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Jeff Drummond said...
There's a long list of things that would have to get better to beat Missouri on the road, and that would be a good place to start.
I've heard the coaches are confident that they'll be better versus the run in the front seven, but that's something I'm going to have to see with my own eyes before I get too optimistic.
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Catmando said...
I agree. Call me a doubting Thomas, but I have to see it with my own eyes. Especially after George ran pretty well against our #1 D in the spring game. Also, what Joker has identified as the pre-season strengths in the past, turned out to be our biggest weaknesses. Hopefully, that's not the case this time. Stopping the run is probably the first step in becoming competitive in the SEC.
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hoptownukfan
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Catmando said...
I agree. Call me a doubting Thomas, but I have to see it with my own eyes. Especially after George ran pretty well against our #1 D in the spring game. Also, what Joker has identified as the pre-season strengths in the past, turned out to be our biggest weaknesses. Hopefully, that's not the case this time. Stopping the run is probably the first step in becoming competitive in the SEC.
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todd said...
I also think our D-line will be better because Rumph wasn't that strong in the weight room last year as he will be and boy does he move well for a 320#er. Cobble was also coming off a shoulder surgery, if you go back and watch the first 4-7 games he wasn't half the player he was when we played GA or TN. Coleman is going to be a good one too. I just hope he doesn't gain to much weight. I really think he should add mass over time and not just look to add all the weight he can like some have done in the past. It hurts their athleticism way more than it helps at the POA. It should be added the right way, if he and everyone else can do that we should be very solid as long as Chapman and Grafree are ready. At one point last year we were down to our 6th DT, that goes to show you can really never have to many good DT's... IMO Cobble is the main ingrediant in our scheme if he can demand those double teams it will help everyone. I really wish Brice could have stuck around, he had the ideal frame for NG, he was also one of the best looking 320# I can remember seeing when i saw him in the mall right before he left...
Getting good LB play is just as important as having good D-line play. I'm confident in Avery and Dupree, I don't have to say much about those two other than I pray they stay healthy. Simpson is a wild-card... Alot of people are saying Forrest proved he was a better player during the SG, my answer for that is I do think he has alittle better instincts and zone coverage ability, but at the end of the day it's a much larger priority for us to be strong at the POA than it is for our SAM to be good in coverage. While you want both, we all know teams will always test our chin, with the running game that's why I still favor Simpson atleast until Forrest can add alittle more upper body mass. There is no doubt Forrest's frame can withstand plenty of more size, he is listed at 6'4 but once I saw him standing next to Bruase and he looked atleast 1 inch taller and to me Bruase looks a legit 6'4.
At the end of the day I really think Simpson will be a beast, close to 235#. If Forrest shows he can man the Sam spot and Rancifer/Malcom or anyone else proves to be able to play WILB we may see SImpson slide inside. I honestly like that move because Simpson already has very good strength and runs plenty good enough.
I do fear that we are going to be alittle weak at ILB at Will. Brause did play well I hope he continues to develop because he has all the tools. He also looked to have pretty good instincts. SInce Brause has such good speed and size I wonder if Rick and Joker would think about moving him to Will? I know alot of people are expecting great things from Henderson and a couple other freshman LB's but that's far to much IMO. Our scheme is one of the more complex a kid will ever walk into. I just hope Jabari and Brause can get it done along with Rancifer and Malcom. IMO Rancifer is going to be a very good ball player. I liked his HS video more than any LB on the way or on the current roster. He's a true side-line to side-line LB with the ability to make plays in the backfield. As soon as Rancifer adds some much needed mass he'll be fine. As of right now he's listed around 225-230. To be honest, I don't think that's 100% accurate. Malcom is also listed on the top end of that range. Malcom is a long kid at 6'3 but with all his length I think he's still about 10+# shy of were he needs to be unless he improves at reading his keys, the size factor can be overcome if a kid proves to have a keen nose for the football.
