Trueblujr
02-26-2006, 10:14 PM
At some point Athlon of CFN or Sporting News or whoever will do some sort of position by position breakdown of the SEC and other conferences. This is all just my own personal speculation, but I would like to see if my sentiments are echoed by others. I'm just going to do this by stating where I think UK would rank versus the rest of the SEC.
OFFENSE:
Quarterback: Woodson started pretty strong last season giving us big hopes, but towards the middle and end of last season and once injuries started taking its toll, he became largely ineffective. Pulley may challenge for his job, but what Pulley brings to us in the form of a running game, he needs work to match Woodson's accuracy and throwing touch. Fidler and Hartline may factor, but I don't see either making it beyond 2nd string this year. SEC Rank: +/- 8th
Running Back: It's no secret Rafael Little is the real deal. If he stays healthy and our Offensive line steps up their play, We should field a strong backfield. Tony Dixon returns and should provide us the immediate depth and experience we need. We have several guys waiting in the wings who could potentially have an impact. The positon will be young and beyond Dixon the depth will be untested, but Little will be one of the SEC's and Nations finest backs. There are a couple of teams with more proven depth, but Little should be 1st or 2nd team All-SEC from day 1. SEC Rank: +/-3
Wide Reciever: We lost quite a few guys at this position, so there will be plenty of opportunity for some newcomers to step right in and play. We bring back a potential, All-SEC player in Keenan Burton, Demoreo Ford was playing well before he went down so hopefully he comes back in good shape. Hopefully Lonell DeWalt and Dicky Lyons Jr. will return to add some depth and Steve Johnson and or some other newcomers will make an impact. SEC Rank: +/-9
Tight End: Jacob Tamme played injured all last year and never became the playmaker we hoped he would be. his status is still up in the air due to his shoulder surgeries, but hopefully he can return and become the player we hoped, otherwise TE will be a young and unproven position for us. SEC Rank: +/- 10
Offensive Line: If McCutchan is granted his 6th year we bring back our whole offensive line and then some. We bring back several players from injury or other as well. Aaron Miller should challenge to get his spot back as long as he is in shape, Micah Jones will hopefully become the player he's capable of being,no real need to state the obvious here, but this will be our strength next year and obviously we now have depth enough to sustain if we are hit by a couple of injuries. We finally have an SEC offensive line. Thebonus is that we return everybody, the knock is that we return everyone from an offense that has been less than stellar the past few years. I think the experience level and additional depth we've lacked will negate the latter. SEC Rank: +/- 3
Kick and Punt Return Team: We bring back literally everybody from the nations #3 return teams, i think its safe to say we should dominate the SEC in this category again: SEC Rank: 1
DEFENSE:
Defensive Line: Similar to our Offensive line, we didn't lose much here. Assuming Lamar Mills returns alongside Ricky Abren, Myron Pryor, Jason Leger et. al. and with big hopes for a couple of newcomers, I think this will be an obvious strength for us. These guys have a lot to prove in terms of staying healthy and being able to stop the run. I think they will start the season needing to earn some respect but I also think this is a year they could actually earn that respect by years end. SEC Rank +/- 6
Defensive Ends: Again, largely unproven but a lot of potential. This will be a position that some newcomers could potentially battle for a starting spot. Josh Minton and Ricky Lumkin could challenge, Jamil Paris as well, but I think the staff wants to bulk him up before they feel he can contribute at the level they anticipate. Durrell White and Oninku are the most experienced and likely starters, assuming Jarmon gets healthy he could contribute, but again I think this is a position where youth could dominate. SEC Rank +/- 10
Linebackers: The true strength of our defense. Braxton Kelley may have to battle to earn back his job from a couple of guys. Ben McGrath played admirably once Kelly went down with his injury and the addition of stud Micah Johnson will make for an interesting summer workout. It's no secret Johnson will need to be on the field from day one. But a LB corp of Kelley, McGrath, Woodyard and Johnson and others should be about as strong of a unit as we have had in a few years, but probably another year of experience away from being a true SEC force. SEC Rank +/-6
Defensive Backfield: Bo Smith and Marcus McClinton will be the leaders back here. If Bo Smith is able to get his academics in order, he will be a true necessity for us to succeed defensively. Shomari Moore showed promise during his playing time last year and should factor into the rotation, David Jones could play an important role here, but this will also be a position where some newcomers will get a strong look to add some depth and could see some significant early PT. SEC Rank +/- 7
Punters & Kickers: God help us...well at least the staff got it through their heads that we needed to actually give a scholarship to a kicker. Tim Masthay needs to concentrate soley on punting. I think he has a chance to be a very good kicker but his consistency will have to improve by leaps and bounds. Lonas Siebert is a good addition to the team, but he is unproven and a true freshman, there will be some growing pains as he adjusts to college kicking. I Miss Clint Ruth. SEC Rank +/- Who Knows?
