Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
Part five in an eight part series previewing the 2010 Kentucky Football Wildcats: Defensive Line
Arguably, the finest defensive end in KSR blogger history.
In his initial offensive as commander of “Operation Win,” head coach Joker Phillips has demonstrated that he is very willing to rock the boat. Despite the program’s unprecedented success in the late stages of the Rich Brooks era, Phillips made several significant changes to the coaching staff this off-season. Phillips removed the offensive line coach, defensive line coach and special team’s coordinator, all long-tenured and respected coaches. However, much to the chagrin of a sizable portion of Big Blue supporters, the axe did not fall on defensive coordinator Steve Brown, whose conservative schemes have frustrated some within the fan base.
Every coaching staff has a coach who draws a disproportionate level of the fandom’s ire, whether deserved or not. For reasons not entirely apparent to me, Brown seems to have become that scapegoat in the last two football seasons. This vitriol comes despite the fact that the Cats’ defense has shown dramatic improvement in Brown’s three season at the helm. For example, in the three season prior to Brown’s promotion, the Cats’ defense gave up a demoralizing 31 points and 440 yards per game. In Brown’s three seasons as coordinator, the Cats have averaged surrendering a much more palatable 24 points and 363 yards per game. This represents an improvement of almost 80 yards and 7 points per game. Still, Brown’s lack of blitzing and exotic defensive formations is not crowd pleasing. (Bear in mind that Mike Majors loved both.) Instead, Brown has largely relied on an unusual run of NFL level defensive talent in the front four to control opposing offenses.
Defensive linemen are the most difficult players to find in college football. To be successful at the SEC level, players at those positions must possess an exceptional combination of size, power and aggressiveness. Kentucky’s recent defensive upswing has been powered by the likes of Myron Pryor, Corey Peters and Jeremy Jarmon, all of whom possessed these traits, and now ply their trade in the NFL. Now, for the first time in several years, Kentucky does not appear to possess high end talent in the defensive trenches. If Steve Brown is to endear himself to his detractors, he will have to find a way to shore up a unit with more questions than answers.
DEPTH CHART
D. END:
DeQuin Evans 6-3, 256 Sr. Long Beach, Cal. (Los Angeles Harbor Community College)
Tristian Johnson 6-1, 259 Fr-RS LaGrange, Ga. (LaGrange)
Justin Henderson 6-3, 256 Fr-HS Bamberg, SC (Bamberg-Ehrhardt)
TACKLE:
Ricky Lumpkin 6-4, 306 Sr. Clarksville, TN (Kenwood)
Shane McCord 6-2, 291 Sr. Hartwell, GA (Hart County)
Antwone Glenn 6-3, 260 Jr. Pacolet, SC (Broome)
TACKLE:
Mark Crawford 6-1, 293 Jr. Indianapolis, IN (Ben Davis/Coffeyville CC)
Luke McDermott 6-1, 265 Jr. Louisville, KY (Trinity)
Mister Cobble 6-0, 321 Fr-RS Louisville, KY (Central)
D. END:
Collins Ukwu 6-5, 249 So. LaVergne, TN (LaVergne)
Taylor Wyndham 6-4, 242 So. Swansea, SC (Swansea)
Patrick Ligon 6-4, 238 Fr-RS Germantown, TN (Christian BioRors)
STRENGTHS
The strength of the defensive line, such as it is, appears to be at defensive end. DeQuin Evans may be the best player on the defense. The former Junior College All-American started all 13 games in his first season as a Wildcat in 2009 and led the team in sacks (6) and tackles for loss (12.5). Taylor Wyndham made an unexpected splash in 2009, earning 2nd team Freshman All-American by Phil Steele and 3rd team Freshman All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com. Playing defensive end at only 230 pounds, Wyndham showed instinctive play-making prowess to overcome his thin frame. Playing in all 13 games, Wyndham racked up 7 starts, 28 tackles, 6 1/2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and one virgin sacrifice. Providing depth at defensive end will be sophomore Collins Ukwu (3 starts in 13 games in ‘09), redshirt freshman LaGrange alum Tristian Johnson and true freshman Justin Henderson.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
If there is a single position that will dictate the success or failure of the 2010 Wildcats, it may well be the defensive tackle position. Defenses are built from the inside out, and without reasonable resistance in the middle of the defensive line, the remainder of the defense is powerless to stop any offense. Kentucky will depend on a group of defensive tackles who have largely spent unremarkable careers as reserves in the Kentucky defense. The most experienced tackle is Ricky Lumpkin. The senior from Clarksville, TN has played in 31 career games with 16 starts. Still, he has yet to prove himself as a game-changer, recording just 1.5 sacks in his time in Lexington. Seniors Shane McCord and junior Mark Crawford, both career backups to this point, will look to fill the other tackle spot. It is not hyperbole to say that the Cats desperately need redshirt freshman Mister Cobble to escape academic hot water prior to the season opener. Cobble has the highest ceiling of any tackle on the team, and may be the only player at the position who merits a consistent double team. Cat fans are also crossing their fingers regarding the eligibility of long awaited big man Donte Rumph, who I believe was originally recruited to UK by Jerry Claiborne. If Cobble and Rumph are both ineligible, look for the coaches to move at least one offensive lineman to defense as a stop-gap measure.
