Afternoon update....

JRowland said:

Hearing that Brennen Ward is likely to stick around. The plan seems to be to keep Cutter, Ward, and then complement/build up the room from that. More: https://www.on3.com/sites/cats-illustrated/news/parts-continue-to-move-in-the-first-days-of-the-will-stein-era/

Any names to keep an eye on for the RB coach?

Cutter Ward Pony Seems pretty thin and inexperienced though. Hard to get a backup in though.

If we were a qb away, shoot for the moon but we're not. End of the day, it's not my decision, it's on CWS and staff

LCI5 said:

Cutter Ward Pony Seems pretty thin and inexperienced though. Hard to get a backup in though.

If Cutter is going to stay I do not see how Stein gets a high level transfer to come. These guys want to play especially with the NIL money available to them now. Competing for the job is becoming a lost "thing" now.

ukalumni00 said:

If Cutter is going to stay I do not see how Stein gets a high level transfer to come. These guys want to play especially with the NIL money available to them now. Competing for the job is becoming a lost "thing" now.

Yea, I think most likely scenario is you try to find a lower level guy like Ole Miss did with Chambliss from FCS or D2 who would jump at a cheap deal in the SEC with a likely backup job but if you are that good then you can win the job.

I know I'm probably wrong, but man I watched the HS film of all the UK Qb's, and Wards was the most impressive. His release speed, athleticism, and accuracy really jumped out. With time to adjust to the speed of college, he has the physical tools to be an impressive QB at the college level (at least). Just watch this:

LCI5 said:

Cutter Ward Pony Seems pretty thin and inexperienced though. Hard to get a backup in though.

Yeah, who wants to sign up for that? You have a guy likely sitting QB1 who has 3 years left unless he goes early which probably means two. Then you have Pony who one would reasonably think starts in 2 or transfers (if not for baseball considerations and that is assuming he shows up). Very hard to get someone enticed in this sort of "if you don't play me, I'm leaving" era.

Spend the money on the trenches. Maybe get a guy who can run some

I just don’t know how to feel about these hires. Hopefully they pan out

ukalumni00 said:

If Cutter is going to stay I do not see how Stein gets a high level transfer to come. These guys want to play especially with the NIL money available to them now. Competing for the job is becoming a lost "thing" now.

Cutter maybe staying till Stein finds someone he likes better.

jareduofk said:

I know I'm probably wrong, but man I watched the HS film of all the UK Qb's, and Wards was the most impressive. His release speed, athleticism, and accuracy really jumped out. With time to adjust to the speed of college, he has the physical tools to be an impressive QB at the college level (at least). Just watch this:

Preview this content on our boards.

Impressive

I'm torn, really. Part of me hopes/thinks Cutter will blow up with the right coach, system, and talent around him. The other part sees how vital the QB spot is in college football, especially for teams that may have talent gaps across position groups. Your Ohio States and Georgia's of the world are loaded and balanced and can win the majority of games even with just a good QB. For CWS to have immediate success in the SEC, he has to have a stud QB behind center. That's the formula Curt Cignetti has had at IU, with Rourke and Mendoza leading them to the playoffs. Clark Lea isn't a 10 game winner at Vandy without Pavia. Lincoln Riley wins at Oklahoma with Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, and at USC with Caleb Williams. Fran Brown turns Syracuse around with Kyle McCord. Jeff Lebby turns Miss St around with Blake Shapen. And so on. Obviously you need talent across the board, but getting the right QB masks a lot of holes and allows you to win right away. Hoping Cutter is the man, but trusting the QB gurus of Stein and Sloan to figure it out and either mold the stud we have or bring in difference maker we need.

Navy Cat said:

I'm torn, really. Part of me hopes/thinks Cutter will blow up with the right coach, system, and talent around him. The other part sees how vital the QB spot is in college football, especially for teams that may have talent gaps across position groups. Your Ohio States and Georgia's of the world are loaded and balanced and can win the majority of games even with just a good QB. For CWS to have immediate success in the SEC, he has to have a stud QB behind center. That's the formula Curt Cignetti has had at IU, with Rourke and Mendoza leading them to the playoffs. Clark Lea isn't a 10 game winner at Vandy without Pavia. Lincoln Riley wins at Oklahoma with Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, and at USC with Caleb Williams. Fran Brown turns Syracuse around with Kyle McCord. Jeff Lebby turns Miss St around with Blake Shapen. And so on. Obviously you need talent across the board, but getting the right QB masks a lot of holes and allows you to win right away. Hoping Cutter is the man, but trusting the QB gurus of Stein and Sloan to figure it out and either mold the stud we have or bring in difference maker we need.