OFFENSE:
Quarterback: Woodson started pretty strong last season giving us big hopes, but towards the middle and end of last season and once injuries started taking its toll, he became largely ineffective. Pulley may challenge for his job, but what Pulley brings to us in the form of a running game, he needs work to match Woodson's accuracy and throwing touch. Fidler and Hartline may factor, but I don't see either making it beyond 2nd string this year. SEC Rank: +/- 8th
Running Back: It's no secret Rafael Little is the real deal. If he stays healthy and our Offensive line steps up their play, We should field a strong backfield. Tony Dixon returns and should provide us the immediate depth and experience we need. We have several guys waiting in the wings who could potentially have an impact. The positon will be young and beyond Dixon the depth will be untested, but Little will be one of the SEC's and Nations finest backs. There are a couple of teams with more proven depth, but Little should be 1st or 2nd team All-SEC from day 1. SEC Rank: +/-3
Wide Reciever: We lost quite a few guys at this position, so there will be plenty of opportunity for some newcomers to step right in and play. We bring back a potential, All-SEC player in Keenan Burton, Demoreo Ford was playing well before he went down so hopefully he comes back in good shape. Hopefully Lonell DeWalt and Dicky Lyons Jr. will return to add some depth and Steve Johnson and or some other newcomers will make an impact. SEC Rank: +/-9
Tight End: Jacob Tamme played injured all last year and never became the playmaker we hoped he would be. his status is still up in the air due to his shoulder surgeries, but hopefully he can return and become the player we hoped, otherwise TE will be a young and unproven position for us. SEC Rank: +/- 10
Offensive Line: If McCutchan is granted his 6th year we bring back our whole offensive line and then some. We bring back several players from injury or other as well. Aaron Miller should challenge to get his spot back as long as he is in shape, Micah Jones will hopefully become the player he's capable of being,no real need to state the obvious here, but this will be our strength next year and obviously we now have depth enough to sustain if we are hit by a couple of injuries. We finally have an SEC offensive line. Thebonus is that we return everybody, the knock is that we return everyone from an offense that has been less than stellar the past few years. I think the experience level and additional depth we've lacked will negate the latter. SEC Rank: +/- 3
Kick and Punt Return Team: We bring back literally everybody from the nations #3 return teams, i think its safe to say we should dominate the SEC in this category again: SEC Rank: 1
DEFENSE:
Defensive Line: Similar to our Offensive line, we didn't lose much here. Assuming Lamar Mills returns alongside Ricky Abren, Myron Pryor, Jason Leger et. al. and with big hopes for a couple of newcomers, I think this will be an obvious strength for us. These guys have a lot to prove in terms of staying healthy and being able to stop the run. I think they will start the season needing to earn some respect but I also think this is a year they could actually earn that respect by years end. SEC Rank +/- 6
Defensive Ends: Again, largely unproven but a lot of potential. This will be a position that some newcomers could potentially battle for a starting spot. Josh Minton and Ricky Lumkin could challenge, Jamil Paris as well, but I think the staff wants to bulk him up before they feel he can contribute at the level they anticipate. Durrell White and Oninku are the most experienced and likely starters, assuming Jarmon gets healthy he could contribute, but again I think this is a position where youth could dominate. SEC Rank +/- 10
Linebackers: The true strength of our defense. Braxton Kelley may have to battle to earn back his job from a couple of guys. Ben McGrath played admirably once Kelly went down with his injury and the addition of stud Micah Johnson will make for an interesting summer workout. It's no secret Johnson will need to be on the field from day one. But a LB corp of Kelley, McGrath, Woodyard and Johnson and others should be about as strong of a unit as we have had in a few years, but probably another year of experience away from being a true SEC force. SEC Rank +/-6
Defensive Backfield: Bo Smith and Marcus McClinton will be the leaders back here. If Bo Smith is able to get his academics in order, he will be a true necessity for us to succeed defensively. Shomari Moore showed promise during his playing time last year and should factor into the rotation, David Jones could play an important role here, but this will also be a position where some newcomers will get a strong look to add some depth and could see some significant early PT. SEC Rank +/- 7
Punters & Kickers: God help us...well at least the staff got it through their heads that we needed to actually give a scholarship to a kicker. Tim Masthay needs to concentrate soley on punting. I think he has a chance to be a very good kicker but his consistency will have to improve by leaps and bounds. Lonas Siebert is a good addition to the team, but he is unproven and a true freshman, there will be some growing pains as he adjusts to college kicking. I Miss Clint Ruth. SEC Rank +/- Who Knows?