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QB
Andre' Woodson |
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2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Rich Brooks
17-30,
4 years |
2006
Record: 8-5 |
|
at
Louisville |
LOST
28-59 |
TEXAS
STATE |
WON
41-7 |
MISSISSIPPI |
WON
31-14 |
at
Florida |
LOST
7-26 |
CENTRAL
MICHIGAN |
WON
45-36 |
SOUTH
CAROLINA |
LOST
17-24 |
at
Louisiana State |
LOST
0-49 |
at
Mississippi State |
WON
34-31 |
GEORGIA |
WON
24-20 |
VANDERBILT |
WON
38-26 |
UL-MONROE |
WON
42-40 |
at
Tennessee |
LOST
12-17 |
MUSIC
CITY BOWL |
Clemson |
WON
28-20 |
|
2006
Final Rankings
AP-32, Coaches-34, BCS-UR
|
2007
Outlook |
Rich
Brooks knew his leadership could again make this
a formidable team that has a legitimate chance
for the win weekly. After three wins in 2005,
not many thought his third year’s effort
would yield the most Wildcat wins (eight) and
the first bowl victory since 1984. With enough
vital parts still in place and those parts being
another year wiser, we think they should round
out our top 40. Senior All-SEC QB Woodsen is the
most important component for guaranteeing success,
but if there is no development in the running
department, his efforts – along with those
of his amazing targets – won’t elevate
UK above their last result. The same notion can
essentially be said of the defense, which has
to take its nine returning starters and find enough
seasoning from last year’s tough learning
experience to hold foes for a full 60 minutes
before Kentucky can think of winning their East
division. Since new defensive coordinator Steve
Brown is last year’s secondary coach, that
has allowed for a seamless transition in the régimes,
and his tendency throughout spring has been to
have his unit more freely attack and disrupt with
clearly expressed responsibility being applied.
Improvements are imminent on D…therefore,
though UK may not earn any more wins, they can
still improve their showing as they stay competitive
against better teams (a problem last campaign).
Heck, they will probably again beat a few who
they usually lose to (Georgia, Clemson were their
upsets in ’06). Their slate is a killer,
though - with in-state non-con Louisville a week
before a trip to Fayetteville, at least defending
national champ Florida, LSU and Tennessee are
at home. If Brooks & Co. can go 3-3 against
their six toughest SEC foes, they can likely finish
with nine wins, given they can get another bowl
win. This team has top 25 talent and a winning
look for ‘07, but playing in the nation’s
toughest league, they have a long way to go until
they can permanently climb out of the conferences’
bottom half.
Projected
2007 record: 7-5
|
|
TE
Jacob Tamme |
KENTUCKY
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4.5 |
DL
- 2.5 |
RB
- 3.5 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 4 |
DB
- 2.5 |
OL
- 2.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Andre' Woodson, 264-419-7, 3515 yds., 31
TD
Rushing: Rafael Little, 140 att.,
673 yds., 3 TD
Receiving: Keenan Burton, 77 rec.,
1036 yds., 12 TD
Scoring: Keenan Burton, 13 TD, 78
pts.
Punting: Tim Masthay, 50 punts, 39.2
avg.
Kicking: Lones Seiber, 11-19 FG,
33-34 PAT, 66 pts.
Tackles: Wesley Woodyard, 122 tot.,
80 solo
Sacks: Myron Pryor, 5 sacks
Interceptions: Marcus McClinton,
4 for 13 yds.
Kickoff returns: Keenan Burton, 31
ret., 24.7 avg., 1 TD
Punt returns: Rafael Little, 14 ret.,
22.6 avg., 1 TD
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KENTUCKY
|
|
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OFFENSE
- 9 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 9 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Terrell Bankhead-FB, Matt McCutchan-C, Trai
Williams-C/OG, Hayden Lane-OG, Fatu Turituri-OG,
Michael Aitcheson-OT |
DEFENSE:
Durrell
White-DE, Lamar Mills-DT, Karl Booker-CB
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|
2007
OFFENSE |
As
long as André Woodson is still behind center,
the Wildcats have a fighting chance offensively
in most games. Last season was proof that this
top 10 prospect has both an arm with power and
accuracy, as well as leadership skills that elevate
his teammates to also play at their best. There
is little development behind Woodson, so his health
is paramount for UK to keep above .500. But without
the development of any real running presence,
this senior again will deal with extra DBs in
coverage when foes only need six and/or five out
of their front seven to halt the ground proceedings.
That is where coordinator Joker Phillips has his
work cut out, for finishing near 101st in rushing
again won’t help the win total. Senior Rafael
Little deserves to again be the main weapon out
of the backfield. His soft hands don’t hurt,
either, and new FB starter John Conner can hopefully
garner a few more carries to keep defenses guessing
as to whom might emerge with the rock. Incoming
freshman Demetrius Goode, the No.8 all-purpose
back, will challenge Tony Dixon and Alphonso Smith
for reps…anything to jumpstart the backfield’s
production when they run half the time. JUCO-transfer
Jess Beets at guard looks to displace Jason Leger
inside for that needed extra push. All-around
success Eric Scott now finds himself at center,
a place where his athleticism will surely help
as he takes on the conference’s best DTs.
Junior Garry Williams, who is also still developing,
needs to focus most on allowing fewer sacks after
Kentucky finished last in the SEC for that. Williams
and guard Christian Johnson are suspended indefinitely
for academic reasons as of this writing, but both
can return as soon as eligibility allows. Overall,
the new-look of the line will dictate most whether
the running game can find a groove or not. First
Team All-SEC TE Jacob Tamme will again beat mismatched
LBs to open up the coverage. Still, Tamme is not
nearly the blocker needed for this league, and
the trio of sophomores (especially T.C. Drake)
will help more this way. Overall, the passing
game finds all of its vital components returning.
Keenan Burton is just too quick for corners to
ever take him completely out of a game, as is
classmate and legacy Dicky Lyons, Jr., whose instinct
to find himself (in) open (spaces) is why DBs
cannot just focus on any one receiver in this
arsenal. Experience and depth in the corps should
mean UK uses the pass to open up the run more
effectively than the more traditional use of the
run to set up their aerial assault. But if coach
Brooks can’t find some way to even out the
offensive production, it will mean the Wildcats
can’t elevate themselves past last year’s
efforts.
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WR/KR
Keenan Burton
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|
KENTUCKY
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Andre'
Woodson-Sr (6-5, 230) |
Mike
Hartline-Fr (6-6, 201) |
FB |
John
Conner-So (5-11, 228) |
Maurice
Grinter-So (6-3, 250) |
TB |
Rafael
Little-Sr (5-10, 195) |
Tony
Dixon-Jr (5-10, 203)
Alfonso Smith-So (6-1, 190) |
WR |
Keenan
Burton-Sr (6-2, 195) |
Steve
Johnson-Sr (6-3, 198) |
WR |
Dicky
Lyons-Jr (5-11, 190) |
DeMoreo
Ford-Jr (5-10, 186)
David Jones-Jr (5-10, 185) |
TE |
Jacob
Tamme-Sr (6-5, 240) |
T.C.
Drake-So (6-6, 230) |
OT |
Garry
Williams-Jr (6-3, 290) |
James
Alexander-Jr (6-5, 283) |
OG |
Christian
Johnson-Jr (6-4, 325) |
Michael
Williams-So (6-6, 290) |
C |
Eric
Scott-Sr (6-5, 291) |
Jorge
Gonzalez-So (6-3, 300) |
OG |
Jess
Beets-Jr (6-2, 277) |
Jason
Leger-Sr (6-1, 287) |
OT |
Josh
Winchell-Jr (6-3, 305) |
Justin
Jeffries-So (6-6, 300) |
K |
Lones
Seiber-So (5-9, 185) |
J.J.
Housley-Jr (5-10, 186) |
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|
2007
DEFENSE |
After
this team finished last in the SEC for every major
defensive category, it isn’t difficult to
see what has to occur the most for Kentucky to
be a true challenger for their division half.
