Wildcats Prepare for Spring Drills with Great Expectations
for 2008 Football Season
April Practices to Test Many Returning Wildcats in Key
Positional Competitions
- Frank Cassady
In Lexington, interest in football has reached a 50-year
crescendo. After decades of frustration, UK's football program is back in
a big way under veteran Head Coach Rich Brooks and his staff.
Consider the vibrato and thunder of UK's dramatic turnaround.
From 2000-2005, the Wildcats posted a combined 20-48 record under three head coaches
(Hal Mumme, Guy Morriss, and Brooks), as the UK football program endured the devastating
consequences of NCAA probation resulting from Mumme's previous recruiting violations.
Now, the NCAA sanctions are in the past, and the Wildcats have responded
with a 16-10 record and back-to-back Music City Bowl victories over ACC powerhouses
Clemson and Florida State in 2006 and 2007.
This remarkable change of direction has been anchored by
UK's fine 2007 senior class. Andre Woodson graduates as UK's third-ranked
QB of all time in net career passing yards, and fourth in career touchdown passes.
Rafael Little departs Lexington as one of only three running backs in SEC history
to rush for 2000 career yards and receive passes for another 1000 yards.
TE Jacob Tamme and LB Wesley Woodyard are first team all-SEC performers.
Keenan Burton ranks fourth historically among UK receivers in both all-time receiving
yardage and TD receptions. WR Steve Johnson's 2007 season was statistically
the best of all UK receivers, and it seemed that every one of Johnson's 13 TD receptions
came with games on the line. Safety Roger Williams has also received all-SEC
recognition during his UK career. Offensive linemen Eric Scott and Jason
Leger enjoyed fine performances in 2007, while defensive end Dominick Lewis became
one of UK's better pass rushers by season's end.
So there is no doubt that UK's 2007 senior class will be
very difficult to replace. And yet, replacing them is Coach Brooks' key to
continuing success for this football program.
For all of these reasons, when spring drills are held in
April, competition will be keener than ever at almost every position on the football
field. UK's coaching staff will carefully watch these competitions and formulate
tentative plans for extending the football program's recent success in 2008 and
beyond.
Following is a preview of UK's 2008 spring drills.
OFFENSE
Seven starters have been lost from UK's excellent 2007 offensive
unit, but many talented Wildcats return. The
first order of business in April will be to find a successor to Woodson, and figure
out who will catch the new UK quarterback's passes. Here are the positional
breakdowns.
Quarterback
Overview
Sophomore incumbent back-up Mike Hartline returns.
While Woodson dominated the SEC, Hartline saw very little action in 2007.
Hartline will be challenged in spring drills by redshirt junior Curtis
Pulley and redshirt freshman Matt Lentz. Pulley tentatively won the starting
QB job in 2006 spring drills, before giving it back to Woodson the following August.
While Woodson went on to become one of the nation's top QBs, Pulley was compelled
to overcome academic problems and sit out the 2007 season. After a
productive performance on UK's practice team under Randy Sanders' tutelage, Pulley
now enters spring drills as the preliminary favorite in the eyes of many veteran
UK football observers. Everyone knows Pulley has the requisite athleticism.
Sanders' objective in April will be to find out whether Pulley has mastered the
mechanical aspects of the job, and he will also be keeping a close eye on Hartline's
development and conditioning.
Analysis
Of UK's three primary QBs, Pulley has been in the program
the longest, and is the only one to have actually started a UK football game.
Pulley has a strong arm, but his past performances have often suffered from poor
footwork and flawed pocket mechanics. Because he often looks to run
first, Pulley has tended to display what coached like to call "happy feet", which
means that he does not set his feet properly before releasing a pass. This
classic mechanical flaw often leads to inaccurate, flat-trajectory throws.
QB coach Randy Sanders worked hard with Pulley on his throwing motion and pocket
mechanics during his redshirt season. This was an important test of Sanders'
legendary coaching talents. The preliminary reports on Pulley are good.
UK Offensive Coordinator Joker Phillips considers Pulley the best player and athlete
in UK's football program at any position, which tells you Pulley has the inside
track to the starting job if he plays well in April. And while the upcoming
rebuilding job in UK's receiver rotations will complicate Pulley's spring challenge
somewhat, Pulley does have the athletic ability to make plays with his feet when
UK's receivers are not open because he is one of the team's fastest athletes.
