Stevens sets visit

[PeachtreeCat]

From today's SEC recruiting report from the AJC:

http://www.ajc.com/uga/content/sports/uga/0905/20secnotes.html

KENTUCKY

Wildcats (1-2, 0-0)

The Wildcats remain the leader for Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway defensive end Jordan Stevens. The No. 47 overall prospect in the Keystone State, the 6-foot-3, 226-pound Stevens will make his official visit to Lexington this weekend for Kentucky's home game with Florida. ... Memphis Christian Brothers linebacker Chris Mosby recently received an offer from Kentucky and has the Wildcats near the top of his list. He also is considering Memphis, Arkansas and Wake Forest. ... Of the Wildcats' eight commitments, three are running backs.

• Next: Saturday vs. Florida, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

[Caveman Catfan]

We need a talented DE.

BTW, Scout.com upgraded Goodson from a one star to a two star, FWIW.

[Athens2005]

Thanks for posting the link (I had read the hard copy).

That page is actually quite depressing, when you look at what everyone else is getting.



Also, the kid from Fort Campbell going to Notre Dame.



I thought Joker had the inside track on the state's talent?

[WarrenSCPA]

I got to watch Jordan Stevens play in the opening game this year on FoxSports-Pittsburgh. IMO, he is not playing DE even though that is what his high school team calls his position. Gateway is playing a 5-3 defense with Stevens lining up in a three point stance on the OT's head. Personally, I call that position a DT. There is a stand up, what I would call a DE (Gateway must call that position a LB), on the outside and a Nose over the Center, same thing on the other side with 3 LBs and a3 deep secondary.

Physically, Stevens looks like a pretty good athlete and runs pretty well. He played slot on offense but did not have any balls thrown his way (that I saw). Gateway's QB has committed to Pitt and they have two high Division I WRs. So he was pretty much a blocker on offense. On defense, he was simply overmatched physically. The OT for Cleveland Benedictine was probably 300 lbs or better. It would be hard for anyone giving up 65 lbs or more to match up. He was in on several tackles but they were usually six yards down field where the ball carrier would be held up by aLB or DB and he would assist in the take down. I did see him shoot the gap and nail the RB for no gain or a yard loss on one nice play.

Overall, if I did not know that UK was recruiting him I doubt that I would have noticed him.

The TV announcer stated that it was between UK, MI State, & Minnesota.

[T75]

Once a program reaches the bottom as UK has done, it becomes a most difficult Catch 22. You can't get top players because you're not winning and you're not winning because you can't get top players. I don't consider myself a defender of the UK staff because I don't think anyone there, including Joker, has done a great job. But it's unreasonable to expect Joker or any recruiter to bring in top talent when our program shows so little promise. At some point we're going to have to hit some lucky breaks with players who are better than others thought and a staff that can take an inferior talent level and still win. Tough combination.

[poodoo]

But it's unreasonable to expect Joker or any recruiter to bring in top talent when our program shows so little promise. QUOTE by T75

________

What Joker and the staff have been selling to recruits is early playing time AND that the younger classmen show a lot of promise. Yes, their situation is still tough, though.Then thatalready tough situation is made even tougher because the coachescannot tell the recruits that they will be here next season. Too, recruits read what the media writes. For example, one CJ columnist wrote back-to-back columns about "Brooks' replacement." :(

Again, as you say,UK recruiting isone tough situation. That's one reason why all the injuries that have occurredthis season are such a crying shame.Those injuries obviously make it much harder for the team to perform well and get victories, victories that are direly needed in relation to getting top recruits to come here. Yes, this staff is cathing the attention of some top recruits. Regardless, as you say, victories are needed,victories that will also help by providingcoaching stability, for which a lot of recruits look.

[RV]

Athens2005 wrote:
Also, the kid from Fort Campbell going to Notre Dame.




This was expected for this kid to go out of state and Notre Dame ain't exactly chopped liver.



Athens2005 wrote:

I thought Joker had the inside track on the state's talent?
If this was a sarcastic remark - then no comment.

If, in fact, want to know then Brooks and staff have done/are doing a remarkable job in state considering the circumstances.

[Los Gatos]

T75 wrote: Once a program reaches the bottom as UK has done, it becomes a most difficult Catch 22. You can't get top players because you're not winning and you're not winning because you can't get top players. I don't consider myself a defender of the UK staff because I don't think anyone there, including Joker, has done a great job. But it's unreasonable to expect Joker or any recruiter to bring in top talent when our program shows so little promise. At some point we're going to have to hit some lucky breaks with players who are better than others thought and a staff that can take an inferior talent level and still win. Tough combination.
Bingo, give the man a cigar!

Now, it doesn't matter how we got into the current situation. Yes, probation, injuries, etc all contributed to the current dismal on the field performance. It doesn't matter! Ok, it does matter a bit but not much as some recruits will cut us some slack. I very seriously doubt enough will however.

Thus (in my opinion) unless the staff can somehow turn things around during the rest of the year, it will be virtually impossible to recruit enough quality athletes to produce a winning team.

If they can't, it time to start over with a new coaching staff. Heck, they might get lucky or be better at winning with inferior talent.

[RV]

Los Gatos wrote: T75 wrote: Once a program reaches the bottom as UK has done, it becomes a most difficult Catch 22. You can't get top players because you're not winning and you're not winning because you can't get top players. I don't consider myself a defender of the UK staff because I don't think anyone there, including Joker, has done a great job. But it's unreasonable to expect Joker or any recruiter to bring in top talent when our program shows so little promise. At some point we're going to have to hit some lucky breaks with players who are better than others thought and a staff that can take an inferior talent level and still win. Tough combination.
Bingo, give the man a cigar!

