(This is the 5th in a series in our annual SEC Preview leading up to the beginning of Fall Camp on August 5th.)
The good news for new Kentucky Head Coach Joker Phillips is that he is no longer the Wildcats’ coach “in waiting”. The bad news is that now that he is at the helm, all he has to do is replace 4 starters on the offensive line and two of the most decorated defenders in school history.
It may be a daunting task, but Joker Phillips is a UK alum who is serious about the program, and thinks he has the tools to eventually turn his alma mater into a force in the SEC East.
In the captain’s chair for just six months, Phillips has hit the ground running.
”It’s definitely been a whirlwind,” Phillips told the gathering at SEC Media Days last week. ”But, I’m truly living the dream. Not only am I a letterman, alumnus, a Kentuckian, for me to be able to lead the program I truly love, I’m living the dream, and carrying it out. “
Phillips takes over for Rich Brooks, who, after a bumpy start, quietly led the UK program to one of the most prosperous eras in school history, guiding Kentucky to seven wins in each of the last four seasons. Brooks just missed out on taking the ‘Cats to four straight bowl wins for the first time in school history when UK lost the Music City Bowl to Clemson 21-13 to end last season and send Brooks’ out on a sour note.
Phillips said he is equipped for the ups and downs of his new gig, thanks, in part to some pearls of wisdom from his predecessor.
“The best advice I got from Rich was, Don’t listen to the noise,” Phillips. ”‘The noise’ is you the media, some of the fans. Just continue to go about your business, make sure you got sound plan, stick to your plans…….When we first took over, there were a lot of young coaches, including myself, we wanted to veer off from the plan because we were struggling in year one and year two. Rich, the wise soul that he is, Hey, we gonna stick to this plan. That’s the other thing he taught me, Get you a sound plan, stick to it.
The Kentucky Offense
Fans and media will focus on the Kentucky quarterback competition, but even former NCAA record-setter and Wildcat signal-caller Andre Woodson would struggle if he had eligibility remaining and had to run for his life behind a brand new offensive line. So, it’s incumbent on some new faces up front to grow up, fast. Guard Stuart Hines (6-4 293) is the only returning starter from last year’s solid UK offensive line. Chandler Burden (6-4 296) will be asked to replace All-SEC tackle Zipp Duncan, and will try to avoid being zapped by anxious opposing defensive coordinators who know full well that Hines is new to one of the toughest positions on the field, and is trying to complete a tough transition from the defensive line.
Brad Durham (6-4 310) takes over the right tackle spot and has some much-needed starting experience.Center Matt Smith (6-4 289) who, like Burden, is a converted defensive lineman, has a bit of field experience, and will get the first crack at the starting job.
Senior QB Mike Hartline (6-6 206) has been serviceable (passing for over 1,600 yards in 2008) at times during his career. But, he will have to produce early in order to avoid losing the position to a couple of highly recruited underclassmen–Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski (6-4 221).
Newton wasn’t even supposed to play last season, but due to injuries. stepped into the starter’s role and now has road wins at Auburn and Georgia on his resume’.
Jeff's Snarky Comment From the Casual Fans' Peanut Gallery: I propose that Kentucky, Indiana, Duke, & North Carolina have a Basketball-School Football Bowl Series. Wouldn’t that save everyone a lot of time?
But, if there is one Wildcat that can take credit for those road wins and Kentucky’s recent success, it is All-SEC, All-Purpose performer Randall Cobb (5-11 190) who does everything for Kentucky but line the field.
One of the most dynamic players in the country, most casual college football fans do not know about Cobb, but they should. As a (literal) Wildcat QB, he ran for 573 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago. As a wide receiver, Cobb caught four touchdown passes and grabbed 39 receptions for 447 yards in 2009. He also returned kickoffs and punts, averaging 26.5 and 12.8 per attempt, respectively. If that was not enough, Cobb has been(unsuccessfully, thus far) lobbying Phillips for some reps in the defensive backfield.
The other playmaker on offense for UK is running back and Razorback-killer Derrick Locke (5-9 191). Locke, a former track star, returned from a knee injury in 2008 to rush for 907 yards and six touchdowns in 2009. He has the ability to go the distance from anywhere on the field.