Meanwhile, Hartline will try to avoid becoming a career back-up. Hartline
is a natural leader. He is surprisingly athletic, and has advanced pocket
skills. He has an imposing 6'6" frame and great vision. His arm is
not quite as strong as Woodson's, but it is strong enough to make any throw in UK's
play book. Hartline can break the pocket and gain yardage with his feet in
space better than Woodson, but not as well as Pulley or Lentz. Hartline
needs to keep working on the receiver progressions, and learn to release his passes
a little quicker. With more experience, Hartline has a chance to become a
productive SEC QB. The question is, can he win the starting job in
April? It will be interesting to watch how quickly Hartline progresses with
focused attention from Sanders in April. Hartline must also put on more weight
and muscle in order to survive the wear and tear of SEC play. Although
he came to UK two years ago weighing less than 190#, Hartline is up to 210#
now. If Hartline throws the football well in April, he is fully capable of
making a legitimate race of this competition with Pulley. But keep in mind
that Pulley has both experience and athleticism on his side. I believe Pulley
has too many advantages, and will start in 2008. It simply remains for Pulley
to execute in April. Lentz has talent and leadership
ability, but is way behind Pulley and Hartline at this juncture. Pencil Lentz
into UK's #3 QB role in 2008.
Projected starter: Pulley
Fullback
Overview
Starter John Connor returns. Connor came to UK as
a walk-on, but quickly claimed the FB job with his devastating blocking. Last
year, Connor also saw a modest amount of action as a short yardage rusher.
Connor's principal competition will come from Maurice Grinter and Moncell Allen,
both of whom are better rushers than Connor, but neither of whom blocks like Connor.
Ben Bates is the other scholarship FB, but he is way behind the first three.
The coaches' goals in April will be to keep Connor healthy, tutor Allen in the fundamentals
of the position, and make a decision on Grinter's position for the fall.
Analysis
Connor is becoming quite a story at UK. At 5'11"
230#, Connor is a powerfully built young man with great natural leverage and a knack
for blocking. He has a blue collar mentality and a mean streak. A review
of game film shows Connor often flattening opposing linebackers. Although an infrequent ball carrier, Connor rushed for TDs
inside the red zone in close games on the road against Arkansas and South Carolina
in 2007, which tells you that Joker trusts him in critical situations. Everytime
another UK FB has tried to take the starting job away from Connor, the kid has won
the competition with his great blocking. Grinter is the best athlete
among the FBs. Grinter has moved around to several different positions during
his UK career. He came to UK as a safety, then received looks at LB and RB
before settling at FB in August, 2006. All of this positional movement has
delayed Grinter's mastery of fundamentals. He plays too upright, and does
not employ proper footwork in his blocking assignments. This has kept Grinter
from being able to take playing time away from Connor, since the FB is primarily
a blocker in UK's offensive scheme. However, despite everything, Grinter is
a pretty good rusher because of his burst and quickness, and a much better than
average pass receiver because of his outstanding hands. As Grinter becomes
a better blocker, he could win more playing time. But it is also possible
that UK's coaching staff may subject Grinter to yet another positional move in April,
by taking a look at him as a TE. Allen is a 5'8" 220# power rusher with excellent
balance and pretty good hands. Allen has not yet learned to block like a
FB needs to block, but he certainly knows what to do with the football in his hands....which
is why Grinter may be available to move to TE. Bates is lost in this competition
behind the first three.
Projected starter: Connor
Running Back
Overview
Rafael Little has now completed one of the greatest careers
in modern UK history. Now, Joker must find another RB to shoulder the
bulk of the rushing responsibilities. The 2008 starting job will be Tony Dixon's
to lose. But Dixon will receive a strong challenge in April from Derrick
Locke, Brandon Jackson, and Alfonzo Smith.
Even without Little, this remains one of the deepest and most talented rotations
in UK's football program. The thrust in April will be to keep these talented
athletes healthy, and work on their coordination and familiarity with UK's new starting
QB.
Analysis
Dixon will be a fifth-year senior in 2008. Aside
from his experience, Dixon has another advantage because he is a skillful pass receiver
out of the backfield, which is an important role for UK's RBs in Joker's schemes.
Dixon has already rushed for 969 yards in his UK career. If
not for injuries, he could have rushed for twice that many. But Dixon has
sustained significant injuries every year. So his durability is one issue,
and his lack of game-breaking speed is another. Speed is not a problem for
the other three RBs. In fact, Locke (a true soph) and Smith (a fourth year
junior) are two of the fastest players on the team. But like Dixon, both Locke
and especially Smith have been injury-prone. Jackson had a solid 2007
season on UK's practice team, and has already won the confidence of the staff with
his toughness and quickness. In 2007, injuries to Little, Dixon, Locke,
and Smith at various times caused a committee approach to the RB responsibilities.
I suspect a committee approach will be employed again in 2008, and this will
begin in April. Because the four RBs are so different in strengths and weaknesses,
I look for Joker to take advantage of each RB's skills situationally. But
most of the carries will go to Dixon and Locke, if they can stay healthy.
I think Dixon can hang onto the starting job in April and August because of his
pass receiving and blocking skills. But don't be surprised if Locke becomes
a star in 2008.
