Keenan Burton (WR/St. Louis Rams):
Burton has the chance to become a prominent player in the Rams offense due to Donnie Avery’s season ending knee injury during the preseason. Burton suffered his own season ending knee injury and despite the Rams winning just one game last season, Burton was a primary target early in the season. He currently sits behind Laurent Robinson and Brandon Gibson as the primary receivers, so he could definitely improve upon a 25 reception, 253 yard season. Expectations: 50 REC, 550 YDS, 2 TD’s
Trevard Lindley (CB/Philadelphia Eagles):
Lindley was drafted in the fourth-round by the Philadelphia Eagles and has a chance to take over one of the primary cornerback spots if a slew of injuries were to find their way to Philly. Lindley sits behind several teammates including Ellis Hobbs, but may have passed Macho Harris as Hobbs’ replacement. It’s tough to gauge the effectiveness in terms of stats for a cornerback, especially if his playing time is unpredictable. If Lindley’s time at Kentucky is any indication, then the first year rookie can provide a big help on the outside for the Eagles. Expectations: 25-30 TKLS, 2 INT’s
Jeremy Jarmon (DE/Washington Redskins):
Jarmon heads into his second season as an NFL defensive head with a chip on his shoulder. Last season saw the former Wildcats star enter the NFL prematurely, having been drafted by the Redskins during the NFL Supplemental draft. Despite a season ending injury, Jarmon looks to make some noise this year backing up some proven veterans.
Mike Jones of @TBDSkins has this to say about Jarmon’s fortunes this season,
Tim Masthay (K/Green Bay Packers):
Masthay could eventually wind up having the best season of any former Kentucky Wildcats players that’s currently in the NFC and that’s saying a lot seeing that Masthay is a punter. Don’t be shocked however, if you hear his name throughout the 2010-2011 seasons. The Packers are an excellent team, so it’s great news that Masthay could have chance to vie for an NFC Championship.
Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had this to say about Masthay’s chances of being the No. 1 punter on the team:
"Given the booming punt he had in front of a national television audience Thursday night and the consistency he’s shown all summer, Tim Masthay deserves to be called the front-runner in the Green Bay Packers’ punter competition.He got all of the snaps with the first unit in practice Sunday. Masthay responded with a monster day, averaging 58.6 yards per punt and 4.59 seconds of hang time. His punts ranged from a 70-yarder with 4.9 hang time from his own 1-yard line to a rugby-style punt that hit on the 6 and bounced 2 yards backward into the arms of safety Derrick Martin."
Head coach Mike McCarthy also chimed in saying,
“About the only thing left is live game action, so we would just like to have as much information as possible on both punters,” McCarthy said. “I think they are both (Chris Brayn/Masthay) talented, and I think they are both ascending punters. We’re going to pick the right one, and the one that doesn’t stick here, I’m pretty confident will be punting in the NFL somewhere else. I think that much of both men.”
Corey Peters (DT/Atlanta Falcons):
Peters recently had to deal with a injury scare, when Peters stated that he heard something ‘pop’ in his knee during a pre-season game. Thankfully the ‘injury’ was non-serious and Peters will continue to rehab towards regular season condition. With a 4-3 defense set in place in Atlanta, Peters comfortably sits behind teammate Peria Jerry at the left defensive tackle. At 6’3”, 295 lbs. Peters has an excellent chance to get some playing time in his first season on the job. Expectations: 19 TKLS, 1 FF, 3 SACKS
Alfonso Smith (RB/Arizona Cardinals):
Smith, once an all-purpose back for the Kentucky Wildcats, now sits in a crowded backfield in Arizona. Smith has gotten some valuable playing time during the pre-season, having scored during the Cardinals Monday Night Football matchup with the Tennessee Titans. Despite that fact, Smith sits far behind starter Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells. At best, you can expect Smith to participate on the Cardinals practice squad unless any drastic changes occur during the rest of the pre-season and into the regular season.
Garry Williams (OL/Carolina Panters):
Williams continues to sit behind Pro-Bowl left tackle Jordan Gross, who missed the last seven games of the season due to a season ending injury. Williams is valuable because of his versatility, but will likely sit behind the rest of the starters until someone gets injured. Gross did get injured and Williams still couldn’t find his way into the starting rotation as an offensive lineman. Expect much of the same this season. Should an injury occur to one of the players on the left side of the offensive line, Williams should be able to slide right in to protect quarterback Matt Moore.
Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Ken
tucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans