Wednesday practice April 5

[RV]

Will be posting myobservations and opinionsheretomorrow evening.

[RV]

We're going to run the football and 'I think' we're going to run it well.

Joker was not pleased with the effort given by the O early on and gave them a tongue-lashing.

Practice was spirited overall with a couple of little scuffles between the O-line and LB's.

Trevard Lindley had a pick but overall we threw the ball and caught the ball fairly well.

Sanders had the QB's working on the option pitch. ;)Don't read too much into that statement.

Chuck Smith should be all smiles based on the talent he now has to work with.

You should note there has been some shuffling in the O-line and LB corps. Likely more to come as time goes on.

Practice should be in Commonwealth Saturday unless they've changed it so come out and see for yourself.

Position and depth chart changes as of right now:

LT
79 Garry Williams6-3 288 So.
69 Aaron Miller 6-5 300 So
67 Patrick Daly 6-6 290 Jr.
OUT OR LIMITED
71 James Alexander6-6 281 So.


LG
78 Christian Johnson 6-4 325 So.
68 Michael Williams6-6 290 RSFr.
64 Cody Morehead6-5 330 Jr.
OUT OR LIMITED
52 Fatu Turituri 6-3 290 Sr.


C
60 Trai Williams 6-4 286 Sr.
58 Travis Slaydon 6-3 273 Sr.
61 Jorge Gonzalez 6-3 310 RSFr.
OUT OR LIMITED
62 Matt McCutchan 6-3 310 Sr


RG
72 Michael Aitcheson 6-3 300 Sr.
74 Joe Fischer 6-6 285 So.
77 Casey Shumate6-3 290 Jr.
OUT OR LIMITED
75 Micah Jones 6-4 330 So.


RT
57 Hayden Lane 6-6 283 Sr.
55 Sefo Mailau Blaylock 6-4 330 RSFr.
70 Zach Hennis 6-8 322 RSFr.


QB
3 Andre Woodson 6-5 240 Jr.
15 Curtis Pulley 6-4 203 So.
1 Will Fidler 6-4 205 Fr.
14 Rocco Maragas6-1 200 Sr.


RB
22 Raphael Little 5-10 198 Jr.
28 Tony Dixon 5-9 208 So.
29 Alfonso Smith 6-1 200 RSFr.
37 Antoine Brown 5-9 205 Fr.


FB
38 John Conner 5-11 243 RSFr.
24 Terrell Bankhead 5-11 220 Jr.

27 Thomas Flannery 6-1 231 So.
47 James Davidson 6-0 275 So.
42 Jesse Jones 6-0 220 Fr.


TE
82 Tyler Sexton 6-2 254 RSFr.
81 Zipp Duncan 6-5 250 RSFr.

H-Back
86 Ross Bogue 6-5 247 RSFr.
80 T C Drake 6-6 223 Fr.
OUT OR LIMITED
18 Jacob Tamme 6-5 240 Jr.


SE
8 DeMoreo Ford (http://www.wildcatnation.net/forum/%20/%20ford) 5-10 189 RSFr.
11 Jo Jo Brown 6-3 200 So.
89 Sean Murphy 6-4 195 Jr.
88 Brian Bishop 6-1 200 So.
36 Chris Olinger 6-3 216 Jr.
OUT OR LIMITED
19 Keenan Burton 6-2 195 Jr.



FL
6 John Logan 6-0 189 Jr.
12 Dicky Lyons 5-11 190 So.
34 Kenny Hawkins 5-9 173 RSFr.
83 Anthony Stewart 5-10 173 So.
85 Anthony Cecil 6-0 187 RSFr.


LDE
9 Durrell White 6-3 260 Sr.
94 Travis Day 6-3 255 Jr.
93 Greg Noe 6-3 224 RSFr.
OUT OR LIMITED
87 Eric Scott 6-5 275 Jr.
99 Jeremy Jarmon 6-3 250 RSFr.
47 Eric Mueller 6-3 233 RSFr.


RDE
97 Nij Adiei Oninku 6-1 245 So.
20 Dominic Lewis 6-3 263 Jr.


NT
98 Myron Pryor 6-1 307 So.
66 Jason Leger 6-1 288 Jr.
OUT OR LIMITED
45 Lamar Mills 6-1 295 Sr.


DT
95 Ventrell Jenkins 6-2 286 So.
69 Austin Moss 6-0 240 RSFr.
OUT OR LIMITED
63 Ricky Abren 6-2 285 Jr.


SLB
46 Joe Schuler 6-3 233 Jr.
51 Johnny Williams 6-3 243 So.
40Maurice Grinter 6-3 253 Fr.
49 Johnny Walker 6-3 217 RSFr.


