Time to talk a little spring football

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 29, 2008 11:28 AM EDT in Football

Here in Wildcat country, we love our football. We just don't love it quite as much as basketball.

The news coming out of early spring training is good, and there are lots of interesting things to talk about. First, we have this article in the Herald-Leader today, which briefly discusses the expected competition at quarterback, and some changes Brooks is thinking about making. Here are the main ones of interest:

E.J. Adams to wide receiver -- Adams was mostly an offensive player in high school, having played every offensive skill position except tight end. Brooks seems to think that due to the lack of experience at WR and the apparent depth we have at the corners with Ahmad Grigsby back from health problems, David Jones looking so so strong in the early practice and Randall Burden rapidly improving.
A.J. Nance from MLB to fullback -- Currently third on the MLB depth chart, Nance played some fullback in high school, and at 5'11"/250#, he certainly has the body for it. I wonder if this is the first step in moving John Conner to tight end. Conner is a bit short for the TE position, but he is a good blocker, and has great hands. He was a valuable spot-duty receiver last year and made a spectacular catch against Florida. There has also been speculation that perhaps #2 fullback Maurice Grinter may be moved to TE rather than Conner. But this move does look like an attempt to shore up depth at the fullback position with an eye toward moving either Conner or Grinter to TE.
Matt Lentz, recruited as a quarterback, is going to give the safety spot a try. Apparently, he broke his thumb last year and has not been able to throw the ball as well since. There is currently a logjam at QB with Curtis Pulley, Will Fidler and Mike Hartline all fighting for the spot. Plus, Brooks has promised freshmen Randall Cobb and Matt Roark a look at the spot, which potentially makes it a very competitive position for the foreseeable future.

Then, there is this article in the Kentucky Kernel that talks about how the players are dealing with the absence of the seniors that they grew up having around. Of course, we go through this every year when Kentucky's seniors move on to bigger and better things, but this year is a bit extraordinary with the loss of so many guys collectively having a huge impact on Kentucky's climb out of the cellar of the SEC into a mid-pack competitor.

I'll be watching as spring training continues, and update everyone as they become available. Wildcat football is becoming exciting again, and as we move from dusk into the Long Night on the dark side of Planet Basketball, football spring training will draw news and interest. I am excited with our football recruiting class and the possibility that this team may even be better, overall, than last years' due to a significantly deeper and likely better defense. How the offense will pan out with the loss of Woodson & Co. remains to be seen, however.

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QB situation and offensive changes

With Pulley and Cobb in the mix, I know I've heard some talk about the possibility of running the fad offense of the day with the spread option. I think that's more of the sort of change we won't see until it really is the Joker show, but its an intriguing possibility.

As always, I remain skeptical but interested. Its just so hard to get excited for a season when you know that no matter what you do, you are practically guaranteed at least 5 conference losses barring a major upset along the way.

by chirop1 on Mar 29, 2008 12:43 PM EDT 0 recs

Grinter

If I recall correctly, Brooks or some other coach said last year that they were going to look at putting Grinter at TE. I heard that more than once. This is the first I have heard anything about Conner at that spot.

Of course a lot has happened and can happen since then too! Can't wait for football season.

by blueninja on Mar 29, 2008 2:14 PM EDT 0 recs

This year is the true test for Brooks

Coming off two great years for UK, this year will be the true test for Brooks. Can he sustain his success or will Kentucky fall by the football wayside again?

Some would say we had something of a "perfect storm" last year, with a cast of great seniors where everything came together to win against the national champion, LSU. Certainly we've lost a lot of our "star power" and leadership, but the team looks fundamentally strong on the offensive and defensive lines.

I'm expecting to see a very different offensive look this season. First, the starting offense we've gotten used to has been decimated: Little, Burton, Johnson, and Woodson all graduated. Also, Pulley is not as accurate with the long ball compared to Woodson. So I expect us to transition from a "big play" type team to a more grind-it-out SEC-style offense.

Anyway, I'm pretty excited to see what will happen this year. The #2 team last year (Georgia) will be coming to commonwealth this year, can we pull off another monster upset? Time will tell.

by EEWildcat on Mar 29, 2008 4:49 PM EDT 0 recs

Papa Brooks.

In my opinion, regardless of what happens in the '08 season, Brooks has proved his worth to this program.