Now, it doesn't matter how we got into the current situation. Yes, probation, injuries, etc all contributed to the current dismal on the field performance. It doesn't matter! Ok, it does matter a bit but not much as some recruits will cut us some slack. I very seriously doubt enough will however.

Thus (in my opinion) unless the staff can somehow turn things around during the rest of the year, it will be virtually impossible to recruit enough quality athletes to produce a winning team.

If they can't, it time to start over with a new coaching staff. Heck, they might get lucky or be better at winning with inferior talent.

Heck you might even win the lottery but your chances are miniscule. This grass is greener or trading the devil you know for the devil you don't know attitude is premature IMO. Let's stay the course at least through next year and see where that leads us. What's the worst that could happen? We lose some more football games but at least the numbers will be up for the next guy if need be.

This staff has proven one thing and that is they can dredge up good talent that is underrated especially given the negatives they must overcome. How about we give 'em a chance to coach up the talent they've brought in?

[Los Gatos]

For me it's a guestion of is this staff likely to ever produce a winning team at UK. Given what has transpired up to now, I don't think so. (I didn't think so before the season started either.)

So it's a question of which staff (this one or a new one) is more likely to produce a winning team. Unless the team can show improvement over rest of the year, I believe a new one has a better chance.

As for the cost of waiting, again without improvement this year, I don't believe we will have a good recruiting class. I speculate a final score in the 65-75 range. While a new staff is not likely to be able to significantly change that this year, they would be in far better shape for the 2006 class. If we wait until next year it's just another year before we have an improved chance of beginning to produce a winning team.

But lets wait and see how the rest of the season unfolds. Hopefully they will show significant improvement and the question will become mute.

[hoosierhateruklover]

We have lost a lot of games this year in the trenches...We must pick up the OL/DL recruits!

[RV]

Los Gatos wrote: ... While a new staff is not likely to be able to significantly change that this year, they would be in far better shape for the 2006 class. If we wait until next year it's just another year before we have an improved chance of beginning to produce a winning team.


I disagree. Bringing in a new staff for next year willseverely hinderthe chance for a winning season next year. Sure the fan base will be re-energized but the fans don't play a single down. Every time a new staff comes in to a program there is always a transition period and you should know all the ramifications without having to list them, we have lived them time and time again. Additionally, how can you say a new staff would/could have a better recruiting year? They likely won't win as many games as the present staff given the usual transition and they would lose the inroads and the contacts this staff has built over the last two and one half years taking steps back. No way can these be reconstructed by a new staff in 12 months.

As for the rating of the incoming class, perhaps they will only be in the 65-70 range but that will beon or near our average andconsidering our situation would be good. What it really does is give us another solid class that finally gets our numbers up to near 85 and even though we'll have only a handful of Seniors, we should have a really good and deep (by our standards) Sophomore and Junior class. Next year's team will be battling for a bowl bidbut if they don't then it will be the time to pull the plug if Mitch so desires. If that be the case a new staff can come in and build from the foundation that Brooks and company have put in place but doing so before the end of next year can only hurt us IMO.

[UedK]

RV wrote:
I disagree. Bringing in a new staff for next year willseverely hinderthe chance for a winning season next year. Sure the fan base will be re-energized but the fans don't play a single down. Every time a new staff comes in to a program there is always a transition period and you should know all the ramifications without having to list them, we have lived them time and time again. Additionally, how can you say a new staff would/could have a better recruiting year? They likely won't win as many games as the present staff given the usual transition and they would lose the inroads and the contacts this staff has built over the last two and one half years taking steps back. No way can these be reconstructed by a new staff in 12 months.

As for the rating of the incoming class, perhaps they will only be in the 65-70 range but that will beon or near our average andconsidering our situation would be good. What it really does is give us another solid class that finally gets our numbers up to near 85 and even though we'll have only a handful of Seniors, we should have a really good and deep (by our standards) Sophomore and Junior class. Next year's team will be battling for a bowl bidbut if they don't then it will be the time to pull the plug if Mitch so desires. If that be the case a new staff can come in and build from the foundation that Brooks and company have put in place but doing so before the end of next year can only hurt us IMO.

RV, how did you get sosmart for such a young person? :DIn regard to our recruiting class, if we land Micah J. and Demetirus Goodeour rankingwill be elevated up into the 40's. What you say about transitions id so true. Just look at what's going on with our upcoming foe.

[gerntz]

When you can't pull in top recruits for whatever reason, the way you improve your recruiting capabilities is to have a coaching staff that outcoaches the talent they have & show that by winning games they shouldn't. That turns future recruits' heads. Frank Beamer & Urban Meyers are poster children of this.

Obviously this staff hasn't done it but the overall talent & depth have been so poor through no fault of theirs that I don't hold them accountable - yet. I do hold them accountable for 06 results. I'm not setting a winning season requirement, but they must deliver a measurable improvement to maintain my support then.

[poodoo]

That surely sounds reasonable to me, gerntz.

gerntz wrote:
When you can't pull in top recruits for whatever reason, the way you improve your recruiting capabilities is to have a coaching staff that outcoaches the talent they have & show that by winning games they shouldn't. That turns future recruits' heads. Frank Beamer & Urban Meyers are poster children of this.

Obviously this staff hasn't done it but the overall talent & depth have been so poor through no fault of theirs that I don't hold them accountable - yet. I do hold them accountable for 06 results. I'm not setting a winning season requirement, but they must deliver a measurable improvement to maintain my support then.