Mike Pfeiffer, Warren Bryant, Jonathon Liening, Antonio Hall.I can't wait for Landon to suit up for the Cats. I can't remember the last time UK had a lineman of his size and mobility, maybe never.
I'd like that to be the case, but it's too early imo to make that call. See what he & the guys in front of him do in pre-season & the first few games, including possible injuries. How does anyone know he's not the clear first choice by then?I am in the minority that believes Landon Young should redshirt in 2016 and be developed as a 4-year tackle starter in 2017-20.
I am in the minority that believes Landon Young should redshirt in 2016 and be developed as a 4-year tackle starter in 2017-20. Someone will say Young won't stay at Kentucky for 4 years. I have seen that argument here every time fans want a true freshman to play. We heard it about Elam. We even heard it about Hatcher and Asafo Adjei. Lots of people here insisted they would leave early for the NFL. But facts are facts. In the history of Kentucky football, only 4 players have left early and then made an NFL roster the following year. With odds that long, it is foolish to make developmental decisions on every potentially talented freshman out of fear that they might leave early. Our coaches are paid to win, but have had 3 consecutive disappointing seasons in 2013-15. So they will feel lots of pressure to use Young as a true freshman in 2016. But it isn't just a question of who looks good in 4 weeks of practice in August. A year ago, true freshman GAA seemed to win the starting right tackle job in April and August. GAA started the 1st 3 games, then succumbed to lack of experience and sat for most of the year while Kyle Meadows played. Fans see the 5 stars, want immediate fixes, and overwhelmingly believe that Young should play in 2016. But I believe that patience is a virtue, and that Young could have a much more impactful career at Kentucky if developed as a 5 year player. That's why I will be in the minority here. I would leave the 2016 tackle responsibilities to Tate Leavitt, a spring participant signed out of juco specifically for this purpose, and to Meadows and Cole Mosier who are 2 of the most improved players on our team. I am not necessarily opposed to using true freshmen. For instance, I would play Kash Daniel in 2016. But Daniel is participating in spring practice, and true freshman linebackers have a little bit easier path to contribute early. Dakota Hotzclaw, another spring participant, might play. Obviously Grant McKinniss will punt. But I would redshirt most of the other true freshmen. Developing players is not about immediate impact, which is usually a pipe dream for freshmen linemen. Developing players is about making them the best student athlete they can be by using their 4 years of college eligibility wisely. This is a test for our coaching staff, but my point will take time to prove.
Regardless of what they do in practice this coming August, Landon Young's career at Kentucky would be helped by a redshirt. I would just remind you what happened to GAA last year. And although most people believe Landon is more ready than GAA, that isn't necessarily true. GAA played against Ohio high school competition, then participated in spring practice at Kentucky before his freshman season. People's impressions are mainly based on Young's 5 stars at this point. The best, most fundamentally sound offensive tackles I have seen at Kentucky all got their redshirts, including Warren Bryant, Mike Pfeiffer, Jonathon Liening. All of those guys were similar physically to Young, but all of them played against stronger competition in high school.I'd like that to be the case, but it's too early imo to make that call. See what he & the guys in front of him do in pre-season & the first few games, including possible injuries. How does anyone know he's not the clear first choice by then?
It doesn't matter what most people would argue, if their argument is demonstrably incorrect. When they were freshmen, everyone around here said Darrian Miller and Matt Elam would leave early for the NFL. LOL! You can't make player development decisions for true freshmen out of fear that they might leave early. The fact is, only 4 Kentucky football players have ever made an NFL roster a year after leaving Kentucky early. These decisions must assume the player will stay around, because almost all do. It must be based on what will make him the best student athlete he can be. And for a lineman, that almost always means a redshirt.I think most would argue that IF Landon improves as much as expected, he will likely be gone after his 4th year, whether that is his TR Sr or RS Jr season.
Mike Pfeiffer, Warren Bryant, Jonathon Liening, Antonio Hall.
Granted, Kentucky has never had another tackle with precisely the same identical body measurements and limb lengths as Landon Young. But you are missing the point. You don't have to be 6-7 to be an all-pro NFL tackle. Kentucky has had other large, talented, highly regarded tackles before. Young has never played in a college game before, so your evaluations of his talent compared to actual college players still needs to be validated at this level. Lots of players get high prospect ratings and look good on paper. Based on high school performances and evaluations, everyone thought Antonio Hall and Darrian Miller were elite college prospects, just like everyone thinks Young is an elite prospect. Miller had a scholarship offer from Alabama, Hall had an offer from Ohio State. Hall was the top ranked high school tackle prospect in the entire country.Jonas Liening was not as mobile, Antonio Hall was not as long, Bryant's playing weight is 30 pounds lighter. As for Pfeifer, that's probably the best comparison. Nice job.
I agree, you have accurately outlined what will happen with Landon Young this fall. I also agree with you that all college linemen should redshirt. There is no question in my mind that Stoops possesses the recruiting skills of a successful SEC coach. He must still prove that his staff can develop players at all positions like a successful SEC staff develops players, although the stories of Melvin Lewis, Josh Forrest, and CJ Johnson are very persuasive on the defensive side.I too am in the camp that all linemen should red shirt. That being said Young's situation this fall will be determined thusly:
1) If he's not among the 3 best tackles on the team he will redshirt.
2) If he is among the 3 best tackles on the team then he will likely play.
3) If he is one of the 2 best tackles on the team then he will most certainly play.
Not missing your point. I see what I see and base my opinion on that. Landon is the best UK lineman commit I've seen since Warford and should have good career as long as he stays relatively healthy. However, it definitely helps to have that prototypical size and mobility on the outside. It isn't always necessary (I.e. Garry Williams), but it helps.Granted, Kentucky has never had another tackle with precisely the same identical body measurements and limb lengths as Landon Young. But you are missing the point. You don't have to be 6-7 to be an all-pro NFL tackle. Kentucky has had other large, talented, highly regarded tackles before. Young has never played in a college game before, so your evaluations of his talent compared to actual college players still needs to be validated at this level. Lots of players get high prospect ratings and look good on paper. Based on high school performances and evaluations, everyone thought Antonio Hall and Darrian Miller were elite college prospects, just like everyone thinks Young is an elite prospect. Miller had a scholarship offer from Alabama, Hall had an offer from Ohio State. Hall was the top ranked high school tackle prospect in the entire country.
I am in the minority that believes Landon Young should redshirt in 2016 and be developed as a 4-year tackle starter in 2017-20. Someone will say Young won't stay at Kentucky for 4 years. I have seen that argument here every time fans want a true freshman to play. We heard it about Elam. We even heard it about Hatcher and Asafo Adjei. Lots of people here insisted they would leave early for the NFL. But facts are facts. In the history of Kentucky football, only 4 players have left early and then made an NFL roster the following year. With odds that long, it is foolish to make developmental decisions on every potentially talented freshman out of fear that they might leave early. Our coaches are paid to win, but have had 3 consecutive disappointing seasons in 2013-15. So they will feel lots of pressure to use Young as a true freshman in 2016. But it isn't just a question of who looks good in 4 weeks of practice in August. A year ago, true freshman GAA seemed to win the starting right tackle job in April and August. GAA started the 1st 3 games, then succumbed to lack of experience and sat for most of the year while Kyle Meadows played. Fans see the 5 stars, want immediate fixes, and overwhelmingly believe that Young should play in 2016. But I believe that patience is a virtue, and that Young could have a much more impactful career at Kentucky if developed as a 5 year player. That's why I will be in the minority here. I would leave the 2016 tackle responsibilities to Tate Leavitt, a spring participant signed out of juco specifically for this purpose, and to Meadows and Cole Mosier who are 2 of the most improved players on our team. I am not necessarily opposed to using true freshmen. For instance, I would play Kash Daniel in 2016. But Daniel is participating in spring practice, and true freshman linebackers have a little bit easier path to contribute early. Dakota Hotzclaw, another spring participant, might play. Obviously Grant McKinniss will punt. But I would redshirt most of the other true freshmen. Developing players is not about immediate impact, which is usually a pipe dream for freshmen linemen. Developing players is about making them the best student athlete they can be by using their 4 years of college eligibility wisely. This is a test for our coaching staff, but my point will take time to prove.
I too am in the camp that all linemen should red shirt. That being said Young's situation this fall will be determined thusly:
1) If he's not among the 3 best tackles on the team he will redshirt.
2) If he is among the 3 best tackles on the team then he will likely play.
3) If he is one of the 2 best tackles on the team then he will most certainly play.
I am in the minority that believes Landon Young should redshirt in 2016 and be developed as a 4-year tackle starter in 2017-20. Someone will say Young won't stay at Kentucky for 4 years. I have seen that argument here every time fans want a true freshman to play. We heard it about Elam. We even heard it about Hatcher and Asafo Adjei. Lots of people here insisted they would leave early for the NFL. But facts are facts. In the history of Kentucky football, only 4 players have left early and then made an NFL roster the following year. With odds that long, it is foolish to make developmental decisions on every potentially talented freshman out of fear that they might leave early. Our coaches are paid to win, but have had 3 consecutive disappointing seasons in 2013-15. So they will feel lots of pressure to use Young as a true freshman in 2016. But it isn't just a question of who looks good in 4 weeks of practice in August. A year ago, true freshman GAA seemed to win the starting right tackle job in April and August. GAA started the 1st 3 games, then succumbed to lack of experience and sat for most of the year while Kyle Meadows played. Fans see the 5 stars, want immediate fixes, and overwhelmingly believe that Young should play in 2016. But I believe that patience is a virtue, and that Young could have a much more impactful career at Kentucky if developed as a 5 year player. That's why I will be in the minority here. I would leave the 2016 tackle responsibilities to Tate Leavitt, a spring participant signed out of juco specifically for this purpose, and to Meadows and Cole Mosier who are 2 of the most improved players on our team. I am not necessarily opposed to using true freshmen. For instance, I would play Kash Daniel in 2016. But Daniel is participating in spring practice, and true freshman linebackers have a little bit easier path to contribute early. Dakota Hotzclaw, another spring participant, might play. Obviously Grant McKinniss will punt. But I would redshirt most of the other true freshmen. Developing players is not about immediate impact, which is usually a pipe dream for freshmen linemen. Developing players is about making them the best student athlete they can be by using their 4 years of college eligibility wisely. This is a test for our coaching staff, but my point will take time to prove.
Those are not good comparisons, Elam was big when he arrived, was in awful condition and had terrible fundamentals and according Rivals, who looks like they were closer, was a 3*. GAA is a guard who was forced to play OT. Lots of true frosh OTs start, in the SEC. Bama's last 2 LT all started as true frosh at LT. Laremy Tunsil started as a true frosh at OM. Clemson's starting LT in 15 was a true frosh. Those guys have lots in common, all were 5* OT recruits, all started their first game at LT and all have left after 3 years.
It doesn't matter what most people would argue, if their argument is demonstrably incorrect. When they were freshmen, everyone around here said Darrian Miller and Matt Elam would leave early for the NFL. LOL! You can't make player development decisions for true freshmen out of fear that they might leave early. The fact is, only 4 Kentucky football players have ever made an NFL roster a year after leaving Kentucky early. These decisions must assume the player will stay around, because almost all do. It must be based on what will make him the best student athlete he can be. And for a lineman, that almost always means a redshirt.
As if somehow I don't think would be helped by an RS. But will we be better in 2016 if LY plays? Were we better in 2015 because GAA played? I'd hazard yes.Regardless of what they do in practice this coming August, Landon Young's career at Kentucky would be helped by a redshirt. I would just remind you what happened to GAA last year.
I agree Landon Young is the best Kentucky offensive lineman commitment since Warford. Warford signed with Kentucky in 2009. But Warford is a guard, and his freshman year was wasted while he mostly sat on the sideline as a true freshman. Thereafter, Warford was named 2nd team all SEC as a sophomore, junior, and senior. Garry Williams was a natural guard playing out of position. I'm sure all of us agree that it helps to have great size and talent. I was simply pointing out that notable offensive tackles with size and talent have played at Kentucky before. Your earlier statement suggested that Young is the best and most talented offensive tackle ever signed by Kentucky. But Antonio Hall was the consensus #1 offensive tackle prospect in the country. It's probably fair to say Young is the most famous offensive tackle Kentucky has signed since Hall. Pfeiffer and Liening came along before for-profit internet websites and high school player rankings, but both were similar to Young in size, headlines, and talent. Since you seemed to miss that point, I reiterated it. I never suggested that you weren't basing your statements on your own perceptions. LOL!Not missing your point. I see what I see and base my opinion on that. Landon is the best UK lineman commit I've seen since Warford and should have good career as long as he stays relatively healthy. However, it definitely helps to have that prototypical size and mobility on the outside. It isn't always necessary (I.e. Garry Williams), but it helps.
All coaching staffs make good decisions and bad decisions. The problem with being the man with the whistle and the big contract is that you don't know how your decisions will turn out. You just have to balance many factors, take your best shots, and learn from their consequences. These coaches want to win. Now. Which I understand, because they get hammered over and over by media and fans. But their job is to build a program that wins EVERY year, not just burning redshirts. That means optimal player development. And that usually means more redshirts. I doubt GAA's actual 2015 contributions came close to what he could have contributed to our 2019 team as a 5th year senior. In 2015, GAA started 3 games, playing out of position in September, then sat for most of the rest of the season. I think GAA will become an impact starting guard this year. He should have redshirted last year, but Meadows missed some time in August and early September with headaches. Krok's and Richardson's departures meant our coaches didn't have a better plan in place. Let's revisit this in 2018 and see if you agree then that another season of GAA as a starting guard would be huge. Because that's what we are talking about here. The argument that a small contribution justifies using a true freshman always rings with some fans, but it cannot be put in proper context until you see what we will miss by not having GAA in 2019.As if somehow I don't think would be helped by an RS. But will we be better in 2016 if LY plays? Were we better in 2015 because GAA played? I'd hazard yes.