He's already passed every test possible, the next step he takes is not a "test", it is whether he can do someting unprecedented over the last 50 years or so.

The "perfect storm" you write of was a result of trememdous recruiting and player development. It wasn't an accident. I certainly expect the excellence displayed by Brooks and his staff to continue for the forseeable future.

by Ken Howlett on Mar 30, 2008 11:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

Undoubtedly

Brooks has done a great job with the program. I don't think he has anything to prove to the fans or the administration. The test I speak of is one of Brooks's own abilities that anyone who wants to achieve something goes through constantly.

Rebuilding a program from the depth of probation and mediocrity is great. Two great seasons are great. Two consecutive bowl wins are great. But if you're an achiever, you don't just rest on your laurels, you continue to put your own abilities to the test of competition. Can we have a third or fourth good season before Brooks retires?

Every season is a test. Would you be content to take our 2 bowl wins, and go 0-12 for the next few seasons? Or 3-9? I hope not. I'd like to think that the team is able to sustain a good level of success, and what we saw the last two years wasn't just a flash in the pan.

Not to be a pessimist, but that cast of seniors included many highly ranked recruits. We've done a solid job recruiting, getting better and better athletes. On the other hand, while I'm no football expert, it hasn't been my impression that we've been able to replicate the 2008 senior class's recruiting star power since, despite our success.

I think we'll continue to do well too, and I'm excited about the season. But our success is not a foregone conclusion, and I think we still have some story to experience before the curtain call.

by EEWildcat on Mar 31, 2008 1:07 AM EDT up 0 recs

Surprisingly ...

the senior class recruits that are leaving this year were not all that highly rated. Coming out of high school, I believe only André Woodson was rated even as high as a 4-star by Rivals. The rest of the skill position players were 3-star or below. This year's cast of skill players are not significantly lower rated. Pulley is a high 3-star, Fidler and Hartline are also 3-star.

We should be OK, especially defensively. Our offense is a concern because it is new, but our O-line, for the first time in years, aught to be at or near SEC quality.

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 31, 2008 7:55 AM EDT up 0 recs

Mistaken Memory?

Maybe I'm wrong, but I remember some of the stars from that class (and I horribly forgot to mention our excellent former TE Jacob Tamme) being highly rated from some of the other services.

by EEWildcat on Mar 31, 2008 10:26 AM EDT up 0 recs

On that I agree.

by Ken Howlett on Mar 31, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

blue & white game?

anybody know when it is? i'd like to go this year

by spork on Mar 29, 2008 6:32 PM EDT 0 recs

Blue/White Game

Pretty sure it's next Saturday but am not totally sure.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Mar 29, 2008 8:44 PM EDT 0 recs

just found it in an article on ukathletics.com

"The team will return to practice Friday morning. The Wildcats have 15 practices scheduled, capped by the Blue/White Spring Game on Sat. Apr. 19."

by spork on Mar 29, 2008 11:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

need an edit button :)

do you buy tickets for this or is it pay at the gate or what?
never been

by spork on Mar 29, 2008 11:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

Football season,

I can't wait, I almost watched the LSU game again a few evening ago but got distracted. Next year, I think that things will be slightly better than what the experts will predict. I wouldn't be shocked if we went 7-5, or at least 6-6; Norfolk State, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Arkansas at home could/should result in at least four wins, hopefully five. And while the team has lost the all important playing experience, the team should benefit from the fact that, for the second time only, essentially the entire roster will have been soley recruited by and coached by Brooks et al.. Last year showed that consistancy within a program does mean a great deal. Our running game has the potential to be extremely effective next year with Locke and company running behind our offensive line which, this being their third year under O-line coach Heggins, could be even better the predicted. A good running game, in addition to a solid secondary, could result in some unexpected success in the SEC for the CATS. ...
Or QB inexperience and the ghost of UK's historically bad run defence could haunt the progam like Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghost of probation past and sink UK football back into the depths of complete irrelevance.
Nonetheless, there is one 'Rich Brooks Field' at a school that was a game or two away from a spot in this year's National Championship for good reason; Brooks delivered Oregon from the laughing stalk of the Pac 10 to a Rose Bowl championship. As Mark Twain would say, 'History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme.' I don't think Brooks is finished with his good work here in Lexington.

by cdnWildcatfan on Mar 30, 2008 1:29 AM EDT 0 recs