Just Read A Press Release Re. KY Foots
Sounds as tho not QUITE as dire as I first thought. Still looks like Cats will have a problem @ that spot. It said the #3 kid was in some sort of trouble too. So right now they're down to 1 QB. They depended so much on Woodson LY, no one else got many snaps. Ashley's going to be very blue.
Sounds as tho not QUITE as dire as I first thought. Still looks like Cats will have a problem @ that spot. It said the #3 kid was in some sort of trouble too. So right now they're down to 1 QB. They depended so much on Woodson LY, no one else got many snaps. Ashley's going to be very blue.
If you were to read the Kentucky newspapers today, you would think that Kentucky has very few problems at QB and that their offense is fine with the offensive line and RB corps they have.
State-Journal.com
Good news at the right time
BY BRIAN RICKERD
August 8, 2008
LEXINGTON " It's great to hear the early buzz out of the UK football camp about freshman Randall Cobb, who's splitting time between quarterback and wide receiver " both areas of great need for the Wildcats.
"(Cobb is) Bright, hard-working, focused," Coach Rich Brooks said after Day 2 of fall practice on Wednesday. "He's a young Keenan Burton as far as work ethic and attention to detail. Just a special, special guy."
You could be skeptical and say, hey, it's only the SECOND day of practice ... they haven't even used full pads yet! How much can you tell?
I would argue that that is why the praise out of the Kentucky camp rings so loudly. For a newcomer to be generating this kind of talk means that in all likelihood Cobb may be the kind of special player that doesn't come across Kentucky's path too often.
So the question could also quickly become: Will Cobb, a 5-foot-11, 185-pounder, do the unthinkable and start at quarterback as a true freshman?
The Kentucky coaches and players are hinting that Cobb has athleticism, passing accuracy and poise far beyond his years.
It was quite a coup for the Wildcats to steal Cobb out from the goal posts of the University of Tennessee, so to speak. Cobb went to high school at Alcoa High School, which is only some six miles from the Tennessee campus. UT coach Phil Fulmer and company did, in the end, offer Cobb a scholarship to play for the Vols, but it came too late.
Kentucky had been recruiting Cobb for much longer and Cobb stayed loyal to his early commitment to the Wildcats. And Cobb had had a long-time relationship with Randy Sanders, who coached at Tennessee for years and came over to Kentucky two years ago as the Wildcats' quarterback coach.
Cobb's presence here may ease some of the concerns about the quarterback spot for the Wildcats, to be sure. I, for one, am far from sold on sophomore Mike Hartline, who came into practice this week as the likely choice to be the UK signal-caller come Aug. 31 when Kentucky tees it up at Louisville (3:30 p.m. on ESPN).
Hartline has the blueprint build for a quarterback at 6-foot-6, 205 pounds. He was a standout track hurdler in high school in Canton, Ohio, suggesting he may well have the athleticism to play quarterback at the major college level.
And he talks a good game. You can hear confidence, poise and determination when you're around him.
Brooks has praised Hartline profusely for his work ethic and leadership potential.
But here's the rub: The only praise I've heard from Brooks about Hartline's physical abilities to play QB at UK is that he's "mobile."
This is what I'd LIKE to hear about Hartline: "Man, he has a rifle for an arm." Or, "Man, he has fantastic touch on the ball."
All I've heard from Brooks on that subject is: "We look forward to seeing Mike improve his accuracy on the long ball."
Prior to the opening of fall practice on Tuesday, Brooks suggested that the guy who plays quarterback for the Wildcats this fall may be the guy who "doesn't make too many negative plays."
Hardly confidence-inspiring stuff.
But, again, it appears that Cobb could be the guy to change all this cautious talk.
It IS true that the UK quarterback may not have to set the world on fire because the Wildcats return the best offensive line they've had in Brooks' five years, and they feature five running backs who are " in my opinion " not only the best five I've seen at Kentucky in my 50 years, but one of the best groups you will see on any college team. I'm referring to tailbacks Tony Dixon (senior), Derrick Locke (sophomore), Alfonso Smith (junior) and Moncell Allen (sophomore) and fullback John Conner (junior).
Last year as a freshman Locke looked to me like a guy who could be a Heisman hopeful before he leaves Lexington. Locke is strong, fast and fearless. I suspect Brooks may lean heavily on Dixon early because Dixon is the more experienced of the four.
Smith is almost as fast as Locke (both are blazing fast), and Brooks says Smith has had a good off-season and is stronger than ever before. The most intriguing back to watch this season may be Allen, who is 5-7 and 225 pounds and sounds a lot like former Kentucky star Mark Higgs.
"The defensive backs hate it when they see Allen get through the line," Brooks said this week. "They hate TRYING to tackle him."
