These are the players I think will make a significant jump in their contribution this year

[Levibooty]

Josh Allen
George Asafo-Adjei
Jeff Badet
Derrick Baity
Dorian Baker
Blake Bone
CJ Conrad
Mike Edwards
Jordan Jones
Reggie Meant
Ryan Timmons
Darius West
Boom Williams

Just saying I believe these guys will play much better than last year for various reason: coaching, experience, opportunity, and discipline. I think coaching for the offensive players will be the number one reason for a change for the better.

 

[AbsoluteCats]

Josh Allen
George Asafo-Adjei
Jeff Badet
Derrick Baity
Dorian Baker
Blake Bone
CJ Conrad
Mike Edwards
Jordan Jones
Reggie Meant
Ryan Timmons
Darius West
Boom Williams

Just saying I believe these guys will play much better than last year for various reason: coaching, experience, opportunity, and discipline. I think coaching for the offensive players will be the number one reason for a change for the better.

Really new Drew to be on that list...unless you are adding him by default with having the TE/WR on it

 

[hmt5000]

Miggins as well. He's better than a lot of people realize.

 

[seccats04]

Miggins as well. He's better than a lot of people realize.

If he is then that will help the DL a bunch. Meant looks good but hasn't done much. Elam looks bad and hasn't done much.

 

[WildCard]

Josh Allen
George Asafo-Adjei
Jeff Badet
Derrick Baity
Dorian Baker
Blake Bone
CJ Conrad
Mike Edwards
Jordan Jones
Reggie Meant
Ryan Timmons
Darius West
Boom Williams

Just saying I believe these guys will play much better than last year for various reason: coaching, experience, opportunity, and discipline. I think coaching for the offensive players will be the number one reason for a change for the better.

Did you simply forget Barker? It seems to me that if he is not much, much better than last year (35-70-2, 73 YPG, 5.1 YPA and 92.7 QBR) it will make little difference how much better anyone else is. [winking]

Peace

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

If he is then that will help the DL a bunch. Meant looks good but hasn't done much. Elam looks bad and hasn't done much.

I have been a little critical of Elam in the past, nothing against him, but it didn't appear to me he took it serious about getting into condition to play P5 football, which made it impossible for him to be taught proper technique and fundamentals. The pic of him floating around here awhile back showed what appeared to be a much slimmer, as DL go, Elam. His stomach didn't enter a room 2 seconds before his head did. Either he decided to get serious or someone has finally gotten his attention. If the pic was accurate and he learns some technique and developes his fundamentals he could easily be the most improved UK player. I don't think all the fans realize how important it is for the DL to keep the LBs clean to make tacklers at or near the line of scrimmage.

 

[tammefan]

Key to the season is QB play and the oline. If you dont have a QB you have nothing.

 

[tntuk]

Key to the season is QB play and the oline. If you dont have a QB you have nothing.

I tend to agree with you. If QB and OLine play are above average to really good, then I think our offense will be able to score on just about anyone at anytime b/c we have some serious talent at our skill positions. OL needs to give Drew time, and Drew needs to play well. Avoid mistakes, etc., and I think we can score points this fall...keep the D off the field in the process.

I'd also like to see special teams improve. Starting field position is important in this game.

 

[shutzhund]

I have been a little critical of Elam in the past, nothing against him, but it didn't appear to me he took it serious about getting into condition to play P5 football, which made it impossible for him to be taught proper technique and fundamentals. The pic of him floating around here awhile back showed what appeared to be a much slimmer, as DL go, Elam. His stomach didn't enter a room 2 seconds before his head did. Either he decided to get serious or someone has finally gotten his attention. If the pic was accurate and he learns some technique and developes his fundamentals he could easily be the most improved UK player. I don't think all the fans realize how important it is for the DL to keep the LBs clean to make tacklers at or near the line of scrimmage.

Good post but in my opinion Elam is a Towles just with a higher number on his jersey.

 

[Shydog]

Badet Conrad Boom(even though his stats were great last year) and Elam,, partly b/c it will be expected and demanded of him and also b/c I think the guy wants it more than most on here thinks he does.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Good post but in my opinion Elam is a Towles just with a higher number on his jersey.

Like I said, Elam's future is up to him, get in shape, learn his techniques and get sound on his fundamentals. His first year it was pretty obvious he hadn't worked much on any of those, his 2nd year he appeared to have dropped a little weight but still had weak fundamentals and poor technique. But the pic someone floated around on here a couple months ago it looked like he was finally taking his conditioning serious, which will allow him to play better technique. Now if he has worked on his conditioning, it would make no sense to me for him not to have worked on his fundamentals. Granted it was just a snapshot and angles and lighting can fool you, but he appeared to be 40-50 lbs lighter to me.

 

[greginky1957]

I saw some extremely short glimpses of Elam from earlier this year. He looked slimmer and remarkably agile. I was really smiling. I am looking for a break out year for him.

 

[jauk11]

Barker can not improve a whit and look a lot better than he did last year if the coaching and support live up to their press clippings.

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

Ummm Chris Westry anyone? He was great as a freshman but expect him to be a star and no more rookie mistakes during his sophomore campaign. Could go pro after junior season and go first round.

 

[Poetax]

Good post but in my opinion Elam is a Towles just with a higher number on his jersey.

Don't agree with you man. Elam doesn't have to carry the defense like Towles did on offense. Towles had to keep from hurting the offense and he didn't. If Elam does his job that's enough.

 

[Blue Decade]

Josh Allen
George Asafo-Adjei
Jeff Badet
Derrick Baity
Dorian Baker
Blake Bone
CJ Conrad
Mike Edwards
Jordan Jones
Reggie Meant
Ryan Timmons
Darius West
Boom Williams

Just saying I believe these guys will play much better than last year for various reason: coaching, experience, opportunity, and discipline. I think coaching for the offensive players will be the number one reason for a change for the better.

For significant jumps in performance, I pick Denzil Ware, Kobie Walker, Eli Brown, Marcus Walker, Mike Edwards, Chris Westry, Kengera Daniel, CJ Conrad, Kyle Meadows, Cole Mosier, Ramsey Meyers, Dorian Baker, Austin MacGinnis. Some players you mentioned will struggle to get onto the field. Timmons is just not a physical football player. I will not be a believer in Timmons until I see him deliver in SEC games. Josh Allen has future upside, but must get on the field ahead of Ware, Bonner, and a healthy Kobie Walker. Kobie and Ware were very impressive in our spring game. GAA has a nice future, if he can get onto the field ahead of returning starters Meyers and Haynes. Bone hasn't beat press coverage, lacks a 2nd gear, drops catchable passes. Bone may struggle to get onto the field because of Baker, Ross, Greenwood, Richardson. Badet is our fastest receiver, but lacks strength and drops catchable passes. Badet sits a lot of snaps while Juice Johnson plays. If Timmons has a resurgence as a senior, that playing time directly costs Badet. When Charles Walker plays, that costs Badet. Darius West may have trouble getting on the field ahead of Edwards, McWilson, Walker. Edwards and Walker are underrated safeties, and McWilson has started games. Jordan Jones is a quality player who must beat out Love, Daniel, Brown, Firios, maybe Laster. All the other guys you mentioned are starters. With Boom, I only question whether he can stay healthy.

 

[jauk11]

For significant jumps in performance, I pick Denzil Ware, Kobie Walker, Eli Brown, Marcus Walker, Mike Edwards, Chris Westry, Kengera Daniel, CJ Conrad, Kyle Meadows, Cole Mosier, Ramsey Meyers, Dorian Baker, Austin MacGinnis. Some players you mentioned will struggle to get onto the field. Timmons is just not a physical football player. I will not be a believer in Timmons until I see him deliver in SEC games. Josh Allen has future upside, but must get on the field ahead of Ware, Bonner, and a healthy Kobie Walker. Kobie and Ware were very impressive in our spring game. GAA has a nice future, if he can get onto the field ahead of returning starters Meyers and Haynes. Bone hasn't beat press coverage, lacks a 2nd gear, drops catchable passes. Bone may struggle to get onto the field because of Baker, Ross, Greenwood, Richardson. Badet is our fastest receiver, but lacks strength and drops catchable passes. Badet sits a lot of snaps while Juice Johnson plays. If Timmons has a resurgence as a senior, that playing time directly costs Badet. When Charles Walker plays, that costs Badet. Darius West may have trouble getting on the field ahead of Edwards, McWilson, Walker. Edwards and Walker are underrated safeties, and McWilson has started games. Jordan Jones is a quality player who must beat out Love, Daniel, Brown, Firios, maybe Laster. All the other guys you mentioned are starters. With Boom, I only question whether he can stay healthy.

Nice post.

Between the others and your post it sounds like almost everyone on the team should improve------and actually that is logical. Not to downplay the others but if even a few improve a great deal and the others hold serve we should see great improvement overall, especially if the new coaches are as good as we think they are. If just Elam and Ware make big jumps on D and Barker does on the O, with Boom staying out of trouble and gaining stamina (which I expect he will be because he is playing for a lot of dough and won't have it yet to get in trouble) it will make a big difference if the others just make the progress that should be expected. And actually I don't worry about Boom nearly as much with King in the wings.

And if the non starters improve it does improve our depth and competition.

 

[Blue Decade]

Between the others and your post it sounds like almost everyone on the team should improve------and actually that is logical.

If the coaches are doing their jobs, and if every player does their best in offseason conditioning, then every player should improve except those who are injured. But it's all relative. Improving isn't enough. You have to improve more than the other guys playing your position. In the final analysis, youngest players with the most physical talent usually have the most room for improvement. After watching the spring game, I can say that Denzil Ware, Kobie Walker, CJ Conrad, and Cole Mosier are the most improved players on our team. Drew Barker has also taken a step forward.

 

[Levibooty]

I just want to point out that a significant jump in contribution on the field is not the same as significant improvement. By that I mean that some players like Bone will get more of a chance to use his talents because of the new offensive coordinators than what we saw last year. Other players like Westry will play great but then he played great last year so he may become more well known but how much better can somebody become when teams are already shy away from throwing the ball his way. Westry could improve a good deal and still not contribute much more than what he did last year. He may be that good!

CJ Conrad is another that I believe will contribute more just by the fact that he will be utilized more. George A_A will because he did not contribute that much last year being a freshman out of position, the time he gets will be more in line with his talent. Ryan Timmons I expect to contribute more because he was hurt last year and when healthy we've seen glimpse's of his ability. Boom Williams I think will contribute more because I think he will be shown the reward of discipline and teamwork by the new coaches.

Botto line is I think these players are talented and were misused by last year OC, this is the year they have been waiting on, matured, experienced and coached by knowledgeable men with experience. So improvement yes but more contribution through the utilization of their talent and no longer underclassmen.

I believe on offense especially quite a few of our players were not put in a position were they could use their individual talent to make a large contribution.

 

[Blue Decade]

I just want to point out that a significant jump in contribution on the field is not the same as significant improvement. By that I mean that some players like Bone will get more of a chance to use his talents because of the new offensive coordinators than what we saw last year. Other players like Westry will play great but then he played great last year so he may become more well known but how much better can somebody become when teams are already shy away from throwing the ball his way. Westry could improve a good deal and still not contribute much more than what he did last year. He may be that good!

CJ Conrad is another that I believe will contribute more just by the fact that he will be utilized more. George A_A will because he did not contribute that much last year being a freshman out of position, the time he gets will be more in line with his talent. Ryan Timmons I expect to contribute more because he was hurt last year and when healthy we've seen glimpse's of his ability. Boom Williams I think will contribute more because I think he will be shown the reward of discipline and teamwork by the new coaches.

Botto line is I think these players are talented and were misused by last year OC, this is the year they have been waiting on, matured, experienced and coached by knowledgeable men with experience. So improvement yes but more contribution through the utilization of their talent and no longer underclassmen.

I believe on offense especially quite a few of our players were not put in a position were they could use their individual talent to make a large contribution.

