Kentucky Wildcat Football: Five questions for the Spring
By Paul Jordan
Tomorrow marks the star of spring practices for Kentucky and the Wildcats will have plenty of holes to fill on offense and defense while preparing for the 2011 season. Here are my top five questions for the spring sessions.
1. What are the wildcats going to do at quarterback?
While it’s almost a foregone conclusion that junior Morgan Newton will be the starting signal-caller for Kentucky to start the 2011 season, there are still questions to be answered. How has Newton progressed? Will we see a transformation in him similar to what Mike Hartline and Andre Woodson saw during their careers here at Kentucky? What about the backup situation? Will Kentucky attempt to redshirt Maxwell Smith (with freshman Theltus Cobbins likely to sit out while rehabbing from a shoulder injury after he arrives this fall) and go into 2011 with only one scholarship quarterback available? How has Smith progressed and will he be able to provide Kentucky with a viable option if Newton were to go down? Can he come in and push Morgan?
There are a lot more questions than answers at this point and spring practice should go a long way towards helping the Wildcats sort out the quarterback spot.
2. What will Kentucky’s new defense look like under Rick Minter?
It’s been well documented that Minter has tutored some great defensive minds in the 3-4 defense, but with all the talk of the 3-4 “hybrid” scheme that he is planning on instilling here in Lexington, what will Kentucky’s version look like? How will star Danny Trevathan be utilized? Can Kentucky really hope to stop the run by using fewer defensive linemen? It should be interesting to see the personnel changes that take place over the next few weeks and see what positions players move to and from.
3. Can Steve Brown accept his diminished role on defense?
It’s tough to take a demotion, but former defensive coordinator Steve Brown will have to do just that for 2011 after having his responsibilities reduced to coaching only the defensive backfield. With his ability to spend more time with the corner backs and safeties, will Winston Guy and Mychal Bailey learn to tackle consistently with some extra attention from a guy that (like him or not) has a proven record of developing talented players while at Kentucky? Will Randall Burden and Martavius Neloms step up and consistently shut down opponents receivers on the outside? How will the defensive backfield and their responsibilities change in the new scheme? It will be important for the safeties to improve their play dramatically before the summer when Army All-American Glen Faulkner will arrive ready to compete.
4. What will the running back rotation look like?
It certainly hurts to lose Derrick Locke to graduation, and the wound was salted a little when Kentucky lost their second leading rusher when Donald Russell decided to transfer. Now it is going to be up to a group of talented but inexperienced players to take the reigns and provide the Wildcat offense with a consistent rushing attack, and there are plenty of guys ready to step up. Will CoShik Williams have a breakthrough spring and claim the starting job against all odds? Will sophomore Raymond Sanders seize the opportunity to become Kentucky’s next diminutive back to drive defenses crazy after receiving extended playing time as a true freshman? Will redshirt freshman Brandon Gainer come in and blow everyone away with his combination of size and speed and take hold of the starting job? Will sophomore Jon George utilize his tough running style to beat out everyone and give Kentucky the first power back they’ve had since Artose Pinner lined up in the backfield? This might be the most fun competition to watch this spring and my early vote goes to Brandon Gainer surprising everyone and taking claim to the starting job with Raymond Sanders being used as a hybrid receiver/running back type of player. One thing that’s certain, it’s important for all of the running backs to make a good impression this spring before Marcus Caffey and Josh Clemons arrive to push them over the summer and fall.
5. Who’s going to replace the production of Randall Cobb and Chris Matthews?
This one is a little more complicated than the others. It is going to be nearly impossible to replace Randall Cobb, but can someone step up and provide the Kentucky offense with a consistent receiving threat? Will they be able to break tackles and pick up extra yardage after the catch? And on the other hand, who is going to take over the production Chris Matthews leaves behind? The early favorite has to be junior LaRod King, who has a similar skill-set to Matthews’ and will be in his third year with the team. But what about everyone else? Gene McCaskill, Brian Adams, E.J. Fields, Matt Roark, and Aaron Boyd had better make a big impression this spring before the addition of six freshmen receivers this fall.
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