D.J. Elliot on Tom Leach
- Thread starter gobigblue812_rivals29381
- Start date
He mentioned that the defensive backs have taken it to another level. That Ware was their only experience back with the Linebackers. Said Meant was their most experienced Linemen. He pretty much said I think what is already known about the team. He's not a real negative guy, he says mainly the right coach talk. I was hoping Tom might ask him about the number of DL transfers going on right now and if we were serious about any of them
From the thread title, I thought Elliot was going to comment on Tom Leach's performance! [laughing]
FWIW, based on the B/W game Elliot will have his hands full with the front 7 this fall. Not encouraging to see the #2 offense run through the #1 defense like that. But the #1 secondary did look good. Will UK play more man-free and get that extra defender up in the second level this year?
Peace
FWIW, based on the B/W game Elliot will have his hands full with the front 7 this fall. Not encouraging to see the #2 offense run through the #1 defense like that. But the #1 secondary did look good. Will UK play more man-free and get that extra defender up in the second level this year?
Peace
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Wasn't the score in that "game" 70 something to whatever (you say 42)? I have no idea what their game format was but I read they used some kind of bizarre scoring system awarding points for "good" defensive plays. TN is expected to return to top 10 status this year. Regardless, I don't really care what TN did nor does it make any difference relative to UK's game.
Peace
The LBs looked good in the spring game...and the DL was as expected. Some fail to realize that the 2nd team OL is actually a very good run blocking unit...Leavitt and Wolfe excel in that phase of the game, GAA was a previous starter, Bunchy Stallings in an SEC lineman etc.
Edge rush and containment vs the read option are the two largest concerns, still IMO.
Edge rush and containment vs the read option are the two largest concerns, still IMO.
I happen to think Stoops and Eliot are keeping it positive but vanilla. Praising the DBs is a no brainer for a bunch of cocky guys who have real competition and will have more on campus in the summer. Other than that position, he has praised mainly the leaders (Love, Barker, Toth). His praise for Jones is also, IMO, about leadership and confidence. His praise for Timmons is all about confidence.
Most of the players he has been positive about but not all in. Competition for the summer is required. Stoops had revealed very little, IMO.
Most of the players he has been positive about but not all in. Competition for the summer is required. Stoops had revealed very little, IMO.
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Their point system they used was a modified one where the D was awarded points when they made a play.
Besides they blasted us last year and hung their cleats up midway through the 3rd quarter. I would not be surprised if their 2nd string would beat us as well.
And the D was awarded points when they didn't make a play, saw a little of it and the O missed a FGA which had nothing to do with the D since they couldn't rush the kicker and the D was awarded 3 points. I think both teams had close to 70 points.
I watched the game the 2s moved the ball on the 1s. UK is going to struggle some stopping the run just the way the sec is built but anybody making assumptions from a spring game is over valuing a glorified scrimmage.
I watched the game I came away with the same impression as from UK tenn has long athletes and size. That's about all you can get from a spring game. Hell uk dlineman where stopping as soon as they made contact with the oline.
Well one thing UK fans are notorious for is over valuing the squad we have. We continue to get throttled but yet sure enough the next season rolls around and you have the same guys proclaiming that we look good.
They were playing a base defense with little to no blitzing. Siheim King is also a more explosive RB than UL has on its entire roster and he might be our 3rd or 4th string back
Wow you took that out of what I said. So your saying the spring game tells you something other than what I said? Please debate other than being a jackass to a fellow uk fan. I'm assuming your a UK fan. Nowhere did I proclaim anything great other than we have improved in getting bigger longer faster athletes. We have some pretty freakish guys in all phases of this team. Do you disagree?
It's a good question Wild and the answer is probably yes. Rather have a quicker back or backer that can run down ball carriers off the line of scrimmage than a lineman stuck on blocks up front.
We were up 14 to 10 with about 5 minutes left in the 1st half. Then we gave up a 85 yard bomb on the first play after taking the lead and another TD before the half....game.
The offense sucked as they did all year and couldn't stay on the field. The D was gassed in the second half...game.
But its inaccurate to label that game as a blast job from start to finish...but go ahead and post to an agenda..
This is absolutely a true statement. UL has recruited well the last couple of years at certain positions(wide receiver for one) but they have missed on a bunch of quick, explosive running backs. They definitely don't have a great compliment to Jackson for the read option right now. which made the UL game last year all the more infuriating not to take the ball out of Jacksons hands.
How about it Wildcard....what do you think about the running backs on the roster? see a hole there?
Speed is always a good thing but you don't really need a "speed" back for the shotgun based zone read option. But it is nice to have a speedy pitch man when running the speed option. The Cards practiced such in the spring and expect to see it in the fall
By and large CBP has always eschewed the speed back in favor of the "power" back but has never fielded a team as option oriented as what the Cards will be next year. All of the Cardinal RBs are over 210#. Bonnafon (209#) is being used as a true multi purpose back (RB, Slot, Wildcat QB) and is the only one that could be described as a speed back. It is likely that the trio of Radcliff, Scott and Bonnafon will get the bulk of the RB carries. Bonnafon has wheels but needs to learn to run like a RB rather than a QB. He and Jackson could be dangerous duo on speed option plays.
But that is all on the edge. The Cards definitely need a better between the tackles run game than what they showed last year. The RBs are fine, the question is the O-line. For the 3rd year in a row I think the Cards "overall ceiling" will be determined by O-line play. JMO.
Peace
it will definitely be determined by the OLine....and your starters look pretty solid. Better hope for no injuries though.
As far as the running back conversation, I've read your board enough to see your comments about missing on several true speed running backs and how beneficial it would be if you had one....in the mold of White and Slayton at WVU. Butttt, it seems that lack of a true speed back is nothing to worry about when you talk about it on THIS board.
We'll see how you feel about that when Jackson once again turns into your primary running option for an entire year of taking punishment...
Oh, there was never any worry about it (i.e., the RB position). Just a harmless lament about how nice it would be to have an RB like Slayton to go with Jackson. Besides it is very unlikely CBP will go all in on the spread option game as did WVA back in those days.it will definitely be determined by the OLine....and your starters look pretty solid. Better hope for no injuries though.
As far as the running back conversation, I've read your board enough to see your comments about missing on several true speed running backs and how beneficial it would be if you had one....in the mold of White and Slayton at WVU. Butttt, it seems that lack of a true speed back is nothing to worry about when you talk about it on THIS board.
We'll see how you feel about that when Jackson once again turns into your primary running option for an entire year of taking punishment...
Peace
Mmm wtf?? Lol. Dude I was just agreeing with you and brought up the cheerleaders. Here is a thread for you that somebody bumped to the top from last season.
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/dont-be-afraid-to-raise-expectations.108729/
As far as athletes go yes we have some athletic guys but we need to be doing something better. As I have stated before most of our players are generally performing up to their offer level sans our lines.
Consindering what we had during joker we had nowhere to go but up. Hell even WKU would whip the **** out of us, had better athletes and better coached.
I know it takes time to build an SEC defense but it is frustrating to STILL not have and SEC front 7. I believe we will make big strides on Offense though and MAYBE this will help keep the defense fresh and average (at BEST).
If we can add a DL transfer that can play this year that would help tremendously. I am also cautiously optimistic we will have better LB play this year with ALL of the athletes and bodies we have challenging for playing time. Still not impressed with Matt Elam's conditioning and reaction speed off tackle. Hopefully, he gets SERIOUS and drops another 20 before fall.
If we can add a DL transfer that can play this year that would help tremendously. I am also cautiously optimistic we will have better LB play this year with ALL of the athletes and bodies we have challenging for playing time. Still not impressed with Matt Elam's conditioning and reaction speed off tackle. Hopefully, he gets SERIOUS and drops another 20 before fall.
I think our lb are more talented and athletic. Just inexperienced..
Besides c.j. on the dline i was expecting to be as good or better with the rest of the positions on dline.
After spring game i'm not so sure. But it was a spring game which is a lot like a army all american game..
Certain positions its hard to judge how good someone actually is!
Observations.
, offensive line play was excellent. They mixed and matched up several different formations in second half. Stallings to center, from 2 guard, etc. this will be a strong point.
Defensive secondAry looks very good , but thin physically and In numbers
Backfield will be fine
QB will be good
Receivers will be good
Linebackers. Young, thin
Dline.thin, I did t see much. Little to No change in Elam Pringles the Juco looked smallish and like a Juco
, offensive line play was excellent. They mixed and matched up several different formations in second half. Stallings to center, from 2 guard, etc. this will be a strong point.
Defensive secondAry looks very good , but thin physically and In numbers
Backfield will be fine
QB will be good
Receivers will be good
Linebackers. Young, thin
Dline.thin, I did t see much. Little to No change in Elam Pringles the Juco looked smallish and like a Juco
Pringle looked small to you? That's surprising since he's listed at 330 lbs, and I think he said he was down a few pounds from there
Def secondary should have solid depth & size
CB westry, Harmon
S West, McWilson
S Edwards, McClain, Walker
CB Baity, Tucker, Randolph (backs up here as well)
NB McClain, Randolph
DL & LB still concerns me, though. I am prob way off(hope I'm wrong altogether), but I wasn't impressed by Love's quickness and speed. I just fear seeing him abused by TEs and RBs when in pass coverage.
My hope for DL is Elam continues a motivated summer (sheds about 20 lbs), and the extra fall practices allow the light to come on for Pringle.