To all my Wildcat friends and those who aren't
- Thread starter Grumpyolddawg
- Start date
Merry Christmas Grumpy! Also Merry Christmas wishes to the Wildcat Liar community. :smiley:[cheers]
I wouldn't expect you to think any other way. I just hope we can both lay a beating on the Vols and Gators. I am expecting us to be quite a bit better next year, OL can't be much worse than it was this year and those 4 frosh DL we played this year will be sophs. We may have 1 leaving early, probably likely because he didn't announce he was returning with the other 4 who are, but still 9 starters on a decent D returning.
I think you have about as many starters returning as us, a win over us this year, and still a lot more raw talent (stars) but for some reason I still like our chances next year, I think we are just getting started.
I don't normally like to count my chickens before they hatch, but I think our game could decide the East next year. I don't know who you have from the West other than State, we got AU and State. UT is losing an awful lot, almost all their offensive production and their best players at each level on defense. Vandy will be sound and can beat you if you make some mistakes. UF is kind of a puzzle for me, they don't have any real threats other than that WR and are losing quite a bit on defense. USC got better, but I don't think they are strong enough up front defensively to win the east, but they do get their best defensive player back after missing 16 with an injury. Missouri plays us tough every year but I think we get them in Athens this year, I don't know exactly how many starters UK has coming back but a good group and have some depth and will be a force in 17. We are going to return at least 9 on defense, maybe 10 and every backup and 8 on offense, we lose both OT and C. Very likely to have one of our starting G move to C and 2 signees will start at the OT spots who will come from a 4* JUCO, 2 4* high schoolers or a 5* high schooler, best OL class we have gotten in 40 years.. We will go from being the smallest OL in the SEC to one of the biggest, But the biggest shocker is Chubb and Sony returning, it cost us Cam Akers, but I will take 2 1000 yard rushers over an unproven high schooler everytime. Kirby is recruiting lights out, if his learning curve isn't too steep we will be good in 17, and very good in 18, maybe playoff good, depending on how many of our young guys leave after the 17 season. But I expect the East winner to have to come through Lexington and Athens in 17.
Grumpyolddawg, there is no doubt in my mind Georgia will be improved next season and will not only be in the fight for the SEC East, I think you are favored. As far as our Cats, I do feel about as optimistic as I have in years and dream of having a few more excellent teams before I pass the baton over to the younger generations. All of my grandchildren are huge football fans (more so than basketball) and I want them to experience a feared and excellent Kentucky football team and end this curse of the last 50 plus years we as UK fans have experienced. It has been heartbreaking at times to put it mildly.