out of me. They have significantly better skill kids, especially at WR and TE. "

    Aren't they mostly true freshmen and true sophs? How can Strong have assembled that much better of skill players than UK in only 2 classes?

    MinterWonderlnd

  • Money maybe?

    signature image signature image signature image

    Nate87

  • MinterWonderlnd said...

    "UL scares the fire out of me. They have significantly better skill kids, especially at WR and TE. "

    Aren't they mostly true freshmen and true sophs? How can Strong have assembled that much better of skill players than UK in only 2 classes?

    Cash, strippers and Coach Hurtt. Pretty much how UL rolls.

    bigcat65

  • MinterWonderlnd said...

    Regarding Ukwu- in Fall Camp Joker said that Ukwu would be a "violent pass rusher" and someone that they needed to get to the QB. That's why I said it was dissapointing that in 2 games, he hasn't really even hurried the opposing QBs.

    I don't know if I've seen many stats on hurries but I think I will give it more then 2 games. CMU was using three yard drops and just hitting slants. I think Ukwu has done his job and having a solid year.

    bigcat65

  • In 1 1/2 games (he missed the second half of the WKU game) Ukwu has a sack, 3 tackles for a loss and 9 tackles. Thats pretty solid my friend.

    http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2011-2012/teamcume.html

    bigcat65

  • MinterWonderlnd said...

    1- Will a "playmaker" emerge in the UK offense outside of Larod King and Josh Clemons? The current group of WRs, TEs, and RBs are all guys that Joker and Randy Sanders recruited to UK because they felf they fit in to UK's pro-style offense.

    WR- King has stepped up, but outside of him, not one player at that position has shown they can consistently be a threat at that spot. Yes, UK lost Cobb, but losing one player earlier than expected should not completely handicap an offense like it has thus far.

    TE- I've watched and rewatched both games closely, and one thing that has been evident is the TEs aren't getting any seperation from defenders, including Aumiller. I know they've been asked to block more, but someone at this spot simply has to step up and become a receiving threat.

    RB- Clemons and ???? Can Jon George become a playmaker? Coshick? Gainer?

    Simply put, there are 20+ guys on scholarship at these 3 positions. Only 2 have stood out. That simply CANT happen. Can anyone at these 3 spots turn into playmakers?

    #2- Will UK finally get some push off the edge from the DE positions? SImilar to last year and each season since the departure of Jamron, UK just hasn't gotten anything from the DEs in the pass rush. Collins Ukwu was hyped up big time in the pre season, but thus far he's been pretty average. Wyndham has been invisable. These are the 2 guys getting 95% of the snaps on the ends when UK goes to a 4 down linemen look. UK simply has to get some production from them.

    the run defense though including Ukwu has been huge. if you can stop the run you win

    nbtoppers2

  • bigcat65 said...

    In 1 1/2 games (he missed the second half of the WKU game) Ukwu has a sack, 3 tackles for a loss and 9 tackles. Thats pretty solid my friend.

    http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2011-2012/teamcume.html

    He also knocked down at least one pass at the LOS that I recall.

    signature image

    "Kentucky Football needs to be and will be a championship contender in the SEC."~Mitch Barnhart 11/4/12

    rgunslinger

  • MinterWonderlnd said...

    1- Will a "playmaker" emerge in the UK offense outside of Larod King and Josh Clemons? The current group of WRs, TEs, and RBs are all guys that Joker and Randy Sanders recruited to UK because they felf they fit in to UK's pro-style offense.

    WR- King has stepped up, but outside of him, not one player at that position has shown they can consistently be a threat at that spot. Yes, UK lost Cobb, but losing one player earlier than expected should not completely handicap an offense like it has thus far.

    TE- I've watched and rewatched both games closely, and one thing that has been evident is the TEs aren't getting any seperation from defenders, including Aumiller. I know they've been asked to block more, but someone at this spot simply has to step up and become a receiving threat.

    RB- Clemons and ???? Can Jon George become a playmaker? Coshick? Gainer?

    Simply put, there are 20+ guys on scholarship at these 3 positions. Only 2 have stood out. That simply CANT happen. Can anyone at these 3 spots turn into playmakers?

    #2- Will UK finally get some push off the edge from the DE positions? SImilar to last year and each season since the departure of Jamron, UK just hasn't gotten anything from the DEs in the pass rush. Collins Ukwu was hyped up big time in the pre season, but thus far he's been pretty average. Wyndham has been invisable. These are the 2 guys getting 95% of the snaps on the ends when UK goes to a 4 down linemen look. UK simply has to get some production from them.

    Tight ends or tight end have stAyed in to protect on 80% of pass plays per joker...

    hoptownukfan

  • MinterWonderlnd said...

    1- Will a "playmaker" emerge in the UK offense outside of Larod King and Josh Clemons? The current group of WRs, TEs, and RBs are all guys that Joker and Randy Sanders recruited to UK because they felf they fit in to UK's pro-style offense.

    WR- King has stepped up, but outside of him, not one player at that position has shown they can consistently be a threat at that spot. Yes, UK lost Cobb, but losing one player earlier than expected should not completely handicap an offense like it has thus far.

