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X-Factor for Football..

  • Who do you consider to be the X-Factor for this team? Someone not in the Spotlight that could make a huge difference on this team. I'm going with Miles Simpson, I have to think filling Winston Guys after last year will be impossible. Not looking for him to be Winston but just a solid player. Difference between this Defense and last years is I think we have stars and solid players, not just a couple of stars...

    golfnut51

  • On defense I'll go with whoever wins the WLB job. With our Dline being solid I think most offenses will try to run away and shade their pass blocking away from DuPree. That's gonna set the WLB up to make a ton of plays, and how that position holds up (particularly against the run) may determine how our defense holds up overall.

    On offense it's the entire Oline. I think we have the skill position players to make a huge difference in our offense but I just can't get past how much poor Oline play hampered us last year (yes I know a lot of it was because of injuries). It absolutely must improve this season for UK to have a fighting chance at a bowl game.

    signature image

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

    rgunslinger

  • Ukwu or E.J. Fields

    signature image

    Big Sarge

  • One of the young WR's (Robinson, Collins, Legree, or Sweat), but I could see Boyd having 35 or 40 catches this year if he works hard.

    usa1000

  • Honestly, I think its Kevin Mitchell. I understand its a year later, but he got absolutley blown up in the season opener last year verse WKU at RG. I don't recall seeing alot of him after that game. He has to be able to, "stay in the way" of his guy.

    bigbluemist

  • Offense - I'm going Robinson and/or Collins. They won't have the most receiving yds/TDs, but I believe that one or both are going to make critical catches or break plays to keep the chains moving.

    Defense - Ukwu? Or a CB? Maybe? Dupree is going to get most of the spotlight. Avery is likely going to lead the team in tackles by a large margin. Ukwu has steadily gotten better every yr and with an improved line as a whole he may take off......."may." One of the CB's may quietly put up decent numbers as well, while the rest struggle at times.

    BlueRaider22

  • Whoever is playing RT. Maybe Neloms as well, if he locks down that corner spot and plays lights out our defense will be much better.

    PAXCAT

  • Nice topic.

    Offense – Daryl Collins

    Defense – Miles Simpson

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    Chris Fisher

  • Offense: Randy Sanders. Got to help the OL with more running to start. Run blocking = confidence in pass blocking, take it from a previous OL in HS.
    Defense: Neloms by far, if he can lock down the boundary CB position and Cartier Rice can hold his own, you can have a less experience guy in the #3 spot and the secondary doesn't look as bad with them and Benton and Lowery/Faulkner. This defense will hinge on CB play, good or bad, because of Minters system.

    trueUKgamer

  • Defense: Avery Williamson. The D is going to need lots of on field Leadership due to lack of experience and age.
    Offense: Matt Smith. If he can keep the communication to the OL in gear and make the right presnap calls I think the OL is talented enough to have a good yr.

    msdcatfan

  • After reading all of these posts something struck me:

    There are very few posters who agree on an x-factor......that says to me two things
    a) there isn't a clear cut x-factor that seems to have emerged

    and/or

    b) there are so many areas that are dying for improvement that we're all hoping for an x-factor

    either way.....ouch and ouch.

    BlueRaider22

  • BlueRaider22 said...

    After reading all of these posts something struck me:

    There are very few posters who agree on an x-factor......that says to me two things a) there isn't a clear cut x-factor that seems to have emerged

    and/or

    b) there are so many areas that are dying for improvement that we're all hoping for an x-factor

    either way.....ouch and ouch.

    Or c) people have differing views on what UK will need to do this year to improve, some feel OL, some feel WR, some think LB. Matter of perspective my friend. Not even ESPN analyst agree on X factors for teams. Just saying

    trueUKgamer

  • On offense I will go with Ronnie Shields as he seems to me to have the most potential at TE, a position that we have lacked for several years now. If he can become a solid target with a 35 + Catch season UK will have a MUCH improved offense.

