With fall camp just around the corner, what news would you like to hear coming out of fall camp? For me no injuries and OL improvement would be at the top of the list.
Fall camp news
- Thread starter UKFirst
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That Courtland Ford is the real deal & wins starting right tackle day 1
Right there with you. On the other side of the ball I hope we have an improved pass rush.
Yenser had an interview this morning and was pressed on major issues. This was CWS overview hope he doesnt mind me sharing. Looks like Ford and Flax are battling
Just did a lengthy interview with Vaught and White. Lots of good stuff.
- Jager ready to take the next step. Has worked relentlessly to add the mass needed to play interior line in SEC. Up to 315lbs. Gets to the second level like a pro.
- Marquis Cox walked in and was the leader of the oline wthin a week or so on campus. Total dude. Could play at next level.
- Courtland Ford looking good - battling with Flax at RT.
- Nick Hall has been battling back injuries and I’m assuming had a back surgery. Hasn’t been able to do a whole lot.
- Most interesting comment - for UK to continue to climb, they are a program that must recruit and develop high school linemen for 3-4 years. Have them ready to start for redshirt sophomore year. They don’t want to be a program that has to rely on portal every offseason to land a tackle.
- Antonio White did a great job pressing him on if he was able to identify what went wrong last season - Yenser said “lack of experience, we never gelled as a group, and Scang’s complex verbiage” all led to perfect storm.
Hate to hear that about Hall, have high hopes for him.
Pretty open comments re Scang.
I saw this article too and had a thought when he said Ford and Cox are fighting for RT. Am I wrong but remember Ford coming in AFTER spring practice. That would mean they are only battling in the weight room position room ect. They have not been on the field together. Let’s hope by day 3 in pads Ford has secured that spot. As a senior Cox would have to have a Josh Allen transformation to be good. I have never seen a lineman lose his balance and fall to the ground while blocking as much as Flax. He could have been credited two sacks of Levis last year as he stumbled backward and fell into the QB at least twice I remember.
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Back injury potentially with a surgery? Devastating. Not sure Hall should be counted on contributing anytime before 2025.
Scang was like a genius but couldn’t communicate with anyone. I just couldn’t understand how our linemen had a guy right in front of them and just let him go by untouched. Even I could of hit the guy or shoved him!!
Do we actually know if Hall had surgery or will require surgery or is that speculation?
From the way I understoof was that Yenser implied he had, without saying it
Seems like other coaches view Scang as a brilliant offensive mind because he speaks their language. Problem is football players, on the pro and most especially college level, don't understand him well enough.
I would love to hear no injuries and they have to reel in the guys a bit because they are all animals that are trying to kill the person across from them (on the line) and that the skill positions are even better than they thought.
I want to hear that some of the OL who were being manhandled by Deone Walker in the spring are now breaking even and sometimes getting the best of him.
Along a similar vein, I know we will hear this as coach speak somewhat, but I really hope that, but I hope that it’s true that the OTs and pass rush take turns winning against the other because both have improved so much.
Also, with the WR core being a known commodity, I hope to hear the corners are making life very difficult for them and getting some picks in practice.
Along a similar vein, I know we will hear this as coach speak somewhat, but I really hope that, but I hope that it’s true that the OTs and pass rush take turns winning against the other because both have improved so much.
Also, with the WR core being a known commodity, I hope to hear the corners are making life very difficult for them and getting some picks in practice.
Direct quote from Stoops after the UT game:
Asked by a reporter about the common fan theory that Kentucky’s offense, which Scangarello brought from the NFL, is too complicated for college players, Stoops seemed to agree at least in part with that suggestion.
“It’s a fair criticism,” Stoops said. “... Why and where and where we’re spending our time and all of those things, we have to look, put our players in a position to be more successful. That’s on us as well.”
Pretty obvious that a lot of the plays took a long time to develop which was a disaster with our line. You could also see those guys blocking second level while guys were blowing by them, especially on stunts. Our line had problems but I think confusion played a major part, think we gave up like 12 sacks in the non-conference games outside of UL which says a lot.
Burton at 315 is a good note. I felt he was too small from day 1.
Without a doubt clear number one is Jager Burton and his growth into the center position. If he takes to that position we will be in great shape. If he doesn’t it will be an up and down ride.
Interested in this. Offensive linemen are prone to back and shoulder problems because of the physics of the force and contact they are involved with as part of their job. Not surprised he has a back injury. What is the reason you assume he had back surgery? I had teammates with back problems but most of them did not need surgery. The ones who needed surgery were hurt worse but got over the problem fast when they got over the surgery. If he had surgery, I would expect him to be near 100% by this fall. If it is a nagging injury, that could threaten his season.
I copied that from CWS that listened yo the interview. I haven't listened to it. Coaches can't say a guy had surgery. CWS said Yenser wording inplied that.
Cole Cubelic said on his most recent show if you are a Kentucky fan you want to hear Stoops & Coen say after a day or 2 someone has won the starting RT job. And it isn't good news if 2 weeks into camp they are still saying guys are "battling" for the job & its still open.
It has been reported that Hall had surgery. Now it is reported he has back issues. They are just putting the two reports together. It isn't necessarily true but certainly possible based upon reporting that the surgery was for his back..
So assuming he misses time are we looking at LT - Marquis Cox LG - Horsey C - Burton RG - Eli Cox RT - Flax/Ford ?
If flax or Ford can be decent that's a solid line
Need some solid backups. When the BBW was in its prime under Schlarman’s watch, many of the backups got crucial minutes!
Otherwise known as “paralysis by analysis.”
I rewatched that opening game vs. Northern Illinois last season.
No doubt NIU effectively twisted and stunted, but even if well run, the stunting lineman is not rendered invisible. The O-line was caught thinking too much, and reacting too slowly.
Or maybe ever. Will be a tough road getting strength back without getting passed up, especially with our ever improving recruiting.
Tough spot
This makes sense but ‘23 and so far ‘24 OL classes don’t make me overly optimistic about this. I think we had a pretty remarkable run of in state OL talent during Stoops tenure along with an irreplaceable OL coach that led to some great lines. I don’t think that’s sustainable for his tenure here. It can and will be better than last year though.
2 years ago before his injury Eli Cox was up for all american honors 1/2 through the season. Then hurt.
If you are talking about Marques Cox the Transfer from (Illinois State) he was rated one of the highest in the transfer portal. Not sure he has to have any kind of turn around at all. He played great against power 5 teams his whole career.
MC is a left tackle and CF is a right tackle. Both would have to battle to start anywhere where they transfer as I would hope no coach would tell a guy, transfer and you start without competition. I know if I was one of the lineman coming back and I hear about this transfer or that transfer it would motivate me to get better quick. I hope our Oline battles each snap in fall camp. I hope Yenser has to make the statement we really have 8 starters on the oline and we are going with these 5 guys and these other 3 will get plenty of snaps to keep guys fresh and healthy.
Reread that. He had cox and flax confused. He said cox twice, then the last time said flax. I think flax is who he eas talking about the whole time. I had the same thoughts you did at 1st