Is there any reason to think the BBW won't be noticeably better than '22?

[Mr Schwump]

What Coen DIDN'T SAT was thar Jager WILL BE our starting Center.

I am rooting for this young man to nail down that position and hoping he can play it well enough to not be a liability to the offense until he gets some game experience at that position.

We all know what it looks like when the staff gets that position wrong. It has cost us games in the past.

That being said, I believe that Jager will get the first chance to prove he can play that position. But I also know if he plays as poorly mentally as he did at Guard last year, he will not be the starting Center very long.

If he doesn't have a great fall, Cox will most likely slide back to center and one of the transfer guys will move into the Guard spot.

JMO. No need to get upset. I have no agenda and once again, I am pulling hard for this Kentucky Kid to grab the position IF he is the best Center available.

The good news is we have some easy early games for him to gain game experience at C if he is named the early starter.

Better news is he has Drake Jackson to work with him.

 

[Mr Schwump]

What Coen DIDN'T SAT was thar Jager WILL BE our starting Center.

I am rooting for this young man to nail down that position and hoping he can play it well enough to not be a liability to the offense until he gets some game experience at that position.

We all know what it looks like when the staff gets that position wrong. It has cost us games in the past.

That being said, I believe that Jager will get the first chance to prove he can play that position. But I also know if he plays as poorly mentally as he did at Guard last year, he will not be the starting Center very long.

If he doesn't have a great fall, Cox will most likely slide back to center and one of the transfer guys will move into the Guard spot.

JMO. No need to get upset. I have no agenda and once again, I am pulling hard for this Kentucky Kid to grab the position IF he is the best Center available.

The good news is we have some easy early games for him to gain game experience at C if he is named the early starter.

Better news is he has Drake Jackson to work with him.

 

[Rembrandt90]

Better news is he has Drake Jackson to work with him.

From the minute he signed with us, I have been a big fan of Drake Jackson. I was nearly ecstatic when Stoops put him in as a RS freshman and moved Bunchy back to OG. Like most of you, I was not the least bit surprised when DJ turned out to be a star. It must be emphasized that DJ was not only a star on the field but also our team's leader in the locker room. Not sure if everyone knows that, but DJ was the motivational heart and soul of those UK teams. Now we know DJ has the makings of an effective recruiter too. Given his interpersonal skills and experience as an all conference lineman, he will be an effective teacher. Although I give the benefit of the doubt, I am not yet sure about Yenser. But I remain a huge fan of DJ.

I don't normally support the idea of hiring coaches at UK with little or no prior coaching experience. Sometimes people mistake popularity for coaching credentials. When people were pushing the idea of hiring Wesley Woodyard to coach our LBs, I viewed that as naive. But DJ is looking more and more like a developing virtuoso coaching talent. If Yenser doesn't last (and that book is still out), I suspect DJ will be promoted. I don't think we can go wrong with DJ.

 

[Mr Schwump]

From the minute he signed with us, I have been a big fan of Drake Jackson. I was nearly ecstatic when Stoops put him in as a RS freshman and moved Bunchy back to OG. Like most of you, I was not the least bit surprised when DJ turned out to be a star. It must be emphasized that DJ was not only a star on the field but also our team's leader in the locker room. Not sure if everyone knows that, but DJ was the motivational heart and soul of those UK teams. Now we know DJ has the makings of an effective recruiter too. Given his interpersonal skills and experience as an all conference lineman, he will be an effective teacher. Although I give the benefit of the doubt, I am not yet sure about Yenser. But I remain a huge fan of DJ.

I don't normally support the idea of hiring coaches at UK with little or no prior coaching experience. Sometimes people mistake popularity for coaching credentials. When people were pushing the idea of hiring Wesley Woodyard to coach our LBs, I viewed that as naive. But DJ is looking more and more like a developing virtuoso coaching talent. If Yenser doesn't last (and that book is still out), I suspect DJ will be promoted. I don't think we can go wrong with DJ.

More fodder re DJ, at least for me: Think back to 2019 and the number of games UK played in just brutal weather....rain/sleet, wind, cold. And not one, NOT ONE, bad snap in those games! It was truly an amazing performance. I know Jeff Van Note and Dermontti Dawson were NFL superstars at C but I love me some Drake Jackson as a college C. And make no mistake, he spoiled us.

 

[Rembrandt90]

More fodder re DJ, at least for me: Think back to 2019 and the number of games UK played in just brutal weather....rain/sleet, wind, cold. And not one, NOT ONE, bad snap in those games! It was truly an amazing performance. I know Jeff Van Note and Dermontti Dawson were NFL superstars at C but I love me some Drake Jackson as a college C. And make no mistake, he spoiled us.

DJ did spoil us. So did Bunchy and Kinnard. All great players. Bunchy's film from his junior and senior seasons is phenomenal to watch now. I will never forget the game Bunchy had against FL in the swamp in 2018. I was there. One pancake after another. Sometimes Bunchy would wipe out two Gators on the same play. Benny Snell rushed for 175 yards that day, and I'll bet over half of Benny's yards came on plays where Bunchy pancaked a Gator in front of Benny.

UK has been fortunate to have a lot of good centers. To name a partial list that I can recall, van Note, Dawson, McCutchan, Scott, Gonzalez, Smith, Toth, DJ, Fortner. Van Note had a notable NFL career in Atlanta. Of course, Fortner starts now for the Jaguars.

Because of the qualities Coach Coen discussed, I remain optimistic about Burton. I know some people are still throwing Burton under the bus for 2022. But some of these same people judge every class on player ratings, which was a strong suit for Burton. Burton has the frame, athleticism, motor, and intelligence to develop into a fine center. Just needs reps.

 

[Pike 96]

Cox moves back to center and one of the transfers takes his guard spot.

Cox was just bad at Center last year. I can't count how many 0/1 gap blitzes got home last year. Smaller and more athletic players fit perfectly for Center and that's Burton. Cox is a natural Guard. Coen isn't going to blow smoke. he's happy with Burton at C. That should say it all

 

[cathouse_rivals216755]

Cox was just bad at Center last year. I can't count how many 0/1 gap blitzes got home last year. Smaller and more athletic players fit perfectly for Center and that's Burton. Cox is a natural Guard. Coen isn't going to blow smoke. he's happy with Burton at C. That should say it all

I agree Cox is a natural guard. I just hope Burton can handle the C position.

If not, the line will have to be shuffled........again.

Can't be worse than last year. Last place is hard to beat.