You sure know how to twist words. I clearly stated, "I can't remember the last time UK had a lineman of his size and mobility, maybe never." I never said he was the best and most talented ever signed. When someone says "maybe", that leaves some wiggle room for being mistaken. UK may have had some better players, but very few could match his combined size, strength, and athleticism. Not sure why we are having this argument. Seems pretty petty that it was started. Anyway, better luck next time.I was simply pointing out that notable offensive tackles with size and talent have played at Kentucky before. Your earlier statement suggested that Young is the best and most talented offensive tackle ever signed by Kentucky. But Antonio Hall was the consensus #1 offensive tackle prospect in the country. It's probably fair to say Young is the most famous offensive tackle Kentucky has signed since Hall. Pfeiffer and Liening came along before for-profit internet websites and high school player rankings, but both were similar to Young in size, headlines, and talent. Since you seemed to miss that point, I reiterated it. I never suggested that you weren't basing your statements on your own perceptions. LOL!
Disagree...if Landon Young redshirts and is as good as advertised he only plays two years. The same as it would have been with RCMy take on redshirts is you get the same number of years out of any player whether you redshirt them or not. Ther is one reason to redshirt IMO and that's to give them time to physically develop if needed. But if they are already physically ready then it's just a simple matter of whether they are the best on week one at their position or not. If so they will develop more by playing than by red shirting and not getting game action.
You only build more depth red shirting if the guys in front of them are better than they are coming in, If not you're just not building depth you're just putting off game development for the more talented player. I think you'll see George grow so much this year, partly because of the position change but more so because he learned under fire last year and he already knows what to expect but will have the confidence that comes with being a sophomore. If he had redshirted he would have still gone through this year battling confidence IMO.
Again all of this only if they are physically ready to go.
Mike Pfeiffer, Warren Bryant, Jonathon Liening, Antonio Hall.
In all honesty, if he's top 4 by end of fall camp, he probably plays because of potential. He could be sparingly used the first 4 games, play a bit 5 and 6 and be starting down the stretch. Some guys aren't on the same schedule as others... tunsil etc. But I think he's starting by weak 4 personallyI too am in the camp that all linemen should red shirt. That being said Young's situation this fall will be determined thusly:
1) If he's not among the 3 best tackles on the team he will redshirt.
2) If he is among the 3 best tackles on the team then he will likely play.
3) If he is one of the 2 best tackles on the team then he will most certainly play.
"All coaching staffs make good decisions and bad decisions. The problem with being the man with the whistle and the big contract is that you don't know how your decisions will turn out. You just have to balance many factors, take your best shots, and learn from their consequences."All coaching staffs make good decisions and bad decisions. The problem with being the man with the whistle and the big contract is that you don't know how your decisions will turn out. You just have to balance many factors, take your best shots, and learn from their consequences. These coaches want to win. Now. Which I understand, because they get hammered over and over by media and fans. But their job is to build a program that wins EVERY year, not just burning redshirts. That means optimal player development. And that usually means more redshirts. I doubt GAA's actual 2015 contributions came close to what he could have contributed to our 2019 team as a 5th year senior. In 2015, GAA started 3 games, playing out of position in September, then sat for most of the rest of the season. I think GAA will become an impact starting guard this year. He should have redshirted last year, but Meadows missed some time in August and early September with headaches. Krok's and Richardson's departures meant our coaches didn't have a better plan in place. Let's revisit this in 2018 and see if you agree then that another season of GAA as a starting guard would be huge. Because that's what we are talking about here. The argument that a small contribution justifies using a true freshman always rings with some fans, but it cannot be put in proper context until you see what we will miss by not having GAA in 2019.
Not sure I follow you Slugger, he plays the same on the field either way. If he's good enough and plays as a freshmen and soph then leaves he's played two years. If he redshirts then leaves after RS Frosh and Soph years he's played two years. The redshirt doesn't change how many on the field years you get out of a player. It just can help manage how many productive years you get out them.Disagree...if Landon Young redshirts and is as good as advertised he only plays two years. The same as it would have been with RC
Okay. You can't remember. I can. Stop trying to make this personal.You sure know how to twist words. I clearly stated, "I can't remember the last time UK had a lineman of his size and mobility, maybe never." I never said he was the best and most talented ever signed. When someone says "maybe", that leaves some wiggle room for being mistaken. UK may have had some better players, but very few could match his combined size, strength, and athleticism. Not sure why we are having this argument. Seems pretty petty that it was started. Anyway, better luck next time.