Brian McCat
04-20-2008, 08:44 AM
By LARRY VAUGHT
larry@amnews.com
Defensively, Kentucky’s switch at linebacker seems to be working well. Kelley moved from middle linebacker, where he’s started three years, to the outside and had a game-high 12 tackles and one interception. Middle linebacker Micah Johnson had eight tackles and the White team’s leading tackler was linebacker Sam Maxwell, who is battling Johnny Williams for a starting spot, with nine stops.
“Micah is really starting to get it. You can see Micah has been very active and made a lot of plays. Braxton has had a great spring. The more practice he gets at playing that new position, the better he will be,” Kentucky linebacker coach Chuck Smith said. “What he says there is different from what he saw in the middle. His reads are different. He is getting more and more comfortable with that. Micah is getting more and more comfortable, too.”
Kelley said a late injury was no problem.
“I had a stinger in my shoulder. I tried to go back in, but the doctors said no. But I am fine,” Kelley said.
Brooks also liked the way punter Tim Masthay performed. He averaged 49.6 yards per punt on three kicks with the hang time Brooks liked on each kick.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Tydlacka punted twice and averaged only 30.5 yards per kick. However, he did make a 42-yard field goal.
“Masthay also kicked off well,” Brooks said. “Ryan had had his best week of practice going into the game. He had clearly been better in practice than Masthay. But maybe freshman nervousness got to him.
“He is competing for both spots (kicker and punter). There is competition in both spots. He has a good future. He just has to get more consistent.”
Copyright:The Advocate-Messenger 2008
http://www.amnews.com/public_html/?module=displaystory&story_id=40224&format=html
larry@amnews.com
Defensively, Kentucky’s switch at linebacker seems to be working well. Kelley moved from middle linebacker, where he’s started three years, to the outside and had a game-high 12 tackles and one interception. Middle linebacker Micah Johnson had eight tackles and the White team’s leading tackler was linebacker Sam Maxwell, who is battling Johnny Williams for a starting spot, with nine stops.
“Micah is really starting to get it. You can see Micah has been very active and made a lot of plays. Braxton has had a great spring. The more practice he gets at playing that new position, the better he will be,” Kentucky linebacker coach Chuck Smith said. “What he says there is different from what he saw in the middle. His reads are different. He is getting more and more comfortable with that. Micah is getting more and more comfortable, too.”
Kelley said a late injury was no problem.
“I had a stinger in my shoulder. I tried to go back in, but the doctors said no. But I am fine,” Kelley said.
Brooks also liked the way punter Tim Masthay performed. He averaged 49.6 yards per punt on three kicks with the hang time Brooks liked on each kick.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Tydlacka punted twice and averaged only 30.5 yards per kick. However, he did make a 42-yard field goal.
“Masthay also kicked off well,” Brooks said. “Ryan had had his best week of practice going into the game. He had clearly been better in practice than Masthay. But maybe freshman nervousness got to him.
“He is competing for both spots (kicker and punter). There is competition in both spots. He has a good future. He just has to get more consistent.”
Copyright:The Advocate-Messenger 2008
http://www.amnews.com/public_html/?module=displaystory&story_id=40224&format=html