Projected starter: Dixon
Wide Receiver
Overview
With the graduations of Keenan Burton and Steve Johnson,
UK loses one of its most effective receiving tandems of all time. They will
be difficult to replace, but that is the task awaiting Joker Phillips in April.
Richie Lyons and Demoreo Ford are the only returning UK receivers with
significant experience, and both are most effective as slot receivers. But
on the other hand, Lyons is one of the most productive receivers in recent UK history
in his own right. In April, success or failure for the WR rotations
will be embodied in the continuing development of swift, young receivers like Kyrus
Lanxter and Anthony Mosley. It is widely believed that redshirt freshman
Greg Wilson and former CB EJ Adams will compete as WRs in spring drills. Tall
walk-on Andre Henderson is another name to watch. Joker's objective in April
is to find two or three speed receivers besides Lyons who can run good intermediate
and deep routes, and hang onto the football when Pulley (or Hartline) delivers it.
The staff badly wants one of these to be Lanxter.
Analysis
Lyons and Ford are battle-tested, veteran SEC receivers.
Lyons has great hands, is tough as nails, and has learned to run good routes.
He has very good speed, but not track star speed. Most of Lyons' 2007 production
occurred when he played in the slot in three-wide sets. Thus, it has been
said by many observers that Lyons has been effective because of Burton and Johnson,
since opposing defenses have generally been unable to cover all three at the same
time. We are about to find out how much truth is embedded in those words.
Ford lacks the speed to be an elite SEC receiver, but is the best blocker in UK's
receiver rotation by a wide margin. In fact, Ford has knocked a lot of linebackers
and safeties into the next universe during his UK career (including former UK linebacker
Joe Schuler, who sustained his first concussion from a block thrown by Ford in a
UK practice). Ford is such a devastating blocker that he sometimes gets open
in intermediate routes because safeties try to stay away from him. But, clearly,
the man to watch in April is Lanxter. Last summer, Lanxter came to UK as
a raw, athletic receiver. In August, he showed enough talent to convince
Joker to forego his redshirt. During the fall, he played mostly on special
teams, but was unable to take playing time away from the big four. But in
the pre-bowl drills in December, Lanxter made great strides in his route-running
and blocking. Lanxter is 6'3" tall, and is faster than departed senior Steve
Johnson or celebrated incoming freshman Aaron Boyd. He has enough speed to
stretch the football field and draw double coverage from a safety over the top in
cover 2. He is big enough to play physical football, to run the fade routes,
and to become a good blocker. There is no doubt that Joker needs a breakthrough
season from Lanxter in 2008, and also no doubt in my mind that Lanxter must take
a big step forward in April. If Lanxter can play productively in a starting
role next fall, then Lyons and Ford can be effective on the other side of the field.
The other receivers have no collegiate experience whatsoever. Mosley has terrific
speed and played pretty well for the practice team in the fall, but needs to get
bigger and stronger to play SEC football. Wilson spent most of his redshirt
season as a safety for the practice team. He has the skill set to play WR
in the SEC, but he is at square one. Adams is a pretty good defensive back
who has been slowed by injuries, and outplayed by other talented CBs in UK's secondary.
Adams was a QB and WR in high school, and he has the athletic tools to play WR.
But (like Wilson), Adams will be starting at square one in April. Terrence
Jones is rehabbing a knee injury, and will miss contact work in April. Henderson
is huge and physical, but lacks the speed to run intermediate routes against SEC
secondaries. Thus, when Boyd and Eric Adeyemi arrive in August, they will
have immediate opportunities to earn playing time.
Projected starters: Lanxter/Lyons
Tight End
Overview
Jacob Tamme was the best UK TE since All American Jimmy
Whelan a decade ago. In 2007, Tamme added a receiving dimension to UK's offense
that allowed big plays to be made in key third down and red zone scenarios.
But Tamme is graduating this spring. TC Drake has caught one pass in his UK
career, and no other returning UK TE has caught a single pass. In April,
nonetheless, Coach Ortmayer must find a replacement for Tamme. Drake
has the athletic ability to be a successful SEC TE, but has not yet demonstrated
the physical toughness and competitiveness for the job. Ross Bogue may be
moved to the OL in April. Chris Goode has been moved to DE. It
remains to be seen whether FB Maurice Grinter or QB Will Fidler will get reps at
TE in April, but that is a distinct possibility. Since no single player will
be able to do everything Tamme did for UK's offense, the goal in April will be to
find role players who can be used situationally next fall in SEC play.
Analysis
Drake is the key in April. At 6'6", he has a great
frame, but has been unable to add enough muscle to be an every-down TE. In
2007, he played at 230#, and was not physical enough to get off the LOS or block
linebackers in the box. Nonetheless, he is an interesting prospect
because he runs pretty well for such a large man. The bottom line here is
that nobody will be able to replace all of Tamme's contributions to UK's offense,
but somebody must step up and give Joker flexibility at the TE position.