But a new coordinator (hired from within) will
likely mean improvements soon follow. What was
a young front seven can now learn from their mistakes
and improve accordingly. Inside, junior Myron
Pryor is the clogger needed and he finds four-star
prospect Corey Peters his new counterpart. Ends
Oninku, Jarmon and Lewis already rotate well,
but newbie D.J. Stafford, as well as seniors Travis
Day and J.D. Craigman, will buoy the unit by pushing
the incumbents to improve their numbers or be
displaced by new coordinator Steve Brown. Sacks
have to start coming from somewhere for UK’s
front to earn its keep. Svelte senior Wesley Woodyard
leads the LBs from his weakside slot, and it is
no wonder why SEC coaches thought the Wildcat
leader for tackles and TFLs was First Team all-conference.
Juniors Braxton Kelley and Johnny Williams will
have to pick their efforts up to hold off monster
ex-DE Micah Johnson and his size-speed combo,
but Johnson also has an academic suspension he
needs to overcome before he is eligible for the
season. Kentucky was pulling a LB to make their
nickel package for when they play a spread offense,
but we think Brown can more effectively yank one
of the linemen if extra coverage speed is needed.
Ergo, keeping DBs Shomari Moore and Paul Warford
in the mix early and often will compliment starting
corners Trevard Lindley and E.J. Adams ability
to focus on smothering their marks. This can also
aid in the entire secondary’s ability to
make sure the play stays in front of them, especially
since Brown is the ex-DB coach and he brings in
Minnesota’s DC (Dave Lockwood) to ratchet
up what is needed in coverage(s). Upperclassmen
at both safety slots also ground the new schemes.
We look for a huge year out of FS Marcus McClinton
after his breakout sophomore campaign had him
tied for the most forced fumbles in the country
(five). Only two teams had either more fumble
recoveries and/or a better turnover margin than
UK, so being opportunistic will again be a key
for the whole of the stopping effort to equal
more than the sum of its parts. Brown is trying
to gear this defense to attack opposing offenses
and the ball, as well as to be more disruptive
due to their own impetus rather than having to
wait for opposing offenses to reveal their intent
and then reacting from there. Hey, something has
to give on this defense if Kentucky is serious
about taking any ‘next steps’.
|
|
LB
Wesley Woodyard
|
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KENTUCKY
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Jeremy
Jarmon-So (6-6, 268) |
J.D.
Craigman-Sr (6-4, 258) |
DT |
Corey
Peters-So (6-3, 290) |
Austin
Moss-So (6-0, 250) |
DT |
Myron
Pryor-Jr (6-1, 300) |
Ricky
Lumpkin-Fr (6-4, 289) |
DE |
Nii
Adjei Oninku-Jr (6-1, 248) |
Dominic
Lewis-Sr (6-3, 261) |
SLB |
Johnny
Williams-Jr (6-3, 240) |
A.J.
Nance-So (5-11, 250) |
MLB |
Braxton
Kelley-Jr (6-2, 226) |
Micah
Johnson-So (6-2, 270) |
WLB |
Wesley
Woodyard-Sr (6-1, 212) |
Sam
Maxwell-So (6-3, 225) |
CB |
E.J.
Adams-So (6-0, 190) |
Shomari
Moore-Jr (5-9, 185) |
CB |
Trevard
Lindley-So (6-0, 175) |
Paul
Warford-So (5-11, 200) |
SS |
Roger
Williams-Sr (6-0, 204) |
Ashton
Cobb-So (6-0, 205) |
FS |
Marcus
McClinton-Jr (6-1, 210) |
Calvin
Harrison-So (6-1, 200) |
P |
Tim
Masthay-Jr (6-2, 185) |
.. |
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2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Lones
Seiber is a decent kicker, but he needs to work on his
accuracy for Kentucky to win close battles. Punter Tim
Masthay also struggles for distance; both he and Seiber
had too many tries blocked (two for Seiber, three for
Masthay) for the special team fronts not to think they
need help there. It is ironic how these shortcomings
are balanced out by the amazing return efforts of Keenan
Burton (kicks, First Team All-SEC) and Rafael Little
(punts).
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