If Malcom keeps focusing on his strength and improves at reading his keys we should be fine. The thing is in a 4-3 a LB can sometimes get away with a bad read because there are a extra LB in pursuit that can physically reach almost every play. In a 34 your ILB's really have to be consistant, that's the key. At ILB our Mike has to have the strength to shed blocks and Avery can do that. He looks very good, he's listed at 245 and that just may be spot on. Since we don't run a 2 gap 34 we can still play a smaller ILB at Will than most teams because he's covered up by a NG in the 1 tech, a DT in the 3 tech and a Rushbacker in the 7 tech, that allows him to play more like a normal 43 WLB but in certain schemes he still needs to be alittle stronger than you adverage 43 OLB. I'm not in panic mode just yet because I know if Chuck Smith and Joker think Malcom can play then I do to. I just think he needs to start making it a point to understand and learn all he can about how to get over/under blocks and at reading his keys. The physical reps he gets during Summer and Fall camp should help Malcom a ton but what I found helped my game during college was taking about 15-20 min every day and doing mental reps. Every week during my college days we got the percentages of what plays teams ran in every formation. This is what will take Malcoms game to the next level, I have no doubt the ability is there, Malcom just needs to lift hard and heavy and do plenty of mental reps every day. If he does this he will become the player Joker and Co expect.
The one personel and allignment aspect of this 34 hybrid defense that I have talked about with numerous people that worries me is the fact that we play a 5 technique that isn't physically big and strong enough to 2 gap or set the edge like most other 34 d's. We use a 255-265# SE, and while that's big by most standards it pales in comparison to teams that deploy a base 34 defense. Our Sam is also smaller (right now) than most all other 34 teams. On average most teams use a 280-320# SE and Sam LB that is anywhere from 235-260#'s. I know some will say well "that's why RIck calls our D the hybrid", the thing is our current personel is fine when we are playing Spread teams but when teams come at us with 2 TE's or extra O-lineman we are very out matched. In saying that I really think we should either use two big OLB's or use a big 5 tech like Donte Rumph when we play against "I" teams or other power running formations. I 100% feel that if Ridge would have stayed out of trouble we would have saw RIdge and Bud on the field together when we played those power running teams. The thing is if we do use a big 5 tech it hurts our NG/DT rotation. That's why i'm hoping like Hell that Langston Newton or Daniel Ross (if he does end up on campus as a walk-on) can grow into this role within the next year or so. This position along with 6'1-6'2 225-240# HS ILB's are two very tough positions to recruit for. I've also said this for years, I really think all ILB/MLB prospects should be 100% familiar with the position, a kid like Malcom was a DE/Rush-Backer in HS, no he doesn't have that size in D-1 SEC football but that's the skill set he's developed, yes there has been kids move from DE to MLB and do great. However I think that's a major reason why Malcom and others seems to be a step behind while at UK. It's very similar to HS Qb's moving to WR. While there will always be kids like Braxton Kelly (who played DE in HS) and Randal Cobb's (HS QB) you still have the majority that take alittle while longer.
You can't just plug a DT in at the 5 tech because this guy still needs to be athletic enough to provide a pass-rush. Langston and Ross are two that are perfect for this role (Ross even more so than Langston). The thing with LN is he's a very explosive kid, i'm not just saying this because he does Track and field but because it's easy to see it on tape, on tape he really moves and shows top shelf quickness. Why more big teams were not all over this kid blows my mind. He is a very serious kid too, which fits the profile perfectly of a 5 tech perfectly because those guys will never lead a team in sacks or tackles but are just as important as anyone on the defense. I'm not saying Ukwu, Douglas or Farrinton can't get it done, but since Ukwu had his shoulder injury and will take a few more months into the season to recover from and since Farrington still hasn't added enough upper-body mass it will be tough for him to set the edge once we start playing against those 320# SEC OT's. I do think Farrington, Paschal and Dupree end up leading us in sacks. Those three showed me they are very athletic in this SG.
A true 5 tech was a obvious weakness every time we played a team that used 2 TE's or multiple OT's. When we played Vandy they ran Power-Off Tackle over and over. WKU also done well running off tackle. If a guy like Tristian Johnson continues to add enough size and strength to play some NG or DT it would be a major plus for us, we could then use Rumph at SE against those Power running teams until LN or someone else comes along. I do think Farrinton is a good player, another couple months or maybe even a year or two in the weight room will no doubt prepare him much more for this role. Our SE and SAM LB really do have a tough job. You can't just bring a safety down in the box all the time either, if you do you are asking to get beat over the top with play-action or other passing plays... I know alot of people aren't talking much about Mike Douglas but as of right now I do think he is our best option at 5 technique on running downs other than Rumph or Coleman. He looked very good at the SG, he did look 265-270 and not soft either. Sorry for the short-story, but these are some things I hope we can find a remidy for, if we can't we may see more teams attack us this way.
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C1180 said...
Todd: IMO a very large immovable NT and two athletic tackle types on the outside are what is needed for the 3-4 especially in running situations.
I wonder why they dont uses Cobble, Rumph and Coleman togeather in those situations.
UK has a dire need for Chapman, Gaffree and Newton to be game ready this fall.
IMO Douglas could be a wild card because he has gotten bigger and is getting close to the size we need in a player at his position if he can maintain his quicknes with the size gain.
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todd said...
I also think our D-line will be better because Rumph wasn't that strong in the weight room last year as he will be and boy does he move well for a 320#er. Cobble was also coming off a shoulder surgery, if you go back and watch the first 4-7 games he wasn't half the player he was when we played GA or TN. Coleman is going to be a good one too. I just hope he doesn't gain to much weight. I really think he should add mass over time and not just look to add all the weight he can like some have done in the past. It hurts their athleticism way more than it helps at the POA. It should be added the right way, if he and everyone else can do that we should be very solid as long as Chapman and Grafree are ready. At one point last year we were down to our 6th DT, that goes to show you can really never have to many good DT's... IMO Cobble is the main ingrediant in our scheme if he can demand those double teams it will help everyone. I really wish Brice could have stuck around, he had the ideal frame for NG, he was also one of the best looking 320# I can remember seeing when i saw him in the mall right before he left...
Getting good LB play is just as important as having good D-line play. I'm confident in Avery and Dupree, I don't have to say much about those two other than I pray they stay healthy. Simpson is a wild-card... Alot of people are saying Forrest proved he was a better player during the SG, my answer for that is I do think he has alittle better instincts and zone coverage ability, but at the end of the day it's a much larger priority for us to be strong at the POA than it is for our SAM to be good in coverage. While you want both, we all know teams will always test our chin, with the running game that's why I still favor Simpson atleast until Forrest can add alittle more upper body mass. There is no doubt Forrest's frame can withstand plenty of more size, he is listed at 6'4 but once I saw him standing next to Bruase and he looked atleast 1 inch taller and to me Bruase looks a legit 6'4.
At the end of the day I really think Simpson will be a beast, close to 235#. If Forrest shows he can man the Sam spot and Rancifer/Malcom or anyone else proves to be able to play WILB we may see SImpson slide inside. I honestly like that move because Simpson already has very good strength and runs plenty good enough.
I do fear that we are going to be alittle weak at ILB at Will. Brause did play well I hope he continues to develop because he has all the tools. He also looked to have pretty good instincts. SInce Brause has such good speed and size I wonder if Rick and Joker would think about moving him to Will? I know alot of people are expecting great things from Henderson and a couple other freshman LB's but that's far to much IMO. Our scheme is one of the more complex a kid will ever walk into. I just hope Jabari and Brause can get it done along with Rancifer and Malcom. IMO Rancifer is going to be a very good ball player. I liked his HS video more than any LB on the way or on the current roster. He's a true side-line to side-line LB with the ability to make plays in the backfield. As soon as Rancifer adds some much needed mass he'll be fine. As of right now he's listed around 225-230. To be honest, I don't think that's 100% accurate. Malcom is also listed on the top end of that range. Malcom is a long kid at 6'3 but with all his length I think he's still about 10+# shy of were he needs to be unless he improves at reading his keys, the size factor can be overcome if a kid proves to have a keen nose for the football.