    On defense I will go with Rumph and Cobble. We can no longer afford to be gashed by run games and we have been told that our dline is as good as any in SEC sans maybe LSU and Bama. It is time results are shown.

    SEC Fanatic

  • Offense - One of the freshman WR(Sweat, Legree, or Collins(rFS).) I think it's imperative that the offense be able to stretch the field, and open the game up. As long as the QB can get it to the WR in stride and make for some good long plays, then I think we'll be alright. The OL needs to make sure it's blocking correctly and everything, but I don't really worry about them as much (Minus Mitchell, he kinda worries me.) Warford and Smith are going to be the ones we rely on the most for their experience and know how.

    Defense - Everyone. The DL should be very solid, with questions in the secondary (obviously), so I hope the linebackers step up, the cornerbacks and safeties, and Rumph, Cobble and the entire DL come to play in every game. I know they might be a bit outmatched against some of the offenses of the SEC (hell, who wouldn't be) but if they put enough effort into it, I think we'll be alright.

    That's just my homer take, lol.

    Keep Calm & Stoops On..

    _Mike_

  • Chris Fisher said...

    Nice topic.

    Offense – Daryl Collins

    Defense – Miles Simpson

    Offense: the offensive line and the receivers. I believe our running backs will be productive. With reasonable protection/blocking I believe our quarterback (Smith) will deliver

    Defense: Rumph/Cobble and the entire defensive line---they can(with serious pressure on the the opposing quarterbacks help overcome our youth and inexperience in our pass defense ranks

    Special Teams: punt return and punting can help give us more and better opportunities to score

    catdaddy4uk ●

  • Im going with

    Ashley Lowrey think he could have a big yr on D and hes electric on kick off return

    Jalen Whitlow
    Believe he will play Wildcat Qb and be damn good at it + he may get to run the offence Matt ran against ut.

    catfaninMs

  • It would be one hell of a coaching jobs for Sanders and Joker if they can run a successful two QB system. I believe Towles and Whitlow are talented enough to make things happen but hopefully Smith will be consistent and solid so we won't have to use either one much or just Whitlow in certain situations. It would be fun to watch if Whitlow could come in as a freshman and make big things happen.

    tWhit

  • BlueRaider22 said...

    After reading all of these posts something struck me:

    There are very few posters who agree on an x-factor......that says to me two things a) there isn't a clear cut x-factor that seems to have emerged

    and/or

    b) there are so many areas that are dying for improvement that we're all hoping for an x-factor

    either way.....ouch and ouch.

    Just depends on your definition of X-factor. I tried to stay away from the more established guys when making my selections.

    signature image

    Chris Fisher

  • tWhit said...

    It would be one hell of a coaching jobs for Sanders and Joker if they can run a successful two QB system. I believe Towles and Whitlow are talented enough to make things happen but hopefully Smith will be consistent and solid so we won't have to use either one much or just Whitlow in certain situations. It would be fun to watch if Whitlow could come in as a freshman and make big things happen.

    I was going to go with Sweat loved him since he signed or Legree, but ive seen them on here a few time wanted to try and be different.
    Almost went with Cunningham 6'4 220 4.4 speed hope he gets in the field this yr, think he would be great with him and King at 6'4(?) Could cause match up nightmares for some dbs.

    catfaninMs

  • tWhit said...

    It would be one hell of a coaching jobs for Sanders and Joker if they can run a successful two QB system. I believe Towles and Whitlow are talented enough to make things happen but hopefully Smith will be consistent and solid so we won't have to use either one much or just Whitlow in certain situations. It would be fun to watch if Whitlow could come in as a freshman and make big things happen.

    Btw i have bought into Smith at Qb, i really like this young man as well. Tuff, leader, teammates seem to rally around him last yr, and oh yeah he will throw to the Tightend love that.

    I was just trying to think outside the box.

    catfaninMs

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