Stoops on Laster: "Our offensive players will tell you he was virtually unblockable

[akaukswoosh]

Jon Hale ‏@JonHale_CJ 28m28 minutes ago
Mark Stoops on Laster: "Our offensive players will tell you he was virtually unblockable" on the scout team. http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2016/03/28/minnesota-transfer-hopes-help-kentucky-football-pass-rush/82343106/…

 

[anon_7tbtqcx308nxh]

I believe @RV said he was backing up Ware at JACK on Saturday?

 

[Beatle Bum]

Laster says his goal is to be starting by the end of spring, admitting that he does not stay in his scheme and sometimes resorts to a middle LBer mentality. He is working to correct those mistakes.

 

[Beatle Bum]

“It’s a big difference,” Laster said of moving outside. “It’s being used to almost being in on every play versus just having to do your job and being content with that and not being selfish.”

 

[vhcat70]

I believe @RV said he was backing up Ware at JACK on Saturday?

That would speak well to the comments that the 2D did better against the 2O than the 1D did.

 

[Ctroberts1024]

He is gonna play both inside and outside. A lot will depend on the down and distance but we are gonna move him around to put him in a bunch of mismatches with RBs and TEs to rush the passer.

 

[UKfan2151]

Guy sounds like he is going to be a huge asset to this defense. I'm very excited about having Laster and Love back there at LB. Our secondary is already very good. And now it appears our LBers are overall going to be very good. If the DL can just manage to hold what they had last season, then this defense should be an improvement over last season's.

With the addition of Gran and Hinshaw, hopefully the offense will be able to perform much better. That combined with even a slightly improved defense could easily translate to 6 or 7 wins. Granted, we need to keep everyone healthy and not have any major issues with player suspensions and such. We need to clean up some coaching errors. But it wouldn't be a stretch to see this team finally have a winning season and reach a bowl with just modest improvement. They were right on the cusp last season, but they just couldn't get over the hump with everything going on behind the scenes.

 

[ukalum1988]

I agree with UKfan; hearing these kinds of reports makes me feel better about the LBs. Improved DL play would really help a lot.

 

[greginky1957]

The reason our D will be better can be summed up in 3 words. STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING. Brumbaugh and Eliot are better coaches than given credit for. Now their players will be stronger ,which will make JB and DJE " better" coaches. That is how I see this playing out.

 

[BigBlueTuckian]

Lets refrain from the bigger, faster, stronger hoopla that comes around each spring. We haven't seen a Kentucky team that is bigger and uses its strength to punish an opponent physically since the Carter administration.

We bought into the Korem bigger, faster, stronger BS and that flamed out like a cheap Chinese firework.

 

[Oldtrainer_rivals]

The reason our D will be better can be summed up in 3 words. STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING. Brumbaugh and Eliot are better coaches than given credit for. Now their players will be stronger ,which will make JB and DJE " better" coaches. That is how I see this playing out.

Think that may be a big part. Also more SEC type bodies at both front and back positions.

 

[3kidsandme]

Lets refrain from the bigger, faster, stronger hoopla that comes around each spring. We haven't seen a Kentucky team that is bigger and uses its strength to punish an opponent physically since the Carter administration.

We bought into the Korem bigger, faster, stronger BS and that flamed out like a cheap Chinese firework.

This UK team is hugggeeee compared to past teams. UK is as long as any team in the country. This is a sec football team size wise. Now these young pups gotta learn how to play.

 

[RackOps]

I'm really really trying to not be a downer.....but there were plenty of people our O line saw last year who were "virtually unblockable" by them.

 

[CatDaddy4daWin]

Well our oline will be better this year, just by default. Should be most improved position, along with the QBs

 

[vhcat70]

I'm really really trying to not be a downer.....but there were plenty of people our O line saw last year who were "virtually unblockable" by them.

Once again, Laster was mainly playing again the 2OL, not the 1's. The 1OL did great. Net, when Laster goes mainly against our 1OL & does same, then he is truly doing great.

 

[jauk11]

Well our oline will be better this year, just by default. Should be most improved position, along with the QBs

I agree it should be better just by default, a LOT of returning starters AND redshirts with valuable experience and growth, (only lost one starter and one backup) but I am hoping for a BIG improvement because of the BIG influx of HIGH LEVEL talent, a 5.8, a 5.9 (with two years of JC) AND a SIX POINT ONE.

Drake was our most exciting OL commit in a decade, and now he is being outshined by the other two new guys (at least this year, we do have a Remington candidate). And the fourth OL commit will undoubtedly get a very valuable redshirt.

 

[carolinacat]

Lets refrain from the bigger, faster, stronger hoopla that comes around each spring. We haven't seen a Kentucky team that is bigger and uses its strength to punish an opponent physically since the Carter administration.

We bought into the Korem bigger, faster, stronger BS and that flamed out like a cheap Chinese firework.

Wow...nothing wrong with a healthy dose of skepticism, but are you SURE you're a UK fan? I don't know but it sounds like the T word is a better description for you. 42 messages and 33 likes? Hmmmm.....

 

[akaukswoosh]

Jen Smith ‏@jenheraldleader 4h4 hours ago


Versatile transfer Laster ready to bring "the pop" to Kentucky's linebacker group. http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-football/article69293127.html…

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

Lets refrain from the bigger, faster, stronger hoopla that comes around each spring. We haven't seen a Kentucky team that is bigger and uses its strength to punish an opponent physically since the Carter administration.

We bought into the Korem bigger, faster, stronger BS and that flamed out like a cheap Chinese firework.

[laughing]

so true...

 

[Tskware]

Wow...nothing wrong with a healthy dose of skepticism, but are you SURE you're a UK fan? I don't know but it sounds like the T word is a better description for you. 42 messages and 33 likes? Hmmmm.....

Well I am definitely a UK fan, but Laster made 9 tackles at Minnesota two years ago, and Love wasn't in the starting group at Nebraska either. And those two transfers are expected to play big minutes for us. So, I hope they both turn out great, but I am not counting my chickens yet because they looked good in March against our 2nd teamers.

 

[Bluetick2100]

Well our oline will be better this year, just by default. Should be most improved position, along with the QBs

This exact same statement was on this message board last season about this time.
And as last years line proved, another years older does not make them better.
Teams don't get better by default.

 

[Bluetick2100]

Lets refrain from the bigger, faster, stronger hoopla that comes around each spring. We haven't seen a Kentucky team that is bigger and uses its strength to punish an opponent physically since the Carter administration.

We bought into the Korem bigger, faster, stronger BS and that flamed out like a cheap Chinese firework.

Lets us not forget Rock Oliver, another bigger faster stronger legend.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

Stoops already basically said our Tackle positions are still a train wreck and will never pass block any decent rusher in the SEC. Once again, we will depend on our running game and Barker will be running for his life like Towles was....

 

[Beatle Bum]

Well I am definitely a UK fan, but Laster made 9 tackles at Minnesota two years ago, and Love wasn't in the starting group at Nebraska either. And those two transfers are expected to play big minutes for us. So, I hope they both turn out great, but I am not counting my chickens yet because they looked good in March against our 2nd teamers.

Laster was a RS frosh when he played at Minn.

Love was a true soph at Nebraska.

SMH that you would cite their past play as a foundation for doubt.

 

[3kidsandme]

Stoops already basically said our Tackle positions are still a train wreck and will never pass block any decent rusher in the SEC. Once again, we will depend on our running game and Barker will be running for his life like Towles was....

Train wreck is a stretch lol. He said the inside guys are there but they need more tackles. Landon Young will go a long way solving that problem. In saying that we have 3 true tackle bodies. Young Meadows and Leavitt. 2 of these guys will be first year players. So gran will have his work cut out scheming around this.

 

[Tskware]

Laster was a RS frosh when he played at Minn.

Love was a true soph at Nebraska.

SMH that you would cite their past play as a foundation for doubt.

Second year players are productive at lots of programs, not sure I see your point. Aren't we hoping Westry and Josh Allen play well this season? Besides, we don't seem to have a lot of luck with transfers, Louisville OTOH, seems to pull them out of their backside every year, and 4 out of 5 turn out to be pretty damn good.

 

[1stkatman]

Those Ex-Con transfers at UL really are some tough customers. I'll grant you that.

 

[hmt5000]

Second year players are productive at lots of programs, not sure I see your point. Aren't we hoping Westry and Josh Allen play well this season? Besides, we don't seem to have a lot of luck with transfers, Louisville OTOH, seems to pull them out of their backside every year, and 4 out of 5 turn out to be pretty damn good.

Well 3 transfers will play a lot this year and the kid from Michigan next year. I don't really remember any transfers over the last decade that wasn't moving up in level by quite a bit. So not sure about it being luck as much as we just never took transfers before the last few years.

 

[KY1WING]

I am happy for him and hopeful.

That said, until they line up and show it against someone else I'm not getting too jacked up about it.

How many players did we see line up against us last year who finished the game in the same category of "virtually unblockable" by our offense? EKU had one maybe two that come to mind.

I realize there has been improvements, but until we have a proven SEC caliber offense for this defense to compete against and be measured against, such accolades don't excite me.

Hope this assessment holds true in September ... Till then ...

 

[Beatle Bum]

Second year players are productive at lots of programs, not sure I see your point. Aren't we hoping Westry and Josh Allen play well this season? Besides, we don't seem to have a lot of luck with transfers, Louisville OTOH, seems to pull them out of their backside every year, and 4 out of 5 turn out to be pretty damn good.

If you don't see it, you won't see it.

 

[3kidsandme]

I am happy for him and hopeful.

That said, until they line up and show it against someone else I'm not getting too jacked up about it.

How many players did we see line up against us last year who finished the game in the same category of "virtually unblockable" by our offense? EKU had one maybe two that come to mind.

I realize there has been improvements, but until we have a proven SEC caliber offense for this defense to compete against and be measured against, such accolades don't excite me.

Hope this assessment holds true in September ... Till then ...

Eku had a osu transfer that is about to get drafted in the first rd. I promise you we were not the only school that struggled blocking him.

 

[screwduke]

Eku had a osu transfer that is about to get drafted in the first rd. I promise you we were not the only school that struggled blocking him.

Yup, Noah Spence

 

[WildcatofNati]

Second year players are productive at lots of programs, not sure I see your point. Aren't we hoping Westry and Josh Allen play well this season? Besides, we don't seem to have a lot of luck with transfers, Louisville OTOH, seems to pull them out of their backside every year, and 4 out of 5 turn out to be pretty damn good.

I get your point in general and I also agree that Allen is still a question mark. But Westry? He was lights out last year. If there's one guy on the team that we don't have to worry about, it that's guy.

 

[Beatle Bum]

Barker was praising the DBs yesterday. Now, it was a windy day, but it has been a few years since someone suggested DB was a position of strength at UK. And, they are young and getting better.