Is Tate Leavitt making progress?
- Thread starter Koaltil
- Start date
Check back in a week or so. Camp hasn't started yet. They reported today though.
I don't know, but next year, our tackles will include a more seasoned Young, Leavitt, and Meadows. We might be in for a treat as the interior line and exterior line finally both have some talented depth.
I expect Leavitt to try, but I don't expect him to be as good as his ranking until later into the season or even next year.
I expect Leavitt to try, but I don't expect him to be as good as his ranking until later into the season or even next year.
Random question... why do college camps start at different times? Tennessee started their camp on Monday. Ours seemingly doesn't start for another week. Are there only so many training camp days that you can have or how does that work?
Tn has a Thursday game before UK's Sat start. Besides, starting early could cut down on rape chances.
Teams have 30 days ( I think) to get in their allotted practice time based on when their first game is and that's why TN and others get to start sooner.
First I've heard anything about a potential All-Sec center Toth being moved to OT...is that a prediction, or do u have info?
I believe Meadows looked good in the spring game and evidently has improved. We need a LT. Hopefully Young has a good fall camp and can hold his own, and ends up the starter.
I have no inside information, but I think there is less than 0% chance Toth moves to OT. Currently, the center of the line is considered its strength, whereas the edges are lacking. Why would you move the anchor of the line (Toth) who makes all of the blocking calls and put him at a position he hasn't played since HS or MAYBE during his RS-FR season?
To me, you are just creating a bigger problem (weakening the entire OL) trying to fix one (presumed weakness on the edge).
[laughing][roll] Man, I'm slapping my knees and spitting Coke at the same time! That's a good one! Shew-weee!
I agree with this re: Leavitt. The coaches stated it was his physical ability but the mental processing that caused Leavitt's difficulties this spring. Hesitation is often worse than physical limitations as it makes you look your feet are stuck in concrete.
I don't necessarily expect him to move his way into NFL lottery by now, but every rep he gets should help his decision-making.
Okay... I guess the guys report today and camp officially starts today. So, they will do some sort of practice and then if they get 30 days that will mean that their 30 days will end on August 2nd, the day before we play. I thought people were saying that camp didn't really start until next week, and that was kind of making me scratch my head on wondering why UT, who plays just 2 days before us, would get an extra week of practice. Makes sense now though. Thanks.
Yeah, the second reason is probably the real one. But nothing to worry about, they can always buy their way out of the situation.
I'm with you. Don't create problems. You can handle being weak at one line spot by giving him some help. There is nothing you can do if you are weak at 2 or more. You have to be solid at at least 4 of the 5 positions. You just can't chip block to protect all 5 linemen. Keep your best players at their best position.
Far fetched but interesting. How did you come by that opinion?
I'm giving Leavitt all of fall camp to learn play book before I pass judgement.
Jon Toth is a 5th year very good SEC CENTER!
Normally I agree that you don't pull your best and most stable Olineman from his spot as a stopgap.
But that said, I have also wondered if Toth could shore up the Tackle spot. It isn't the norm but it DOES happen at other schools with positive results sometimes. I remember BAMA playing Barrett Jones at his natural Center position one year, Tackle the next because of deficiency, and back to Center the next....all with positive results.
There is something to be said for getting your best five players in the field. And Bunchy Stallings looked very good in the Spring game as second team center against Elam. Toth is built like a Tackle as well at 6'5 so it's not like you are putting a 6'2 Drake Jackson out there.
I don't think it will happen but there have been much worse ideas
Injuries would be the only thing that would make this happen. Knock on wood..
But here's the thing...say the line and offense are as bad the first half of this year as they were last year...if so, then what would we really have to lose to move Toth or anyone else??? Hell, we gave up more sacks them anyone in the SEC last year. If it can't get worse then nothing wrong with taking a chance and getting creative. I wish Stoops would have done that with trying other QB'S beyond Towles the last 2 years. Other seasons coaches very likely would have
Toth is not moving. He does a great job at C. He hasn't played OT since he redshirted, so why move him now? He would have relearn the techniques needed to play there. If UK is having issues with an edge rusher, a RB or TE will used to help out.
My guess is that Toth wouldn't be as good at tackle as the guys that are there now. He certainly wouldn't be as good as we see him now at center. He has all the tools to be a tackle but he's not been playing the position. Tackle is totally different. Different techniques, different schemes and you are even blocking different types of athletes. Blocking a rush end is totally different than blocking a NT.
Tate just needs to get used to the speed of SEC DEs. I'm sure he has been working hard this summer to catch up. He will play significant snaps this year.
As far as Toth, he would be worse at OT than what we currently have as OP stated. He will stay at C and Bunchy will get backup snaps. Drake RS unless there are massive injuries.
As far as Toth, he would be worse at OT than what we currently have as OP stated. He will stay at C and Bunchy will get backup snaps. Drake RS unless there are massive injuries.
I see this as a common comment so I'm not particularly picking on you but just taking the opportunity to comment about this myself.
QB is the most difficult position there is on a football team. Not only do you have to have the physical tools but also the attitude, leadership and most importantly, command of the intricate mental aspect which includes knowledge of what to do and when to do it and even when NOT to do something. All that said, it's unwise to thrust a kid out there before they are ready and the situations that you referenced our backups weren't ready IMO and evidently also in the opinions of our staff.
