The House of Blue

+++Football practices are often pretty monotonous throughout the year, as are the post-practice interviews and cool downs for the players. I've listened to players tell me for years how awful training camp can be and you've got to mix it up a little bit, which is exactly what Joker Phillips did today. As the media made its way out to do interviews and the players were huddled up on a far practice field, the gates to Nutter Training Facility opened, the speakers came on and a good 'ole fashioned ice cream truck slowly crept through. The music, Master P's 'Ice Cream Man', blared and the players – and some media - came sprinting as if they were running 40s for NFL scouts. Hilarious.

“We just thought we'd throw them a bone,” Phillips said. “When you were little and you heard the ice cream truck, ice cream man coming and heard that bell you'd lose your mind and I wanted our guys to lose their mind for a second. Most of them did but (Rick) Minter wouldn't let the defense lost their mind for a minute. They're working really hard, they really are. We thought we'd throw them a bone today.”

+++If you want to see video of the ice cream man, I'll link John Clay's video below. Also, I cracked up when center Matt Smith said he could run a 40 in two seconds if it meant the ice cream truck was always at the end. He wasn't the only one.

+++James is going to come through here shortly with an in-depth story on the battle at running back, which is well timed considering Joker talked about it at length today. I won't give all of his thoughts away but it's clear they are working five guys pretty extensively there: CoShik Williams, Ray Sanders, Jonathan George, Dyshawn Mobley and Justin Taylor. Josh Clemons is still having his workload monitored and basically practicing every other day or so, but as of now there are no plans to redshirt him according to Joker.

“There are five guys that have to get reps because we have to get prepared for this Saturday, especially the young guys,” Phillips said. “Three guys are working the (1st team) reps and two are working the second and third-team reps. It's just kind of wadded up right now. They're all good enough to play and good enough to win with.”

+++What does Joker like about Mobley and Taylor? Something everyone has been saying UK has needed for awhile: “When was the last time you saw us move the pile? Those guys move the pile.”

+++Today was Kentucky's first practice in full pads. It was also the hottest day thus far. I remember Rick Minter saying not long after he got here that when you practice in full pads it ought to sound that way so I asked Joker if it sounded like they practiced in full pads today.

“Sounding like full pads and understanding how to practice and staying off the ground in what we call a thud practice,” Phillips said. “Avery Williamson is a perfect example of that. He plays behind his pads and all that equals balance and being in a striking position. That helps it sound like you're playing in full pads. It's a beautiful sound.”

Minter didn't sound as impressed with the defense but wasn't upset either: “We played like we put on another 30 pounds and kind of moved that way actually. The sun came out today and it was pretty grueling but they fought through it.”

+++There was only one turnover today and Phillips said the offense was much crisper: “You usually look better when you're throwing and catching the ball and we threw and caught the ball a lot better today,” Phillips said. “We had the ball on the ground one time and that was when a young running back stopped running and one of the defensive guys punched it out. If you've got the ball in your hand you've got to carry it like it's your most prized possession.”

+++When asked about the defense's work to this point, Rick Minter had one of my favorite lines thus far because, well, any time you can reference baby food after football practice it's a good day:

“The first unit (looks good) and they're ones for a reason,” Minter said. “The linebacker corps is brand new but are stepping up and trying to play well. All in all I'm pleased with the ones and then there is a gap between the ones and twos and the thirds are green and eating Gerber.”

+++Minter raved about MLB Avery Williams: “Avery is our man, our man in the middle. Team leader. Great kid. He has to step up and own the team.” He also said right now Malcolm McDuffen is leading the way at WILL linebacker, but Demarius Rancifer is pushing him.

+++Noticed TE Jordan Aumiller was in a walking boot today. Not sure what's up, but figured I'd pass it along.