MLB
11 Ben McGrath 6-2 232 So.
43 Mikhail Mabry 6-2 235 So.
41 Ben Bates 6-1 230 RSFr.
55 Brad Bardo 6-3 215 RSFr.
OUT OR LIMITED
56 Braxton Kelley 6-0 226 So.


WLB
16 Wesley Woodyard 6-1 212 Jr.
28 Patrick Barnette 6-1 206 So.
48 Terry Clayton 6-1 243 Jr.
59 Brandon Lawrence 6-4 208 RSFr.


CB
23 Shomari Moore 5-9 180 So.
7 David Jones 5-10 194 So.
31 Jordan Nevels 5-10 175 RSFr.
OUT OR LIMITED
30 Jarrell Williams 5-11 185 So.
17 EJ Adams 6-0 194 Fr.



CB
32 Trevard Lindley 6-0 175 RSFr.
29 Timothy Hargrette 5-8 167 Sr.
10 Karl Booker 6-1 190 Sr.
OUT OR LIMITED
24 Bo Smith 6-0 190 Sr.


SS
14 Dallas Greer 6-1 195 Jr.
35 Roger Williams 6-0 200 Jr.
39 Adam Richey 5-10 186 RSFr.


FS
2 Marcus McClinton 6-1 214 So.
21 Michael Schwindel 6-2 210 RSFr.
26 Martin McPherson 6-2 208 So.

[Los Gatos]

I see you have Maurice Grinter listed at linebacker. Is the experiment at safety over? Or am I reading too much into your post?

[Brian McCat]

Thanks for the report, RV! I'm licking my chops about next season.

[UedK]

Thanks RV, I didn't make it last Saturday, but will try this one.

BTW: Are cameras allowed at the practices?

[Sam K.]

Thanks RV. Much appreciated.

[RV]

UedK wrote: Thanks RV, I didn't make it last Saturday, but will try this one.

BTW: Are cameras allowed at the practices?

It's my understanding you can take pictures of drills and individual players but are not allowed to film or take pictures of scrimmages. I may be totally wrong though.

[RV]

Los Gatos wrote: I see you have Maurice Grinter listed at linebacker. Is the experiment at safety over? Or am I reading too much into your post?



Who knows, 5th practice - 3rd position, may not besettled yet.

[poodoo]

Thanks, RV. Too, I waited until evening to check the board this time so I would get your report. :)

[Caveman Catfan]

Thanks for the reports.:thumbup

[The Old School JPS]

RV,

How has John Logan looked?

How have the young players in the secondary performed?

Thanks.

[UKCatsRock]

Wow! Look at all those freshmen and sophomores!! My goodness! Several juniors too. If this team can get experience (which they will) and somehow get to a bowl game, I can't even imagine the 2007 season. So much positive can happen for UK this year if we can somehow get on a roll.

However, the lack of depth and quality receivers bothers me. Hopefully, our WR's will make great strides before the first game.

I know they say the defense has owned the offense for the most part, but that's to be expected early on. Man, I can't wait.

Plus, a lot of our "main players" are "out or limitied," so hopefully, we will gain strength and momentum the closer we get to September.

Thanks, RV, for the great report.

A couple of questions:

Is Pryor the beat that we're hearing about?
How is D. Ford & Logan looking at WR? Jo Jo Brown?
Are they running 2 back sets as the majority? I think that could be lethal.

That's all for now, but I'm sure I'll think of something else. See what you've gotten yourself into? :ggrin:

Thanks again RV. Great job. :thumbup

[UedK]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Grinter at several defensive positions and even a couple of offensive positions this spring. He is such an athlete they will experiment as needed to see how he does at numerous spots, after all spring practice is ready made for a lot of experimentation.

[UedK]

UKCatsRock wrote: A couple of questions:

Is Pryor the beast that we're hearing about?



From what I've read and heard from several sources Pryor was a one man wrecking crew on Wednesday, a veritableBig Dwayneclone.His weight is supposedly down to 297-300 and his lateral quickness/agility has blossomed. Double team will be the name of the game for Pryor this season and thats exactly what you want with your stud D-Lineman. When he occupies two someones going to come open.

I don't remember if RV pointed this out but it seems the defense is getting a lot of work on run stopping, a lot of work and that's a good thing.

[RV]

The Old School JPS wrote:
How has John Logan looked?



Up and down but I have seen incremental improvement. He has matured a lot physically and seems to be holding on to the ball better but still not what you would like.

The Old School JPS wrote: How have the young players in the secondary performed?