Actually, Bone will probably get less of a chance because of Ross, Greenwood, Richardson. By October, Ross and Greenwood could be our 2 best receivers. I just don't buy the new narrative on Timmons, because I have been watching him for 3 years and he got beat out by Juice Johnson and Charles Walker last year. For heavens sake, Charles Walker beat him out. Timmons just isn't a physical receiver, and he hasn't mastered his trade craft. GAA has talent, but he is competing against 2 incumbent starters who are more experienced and pretty damn good in their own right. I think you will be surprised by how much better Chris Westry can be. But I will grant you 1 point. CJ Conrad is going to be very good. And if you saw our spring game, Greg Hart is the real deal too. As for Boom, it's only a matter of staying healthy. Be that as it may, I expect a reshuffling of our running backs. When healthy, Boom is our best back. But King and Snell may get the bulk of the other snaps. I'm not saying Kemp and Horton aren't good, because they are. But King and Snell are better.

 

[Levibooty]

I was as down on Timmons as anybody last year and then I found out he had been playing with a bum shoulder all year. I still think Bone will contribute this year. Your down on our players who had one year with Brown, their freshman year and one year with Dawson , a year that not one of our WR's played up to their expectations and now you say players that have not played against a SEC DB will shine. You could be right but I stick to what I think which is the older players will benefit from better coaching. Last year at this time I was disagreeing with people on here saying George A_A was going to be a world class OL even if he was just a freshman so...

 

[Blue Decade]

I was as down on Timmons as anybody last year and then I found out he had been playing with a bum shoulder all year. I still think Bone will contribute this year. Your down on our players who had one year with Brown, their freshman year and one year with Dawson , a year that not one of our WR's played up to their expectations and now you say players that have not played against a SEC DB will shine. You could be right but I stick to what I think which is the older players will benefit from better coaching. Last year at this time I was disagreeing with people on here saying George A_A was going to be a world class OL even if he was just a freshman so...

I am not down on our players. LOL! I am giving you my opinion about who will play. Top to bottom, our roster is stronger than it has been since 2007. That means some good players will sit. You started this thread to discuss which players will make a significant jump in their contributions. To contribute, they have to get on the field for significant snaps. Some of these guys like Westry, Baity, Edwards, Conrad are going to be big stars. Others will sit. Steve Johnson, Nico Firios, Kendall Randolph are fantastic football players, but they are going to sit. I don't see Bone playing ahead of Baker, Ross, Greenwood. I don't see Timmons playing ahead of Juice, Badet. And GAA, a quality football player, will have his hands full with 2 solid returning starters. Sometimes it just works out that way.

 

[Levibooty]

I am not down on our players. LOL! I am giving you my opinion about who will play. Top to bottom, our roster is stronger than it has been since 2007. That means some good players will sit. You started this thread to discuss which players will make a significant jump in their contributions. To contribute, they have to get on the field for significant snaps. Some of these guys like Westry, Baity, Edwards, Conrad are going to be big stars. Others will sit. Steve Johnson, Nico Firios, Kendall Randolph are fantastic football players, but they are going to sit. I don't see Bone playing ahead of Baker, Ross, Greenwood. I don't see Timmons playing ahead of Juice, Badet. And GAA, a quality football player, will have his hands full with 2 solid returning starters. Sometimes it just works out that way.

Yes you are right in that we are talking opinions---predictions --- not facts. I'm good that the players I listed will make more of a contribution next year. I do wonder what people's opinion of Bones contribution would have been last year if Towles had thrown the ball lower than the Statue of Liberty in Florida's end zone. Lets hope we are both right and all these players make big contributions.

 

[Free_Salato_Blue]

Killer B's
Barker, Baker, Bone, Boom

 

[hmt5000]

For significant jumps in performance, I pick Denzil Ware, Kobie Walker, Eli Brown, Marcus Walker, Mike Edwards, Chris Westry, Kengera Daniel, CJ Conrad, Kyle Meadows, Cole Mosier, Ramsey Meyers, Dorian Baker, Austin MacGinnis. Some players you mentioned will struggle to get onto the field. Timmons is just not a physical football player. I will not be a believer in Timmons until I see him deliver in SEC games. Josh Allen has future upside, but must get on the field ahead of Ware, Bonner, and a healthy Kobie Walker. Kobie and Ware were very impressive in our spring game. GAA has a nice future, if he can get onto the field ahead of returning starters Meyers and Haynes. Bone hasn't beat press coverage, lacks a 2nd gear, drops catchable passes. Bone may struggle to get onto the field because of Baker, Ross, Greenwood, Richardson. Badet is our fastest receiver, but lacks strength and drops catchable passes. Badet sits a lot of snaps while Juice Johnson plays. If Timmons has a resurgence as a senior, that playing time directly costs Badet. When Charles Walker plays, that costs Badet. Darius West may have trouble getting on the field ahead of Edwards, McWilson, Walker. Edwards and Walker are underrated safeties, and McWilson has started games. Jordan Jones is a quality player who must beat out Love, Daniel, Brown, Firios, maybe Laster. All the other guys you mentioned are starters. With Boom, I only question whether he can stay healthy.

