Kobie Walker
- Thread starter TuckyFB
- Start date
He's really been phenomenal. Plug him in at Safety, and you've got a lot of very solid pass rushers that can give you a ton of looks at different positions.
So far, Eliot said that the best pass rushers have been Ware (defensive end/OLB) Allen (OLB opposite of Ware), Kobie Walker (can play OLB, or safety), and Courtney Miggins (strongside defensive end). Having 4 good pass rushers on the field at virtually all times is a nice luxury to have.
So far, Eliot said that the best pass rushers have been Ware (defensive end/OLB) Allen (OLB opposite of Ware), Kobie Walker (can play OLB, or safety), and Courtney Miggins (strongside defensive end). Having 4 good pass rushers on the field at virtually all times is a nice luxury to have.
I believe Ware will be special too. I think fans were way too hard on him. People don't realize how young some of our players were on the field. Ware wouldn't even have gotten on the field until he was a JR or SR at a lot of SEC schools.
Love mentioned him too today as a guy that's really coming on strong - very athletic and difficult to block.
I think you have to consider him at safety. They say he covers like a safety, he's been a top performer in camp seemingly every single day, possibly the most athletic guy on our defense, and he gives you a pass rush. Makes a play on the ball very quickly against the run, so he can offer a lot in run support.
A defensive backfield of Westry, Edwards, Walker, and Baity doesn't just sound good, it sounds outstanding actually.
He is giving the coaches a good problem to have. Getting your best 11 on the field is easier when guys like Walker can be plugged in to various spots. Where to play Walker?
I don't know about anyone else, but I keep having to remind myself we are going to have these same guys for 2 or 3 more years. Our defense could be downright dominate if we have a strong showing this year from our young Secondary and LBs, especially if we land a couple of those stud D Linemen this year to compliment our young guys now.
So excited for this season.
So excited for this season.
Courney Miggins was catching a lot of crap from some on here earlier. This is why I defended him so much, I think he has ability.
Walker is going to be a hybrid that rushes some and covers tightends. I dont want him at safety we need that speed in the box at all times. Guys like him can give tackles fits with there edge rush. Walker is not big but hes explosive. Im gonna pedict he leads the team in sacks
Agree...move speed closer to the line of scrimmage, not away from it.
- UK was awful at rushing the passer last year...we missed Dupree in a huge way last year.
- I feel like we'll have plenty of downs to rotate Ware, Allen and Walker at Jack and strongside OLB. I don't know if Stoops/Elliot would play Allen and Walker as edge rushers on each side on passing only downs since they technically both are strongside OLB spot.
- I feel like we'll have plenty of downs to rotate Ware, Allen and Walker at Jack and strongside OLB. I don't know if Stoops/Elliot would play Allen and Walker as edge rushers on each side on passing only downs since they technically both are strongside OLB spot.
Eliot said he covers like a safety, but I didn't realize he was getting reps there. I thought he was slotted for OLB.
If the coaching staff is thinking this kid could be a real stand out player in 2016, it sounds like he has really been showing off in practice. We are always in need of SEC caliber pass rushers. This kid sounds like an interesting prospect and i hope he can build on the way he has been doing in practice and translate it into real live games. If the coaching staff has faith, so do i! Our guys do know a lil something about what a legit defensive unit is supposed to look like and i know it's been slower than we all would have liked, but it does feel like it's getting there. Maybe another year or so away, but not as far away as Kentucky football is used to.
We can't expect the same type turnaround Stoops created at FSU where they went from 108th in total defense the year before he went there to 42nd his first year, 4th and then 2nd in the nation his final year. Because we're not even close to the overall talent and depth on those Seminole squads that won the National Championship the year after he left.
The path he blazed at the other Wildcat squad - Arizona - is what we should be expecting. During his 6 years at Arizona those Wildcats were 61st, 86th, 49th, 53rd, 24th and 25th in total defense.
His first year at UK we were 91st, then 75th and last year 59th. I expect at least to hold serve this year or a modest improvement and next year and beyond we should be solidly entrenched in the top 50 annually.
The path he blazed at the other Wildcat squad - Arizona - is what we should be expecting. During his 6 years at Arizona those Wildcats were 61st, 86th, 49th, 53rd, 24th and 25th in total defense.
His first year at UK we were 91st, then 75th and last year 59th. I expect at least to hold serve this year or a modest improvement and next year and beyond we should be solidly entrenched in the top 50 annually.
That is a better analogy for sure. I would be happy if we ended up in the top 40, and gave up less than 350 or so YPG, year in and year out.
Courtney Miggins went through the exact same thing that every single one of our JUCO linemen have been through. Inconsistencies in the first season. He showed some really phenomenal flashes last year, and I think he could be outstanding this year.
He's gotten bigger, stronger, more fundamentally sound, and he's been outstanding in camp apparently.