Getting the right players can make a quarterback look good. Spend your money on some day 1 starters and let Cutter role with them, if he cant then you know going into the future what you need.

TheBigBlueSpectacle said:

Spend the money on the trenches. Maybe get a guy who can run some

I would have no problem spending the vast majority of money ear marked for the offense in the portal on the linemen. You aren’t doing crap in the SEC if you can’t block.

jareduofk said:

I know I'm probably wrong, but man I watched the HS film of all the UK Qb's, and Wards was the most impressive. His release speed, athleticism, and accuracy really jumped out. With time to adjust to the speed of college, he has the physical tools to be an impressive QB at the college level (at least). Just watch this:

Preview this content on our boards.

And he is 6-4 220.

What is going on with Burke? Not on staff at UTSA anymore, but seeming less and less likely that he ends up on staff here.

Koppdiesel said:

What is going on with Burke? Not on staff at UTSA anymore, but seeming less and less likely that he ends up on staff here.

Pretty sure his name was in the Epstein files.

Another thing I'll add to the roster as it stands, we're looking at trying to find wr1, starting center, possibly 2 tackles(LT/RT), and whatever needs we have for defense. I wouldn't put starting QB at the top as of now. JMO

morbidky84 said:

If we were a qb away, shoot for the moon but we're not. End of the day, it's not my decision, it's on CWS and staff

This is my stance. CWS can improve winning by investing in OL, RB, and WR and get much better return with a more than serviceable Cutter Boley. I’m also not going to forget just how pedestrian Andre Woodson looked as a first year starter, to then break major records in his last two years. Boley is nothing close to a finished product, so spend to surround him with assets

TommyBJordan said:

This is my stance. CWS can improve winning by investing in OL, RB, and WR and get much better return with a more than serviceable Cutter Boley. I’m also not going to forget just how pedestrian Andre Woodson looked as a first year starter, to then break major records in his last two years. Boley is nothing close to a finished product, so spend to surround him with assets

I think he can be really good next year but as you wrote he will need at least one starting and and possibly two SEC worthy tackles along with a few more skilled positions. RB and two WR's. That's where I would spend my money on offense.

JRowland said:

Hearing that Brennen Ward is likely to stick around. The plan seems to be to keep Cutter, Ward, and then complement/build up the room from that. More: https://www.on3.com/sites/cats-illustrated/news/parts-continue-to-move-in-the-first-days-of-the-will-stein-era/

Does my boy Beau Allen have any eligibility left?

FakeDavidBeckham said:

I just don’t know how to feel about these hires. Hopefully they pan out

Shocker

Here at UK - QB 1 will be injured within the first 3 games - plan for it.

un4getables said:

Shocker

That’s probably fair. I do have PTSD lately but the OC and the DC are not hires you are hearing lauded by national folks. As a person who spends a lot of time in Louisiana, Sloan was basically a four letter word. Could Brian Kelly ruin OC’s like Stoops did? That’s my hope. Well, my biggest hope is the best play caller in college football calls the plays. The DC doesn’t have a big pedigree but I do like that he was really aggressive at Army. Feels like some of these position coaches were QC guys or assistants to the position. I like the choice for safety’s coach because he was Fritz’s right hand man a more than one stop. The WR coach probably knows this offense so you feel like that makes sense. Stein said that “EVERYONE WANTS TO COACH WITH WILL STEIN.” and now it feels like anyone can coach with him. It feels like all these hires are based more on recruiting which I do find exciting. Maybe I’m the only one that has these concerns but I’m one of these rare fans that though I love basketball, I went to football as a family of season ticket holders for decades. I just really want them to get this right. Once you get above 50 you don’t know how msny more you get to watch.