Perhaps Drake can show enough improvement to be teamed with a blocking TE in some
sort of a shared platoon arrangement. The weaknesses of the WR rotations
makes finding a solid TE all the more of a compelling task in April. If Drake
isn't up to the task, Joker may have to use more three- and four-WR sets next fall,
which will be difficult unless he can find more WRs. This is why the possible
move of Maurice Grinter to TE is under consideration. There isn't any doubt
that Grinter has the athletic tools to handle the receiving responsibilities at
TE, but Grinter is not a good blocker. The staff would like to keep Grinter
at FB, but may not have that luxury unless Drake improves a lot between December
and August. Look for a handful of other players to get looks, such as walk-on
Tyler Sexton and perhaps Fidler. WR Andre Henderson could get some looks as
a slot TE. If Ross Bogue is not moved to the OL, his role as a TE would be
confined to blocking assignments since he does not have enough speed to be a pass
receiver. All of these posisbilities will need to be sorted out by Coach Ortmayer
in April. It may turn out that Drake, Grinter, Sexton, Bogue, Fidler,
and Henderson will all have to play situationally in different roles. This
is one of the very few positions where nobody knows what to expect in April.
Coach Ortmayer will have his hands full.
Projected starter: Drake
Offensive Line
Overview
Leger and Scott are gone, but the three returning starters
(Garry Williams, Justin Jeffries, Zipp Duncan) are solid SEC football players.
Jeffries' and Duncan's best football is clearly ahead of them, which is why their
progress in April will be under the coaches' microscope. But Williams is a
returning all-SEC performer. For the first time since he worked in Tallahassee,
Coach Jimmy Heggins has a lot of options in 2008. Former OG starter
Christian Johnson will be back if he takes care of his academic responsibilites.
At OT, true sophomore Brad Durham and redshirt junior James Alexander are
also back. Center Jorge Gonzalez has finally recovered from his injuries.
Furthermore, the list of redshirt freshmen is impressive (Stuart Hines, Phil Hibbard,
Billy Joe Murphy, Jake Lanefski). It has been rumored this winter that TE
Ross Bogue will be moved to the OL in April. The first goal in April will be to
find a new starting center to replace Scott. Once Coach Heggins has taken
care of that task, everything else should fall into place.
Analysis
The OL is one area of the offense where 2008 should provide
a big improvement, since Jeffries and Duncan now have a season of experience as
starters under their belts, and since the depth all over the OL is unprecedented
in Coach Brooks' UK tenure. The only big question is who will win the starting
center role. When the staff developed Eric Scott last April, they solved an
immediate problem, but created a problem for 2008. Since Scott played only
one year at center, there hasn't been much time to develop his 2008 successor.
Gonzalez's series of injuries has only complicated this problem. Now, the
staff will have to look at several very green alternatives in April, including Gonzalez,
walk-on Marcus Davis, and untested senior Jess Beets. If none of those three
can handle the starting job, then Heggins will have to move Duncan inside, or turn
to current TE Ross Bogue. This problem needs to get solved quickly in April,
so the new center can work with the new QB for a couple of weeks. The other
positions on the OL will not be as complicated. Williams will start at LT,
where he should be a rock in 2008. He will be backed-up by Alexander, Hibbard,
and Murphy. At RT, Jeffries will try to hold off Durham, which won't
be easy. Duncan returns at LG, unless the staff is forced to move him to center.
But there are a lot of OG candidates, including Johnson, Hines, and Beets.
Hines had a great redshirt year, and I think he will start somewhere. Beets
and Josh Winchell also return, but their freefall down the depth chart in 2007 makes
their 2008 contributions questionable, and once again calls into question the utility
of recruiting JUCO linemen. I expect Williams, Duncan, and Hines to fill
three of the starting roles. Either Jeffries or Durham will be the fourth
starter. The fifth starter will depend on who wins the center job.
Projected starters: Williams (LT), Duncan
(LG), Gonzalez (C), Hines (RG), Jeffries (RT)
DEFENSE
In terms of headlines, UK's offensive unit authored most
of the big news in 2006 and 2007. But in terms of graduation losses, the defensive
unit has fared far better than the offense this spring. Only three defensive
starters are gone. They will be missed. But many key defensive performers
return in 2008, including several who have already received all-SEC recognition.
Following are the positional breakdowns:
Defensive End
Overview
The 2007 performances of the graduating senior Dominick
Lewis and all-SEC performer Jeremy Jarmon made the DE position a team strength for
the first time in years, but graduations, injuries, and illness have complicated
the future picture at the position considerably. Reserve DEs Travis Day and
JD Craigman have exhausted their eligibility. Last spring, former starter
Nii Adjei Oninku and highly touted redshirt freshman Josh Minton suffered knee injuries
that forced both to miss the entire 2007 season. Recently, UK fans learned
that Jamil Paris will forego the remainder of his eligibility because of a medical
condition. Now, Jarmon returns for his junior season. But it is unclear
who will man the other DE position in spring drills, since Oninku and Minton will
probably be held out of contact work in April. Besides Jarmon, the other healthy
scholarship DE candidates in April are converted TE Chris Goode and redshirt freshmen
Antwane Glenn, Charles Mustafaa, and Greg Meisner. Walk-on Austin Moss also
returns.
Analysis
Jarmon lead the SEC in sacks throughout the 2007 season,
and received first team all-SEC recognition. Jarmon has also become a very
effective defender against the run because of his great strength and lateral quickness.
He could become an All America candidate in 2008. Oninku was UK's
most valuable scout team player in 2004. Prior to his knee injury a
year ago, Oninku had established himself as a starter by performing well annually
in spring drills. He is a high motor player with a mean streak, but he is
smallish and not always effective against the running game. Early indications
are that Oninku has worked hard in rehab to overcome his injury. If his rehab
is successful, Oninku will almost certainly win the second starting DE job in August.
But since Oninku and Josh Minton are likely to miss the contact work in April, the
redshirt freshmen will get a lot of reps. The best of the group is Antwane
Glenn. Glenn is a large, athletic man at 6'4" 250#. His frame will carry
more weight, and the coaching staff believes Glenn might eventually grow into a
DT. But he will play DE in 2008. Glenn has good lateral quickness for
such a big man. If anyone can challenge Oninku for the open starting job,
Glenn is that man. And since Glenn will get most of the April snaps, this is a possibility
to watch closely. A big performance by Glenn in the drills would pit him against
Oninku for the starting job in August camp. Mustafaa and Meisner are both
involved in a two-year body building exercise designed to blow them up into DTs.
It remains to be seen whether either can contribute significantly at DE in 2008,
but both will get reps in April. Both kids come from NFL families. Mustafaa
is more of a natural athlete than Meisner, but Meisner has what football coaches
like to call a "high football IQ". Goode was a TE in HS, but was not able
to crack UK's TE depth chart behind Jacob Tamme and TC Drake in 2007. The
staff moved him to DE early in the fall, and we will see in April if he can contribute
in the rotation. When Minton signed with UK, he was considered a future star.
His redshirt season in 2006 was so-so because of lower body strength issues, then
he suffered a knee injury early in 2007 spring drills. He will be held out
of contact work in April, and he will be behind the other DEs in August. If
Minton's rehab is successful, he has a shot to play significant downs in the latter
half of 2008, but perhaps not before then.
Projected starters: Jarmon/Oninku
Defensive Tackle
Overview
There is no significant attrition at this position, which
is rapidly becoming one of the team's strengths. Starters Myron Pryor and
Corey Peters return for 2008. In 2007, Peters became one of the SEC's
best young DTs, and displayed a knack for big plays in the opponent's red zone.
Peters has excellent lateral quickness and strong work habits. Pryor
is already the strongest man on the team, and could be an all-SEC candidate if he
can remain healthy. Back-ups Ventrell Jenkins, Ricky Lumpkin, and Shane McCord
are good enough to start on some SEC teams. Lumpkin has been slowed at times
by back problems, but could challenge the starters if he can stay healthy.
McCord played in 2007 as a true freshman, and should take a big step forward this
spring. It remains to be seen whether Mustafaa or Meisner will receive DT
reps in April.
Analysis
Over the course of his UK career, Pryor has had extensive
problems with cramping, conditioning, and muscle injuries. Pryor is
a brute, and he has played gamely through these problems, but some observers believe
he has not yet reached his performance ceiling. Last year, Pryor came to spring
drills at a slimmed-down 295#. Observers will be watching to see where he
weighs-in this April. If he continues to work hard in the offseason conditioning
program, Pryor has a chance to finish his UK career on a very high note. Pryor's
brutal strength on the inside occupies two blockers and provides a key to the success
of UK's DL play. Peters is quicker than Pryor, and has become a major
tactical problem for opposing defensive coordinators. Peters has an athletic
body and very good feet for such a large man. He is still getting bigger and
stronger. Look for Peters to become an all-SEC player in 2008. Lumpkin
is a huge man with a mean streak, who matches Peters' quickness on the inside, but
can outrun Peters in a straight line. Lumpkin's development has been delayed
by a series of back and hip injuries. If Lumpkin can stay healthy, he can
become the heir-apparent to the senior Pryor. For that reason, April is a
very important month for Lumpkin. McCord was a high school wrestler, and is
the quickest DT on the team. As McCord fills out his body in the conditioning
program, he can develop into a starting SEC DT. April is an important month
for McCord because he has a chance to move up into the two-deep chart with a strong
performance. The senior Jenkins has had a solid UK career, but has been injury-prone.