It's an issue though. Put him in for Josh Allen or Denzil Ware, who are both solidly entrenched as starters at their respective positions I may add, and are the two main standouts as pass rushers in camp this off-season, OR, put Walker next to Mike Edwards, slide him down into the box as an extra linebacker/pass rusher in certain situations to go along with Ware and Allen, putting an even bigger edge on the offensive line? Also getting your best 11 players on the field, I may add.
It's something that you truly have to consider.
Have speed everywhere. Period. Him playing safety doesn't mean he can never approach the LOS pre-snap, that's simply untrue, it just depends on the situation. We blitz our safeties, so it's not as if he's going to be ineffective. You can either blitz him from 12-15 yards out, or you can move him into the box pre-snap with another pass rusher, and make the offensive tackle pick which pass rusher he's going to block. I figure that would be a move that UK would do fairly often, because the coaching staff suggests that Mike Edwards is the best player on the team on either side of the ball, and if he really does have the ability to lock down the back end in that way, then we'll be able move the safety next to him into the box that much more.
It is interesting to me that the coaches seem a bit quiet about Edwards and some other players we expect to be very good. I wish I knew whether Stoops was worried or quietly excited.
Ware is crucial. He went down with injuries in 2 games, EKU and UL, and immediately the read option started killing us.
Also, seemed like the few games he was out, the D really didnt play as well.
No stats to back up either. Just observation.
Also, seemed like the few games he was out, the D really didnt play as well.
No stats to back up either. Just observation.
This was talked about on the HOB last night.
In short, ya know how sometimes when a player is good, it becomes a point to not mention them as outstanding because everybody knows they are already and it's expected? That's more or less the case for Westry and Edwards. Baity has received praise as a standout, so that's no issue, but part of it for Westry and Edwards is that they're expected to be really good. Same with Ware and Allen, and to a smaller degree, Miggins.
If you read an LSU practice report, they probably won't talk much about how good Fournette is, or if you read a Florida practice report, it won't talk a ton about how good Tabor is (same for Hargreaves last season), just because it's expected of them.
I figure the same thing will eventually happen to Kobie Walker.
Will also add, the staff has been giving Westry and Edwards specifically limited reps throughout fall camp to keep them fresh. They know what those guys can do, and want to develop the depth mostly. They're still getting reps, but not to a point that it grinds on them.
Thanks
The fresh factor and building talented depth, even inexperienced depth, is such a new concept for me as a UK fan. I see this team built for a next season breakout, but am hoping the Cats surprise people this year.
The fresh factor and building talented depth, even inexperienced depth, is such a new concept for me as a UK fan. I see this team built for a next season breakout, but am hoping the Cats surprise people this year.
Yes, Ware is VERY crucial with the loss of Hatcher and Meant.
The coaches react to who they are questioned about - DL, ILB and OLB are spots where there is concern, have been injuries/dismissals, and not a lot of experience, so they get the most questions. They don't get asked much about Westry and Baity either, but we know they are good.
That's part of it, but that kind of plays into what I mentioned previously. Either way, it's unnecessary to ask about those guys, we know they're terrific.
Well,
he's only said that the secondary is elite as it gets 1000 times this offseason.
Some of you must just be blind, deaf or just stupid.
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Hopefully the staff is putting in a package with there 2 best passrushers on the dline. Miggons and "whoever" then go with OLB Allen ware with walker as a hybrid safety/LB. 2-5-4 lineup. Lot of blitzing options! With speed.
Also think a 3 dline with Ware/Allen as hand in dirt ends and miggons a DT, then walker and laster at olb with your best coverage backer at mlb. With 5 dbs and Mclain playing the nickle for another blitz option. Imo they have athletes to get very creative..
Have not heard much about k daniels and bonner! They could very well help out in certain packages.
P.S. If we get teams in 3rd and long i like our chances. Hoping Middleton/elam/dubose can really slowdown the running game to force these situations..Liked the fact that stoops mentioned middleton as being a good run support DT.
A few thoughts on 3rd and long packages..
Hopefully the staff is putting in a package with there 2 best passrushers on the dline. Miggons and "whoever" then go with OLB Allen ware with walker as a hybrid safety/LB. 2-5-4 lineup. Lot of blitzing options! With speed.
Also think a 3 dline with Ware/Allen as hand in dirt ends and miggons a DT, then walker and laster at olb with your best coverage backer at mlb. With 5 dbs and Mclain playing the nickle for another blitz option. Imo they have athletes to get very creative..
Have not heard much about k daniels and bonner! They could very well help out in certain packages.
P.S. If we get teams in 3rd and long i like our chances. Hoping Middleton/elam/dubose can really slowdown the running game to force these situations..Liked the fact that stoops mentioned middleton as being a good run support DT.
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I think JR mentioned this earlier that Edwards was getting some snaps off to 1) allow those behind him to get reps and 2) to hopefully keep him healthy since he is at the top of his game.
Going to be incredibly difficult to keep Walker off the field. Media asked Stephen Johnson if any of the defensive players in particular give him issues when it comes to the zone read/read-option plays, and without hesitation, Johnson names Kobie Walker, saying he seemingly always knows whether or not Johnson is going to keep the ball.