If Malcom keeps focusing on his strength and improves at reading his keys we should be fine. The thing is in a 4-3 a LB can sometimes get away with a bad read because there are a extra LB in pursuit that can physically reach almost every play. In a 34 your ILB's really have to be consistant, that's the key. At ILB our Mike has to have the strength to shed blocks and Avery can do that. He looks very good, he's listed at 245 and that just may be spot on. Since we don't run a 2 gap 34 we can still play a smaller ILB at Will than most teams because he's covered up by a NG in the 1 tech, a DT in the 3 tech and a Rushbacker in the 7 tech, that allows him to play more like a normal 43 WLB but in certain schemes he still needs to be alittle stronger than you adverage 43 OLB. I'm not in panic mode just yet because I know if Chuck Smith and Joker think Malcom can play then I do to. I just think he needs to start making it a point to understand and learn all he can about how to get over/under blocks and at reading his keys. The physical reps he gets during Summer and Fall camp should help Malcom a ton but what I found helped my game during college was taking about 15-20 min every day and doing mental reps. Every week during my college days we got the percentages of what plays teams ran in every formation. This is what will take Malcoms game to the next level, I have no doubt the ability is there, Malcom just needs to lift hard and heavy and do plenty of mental reps every day. If he does this he will become the player Joker and Co expect.
The one personel and allignment aspect of this 34 hybrid defense that I have talked about with numerous people that worries me is the fact that we play a 5 technique that isn't physically big and strong enough to 2 gap or set the edge like most other 34 d's. We use a 255-265# SE, and while that's big by most standards it pales in comparison to teams that deploy a base 34 defense. Our Sam is also smaller (right now) than most all other 34 teams. On average most teams use a 280-320# SE and Sam LB that is anywhere from 235-260#'s. I know some will say well "that's why RIck calls our D the hybrid", the thing is our current personel is fine when we are playing Spread teams but when teams come at us with 2 TE's or extra O-lineman we are very out matched. In saying that I really think we should either use two big OLB's or use a big 5 tech like Donte Rumph when we play against "I" teams or other power running formations. I 100% feel that if Ridge would have stayed out of trouble we would have saw RIdge and Bud on the field together when we played those power running teams. The thing is if we do use a big 5 tech it hurts our NG/DT rotation. That's why i'm hoping like Hell that Langston Newton or Daniel Ross (if he does end up on campus as a walk-on) can grow into this role within the next year or so. This position along with 6'1-6'2 225-240# HS ILB's are two very tough positions to recruit for. I've also said this for years, I really think all ILB/MLB prospects should be 100% familiar with the position, a kid like Malcom was a DE/Rush-Backer in HS, no he doesn't have that size in D-1 SEC football but that's the skill set he's developed, yes there has been kids move from DE to MLB and do great. However I think that's a major reason why Malcom and others seems to be a step behind while at UK. It's very similar to HS Qb's moving to WR. While there will always be kids like Braxton Kelly (who played DE in HS) and Randal Cobb's (HS QB) you still have the majority that take alittle while longer.
You can't just plug a DT in at the 5 tech because this guy still needs to be athletic enough to provide a pass-rush. Langston and Ross are two that are perfect for this role (Ross even more so than Langston). The thing with LN is he's a very explosive kid, i'm not just saying this because he does Track and field but because it's easy to see it on tape, on tape he really moves and shows top shelf quickness. Why more big teams were not all over this kid blows my mind. He is a very serious kid too, which fits the profile perfectly of a 5 tech perfectly because those guys will never lead a team in sacks or tackles but are just as important as anyone on the defense. I'm not saying Ukwu, Douglas or Farrinton can't get it done, but since Ukwu had his shoulder injury and will take a few more months into the season to recover from and since Farrington still hasn't added enough upper-body mass it will be tough for him to set the edge once we start playing against those 320# SEC OT's. I do think Farrington, Paschal and Dupree end up leading us in sacks. Those three showed me they are very athletic in this SG.
A true 5 tech was a obvious weakness every time we played a team that used 2 TE's or multiple OT's. When we played Vandy they ran Power-Off Tackle over and over. WKU also done well running off tackle. If a guy like Tristian Johnson continues to add enough size and strength to play some NG or DT it would be a major plus for us, we could then use Rumph at SE against those Power running teams until LN or someone else comes along. I do think Farrinton is a good player, another couple months or maybe even a year or two in the weight room will no doubt prepare him much more for this role. Our SE and SAM LB really do have a tough job. You can't just bring a safety down in the box all the time either, if you do you are asking to get beat over the top with play-action or other passing plays... I know alot of people aren't talking much about Mike Douglas but as of right now I do think he is our best option at 5 technique on running downs other than Rumph or Coleman. He looked very good at the SG, he did look 265-270 and not soft either. Sorry for the short-story, but these are some things I hope we can find a remidy for, if we can't we may see more teams attack us this way.