At times in 2006 and 2007, he played hurt when no one else was available.
Jenkins' goals in April will be to avoid significant injuries and try to hold off
McCord for his spot on the two-deep chart.
Projected starters: Pryor/Peters
Middle ("Mike") Linebacker
Overview
The top four players at the position return for 2008.
Braxton Kelley enters his senior season as the incumbent starter. Micah Johnson
played situationally in 2007, and was also a prolific contributor on UK's kick coverage
teams. Mikhail Mabry has made a habit of playing very well during spring
drills, only to be outplayed in the fall by Kelley and Johnson. Like Johnson,
walk-on AJ Nance has become a special teams warrior.
Analysis
So far, nobody has been able to wrestle the starting assignment
away from Braxton Kelley. After suffering a serious knee injury in 2005,
Kelley rehabbed quickly from surgery and has never looked back. Kelley is
a former Lagrange (GA) High School defensive end, who participated for four years
in the famed Lagrange weightlifting program. He is a high-motor player, and
very strong for his size. At 230#, Kelley hits like a freight train
and covers the field with better-than-average lateral quickness. He has become
one of the SEC's better MLBs, and is in line for a big senior season. However,
Coach Brooks increasingly entrusts Johnson with situational assignments on some
key running downs. At 260#, Johnson is a jumbo linebacker who runs well and
hits as hard as Kelley. Like Kelley, Johnson's ability to play in space has
improved in the last year. Considerable speculation has centered on whether
Brooks will put Kelley and Johnson on the field together in 2008. This would
require one of them to move outside, where both are inexperienced and physically
less-suited. Since the pool of talent at UK's outside linebacker positions
has improved dramatically, either might have a hard time taking playing time away
from the incumbents. These questions will have to be addressed in April.
If either Kelly or Johnson is moved, Mabry's and Nance's roles could quickly become
more important. Redshirt freshman Ronnie Sneed is considered the best young
linebacker in UK's program, but his 2008 role is yet to be determined. Sneed
will push for early playing time at one of the linebacker positions, and could end
up at MLB under certain circumstances. Walk-on Terry Clayton, known for his
off-field accomplishments, may also play his senior season at MLB.
Projected starter: Kelley
Strongside ("Sam") Linebacker
Overview
Throughout spring and fall of 2007, Johnny Williams and
Sam Maxwell battled furiously for the starting job. Maxwell tentatively won
the job in spring drills, but Williams beat him out in August camp. Williams
started for most of the fall, but Maxwell regained the starting job by season's
end. Williams is a senior now, but some observers believe the momentum
in the competition belongs to Maxwell. Young linebackers Jacob Duphrene and
Ronnie Sneed will almost certainly receive some SLB reps in April.
Analysis
In truth, Williams and Maxwell are similar players.
Both are 6'3" 235#, and both run well. Both have had problems at times with
pass coverages and "biting" on misdirection. Maxwell appears to be the better
tackler, but Williams has improved fundamentally as a tackler. Maxwell made
some important tackles with thunderous hits near the end of the 2007 season, and
UK's coaching staff is reminded of those when they look at the game film.
This competition seems to be bringing the best out of both players. As both
have improved, it has become somewhat less likely that Coach Brooks will move one
of the MLBs here in April, but that remains to be seen. Duphrene practiced
at SLB last fall, and appears to have a bright future. He runs well, and is
getting stronger in the conditioning program. This could also be the position
where Sneed lands.
Projected starter: Maxwell
Weakside ("Will") Linebacker
Overview
This has become the most important and interesting April
competition on UK's defensive unit. Departed starter Wesley Woodyard
was one of the best Wildcat linebackers in the program's modern history. Woodyard's
speed and tackling ability were the first factors taken into account by opposing
offensive coordinators in their game planning against UK in 2007. Given the
impact of Woodward's graduation on UK's defensive unit, a focused effort can be
expected from UK's coaching staff to find the right successor. The inside
track belongs to Mike Schwindel, who possesses the requisite size and speed to excel
in this role. Schwindel began the 2007 season as a safety, but finished as
Woodyard's understudy. This provides a clue that the coaches have been grooming
Schwindel to replace Woodyard, but it won't be a done deal until Schwindel wins
this job outright in April. There are several other candidates for the job.
Redshirt freshman Antonio Thomas has been recruited and developed for UK's
WLB rotation. Redshirt freshman Ronnie Sneed will also receive some WLB reps
in April.