    TE- I've watched and rewatched both games closely, and one thing that has been evident is the TEs aren't getting any seperation from defenders, including Aumiller. I know they've been asked to block more, but someone at this spot simply has to step up and become a receiving threat.

    RB- Clemons and ???? Can Jon George become a playmaker? Coshick? Gainer?

    Simply put, there are 20+ guys on scholarship at these 3 positions. Only 2 have stood out. That simply CANT happen. Can anyone at these 3 spots turn into playmakers?

    #2- Will UK finally get some push off the edge from the DE positions? SImilar to last year and each season since the departure of Jamron, UK just hasn't gotten anything from the DEs in the pass rush. Collins Ukwu was hyped up big time in the pre season, but thus far he's been pretty average. Wyndham has been invisable. These are the 2 guys getting 95% of the snaps on the ends when UK goes to a 4 down linemen look. UK simply has to get some production from them.

    Agree on the offensive side of things. Somewhat agree with DE, although they haven't played anyone yet who took much time to drop back and pass downfield. CMU basically just threw into the flats off quick drops the entire first half. Not much opportunity to rush. That being said, UofL will do some 5- and 7-step drops, and Stein will move around and buy time. Ukwu needs to play big on Saturday.

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    E-mail: JDRUM@247SPORTS.COM Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JDrumUK

    Jeff Drummond

  • On offense the receiver position is not as good as it may look. It hurt not having a receiver in the last class. King is the only returning receiver who has showed in previous games, McCaskill is still limited from his injury at this point and Fields has never been healthy or a factor. The two best candidates to contribute outside of King are Collins and Adams. Both have serious speed and athleticism and we know Adams has great hands from baseball. Both of those guys have been injured and unavailable. Roark can get open but has never consistently caught the ball and he should have never been a starter. The TE's are struggling partially because of how people are defensing us on two fronts. One is that they have been held in to block but it is also because there is so much traffic near the LOS. No one respects our passing game enough to spread things out enough for the TE to get open in their usual spots. I think it is remarkable that the two backs we have played have done as well as they have. Other backs cannot contribute if they don't play and the offense is running so few plays (around 50 a game) that not many guys can play. We only have 25 first downs in two games and only 17 are due to the offense as 6 came by penalty. The bottom line is that we really don't have that many skill players on offense outside of the running backs. We have one proven SEC level receiver and a couple of possibilities and one questionable QB. It is not like these shortcomings should be a surprise and an SEC program should not be in this situation. I see it as just poor management of personnel by the coaches. If you looked up in February and saw your only back up QB was leaving and you had a thin receiver corps you could go out and spend a few scholarships on some JUCO kids who may not be world beaters but who could at least carry us along for a while.

    zcats

  • I want to see:

    OL continue to gel
    Newton settle down and hit the short and intermediate routes
    Front 4 pressure the opposing QB
    Another 100+ rushing performance from Clemons

    This post was edited by alphacat93 on 9/16/2011 at 5:24 AM

    signature image signature image signature image

    "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." ~ Emerson

    alphacat93

  • alphacat93 said...

    I want to see:

    OL continue to gel Newton settle down and hit the short and intermediate routes Front 4 pressure the opposing QB Another 100+ rushing performance from Clemons

    Add to that WR's (and hopefully a TE or two) catching those improved Newton passes and we have the same wish list.

    UKcats60

  • alphacat93 said...

    I want to see:

    OL continue to gel Newton settle down and hit the short and intermediate routes Front 4 pressure the opposing QB Another 100+ rushing performance from Clemons

    This would be awesome, if it happens cardinals will be toast by the end of the third.

    PAXCAT

  • I think our receivers are getting a bad rap for a couple of reasons. One, Roark has proven over and over again that he has hands of stone and should never have been in the game. Two, Morgan is locked in on LaRod, so it really doesn't what other receivers or tight ends are on the field. McCaskill and Adams can catch the ball if Morgan will just throw it to them. No one on the team has better hands than Nick Melillo. We have kids that can catch the ball. In two games we've had 10 drops and 5 of them have been thrown to Matt Roark. Surely the coaches have learned their lesson.

    I just hope Morgan can relax so the game will begin to slow down for him.

    ajp40505

  • Agree on offense, but think Ukwu has looked pretty good inside. He is not really supposed to be much of a pass rusher in the 3-4 set we seem to be using a lot.

    But the DE spot remains a disappointment to me. Ridge has zero sacks, and all these young DEs we have on the roster have barely played, much less tackled a QB.

    In reply to Zcats above, yes we have five interceptions but two were on the last play of the game v. WKU and a 4Q pick v. CMU when they were well behind and having to throw on every down. Unless the pass rush improves substantially, we won't keep the interceptions coming once we start seeing much better competition, which will happen real soon. We have been dead last or nearly last in QB sacks in the SEC for the last two or three years. Really need to pick that up this year.

    Tskware

  • I think this fits in nicely with this conversation about Ukwu/Sacks.

    From the best in the business...

    Play

    Saban blows up over sacks (post-game UNT)

    Talking about sacks = no-fly zone for Saban

    http://www.youtube.com/v/alx_xBOJki8

    PHCD

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