Kentucky Wildcats Football: A Full Recap of the Blue/White game

Defensive line:

Note: Collins Ukwu did not participate

The first team Kentucky defense did not look much like a hybrid to me.  The team lined up in a three-man front throughout most of the game and the hybrids rarely put their hand in the ground.  I think fans need to get used to the idea of this team running a 3-4 defense full-time in the very near future.

Taylor Wyndham had a great game and looked very comfortable from the five-technique.  He, Mister Cobble, and Donte Rumph ran with the first team for most of the game and the group did a great job of getting pressure on the quarterback and stopping running plays in the backfield.  As far as Rumph and Cobble go, Kentucky may have never had a more intimidating pair of tackles on the interior.  Rumph is a force and could not be stopped by the second team O-line. Tristian Johnson was able to come in and contribute with the first teamers as well.

The backups struggled to get pressure on the quarterback, but I was impressed by what I saw.  Christian Coleman, Farrington Huguenin, and Mike Douglas all looked promising and continued to run a true 3-4 defense despite not having the size to do so.  The lack of depth at defensive tackle is concerning if the Wildcats are going to continue to use 3-man fronts.  At end, Douglas and Huguenin are beasts.  In my opinion, they are the most talented defensive ends on the entire roster and would easily overtake Wyndham and Ukwu if not for their lack of size and experience.  If these two continue to add weight, the future of the defensive end position is looking good.

Starters: D. Rumph/M. Cobble/T. Wyndham/T. Johnson

Second Team: M. Douglas/C. Coleman/F. Huguenin/A. Davis

Linebackers:

As a group, you couldn’t really tell that the linebackers were as green as they are.  Avery Williamson was flying around the field and it is starting to look like he may actually be an upgrade over Ronnie Sneed at the middle linebacker position.  This guy can hit too.  Malcolm McDuffen is a little light, but he can certainly run with any linebacker in the league at the weak-side position as well.  Alvin Dupree was the unblockable beast everyone expects him to be and his athleticism looks like an upgrade over Ridge Wilson as well.  Honestly, if Wilson had not been booted from the team, I doubt he would have played as much this season.  Miles Simpson looked comfortable in the safety/linebacker hybrid position and made plays rushing the passer as well as in coverage.  He isn’t as physical as Winston Guy was, but he looks a little smoother when running and is probably a hair faster. 

The second team looked promising too.  You could barely tell Tyler Brause came to UK as a quarterback and he’s starting to remind me of another QB-turned-LB Kentucky had not so long ago.  If the team does eventually move to a full-time 3-4 defense with a traditional set of inside linebackers, I would be confident in the combination of Williamson and Brause. The second team went back and forth with a rotation of Kory Brown, Josh Forrest, and Travaughn Paschal at the outside spots and the variable looks seemed to work.  When Forrest and Paschal were both in there, the defense looked like a true 3-4.  When Brown subbed in, it went back to the hybrid look from last year.  The versatility was impressive.  Demarius Rancifer’s level of play seemed to mirror that of McDuffen and he may struggle to hold the younger player off in camp this summer.  You can tell things are clicking with Rancifer.  Jabari Johnson was in there as well, and he is a huge linebacker.  I’m talking Micah Johnson huge.

Starters: A. Dupree/A. Williamson/M. McDuffen/M. Simpson

Second Team: J. Forrest/T. Brause/D. Rancifer/T. Paschal/K. Brown/J. Johnson