Analysis
Woodyard came to UK from the high-powered LaGrange (GA)
High School program, where he was named Georgia's top high school defensive player
as a senior. Thus, Woodyard brought intangibles to the position that will
be difficult to replace. With Woodyard's departure, UK's defensive unit loses
its best tackler and lateral pursuer. Schwindel runs as well as Woodyard,
and is a fundamentally-sound tackler. Schwindel is not as strong as Woodyard
physically, but Schwindel's pass coverage skills are somewhat better than Woodyard's.
The $64,000 question is whether the former safety Schwindel is physical enough
to play WLB in the SEC. We will get a clue about that in April, but
it is already fairly clear that Schwindel is being groomed for the job.
Thomas was also a high school safety, but his long frame,
speed, and athleticism are perfect for WLB. Physically, Thomas is more similar
to Woodyard than Schwindel. Is he mentally ready to play in the SEC?
We will get a clue about that in April. There are several wildcards
in this competition. The first is Ronnie Sneed, who is viewed by the coaching
staff as a possible WLB candidate. Sneed is stronger than either Schwindel
or Thomas. Another possibility is that a current MLB (Johnson or Kelley) could
move to WLB. The staff will look at all of these options in April. Brandon
Thurmond and Chris Cessna, who suffered knee injuries last April and rehabbed during
the 2007 season, will miss contact drills in April but could both see playing time
here next fall. Thurmond is an athletic linebacker who ran very well before
his knee injury. Cessna is a long, lean athlete who could eventually fill
out into a SLB, DE, or TE.
Projected starter: Schwindel
Cornerback
Overview
All-SEC performer Trevard Lindley returns for 2008.
The other 2007 starter, Paul Warford, is currently under suspension for an unspecified
violation of team rules, rumored to be related to tardiness for his classes.
If the rumors are true, Warford may or may not be permitted to participate in spring
drills, depending on whether he corrects this problem in March. If Warford
keeps his grades up, he should be back no later than August. Reserves David
Jones, Shomari Moore, Ahmad Grigsby, and Robbie McAtee return for spring drills.
Redshirt freshmen Randall Burden and Taiedo Smith played well for UK's practice
team last fall, and will receive long looks in April. It has been widely
rumored that EJ Adams will be moved to WR.
Analysis
Lindley is the best UK CB in a generation, and
one of the SEC's most feared defensive backs. He has become a lockdown cover
CB with a knack for making big plays, who can handle any SEC WR in single coverage.
It is thought that Warford's transgression is not serious, and may just be
an example of hard love from Coach Brooks with regard to personal habits such as
promptness for classes. Warford played very well in November and in the Music
City Bowl. Despite his current suspension, Warford is expected to play next
fall, and should have the inside track to start. Jones also played very well
in November, and has a chance in April to put heat on Warford. Moore, Grigsby,
and McAtee provide a strong supporting cast, but many eyes will be on Burden in
April. Observers of the program raved about Burden's performance on UK's
practice team during the fall. Although lacking Burden's size and strength,
Smith is a jet. All of these players will receive opportunities to show what
they can do in April. Quality depth at the CB position in 2008 will be the
best Brooks has enjoyed during his UK coaching tenure.
Projected starters: Lindley/Warford
Safety
Overview
Roger Williams will graduate this spring, but his fellow
starter Marcus McClinton returns for spring drills. Ashton Cobb and Calvin
Harrison, who gained experience because of McClinton's injuries in 2007, return
to battle for Williams' starting job in April. Reserve Jordan Nevels is also
back, and redshirt freshman Chris Drayton is expected to play early.
Analysis
Williams had a solid career, but may not be missed as much
as the other senior starters because of the returning talent at the safety position.
If McClinton can stay healthy, he has a chance to finish his career as one of UK's
better safeties in recent memory. McClinton has always been solid in run suppprt,
and his pass coverage skills in the deep zones of the secondary improved markedly
in 2007. Cobb runs very well, and is one of the team's biggest hitters.
Harrison is fundamentally sound and has excellent speed. The competition between
Cobb and Harrison in April for a starting job should be one of the spring's positional
highlights. Keep an eye on Drayton, who was a trememdous high school safety
in Georgia, but played OLB at Hargarve Miliotary Institute in 2006. Drayton
looked a little lost as a redshirt in practice last fall, and may just need some
time to regain his safety instincts in the faster D-1 game. April will be
an important opportunity for Drayton. Burden may also get a look at safety
in April. Nevels is a career back-up, who plays hard but lacks the size to
play safety in the SEC.
Projected starters: McClinton/Cobb
SPECIAL TEAMS
Going into the 2007 season, UK's special teams were a concern,
largely because of inexperience and poor play by the two young kickers in 2006.
