Nov. 17, 2010
Cat Scratches: After early off-the-field issues, Guy starting to get it on the field
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Although most Kentucky football fans have started to turn their attention to the regular-season finale with Tennessee next Saturday, Kentucky football head coach Joker Phillips said that right now his team is just focusing on “getting Kentucky better.”
The first-year head coach said after practice Wednesday that his team did start looking at the Tennessee game plan, but that most important, the Wildcats worked on fundamentals.
“We got Kentucky better today, that is what we did,” Phillips said. “We went about 13 minutes on Tennessee and the rest was on getting Kentucky better and making sure that we are sound fundamentally.”
Phillips and the coaching staff said that the back end of practice Wednesday was spent with the redshirt players and others will limited game experience, trying to get them prepared for the scrimmage Thursday morning. Phillips said the scrimmage is important for the players and for the Kentucky program to enhance focus on player development.
“Again, we are just trying to get those young guys ready for the scrimmage tomorrow,” Phillips said. “That is their game and we got those guys a little bit more reps today so they can play a little faster tomorrow than they have been. I look forward to watching those guys.”
The scrimmage, which is open to the general public and media, will be “straight offense and defense” said Phillips. The team will have some periods of individual workouts at the beginning of practice but then start the scrimmage, which should last around two hours. Fans wanting to attend should park in parking structure seven across for the Nutter Training Facility.
One player that will not be scrimmaging Thursday that Phillips was hoping to get a good look at was freshman wide receiver Brian Adams. Adams, who has played well on special teams and received a start at wide receiver in the Mississippi State game, suffered a pulled hamstring in the Vanderbilt game and has not practiced all week. Phillips said Adams was doubtful for the Tennessee game.
The scrimmage will be the final practice of the week for the Wildcats, who will have Friday and Saturday off before returning to normal game week schedule Sunday.
Parking Note to Fans: Fans coming for Thursday’s scrimmage are advised to park in Parking Structure #7, on Sports Center Drive across the street from the Nutter Training Facility. Campus parking lots will be on patrol and are restricted to students and staff who have the appropriate parking pass.
Tamme Leads NFL in Receiving Over Last Three Weeks; Johnson Up There, Too: Former Wildcat tight end Jacob Tamme leads the National Football League in pass receiving during the last three weeks.
Since moving into the Indianapolis Colts’ starting lineup on Oct. 31, Tamme has caught 24 passes in three games, more than any player in the NFL in that time span. Those catches have been good for 245 yards and two touchdowns.
Former Wildcat wide receiver Steve Johnson of Buffalo is also on the list. Johnson is in sixth place in receiving during the last three weeks with 19 catches for 219 yards and one touchdown.
It’s interesting to note that that another familiar name in the NFL top-20 receivers in the last three weeks is Miami’s Brian Hartline, brother of Wildcat quarterback Mike Hartline. Brian ranks 18th in the league with 14 catches for 236 yards in that time.