ware and edwards i think will end up being the stars on D this year. edwards had a concussion i believe in the spring so we didn't see him. the more interviews i find of D coaches commenting on edwards the more im thinking he's better than stamps on his best day right now. i just hope he stays healthy. osu really liked him for a reason and they didn't offer because of the other.

 

[Blue Decade]

Yes you are right in that we are talking opinions---predictions --- not facts. I'm good that the players I listed will make more of a contribution next year. I do wonder what people's opinion of Bones contribution would have been last year if Towles had thrown the ball lower than the Statue of Liberty in Florida's end zone. Lets hope we are both right and all these players make big contributions.

Of course these are opinions. That's all you get here. The only facts you can get on an opinion board are when, occasionally, a link is offered to a factual information source. Here is a fact, taken directly from UKathletics.com. Towles is the 6th leading passer in Kentucky Wildcat football history, despite making only 21 career starts. That's a significant contribution whether you like Towles or not. When all these players take the field in September, it won't make any difference which players you or I like. But it is a fact that players can't make a contribution unless they get onto the field for significant snaps. That's what I have been trying to say, and that's why our opinions diverge. We can't both be right, because they can't find significant snaps for all those receivers and other players. Someone plays, someone else sits. Happens every year. What I have learned is that returning starters usually get those snaps because there is a reason why they are returning starters.

 

[Kybluedude]

Actually, Bone will probably get less of a chance because of Ross, Greenwood, Richardson. By October, Ross and Greenwood could be our 2 best receivers. I just don't buy the new narrative on Timmons, because I have been watching him for 3 years and he got beat out by Juice Johnson and Charles Walker last year. For heavens sake, Charles Walker beat him out. Timmons just isn't a physical receiver, and he hasn't mastered his trade craft. GAA has talent, but he is competing against 2 incumbent starters who are more experienced and pretty damn good in their own right. I think you will be surprised by how much better Chris Westry can be. But I will grant you 1 point. CJ Conrad is going to be very good. And if you saw our spring game, Greg Hart is the real deal too. As for Boom, it's only a matter of staying healthy. Be that as it may, I expect a reshuffling of our running backs. When healthy, Boom is our best back. But King and Snell may get the bulk of the other snaps. I'm not saying Kemp and Horton aren't good, because they are. But King and Snell are better.

Charles Walker has the best hands of all the receivers and was terrific catching punts. He is a better player than you give him credit. Would have been Mr Kentucky football had he been used correctly in high school. He can start here. Made some big catches as a limited player already. Real good football player.

 

[Blue Decade]

Charles Walker has the best hands of all the receivers and was terrific catching punts. He is a better player than you give him credit. Would have been Mr Kentucky football had he been used correctly in high school. He can start here. Made some big catches as a limited player already. Real good football player.

LOL! I haven't criticized Charles Walker. He has outstanding hands and he catches everything close to him. But he isn't going to start.

 

[TeoJ]

LOL! I haven't criticized Charles Walker. He has outstanding hands and he catches everything close to him. But he isn't going to start.

Is that a fact?[winking]

 

[Kybluedude]

Walker has already started. Probably will again in this offense. Need sure handed flat receivers. Much better than you think.

 

[loose rhythm]

Walker is up to about #205 and will be the most physical of all of our wide receivers . Coaches love him for his versatility Timmons is probably entering camp a half of a tick ahead of him, because walker had hand surgery and was limited in spring ball . Barker loves him too

There will be lots of interchangeable parts at the inside spots

 

[Oldtrainer_rivals]

Really like Charles Walker. Smart, good hands, big enough, hard nose, hard worker, and played for a top Kentucky high school program! Think our receiver corps will be a team strength this season and Imo Charles has worked his way to top echelon!