Football is Back

[akaukswoosh]

Kyle Tucker ‏@KyleTucker_CJ 12m12 minutes ago
Stoops says TE C.J. Conrad "carrying a couple guys on his back" today. Looks great, "prototypical tight end." http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2014/10/04/live-video--mark-stoops-postgame-interview/16751481/…

 

[WildCard]

It will be interesting to see how UK "uses" Conrad this year. Last year he lined up almost exclusively as a tight wing.

I recently watched last season's Cincy-Temple game to get an idea of what Gran's offense looked like. (I was going to post a "what I saw" thread but thought I should watch at least 1 more Cincy game before offering any observations.)

However, I will say this...in the Temple game Cincy ran almost every play from 4 wide, 1 back sets and used an attached TE/tight wing/H-back set only a couple of times in 80+ plays. Maybe that was game plan? Maybe Cincy had no TEs? I don't know. I can't imagine Conrad not being a significant part of UK's offense this year but that will be a different wrinkle from Gran's offense last year.

BTW, I can't make the B/W game this year. Are any of UK's practice sessions going to be open?

Peace

 

[Bluetick2100]

I wonder if Conrad is that good or they can't tackle?

 

[3kidsandme]

It will be interesting to see how UK "uses" Conrad this year. Last year he lined up almost exclusively as a tight wing.

I recently watched last season's Cincy-Temple game to get an idea of what Gran's offense looked like. (I was going to post a "what I saw" thread but thought I should watch at least 1 more Cincy game before offering any observations.)

However, I will say this...in the Temple game Cincy ran almost every play from 4 wide, 1 back sets and used an attached TE/tight wing/H-back set only a couple of times in 80+ plays. Maybe that was game plan? Maybe Cincy had no TEs? I don't know. I can't imagine Conrad not being a significant part of UK's offense this year but that will be a different wrinkle from Gran's offense last year.

BTW, I can't make the B/W game this year. Are any of UK's practice sessions going to be open?

Peace

Gran already said the his packages depend on team strengths. Cincy had no legit receiving te last year. In saying that fans should temper there expectations I believe this year's team strength will be running the ball behind what will be a massive oline. Conrad is an exceptional blocker. He will get some catches but probably in the 20 to 40 range.

 

[JasonRDunn]

I hope Conrad sees a few more passes going his way this year than last. He did miss a few but he caught more than he missed and a couple of them were momentum changing / continuing plays. I thought he looked good as a pass catcher and got open a good number of times.

 

[WildcatUnderground]

He will be used a ton this year. Will be one of the focal points of the offense this year. He has worked hard all offseason, looks like a grown man. I expect his usage rate to double or triple under Gran.

 

[RV]

Gran already said the his packages depend on team strengths. Cincy had no legit receiving te last year. In saying that fans should temper there expectations I believe this year's team strength will be running the ball behind what will be a massive oline. Conrad is an exceptional blocker. He will get some catches but probably in the 20 to 40 range.

I wouldn't be so quick to go down that road. Travis Kelce was a little used Senior TE having caught 13 passes his Junior year when Gran showed up at UC. He went on to win first team honors in conference catching 45 passes and became a 3rd round NFL draft pick by KC. Gran uses what he has.

 

[3kidsandme]

I wouldn't be so quick to go down that road. Travis Kelce was a little used Senior TE having caught 13 passes his Junior year when Gran showed up at UC. He went on to win first team honors in conference catching 45 passes and became a 3rd round NFL draft pick by KC. Gran uses what he has.

I'm not disagreeing with you I said 20 40 catches. I also think this year's team has a big powerful oline that will run the ball alot to offset inexperienced QB play.

 

[RV]

I'm not disagreeing with you I said 20 40 catches. I also think this year's team has a big powerful oline that will run the ball alot to offset inexperienced QB play.

Yeah - but I think you're low-balling CJ. Kelce was a 5.2 two star by rivals while CJ was a 5.8 four star. I think CJ has a much higher upside than Kelce did and the 20-40 is a bit of an undersell with a wide variance IMO. In this offense, as I believe Gran will utilize him, less than 40 catches will be a disappointment to me.

 

[Soupbean]

I'm with RV on this one. Sometimes coaches outthink themselves and try to too hard to be deceptive with schemes and play calling instead of just trying to get the ball in the hands of their best talents more often period. CJ would be one of those talents and I think Gran recognizes that. He'll catch over 50 balls for sure.

 

[3kidsandme]

Yeah - but I think you're low-balling CJ. Kelce was a 5.2 two star by rivals while CJ was a 5.8 four star. I think CJ has a much higher upside than Kelce did and the 20-40 is a bit of an undersell with a wide variance IMO. In this offense, as I believe Gran will utilize him, less than 40 catches will be a disappointment to me.

I love CJ and if he catches 40 balls he would be one of the leaders at te in the country. I don't care what rating Kelce was he ran in the 4.6 range at 255 pounds at the combine. Comparing Conrad after a true freshman year to and all pro caliber te in Kelce is not fair to either player imo.

 

[Greasy Creak Mafia]

I think it will be nice to have a coaching staff on the offensive side that can adjust their scheme to,the talent we have on hand.

Conrad is far too good to be window dressing. I have faith in Gran to get him in the mix.

 

[Oldtrainer_rivals]

Think there is a good chance we will see lots of runs behind two tight end sets. Hart and/or Long at opposite end of Conrad All three are big bodies with soft pass catching hands! My guess-ta-mate starting line Conrad, Leavitt, Big George, Toth, Haynes, Young, and Hart. Personally think this will be a upgrade over last season.
Shame WildCard will not attend Spring game cause I wanted to follow him in so I'd be assured of a good parking spot!

 

[RV]

I love CJ and if he catches 40 balls he would be one of the leaders at te in the country. I don't care what rating Kelce was he ran in the 4.6 range at 255 pounds at the combine. Comparing Conrad after a true freshman year to and all pro caliber te in Kelce is not fair to either player imo.

I wasn't. I was comparing a Soph to be in Conrad to a Senior to be at UC in Kelce. Not sure how you got the All Pro stuff as I mentioned all conference.

IOW - With the rated talent Conrad has compared to the rated talent Kelce had, I expect a similar or better performance under the same offensive coordinator.

 

[3kidsandme]

I wasn't. I was comparing a Soph to be in Conrad to a Senior to be at UC in Kelce. Not sure how you got the All Pro stuff as I mentioned all conference.

IOW - With the rated talent Conrad has compared to the rated talent Kelce had, I expect a similar or better performance under the same offensive coordinator.

I don't expect Conrad to have a 60 catch season this year. UK is deeper at rb and wr than that cincy team was. I love Conrad but do not see an elite athlete like Travis Kelce is. I think Conrad is more of a traditional tight end that will block a ton.

 

[WildCard]

I wouldn't be so quick to go down that road. Travis Kelce was a little used Senior TE having caught 13 passes his Junior year when Gran showed up at UC. He went on to win first team honors in conference catching 45 passes and became a 3rd round NFL draft pick by KC. Gran uses what he has.

Ummm...small correction. Gran never coached Kelce. Kelce caught 45 balls in 2012, the year before Gran got arrived at Cincy..

FWIW, Cincy recruited 4 TEs during Gran's stint as OC (2013-2015). Two of those guys are playing in the OL and DL respectively and the one guy who had a ton of top offers transferred somewhere after his FR year. As a t-FR he played in 1 game and had 3 catches.

Cincy was Gran's first gig as OC. He's been around the block and I'm sure he will "tweak" whatever it is he likes to do to get his best players on the field. Here is a link to how he approached installing offense at Cincy.

Peace