Reasonably well. At CB - Lindley is showing well. Jarrell Williams was really looking good before his injury and Jones is starting to participate andlooks like he hasn't missed a beat. We'll bevery deep at Corner - IMHO - 'IF' Bo gets back, Jarrell is healthy and Griggs is any good at all. If none of these good things occur we'll still be OK. At Safety - McClinton has gotten a lot of reps but no contact. The foursome of McClinton, Greer, R Williams and Schwindell has looked OK at Safety but a hot shot Frosh could/should crack the two deep.

[RV]

UKCatsRock wrote: Wow! Look at all those freshmen and sophomores!! My goodness! Several juniors too. If this team can get experience (which they will) and somehow get to a bowl game, I can't even imagine the 2007 season. So much positive can happen for UK this year if we can somehow get on a roll.

Yes - all that is true and once again we're going to be relatively young but this should be the last year of that forever - I hope.


UKCatsRock wrote: Is Pryor the beast that we're hearing about?


Yes - he is going to be a special player and will command double teams in a lot of instances.

UKCatsRock wrote: How is D. Ford & Logan looking at WR? Jo Jo Brown?





Up and down but I have seen incremental improvement. He has matured a lot physically and seems to be holding on to the ball better but still not what you would like. Ford just started participating so I haven't seen much to report. Jo Jo is a solid player and will do the dirty work needed. Hopefully he can develop into a bigger Tommy Cook.


UKCatsRock wrote:
Are they running 2 back sets as the majority? I think that could be lethal.





I haven't seen all the practices but I have yet to see us in a 3 WR set.I've seena lot of 2 back, or 2 TE sets.

[Matt Dillon]

Thanks for all the hard work RV & others. It's nice to get reports like this when you live out of town & it's not practical/possible to attend practice sessions. Thanks again to all who contribute.

[Coldstream]

Hmmmm... two TE and two RB sets... mixed that in with some reports of QBs working on option pitch. Visions of a Nebraska offense here... not that good but still, can we do it?

[jwade]

Coldstream wrote: Hmmmm... two TE and two RB sets... mixed that in with some reports of QBs working on option pitch. Visions of a Nebraska offense here... not that good but still, can we do it?

I'm not sure we have much choice. The RB's appear to be the strength of this offense: Little and Dixon will both be excellent backs give any support at all from the O-line. Smith and Brown are also potentially very good, although different style, backs IMO.

The lack of game-proven WR's (beyond Burton) and Woodson's problems with decision making and ball security mitigate against a predominant passing attack, I think.

Jim

[CarterHall]

I can only hope that one of our recruited WR is as good as the kid we almost got that played at Vanderbilt last year. He's the best looking freshman wide receiver that I've seen in a long time. Joker being so close to have gotten him gives me hope that one of these kids this year might be our answer. It also tells me that this staff can evaluate talent.

If you look at the OL that Guy recruited and the kids this staff has brought in you see a very noticeable difference. Brooks' OL look like SEC caliber players. Physically, Morris' OL have trouble competing at the level. Actually, they have proven they're inadequate.

[The Old School JPS]

RV, thanks. I hope they keep coming along. I'd love to see John Logan have a big year, or even just some big plays like Ernest Simms did.

[baldcat]

Much obliged, RV.

I hope to God they don't plan on abandoning the passing game.

We'll see the box stacked against us all year long.

[jwade]

I thought none of the three QB's looked particularly good today (Friday), but it was awfully windy again and made it tough to throw. I'd like to see them work on a still day. Maybe tomorrow.

And, the offense usually lags behind the defense early on. Let's hope they find a rhythm soon and unite behind either Woodson or Pulley.

Jim

[poodoo]

jwade wrote: I thought none of the three QB's looked particularly good today (Friday), but it was awfully windy again and made it tough to throw. I'd like to see them work on a still day. Maybe tomorrow.

And, the offense usually lags behind the defense early on. Let's hope they find a rhythm soon and unite behind either Woodson or Pulley.

Jim

Thanks for sharing, Jim. Too, yes, let's hope they find a rhythm soon and unite behind either Woodson or Pulley."

[T75]

CarterHall wrote: I can only hope that one of our recruited WR is as good as the kid we almost got that played at Vanderbilt last year. He's the best looking freshman wide receiver that I've seen in a long time. Joker being so close to have gotten him gives me hope that one of these kids this year might be our answer. It also tells me that this staff can evaluate talent.

If you look at the OL that Guy recruited and the kids this staff has brought in you see a very noticeable difference. Brooks' OL look like SEC caliber players. Physically, Morris' OL have trouble competing at the level. Actually, they have proven they're inadequate.

I certainly agree that Vandy's receiver sure helped their very good QB to look even better last season. I do believe that we have a 3-star and a 4-star WR in our crop of frosh coming in this August. We need, as much as anything I can think of, for one or two of our incoming WR's to give us some depth or even start---if Burtons foot doesn't come around soon. I was hoping Ravi would chip in there but we can't have everything.