Ketch's 10 Thoughts From The Weekend (Two guys have really taken off this spring...)

[Ketchum]

yep, and being part of the 1996 champion team will only buy him so much leeway. i hope UK didn't go for the "our guy" deal too hard. Alabama went outside to get DeBoer. Pope only has 5 years as HC at a mid-major, BYU and a good stint at Utah Valley but good isn't good enough at UK. the upside is Pope should certainly know what expectations are at UK and if he's able to win big at UK he's only 51 so he could have a long successful run. Calipari was coach for 15 years, pretty sure that's the second longest run other than Rupp himself who coached for 41 years at UK.

gonna get in touch with my buddy who's a diehard UK fan and see what he thinks of Pope as UK's new coach. one thing he made clear he's not sad to see "Coach Pretty Hair" as he called Calipari go!

It was time for change, but hiring the right coach is hard, man.

 

[ball911]

I just don't know that it's an actual fact.

Me neither…completely anecdotal perception.

 

[SR60]

It was time for change, but hiring the right coach is hard, man.

oh yeah. Cal's approach worked in the early days of "one and done" but he was certainly getting diminished returns in recent years. even with a NC banner to his name getting bounced twice in a row by a 15th seed in the first round with a second round exit in between doesn't play well at UK. and he had the first losing season at UK since Eddie Sutton in 88-89.

all of my UK buddies are happy to see Cal go. what they think of Pope i don't know yet. probably split on it.

i also think Cal decided on an exit strategy to avoid another disappointing season where he'd certainly have been fired and save UK from having to payout 30 million. the Arkansas job has enough upside to take it and exit UK on his terms and he owes UK a lot for his tenure there. as Dan Wetzel said last week it's a rare Win/Win/Win for Cal, UK and Arkansas.

 

[McGuapo]

Considering all the factors in that Holloway Gaethe fight, I think it might be one of if not the best sports moments of all time. Certainly combat sports.

 

[The Gnome Man]

oh yeah. Cal's approach worked in the early days of "one and done" but he was certainly getting diminished returns in recent years. even with a NC banner to his name getting bounced twice in a row by a 15th seed in the first round doesn't play well at UK. and he had the first losing season at UK since Eddie Sutton in 88-89.

all of my UK buddies are happy to see Cal go. what they think of Pope i don't know yet. probably split on it.

i also think Cal decided on an exit strategy to avoid another disappointing season where he'd certainly have been fired and save UK from having to payout 30 million. the Arkansas job has enough upside to take it and exit UK on his terms and he owes UK a lot for his tenure there. as Dan Wetzel said last week it's a rare Win/Win/Win for Cal, UK and Arkansas.

Cal was good at NIL before it was legal and out in the open.

 

[Dave C2]

10. WR - Johntay Cook
9. WR - Isaiah Bond
8. Edge - Ethan Burke
7. Edge -- Trey Moore
6. Edge - Barryn Sorrell
5. RB - Jaydon Blue
4. CB - Malik Muhammad
3. LB - Anthony Hill
2. QB - Quinn Ewers
1. LT - Kelvin Banks

===========================================

If 3 of the top ten players on the team are edge rushers (and another edge rusher is a true freshman who will probably get better and better as the season goes on) how much better should we expect the pass rush to be this year than last year, or years prior?

 

[Ketchum]

oh yeah. Cal's approach worked in the early days of "one and done" but he was certainly getting diminished returns in recent years. even with a NC banner to his name getting bounced twice in a row by a 15th seed in the first round with a second round exit in between doesn't play well at UK. and he had the first losing season at UK since Eddie Sutton in 88-89.

all of my UK buddies are happy to see Cal go. what they think of Pope i don't know yet. probably split on it.

i also think Cal decided on an exit strategy to avoid another disappointing season where he'd certainly have been fired and save UK from having to payout 30 million. the Arkansas job has enough upside to take it and exit UK on his terms and he owes UK a lot for his tenure there. as Dan Wetzel said last week it's a rare Win/Win/Win for Cal, UK and Arkansas.

It was their Mack Brown 2013 moment in history

 

[Ketchum]

Considering all the factors in that Holloway Gaethe fight, I think it might be one of if not the best sports moments of all time. Certainly combat sports.

It was perfect.

 

[Ketchum]

Cal was good at NIL before it was legal and out in the open.

Having kind of the same issues Alabama/Saban are/were having.

 

[Ketchum]

10. WR - Johntay Cook
9. WR - Isaiah Bond
8. Edge - Ethan Burke
7. Edge -- Trey Moore
6. Edge - Barryn Sorrell
5. RB - Jaydon Blue
4. CB - Malik Muhammad
3. LB - Anthony Hill
2. QB - Quinn Ewers
1. LT - Kelvin Banks

===========================================

If 3 of the top ten players on the team are edge rushers (and another edge rusher is a true freshman who will probably get better and better as the season goes on) how much better should we expect the pass rush to be this year than last year, or years prior?

Measurably better.

 

[UT Horn]

Yes, but the hit rates are even lower than the already low hit rates.

Four-star linebackers of that size hit at rates of high three-star players at all positions nationally.

Does that weight range stay similar for 5* prospects? Basically, what has historically been a good weight for a LB coming out of HS?

 

[SR60]

It was their Mack Brown 2013 moment in history

given i'm a UK fan along with Texas and my Alma mater UofL let's hope Pope is a better hire than Charlie Strong was. on the one hand seeing a big program like Texas hire away yet another successful coach was a bitter pill but in the other i had serious doubts Strong was up for the Texas job. Strong won in the Big East and AAC he never coached in the ACC. and you can sum up Strong's success at UofL in two words. Teddy Bridgewater.

 

[Ketchum]

Does that weight range stay similar for 5* prospects? Basically, what has historically been a good weight for a LB coming out of HS?

In the 211-218 seems to be the sweet spot

 

[McGuapo]

It was perfect.

It was. Gangster. I’d say the BMF title is appropriate.

 

[Ketchum]

It was. Gangster. I’d say the BMF title is appropriate.

Dana got the moment he needed for that belt to mean something.

It carries the moment as the new standard.

 

[McGuapo]

Dana got the moment he needed for that belt to mean something.

It carries the moment as the new standard.

Boy did he ever. I loved Max’s comments afterwards that this belt should be fought for all the way to the end if you’re really a BMF, no taking a round or even the last 10 seconds off and cruising to a victory. If you’re a BMF you point to the center and invite the dude in for his chance to take it from you. Bad. Ass.

 

[Ketchum]

Boy did he ever. I loved Max’s comments afterwards that this belt should be fought for all the way to the end if you’re really a BMF, no taking a round or even the last 10 seconds off and cruising to a victory. If you’re a BMF you point to the center and invite the dude in for his chance to take it from you. Bad. Ass.

I'll sign up for that every time.

 

[McGuapo]

I'll sign up for that every time.

 

[McGuapo]

I was already a Max fan but shit, that’s my dog now. Someone has to try to take it from him and that excites me. Although he suddenly has other big options on the table now.

 

[HookEmTM]

I hate to hear it, but really good read on Spieth.

 

[Ketchum]

I hate to hear it, but really good read on Spieth.

Yeah, it really was.

 

[Ketchum]

I was already a Max fan but shit, that’s my dog now. Someone has to try to take it from him and that excites me. Although he suddenly has other big options on the table now.

 

[Williamhill2034]

Only 10 made it.

1. 2006 Sergio Kindle (6-4, 225)
2. 2007 Keenan Robinson (6-3, 211)
3. 2007 Travis Lewis (6-1, 213)
4. 2010 Corey Nelson (6-0, 210)
5. 2014 Otaro Alaka (6-3, 210)
6. 2015 Malik Jefferson (6-2, 218)
7. 2017 Kenneth Murray (6-2, 208)
8. 2017 Baron Browning (6-3, 230)
9. 2017 Anthony Hines (6-3, 218)
10. 2017 Levi Jones (6-3, 225)

I don’t think I’d put incoming weight as the correlation to be mindful of as to whether a player makes it or not

 

[Ketchum]

I don’t think I’d put incoming weight as the correlation to be mindful of as to whether a player makes it or not

It's a single data point. Not some sort of end-all be-all.

Surely, you are wise enough to understand and know that.

 

[qwanseeker]

Staff wants to use Bo like Anthony Hill, and they are about the same size and weight as recruits.

 

[Ketchum]

Staff wants to use Bo like Anthony Hill, and they are about the same size and weight as recruits.

It makes a lot of sense on paper.

 

[longhornmjc]

Appreciate the thoughts Ketch looking forward to the spring game,
Hard to believe what happened to Spieth he went from a top 5 player to just a guy Ketch here is a B/S on Spieth does he ever win another major.

 

[Ketchum]

Appreciate the thoughts Ketch looking forward to the spring game,
Hard to believe what happened to Spieth he went from a top 5 player to just a guy Ketch here is a B/S on Spieth does he ever win another major.

sell

 

[longhornms]

I’m surprised that D.J. Campbell isn’t getting any hype at to be in the top 10. He looks like a top five player to me and a second round draft pick. Some of these players may not even get drafted.

 

[Williamhill2034]

It's a single data point. Not some sort of end-all be-all.

Surely, you are wise enough to understand and know that.

Im giving you a hard time because i just dont think it's a datapoint used by probably a single NFL scout or coach in their consideration of NFL potential.

 

[Ketchum]

Im giving you a hard time because i just dont think it's a datapoint used by probably a single NFL scout or coach in their consideration of NFL potential.

No one has ever suggested otherwise.

 

[TDlonghorns]

My favorite AL Green, you ought to be with me! Love your list too but have to add my favorite! I saw him about 5 years ago and he was good, solid and a wonderful concert. But time goes on, cherish the memories, he will not be around forever, and the memory will be with you for a lifetime!!

 

[TXtough]

Agree, but he was also hurt in the middle of the season, which affected his play. If Burke stays healthy I bet he ends up with 8 plus sacks in 2024.

he did have a sprained ACL for 4 games and played through it and then a torn meniscus that he returned from in 11 days. Dude is a beast.

 

[TXtough]

a. How was he superior to Sorrell? and was he really a difference maker?

Do we win the Alabama game without him? Do we win Kansas State without him? Do we make the final four with one of those losses? Yeah, he was a difference maker. Honorable mention Big 12. Who was the last sophomore edge at UT to get that? Sounds like you’re a hater Ketch!

 

[jspirohorn]

Measurably better.

The pass rush should be measurably better but we'll all find out how much we miss the defensive tackles getting push and Ford occasionally shooting the gap.