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todd said...
I also think our D-line will be better because Rumph wasn't that strong in the weight room last year as he will be and boy does he move well for a 320#er. Cobble was also coming off a shoulder surgery, if you go back and watch the first 4-7 games he wasn't half the player he was when we played GA or TN. Coleman is going to be a good one too. I just hope he doesn't gain to much weight. I really think he should add mass over time and not just look to add all the weight he can like some have done in the past. It hurts their athleticism way more than it helps at the POA. It should be added the right way, if he and everyone else can do that we should be very solid as long as Chapman and Grafree are ready. At one point last year we were down to our 6th DT, that goes to show you can really never have to many good DT's... IMO Cobble is the main ingrediant in our scheme if he can demand those double teams it will help everyone. I really wish Brice could have stuck around, he had the ideal frame for NG, he was also one of the best looking 320# I can remember seeing when i saw him in the mall right before he left...
Getting good LB play is just as important as having good D-line play. I'm confident in Avery and Dupree, I don't have to say much about those two other than I pray they stay healthy. Simpson is a wild-card... Alot of people are saying Forrest proved he was a better player during the SG, my answer for that is I do think he has alittle better instincts and zone coverage ability, but at the end of the day it's a much larger priority for us to be strong at the POA than it is for our SAM to be good in coverage. While you want both, we all know teams will always test our chin, with the running game that's why I still favor Simpson atleast until Forrest can add alittle more upper body mass. There is no doubt Forrest's frame can withstand plenty of more size, he is listed at 6'4 but once I saw him standing next to Bruase and he looked atleast 1 inch taller and to me Bruase looks a legit 6'4.
At the end of the day I really think Simpson will be a beast, close to 235#. If Forrest shows he can man the Sam spot and Rancifer/Malcom or anyone else proves to be able to play WILB we may see SImpson slide inside. I honestly like that move because Simpson already has very good strength and runs plenty good enough.
I do fear that we are going to be alittle weak at ILB at Will. Brause did play well I hope he continues to develop because he has all the tools. He also looked to have pretty good instincts. SInce Brause has such good speed and size I wonder if Rick and Joker would think about moving him to Will? I know alot of people are expecting great things from Henderson and a couple other freshman LB's but that's far to much IMO. Our scheme is one of the more complex a kid will ever walk into. I just hope Jabari and Brause can get it done along with Rancifer and Malcom. IMO Rancifer is going to be a very good ball player. I liked his HS video more than any LB on the way or on the current roster. He's a true side-line to side-line LB with the ability to make plays in the backfield. As soon as Rancifer adds some much needed mass he'll be fine. As of right now he's listed around 225-230. To be honest, I don't think that's 100% accurate. Malcom is also listed on the top end of that range. Malcom is a long kid at 6'3 but with all his length I think he's still about 10+# shy of were he needs to be unless he improves at reading his keys, the size factor can be overcome if a kid proves to have a keen nose for the football.
If Malcom keeps focusing on his strength and improves at reading his keys we should be fine. The thing is in a 4-3 a LB can sometimes get away with a bad read because there are a extra LB in pursuit that can physically reach almost every play. In a 34 your ILB's really have to be consistant, that's the key. At ILB our Mike has to have the strength to shed blocks and Avery can do that. He looks very good, he's listed at 245 and that just may be spot on. Since we don't run a 2 gap 34 we can still play a smaller ILB at Will than most teams because he's covered up by a NG in the 1 tech, a DT in the 3 tech and a Rushbacker in the 7 tech, that allows him to play more like a normal 43 WLB but in certain schemes he still needs to be alittle stronger than you adverage 43 OLB. I'm not in panic mode just yet because I know if Chuck Smith and Joker think Malcom can play then I do to. I just think he needs to start making it a point to understand and learn all he can about how to get over/under blocks and at reading his keys. The physical reps he gets during Summer and Fall camp should help Malcom a ton but what I found helped my game during college was taking about 15-20 min every day and doing mental reps. Every week during my college days we got the percentages of what plays teams ran in every formation. This is what will take Malcoms game to the next level, I have no doubt the ability is there, Malcom just needs to lift hard and heavy and do plenty of mental reps every day. If he does this he will become the player Joker and Co expect.
