By LARRY VAUGHT
Kentucky’s running game suffered last season — partially because of the ineffective offense and partially because of so many injuries to the tailbacks.
Here’s what Kentucky coach Joker Phillips said about UK’s tailbacks after spring practice ended:
“We don’t have a big huge back, today we don’t, we have a couple coming. I think what we do offensively, these are the types of backs that have had success in this offense, that we throw the ball to, we try to hit some outside runs. When we are trying to hit some inside runs it is usually zone cutbacks so it gives the little guy with good footwork to come out the backside of some of the runs. They’re not real physical guys so we are just going to take a lot of them because they are not real physical guys.
“CoShik Williams is about 185, 190 pounds, Raymond Sanders is about the same. Josh Clemons, we didn’t get to see him at all this spring. Jon Jon George had a good spring and could be one of those physical backs for us, he is probably 210 but there are a couple other guys that are coming in here that will walk in the door at 210 and in a couple months will be 225, that is the kind of backs you have to have that can hold up for 12 games.
“But for what we are doing, throwing the football, running the inside zone, running some of the stretch plays and throwing some of the screens out, I think these guys can get it done.â€
6 Responses to Joker Phillips thinks Kentucky tailbacks “can get it done” next season
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I sure hope so.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GO BLUE OR STAY HOME
IF WE CAN THROW THE BALL “DEEP” THE WHOLE HOUSE FULL OF RB’S MAY BE ABLE TO PERFORM.
I am not a joker hater..In fact I really like him buuuuttt.A couple years ago he was really high on raymond sanders calling him the future face of ky football..Now he gonna be a junior this year and he has gotten worse then better.He was supposed to be the 1 back last year but injuries plagued him.Now im not sayin he cannot be a every down back,But he has not panned out like joker predicted.He has gotten passed up on the depth chart by coshik and josh clemons.So now id say hes the third string back on a team with no all confrence running backs.How does that happen???Bad coaching ooorrr a reality check.I dunno but it seems like this is the way of ky football.Usually its the players that fly way under the radar that does the most here.What about Sam Simpson every school wanted him for the line he could snap with both hands and he has never started a game here and his time is running out.I could go on and on about players that were highly touted for ky to get but never pan out.I think glenn faulkner is next on the list how about you?
Right now we need every back we have. Size matters (big fast strong beats little fast strong) someone is going to get hurt coming out of the backfield. Even with a seasoned OL small backs is this conference are going to get bruised up. George has the most size for us and has good skills. CoShik is as shifty as they come. Sanders picks up most of his assignments and Clemons has got to get healthy.
What they all have to do is learn the offense. Learn their assignments. Pick up the right man when they are now the feature back on the play and not take a play off. Not all sacs are the OL fault and blocking assignments from the backs really are a problem…running the wrong routes out of the backfield goes unrecognized by most of us.
A lot of freshman play in this conference so maybe we have one with size, smarts and desire this year that wants to be on the field and wants to make a difference!
Go Cats!
Thanks for the excellent analysis, Mr. Hopewell (and thanks for the piece, Larry).
Hope always tells it like it is. Why I love him