But the special teams' 2007 performance turned out to be very different from the
forecasts. Punter Tim Masthay and placekicker Lones Seiber generally outperformed
all expectations, while the vaunted UK kick return and coverage teams were surprisingly
mediocre.
Punting
Overview
Masthay returns for 2008 Redshirt freshman
Ryan Tydlacka will compete with Masthay in April. Better speed and athleticism
up and down UK's roster should only improve UK's punt coverage.
Analysis
In 2007, Masthay averaged 39.8 yards per punt, which ranked
7th in the SEC, and 73rd in the nation. Masthay improved in the nuances of
punting, and learned to get his punts off a little more quickly. He punted
16 kicks out of bounds inside opponents' 20 yard line. Many of Masthay's longer
punts occurred late in the season, suggesting his technique is still improving.
In April, nonetheless, Masthay faces a stiff challenge from Tydlacka, who
punted very well in practice last fall.
Placekicking
Overview
Seiber is the incumbent FG kicker. Masthay returns
as UK's kickoff specialist
Analysis
In 2007, Seiber kicked 16 FGs in 25 attempts, with a long
FG of 48 yards. Seiber kicked 51 points-after-touchdown out of 54 attempts.
These numbers represented an improvement over Seiber's 2006 performance, but Seiber
missed key FG attempts under 40 yards against Tennessee and Florida State.
It remains to be seen whether Tydlacka will be allowed to challenge for Seiber's
placekicking job in April. In 2007, Masthay kicked-off 83 times, producing
23 touchbacks. Masthay should easily win the 2008 kick-off duties.
Kick and punt return
Overview
Primary returners Rafael Little and Keenan Burton will graduate
this spring. Finding their replacements will be a challenge for Coach Ortmayer,
but there are a number of good candidates.
Analysis
Little and Burton were two of the better kick returners
in UK history, but neither provided as much impact in 2007 as they did in 2006.
Richie Lyons is an experienced kick and punt returner, and should win a more prominent
role in 2008. Some other candidates to watch include Derrick Locke, Tony
Dixon, David Jones, Demoreo Ford,Taiedo Smith, and Anthony Mosley. Locke,
Jones, Smith, and Mosley are burners. When true freshmen Randall Cobb, Eric
Adeyemi, and Winston Guy arrive in August, they may also become factors in the return
game.
SUMMARY
Without stipulating a date for Coach Brooks' retirement,
Brooks and Mitch Barnhart recently named Offensive Coordinator Joker Phillips as
UK's next football coach in waiting. Despite public statements to the contrary,
rumors around campus suggest Brooks is considering retirement following the 2008
season. Some observers believe that the veteran coach wanted to stick around
long enough to witness the graduations of the 2007 UK seniors who have meant so
much to him, then stay in the saddle for one more season to help the football program's
transition beyond the end of their highly-celebrated careers. It remains
to be seen whether these rumors have substance.
Nonetheless, 2008 is a very important season for UK's football
program by any measure. Brooks has added a lot of speed and athleticism to
UK's roster in recent years, but the leadership in the locker room has clearly been
dealt a blow by UK's upcoming graduation ceremonies. Observers of SEC football
will be waiting to see whether there can be a successful football program in Lexington
without Andre Woodson.
Some potent talent returns to Lexington for the new season.
Pulley tentatively won the QB job in 2006 by outperforming Woodson in spring drills.
Lyons, the son of one of UK's greatest players of all time, has already caught passes
for 1,500 yards in his UK career. Locke could be the next great UK RB.
UK's OL appears to be significantly improved. Both kickers return.
And much more importantly, Steve Brown's defensive unit seems to be on the verge
of great things in 2008.
But that nagging question of offensive execution without
the 2007 seniors still lingers. And we simply won't know how that will work
out until UK takes the field against UL next September.
Spring drills will provide a lot of important clues.
Key positional battles will be waged. Some players will be moved to new positions.
The coaching staff will experiment with tactical adjustments. By the end of
April, we will have a pretty good picture of the 2008 two-deep chart.
An early projection suggests that the strengths of UK's
2008 team will not be the same as 2007. Whereas Woodson, Burton, Johnson,
and Tamme often found amazing ways to produce highlight plays in key scenarios,
the 2008 Wildcats may display a better rushing game and an improved defense.
The 2008 starters will be younger and somewhat less experienced, but depth and overall
team speed should be better.
An early look at UK's 2008 schedule reveals that the Wildcats
have an excellent opportunity to get off to a 4-0 start if they can win their opener
on the road over a depleted (but still dangerous) UL squad. Some key personnel
decisions to be made in April will go a long way toward determining what weapons
the Wildcats will be prepared to deploy at Papa John Stadium.
In many respects, 2008 spring drills are the most important
drills for Brooks since he came to UK. It will be interesting to watch how
UK's coaching staff conducts the key positional competitions and prepares the team
for August camp.
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