The one personel and allignment aspect of this 34 hybrid defense that I have talked about with numerous people that worries me is the fact that we play a 5 technique that isn't physically big and strong enough to 2 gap or set the edge like most other 34 d's. We use a 255-265# SE, and while that's big by most standards it pales in comparison to teams that deploy a base 34 defense. Our Sam is also smaller (right now) than most all other 34 teams. On average most teams use a 280-320# SE and Sam LB that is anywhere from 235-260#'s. I know some will say well "that's why RIck calls our D the hybrid", the thing is our current personel is fine when we are playing Spread teams but when teams come at us with 2 TE's or extra O-lineman we are very out matched. In saying that I really think we should either use two big OLB's or use a big 5 tech like Donte Rumph when we play against "I" teams or other power running formations. I 100% feel that if Ridge would have stayed out of trouble we would have saw RIdge and Bud on the field together when we played those power running teams. The thing is if we do use a big 5 tech it hurts our NG/DT rotation. That's why i'm hoping like Hell that Langston Newton or Daniel Ross (if he does end up on campus as a walk-on) can grow into this role within the next year or so. This position along with 6'1-6'2 225-240# HS ILB's are two very tough positions to recruit for. I've also said this for years, I really think all ILB/MLB prospects should be 100% familiar with the position, a kid like Malcom was a DE/Rush-Backer in HS, no he doesn't have that size in D-1 SEC football but that's the skill set he's developed, yes there has been kids move from DE to MLB and do great. However I think that's a major reason why Malcom and others seems to be a step behind while at UK. It's very similar to HS Qb's moving to WR. While there will always be kids like Braxton Kelly (who played DE in HS) and Randal Cobb's (HS QB) you still have the majority that take alittle while longer.
You can't just plug a DT in at the 5 tech because this guy still needs to be athletic enough to provide a pass-rush. Langston and Ross are two that are perfect for this role (Ross even more so than Langston). The thing with LN is he's a very explosive kid, i'm not just saying this because he does Track and field but because it's easy to see it on tape, on tape he really moves and shows top shelf quickness. Why more big teams were not all over this kid blows my mind. He is a very serious kid too, which fits the profile perfectly of a 5 tech perfectly because those guys will never lead a team in sacks or tackles but are just as important as anyone on the defense. I'm not saying Ukwu, Douglas or Farrinton can't get it done, but since Ukwu had his shoulder injury and will take a few more months into the season to recover from and since Farrington still hasn't added enough upper-body mass it will be tough for him to set the edge once we start playing against those 320# SEC OT's. I do think Farrington, Paschal and Dupree end up leading us in sacks. Those three showed me they are very athletic in this SG.
A true 5 tech was a obvious weakness every time we played a team that used 2 TE's or multiple OT's. When we played Vandy they ran Power-Off Tackle over and over. WKU also done well running off tackle. If a guy like Tristian Johnson continues to add enough size and strength to play some NG or DT it would be a major plus for us, we could then use Rumph at SE against those Power running teams until LN or someone else comes along. I do think Farrinton is a good player, another couple months or maybe even a year or two in the weight room will no doubt prepare him much more for this role. Our SE and SAM LB really do have a tough job. You can't just bring a safety down in the box all the time either, if you do you are asking to get beat over the top with play-action or other passing plays... I know alot of people aren't talking much about Mike Douglas but as of right now I do think he is our best option at 5 technique on running downs other than Rumph or Coleman. He looked very good at the SG, he did look 265-270 and not soft either. Sorry for the short-story, but these are some things I hope we can find a remidy for, if we can't we may see more teams attack us this way.
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Can UK stop the rush this year?