The Kentucky Defense
Dequin Evans sacks Jonathan Crompton
The UK defense will have to replace 5 starters from last season, including All-SEC performers Micah Johnson LB, Trevard Lindley CB, and Corey Peters. Defensive end Dequin Evans (6-3 257) is a proven pass-rusher and linebacker Danny Trevanthan (6-1, 225) shined a year ago, alongside the marquee linebacker, Johnson. Former Razorback commit Winston Guy is back at free safety, and the UK staff hopes he can display some of the athleticism he flashed as a freshman kickoff returner.
The Kentucky Special Teams
Ryan Tydlacka will not be lacking for face time, as he will attempt to pull a rare double these days as both the placekicker and punter. Cobb and Locke are an exciting, dangerous duo on returns.
The Kentucky Schedule
Kentucky will open the season against in-state rival Louisville, and its first-year head Coach Charlie Strong in a showdown of guys who should have been head coaches much earlier than 2010.
The Wildcats should beat the Cardinals for the 4th consecutive season, and then have a pair of home layups versus Western Kentucky and Akron. A free shot in The Swamp precedes a winnable game in Oxford. Then, UK will come home for a key, 3-game homestand versus Auburn, South Carolina and Georgia. The ‘Cats come down the stretch with a trip to Starkville, home dates against Charleston Southern and Vandy, and a season-capper on Rocky Top.
What Will Happen
Kentucky should take advantage of a favorable early schedule, but struggle to move the ball against most SEC squads. Replacing four offensive lineman, and having multiple former defensive lineman lined up to do so, is a recipe for disaster–particularly with a stationary quarterback.
Needs to Emerge: Mister Cobble…..just because of the name
Key Games: @ Louisville, AU, S. Car., UGA
UK Schedule (5-6)
Sept. 4 at Louisville W
Sept. 11 WKU W
Sept. 18 Akron W
Sept. 25 at Florida L
Oct. 2 at Ole Miss L
Oct. 9 Auburn L
Oct. 16 South Carolina L
Oct. 23 Georgia L
Oct. 30 at Miss State L
Nov. 6 Charl. Southern W
Nov. 13 Vanderbilt W
Nov. 20 OPEN DATE
Nov. 27 at Tennessee L
This entry was posted on July 29, 2010 at 11:16 pm and is filed under Commentary, SEC Preview, Sports.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
2010 Kentucky Preview: Worth the Wait?
Posted by Adam Butler on July 29, 2010
(This is the 5th in a series in our annual SEC Preview leading up to the beginning of Fall Camp on August 5th.)
It may be a daunting task, but Joker Phillips is a UK alum who is serious about the program, and thinks he has the tools to eventually turn his alma mater into a force in the SEC East.
In the captain’s chair for just six months, Phillips has hit the ground running.
”It’s definitely been a whirlwind,” Phillips told the gathering at SEC Media Days last week. ”But, I’m truly living the dream. Not only am I a letterman, alumnus, a Kentuckian, for me to be able to lead the program I truly love, I’m living the dream, and carrying it out. “
Phillips takes over for Rich Brooks, who, after a bumpy start, quietly led the UK program to one of the most prosperous eras in school history, guiding Kentucky to seven wins in each of the last four seasons. Brooks just missed out on taking the ‘Cats to four straight bowl wins for the first time in school history when UK lost the Music City Bowl to Clemson 21-13 to end last season and send Brooks’ out on a sour note.
Phillips said he is equipped for the ups and downs of his new gig, thanks, in part to some pearls of wisdom from his predecessor.
“The best advice I got from Rich was, Don’t listen to the noise,” Phillips. ”‘The noise’ is you the media, some of the fans. Just continue to go about your business, make sure you got sound plan, stick to your plans…….When we first took over, there were a lot of young coaches, including myself, we wanted to veer off from the plan because we were struggling in year one and year two. Rich, the wise soul that he is, Hey, we gonna stick to this plan. That’s the other thing he taught me, Get you a sound plan, stick to it.
The Kentucky Offense
Fans and media will focus on the Kentucky quarterback competition, but even former NCAA record-setter and Wildcat signal-caller Andre Woodson would struggle if he had eligibility remaining and had to run for his life behind a brand new offensive line. So, it’s incumbent on some new faces up front to grow up, fast. Guard Stuart Hines (6-4 293) is the only returning starter from last year’s solid UK offensive line. Chandler Burden (6-4 296) will be asked to replace All-SEC tackle Zipp Duncan, and will try to avoid being zapped by anxious opposing defensive coordinators who know full well that Hines is new to one of the toughest positions on the field, and is trying to complete a tough transition from the defensive line.
Brad Durham (6-4 310) takes over the right tackle spot and has some much-needed starting experience.Center Matt Smith (6-4 289) who, like Burden, is a converted defensive lineman, has a bit of field experience, and will get the first crack at the starting job.
Senior QB Mike Hartline (6-6 206) has been serviceable (passing for over 1,600 yards in 2008) at times during his career. But, he will have to produce early in order to avoid losing the position to a couple of highly recruited underclassmen–Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski (6-4 221).
Newton wasn’t even supposed to play last season, but due to injuries. stepped into the starter’s role and now has road wins at Auburn and Georgia on his resume’.
Jeff's Snarky Comment From the Casual Fans' Peanut Gallery: I propose that Kentucky, Indiana, Duke, & North Carolina have a Basketball-School Football Bowl Series. Wouldn’t that save everyone a lot of time?
But, if there is one Wildcat that can take credit for those road wins and Kentucky’s recent success, it is All-SEC, All-Purpose performer Randall Cobb (5-11 190) who does everything for Kentucky but line the field.
One of the most dynamic players in the country, most casual college football fans do not know about Cobb, but they should. As a (literal) Wildcat QB, he ran for 573 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago. As a wide receiver, Cobb caught four touchdown passes and grabbed 39 receptions for 447 yards in 2009. He also returned kickoffs and punts, averaging 26.5 and 12.8 per attempt, respectively. If that was not enough, Cobb has been(unsuccessfully, thus far) lobbying Phillips for some reps in the defensive backfield.
The other playmaker on offense for UK is running back and Razorback-killer Derrick Locke (5-9 191). Locke, a former track star, returned from a knee injury in 2008 to rush for 907 yards and six touchdowns in 2009. He has the ability to go the distance from anywhere on the field.
The Kentucky Defense
Dequin Evans sacks Jonathan Crompton
The UK defense will have to replace 5 starters from last season, including All-SEC performers Micah Johnson LB, Trevard Lindley CB, and Corey Peters. Defensive end Dequin Evans (6-3 257) is a proven pass-rusher and linebacker Danny Trevanthan (6-1, 225) shined a year ago, alongside the marquee linebacker, Johnson. Former Razorback commit Winston Guy is back at free safety, and the UK staff hopes he can display some of the athleticism he flashed as a freshman kickoff returner.
The Kentucky Special Teams
Ryan Tydlacka will not be lacking for face time, as he will attempt to pull a rare double these days as both the placekicker and punter. Cobb and Locke are an exciting, dangerous duo on returns.
The Kentucky Schedule
Kentucky will open the season against in-state rival Louisville, and its first-year head Coach Charlie Strong in a showdown of guys who should have been head coaches much earlier than 2010.
The Wildcats should beat the Cardinals for the 4th consecutive season, and then have a pair of home layups versus Western Kentucky and Akron. A free shot in The Swamp precedes a winnable game in Oxford. Then, UK will come home for a key, 3-game homestand versus Auburn, South Carolina and Georgia. The ‘Cats come down the stretch with a trip to Starkville, home dates against Charleston Southern and Vandy, and a season-capper on Rocky Top.
What Will Happen
Kentucky should take advantage of a favorable early schedule, but struggle to move the ball against most SEC squads. Replacing four offensive lineman, and having multiple former defensive lineman lined up to do so, is a recipe for disaster–particularly with a stationary quarterback.
UK Offense
Returning Starters: 6
Key Players: Randall Cobb, Derrick Locke, Chandler Burden
Needs to Emerge: Any of the QBs
UK Defense
Returning Starters: 6
Key Players: Danny Trevanthan, Dequin Evans
Needs to Emerge: Mister Cobble…..just because of the name
Key Games: @ Louisville, AU, S. Car., UGA
UK Schedule (5-6)
Sept. 4 at Louisville W
Sept. 11 WKU W
Sept. 18 Akron W
Sept. 25 at Florida L
Oct. 2 at Ole Miss L
Oct. 9 Auburn L
Oct. 16 South Carolina L
Oct. 23 Georgia L
Oct. 30 at Miss State L
Nov. 6 Charl. Southern W
Nov. 13 Vanderbilt W
Nov. 20 OPEN DATE
Nov. 27 at Tennessee L
This entry was posted on July 29, 2010 at 11:16 pm and is filed under Commentary, SEC Preview, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.