Players develop at different speeds and while a Soph may be ready, that same player as a Freshman was not. Maybe he's not even ready until he's a Junior. As he develops and gets more reps, a player might become ready in the space of a few months or even a few weeks at any point during his career but the fact indisputably remains - he's not ready until he's ready.
:grimace: Where do you get this stuff from?
I'll agree Leavitt was a major dissapointment in spring and has me wondering if we'll have the same pass protection problems on the edge yet again. Meadows/Mosier and we'll see what Landon Young would look like as a true Fr is what I'll guess is our probably tackles this year.
The best feeling I have is Gran/Hinshaw will probably have better execution on shorter routes lessening the pressure on tackles to protect as long. Also Greg Hart and CJ Conrad are some big TEs that can help in that area if we want to take help the tackles at times.
Funny how a "Tate Leavitt" thread quickly turned into a "Jon Toth" thread. [laughing]
Anyway, FWIW, I can't imagine Toth moving over to a full time OT job. However, it is not uncommon to have a 2 position guy in your OL rotation but that usually seems to be a C-G guy or a G-T guy. But I don't think Toth has ever played anything other than C.
One of the big myths about JUCOs is the notion of "immediate help" at their recruited position (especially OLs). Unless the kid is immensely talented or the current roster is in dire straights it usually takes even a "talented" JUCO a year in the system to "get it". I should not have to say it but the jump from JUCO to FBS is almost as great as the jump from a good HS league to FBS. If you don't think so go watch a few JUCO games (not highlight clips).
Naturally, a JUCO player has a year or 2 more "physical maturity" than most HS kids but that does not mean he is an instant contributor over a good HS prospect.
Peace
Anyway, FWIW, I can't imagine Toth moving over to a full time OT job. However, it is not uncommon to have a 2 position guy in your OL rotation but that usually seems to be a C-G guy or a G-T guy. But I don't think Toth has ever played anything other than C.
One of the big myths about JUCOs is the notion of "immediate help" at their recruited position (especially OLs). Unless the kid is immensely talented or the current roster is in dire straights it usually takes even a "talented" JUCO a year in the system to "get it". I should not have to say it but the jump from JUCO to FBS is almost as great as the jump from a good HS league to FBS. If you don't think so go watch a few JUCO games (not highlight clips).
Naturally, a JUCO player has a year or 2 more "physical maturity" than most HS kids but that does not mean he is an instant contributor over a good HS prospect.
Peace
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agreed. that is why it was so important for him to get here for spring. he got that initial intro. now he can go into fall camp and work at his craft instead of thinking about everything that slows a players reaction. seems like jucos come on last part of jr year. he's 4 months ahead of that timeline now. hopefully by week 3 he's got it.
Officiated quite a few JC games and the thing that jumps out at you is how much bigger they are than the high schools, not the skill level.
That's more JUCO "experience" than what I have but your observation is spot on. However, the size of some of today's HS players (especially at "big" programs) leave me shaking my head.
Peace
I don't disagree with any of this and the coaches who live and breath football everyday have forgotten more about coaching our football team then you or I will ever know.
That said, people in every profession that are absolutely experts at their craft make mistakes every day for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they are to close to the situation and can't see the forest for the trees. And sometimes in Stoops and Dawsons case, they have spent decades coaching the sport, but they find themselves making decisions that are new to them. the buck stops here of sticking with Towles or not with the circumstances at play, was clearly a new one to Stoops last year.
I have absolutely no idea if playing a Redshirt Freshman Barker early in the year last year would have provided better results than what we saw by sticking with Towles. And there could definitely have been the risk if stunting Barkers future growth by throwing him into the fire to early. But I do know that watching Towles limitations not improve over the last 20 plus games was obvious from the outside looking in. If the race for the starting QB was a close as they said it was going into 2015, I would have liked to see Barker get a series a game to get his feet wet and ease him into the fray.
I truly think you would have seen a similar approach from a more seasoned offensive minded coach. That said, I love Stoops and its water under the bridge
Tate will be fine once he adjust to the speed of the game. The talent is there. Just needs to work on the technique and experience SEC football. In high school and in school you can rely on your size and talent. Can't do that in power 5 football because everyone who lines up across from you is just as good as you. No different than the jump to the NFL for any rookie. Always some sort of adjustment period
Another point is he is blocking guys in practice much smaller than him. Ware Allen Walker Laster are very quick twitch athletes. I have a feeling Leavitt will not be the only tackle Ware makes look bad this year.
All this concern with Leavitt not starting to me discounts the possibility of Mosier being (much) improved with settling into one spot vs. being constantly moved here & there.
I respectful disagree. John Toth has played every game at center for UK since the time he arrived. His pro aspirations are at center. No way, he leads the Off line. Simply put you look at someone else!
Once someone plays or scrimmages and he doesnt light it up and impress. He cant possibly be any good. Or even make improvement enough to be serviceable....
Then you have a cj happen and the focus shifts to another position.. Or someone who didnt meet there expectations.
I talked to Tate yesterday at Fan Day he said he is learning a new system and it has taken time too get used to it. He seemed very positive..