OVERVIEW
A lot has to fall into place for the defensive line to live up to recent standards at Kentucky. There is no margin for error. Injuries or academic casualties would spell disaster to an already thin group. However, there is some cause for optimism. The starting group has very respectable size and some play-making ability from the edge - primarily from Evans and Wyndham. If Cobble is eligible, the tackle position could present a nice four-man rotation. If it all comes together, perhaps the fans can find a new target for their assistant coaching animosity. I think Scott Rigot is available.
Next up: Linebackers
Part four: Offensive Line
Part three: Receivers
Part two: Running Backs
Part one: Quarterbacks
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July 27th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
FIRST!
July 27th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
..and one virgin sacrifice.
GOLD, Duncan. Pure gold.
July 27th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
In your opinion, is Warford’s replacement, Martavius Neloms ready to start at CB? I cringe when I think about what USCjr’s Alshon Jeffrey did to him last year.
July 27th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Great post Duncan. Do you mind to post a link to your previous previews? Thanks.
July 27th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
I think the criticism of Brown is legit. We gave up way too many 3rd and longs. Plus we didn’t seem to adjust well. MSU ran the same play down our throats all game. Even in the bowl game vs Clemson, we never adjusted to their run game.
July 27th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Duncan…would you mind making a pdf of all your posts when you get done so we can have it all together to read over? That would be awesome. Great work!
July 27th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
I, too, love the virgin sacrifice line! As I sure the Judge will as soon as she reads it.
July 27th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
I think the Dline will do ok this year, but sure would be nice if Cobble and Rumph are eligable. To me the lbs are the real question mark this year. In fact it sounds like there maybe some true freshman in the rotation which is always a tough thing in the SEC. If the Oline and Qb sitations gets worked out during the first half of the season we may just need the D play ok to have a great season. GBB!!!
July 27th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Jorts at d-end 2011!!!!!!! 5th year eligibility!!!
July 27th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
I’m just going to guess that Patrick Ligon went to Christian Brothers. Correct me if I’m wrong Patrick.
July 27th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
I agree that our problem last year was that we could not stop the run…it cost us that MSU game. I hope Coach Brown figures it out this year. And while we may not have any stars yet, you gotta realize something…we have a young team on both sides of the ball. According to coaches, most of these guys are doing well so it can only make you excited about the future of UK football. Never know when another Myron Pryor or Jarmon emerge.
July 27th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Im really pullin for Shane McCord and Ricky Lumpkin this year…hopefully they can be the next Pryor and Peters
July 27th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
#3- I really like Neloms. He was a freshman last year, and had very few reps entering that South Carolina game. Alshon Jeffrey will make a lot of good corners look bad. But what was encouraging was that Neloms was righ with him on almost all of those catches. That shows he has good enough athletic ability to cover. He just needs experience to learn how to make plays on the ball.
#4 and #6- If I can figure out how to do either of those things, I’ll be happy to.
#10- Nope. He went to Christian BioRors. A very famous school specializiang in robotic …, okay, I screwed up. I’m typically good for one typo per post.
July 27th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
The CATS will be potent on offense this year. Hopefully the D-line and the rest of the defense will be able to hold up to the SEC offenses we face. I like the sound of our starters on the D-Line but agree that the reserves will have to step up and fill a big roll.
Nice piece Duncan.
July 28th, 2010 at 11:10 am
The “dramatic improvement” under Brown is due more to the quality of the “Jimmy’s and the Joe’s” rather than X’s and O’s. Nevertheless, Brown has probably done a better job than what he gets credit for. With regard to the DL, we absolutely have to have one or two guys play above expectations in order to be a bowl eligible team. As always, great job Duncan!