Am I really off base in calling this BULLSHIT? I mean, we are talking about a team that last year, because of a very mediocre defense that allowed almost 30 ppg, had to literally win games with their offense. This season, their offense lost all the studs off the team that has had back to back 8-5 seasons and only returns 4 starters. Two of their projected starters will not play this season (QB, Pulley and LG, Johnson). Their less than stellar defense returns 7 starters (CB, Warford will not play). I think this team is in deep shit this year. Any Kentucky experts out there?
State-Journal.com
Good news at the right time
BY BRIAN RICKERD
August 8, 2008
LEXINGTON " It's great to hear the early buzz out of the UK football camp about freshman Randall Cobb, who's splitting time between quarterback and wide receiver " both areas of great need for the Wildcats.
"(Cobb is) Bright, hard-working, focused," Coach Rich Brooks said after Day 2 of fall practice on Wednesday. "He's a young Keenan Burton as far as work ethic and attention to detail. Just a special, special guy."
You could be skeptical and say, hey, it's only the SECOND day of practice ... they haven't even used full pads yet! How much can you tell?
I would argue that that is why the praise out of the Kentucky camp rings so loudly. For a newcomer to be generating this kind of talk means that in all likelihood Cobb may be the kind of special player that doesn't come across Kentucky's path too often.
So the question could also quickly become: Will Cobb, a 5-foot-11, 185-pounder, do the unthinkable and start at quarterback as a true freshman?
The Kentucky coaches and players are hinting that Cobb has athleticism, passing accuracy and poise far beyond his years.
It was quite a coup for the Wildcats to steal Cobb out from the goal posts of the University of Tennessee, so to speak. Cobb went to high school at Alcoa High School, which is only some six miles from the Tennessee campus. UT coach Phil Fulmer and company did, in the end, offer Cobb a scholarship to play for the Vols, but it came too late.
Kentucky had been recruiting Cobb for much longer and Cobb stayed loyal to his early commitment to the Wildcats. And Cobb had had a long-time relationship with Randy Sanders, who coached at Tennessee for years and came over to Kentucky two years ago as the Wildcats' quarterback coach.
Cobb's presence here may ease some of the concerns about the quarterback spot for the Wildcats, to be sure. I, for one, am far from sold on sophomore Mike Hartline, who came into practice this week as the likely choice to be the UK signal-caller come Aug. 31 when Kentucky tees it up at Louisville (3:30 p.m. on ESPN).
Hartline has the blueprint build for a quarterback at 6-foot-6, 205 pounds. He was a standout track hurdler in high school in Canton, Ohio, suggesting he may well have the athleticism to play quarterback at the major college level.
And he talks a good game. You can hear confidence, poise and determination when you're around him.
Brooks has praised Hartline profusely for his work ethic and leadership potential.
But here's the rub: The only praise I've heard from Brooks about Hartline's physical abilities to play QB at UK is that he's "mobile."
This is what I'd LIKE to hear about Hartline: "Man, he has a rifle for an arm." Or, "Man, he has fantastic touch on the ball."
All I've heard from Brooks on that subject is: "We look forward to seeing Mike improve his accuracy on the long ball."
Prior to the opening of fall practice on Tuesday, Brooks suggested that the guy who plays quarterback for the Wildcats this fall may be the guy who "doesn't make too many negative plays."
Hardly confidence-inspiring stuff.
But, again, it appears that Cobb could be the guy to change all this cautious talk.
It IS true that the UK quarterback may not have to set the world on fire because the Wildcats return the best offensive line they've had in Brooks' five years, and they feature five running backs who are " in my opinion " not only the best five I've seen at Kentucky in my 50 years, but one of the best groups you will see on any college team. I'm referring to tailbacks Tony Dixon (senior), Derrick Locke (sophomore), Alfonso Smith (junior) and Moncell Allen (sophomore) and fullback John Conner (junior).
Last year as a freshman Locke looked to me like a guy who could be a Heisman hopeful before he leaves Lexington. Locke is strong, fast and fearless. I suspect Brooks may lean heavily on Dixon early because Dixon is the more experienced of the four.
Smith is almost as fast as Locke (both are blazing fast), and Brooks says Smith has had a good off-season and is stronger than ever before. The most intriguing back to watch this season may be Allen, who is 5-7 and 225 pounds and sounds a lot like former Kentucky star Mark Higgs.
"The defensive backs hate it when they see Allen get through the line," Brooks said this week. "They hate TRYING to tackle him."
Am I really off base in calling this BULLSHIT? I mean, we are talking about a team that last year, because of a very mediocre defense that allowed almost 30 ppg, had to literally win games with their offense. This season, their offense lost all the studs off the team that has had back to back 8-5 seasons and only returns 4 starters. Two of their projected starters will not play this season (QB, Pulley and LG, Johnson). Their less than stellar defense returns 7 starters (CB, Warford will not play). I think this team is in deep shit this year. Any Kentucky experts out there?
