Kentucky Wildcat Football: 5 questions for Spring Practice
By Paul Jordan
The annual blue white game is this Saturday and football fans across the bluegrass will get their first look at the 2011 Wildcats. Here are my top five questions that need answered this spring…
1. How will the new defense look?
There was talk at one point of the Cats switching to a 3-4 defense, then it was a 4-3 base defense with some 3-4 looks, then it was a 4-2-5. I think it’s safe to say that we’ll see multiple defensive looks with many different formations, but how the defense plays should give us a pretty good peek at what to expect this season. The three guys that could have the biggest impact on the D will be the hybrid players in Winston Guy (SS/OLB), Ridge Wilson (OLB/DE), and Martavius Neloms (CB/FS). Their ability to do several different things and give the defense some versatility will be key.
2. How will Morgan Newton play?
While Mike Hartline might not have been everyone’s favorite player, he was an effective starter that had a very good season last year. Newton had had some ups and downs in his short career, but has shown flashes of what he can be if he can put it all together. Well, it’s now or never for Newton and he needs to use the spring game to show fans, coaches, and teammates that he has what it takes to lead this team.
3. Who are the gamebreakers?
Over the past three years, Kentucky has been able to ride Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke when the going got tough, and the two of them frequently bailed the Wildcats out. With both gone off the the NFL, this will be the first opportunity for new players to step into those roles. Junior receiver LaRod King is the presumptive go-to guy on the outside and projected starting back Raymond Sanders will get his chance to show what he can do as the primary ball carrier, but there are plenty of guys that will get an opportunity to show what they can do.
4. Who’s playing tight end?
The logjam of players at the position was lightened when Alex Smith departed, but there still isn’t a clear cut starter in what has begun to be an annual offseason story since Jacob Tamme graduated. Three sophomores should have the inside track in Jordan Aumiller, Tyler Robinson, and Anthony Kendrick, but they’ll be pushed by redshirt freshman Ronnie Shields whose had a great spring thus far. Getting a consistent rotation down will be important for the Wildcats ad it appears they do not have a great option to start at fullback.
5. What is the defensive backfield going to look like?
All four starters return from last season, but there’s been some shuffling around with positions and formations. Randall Burden returns as one of the starting corners, and Martavius Neloms returns, albeit as a safety now. Last years starting safeties both return, but Winston Guy has been moved to a linebacker-hybrid position and Mychal Bailey has found himself in the doghouse. Senior safeties Taiedo Smith and Josh Gibbs will get their final shot to win a starting job before Glen Faulkner arrives this summer and senior corner Anthony Mosley will get his chance to take over Neloms spot or risk being passed by some of the talented underclassmen from the 2010 recruiting class in Jerrel Priester, Dale Trimble, and Eric Simmons. This should be the position group to watch this Saturday.
So there you have it. These are my top questions for the spring and hopefully the Cats can figure all five out on Saturday. I will say it’s nice not to have to worry about the offensive line this year!
If you can’t make it to the game (like me), be sure to check in on gameday where our guy Zach will be updating throughout the day.
Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans