Aug. 12, 2003
After five days of split-squad practices, the Kentucky Wildcats practiced together with their first traditional two-a-day workouts on Tuesday at the Nutter Training Facility.
Dressed in full pads, the Wildcats practiced three hours Tuesday morning and two hours in the afternoon. Interviewed following the afternoon session, Coach Rich Brooks was pleased with the day’s work.
“This afternoon we had fewer busted assignments than in the morning,” Brooks said. “Even though we’re adding new stuff every day, the players are keeping up pretty well. We should have most (offensive and defensive plays) installed by the weekend. Most of what we’re putting in now we did in the spring, with a few wrinkles we added since the end of spring.
“They (the players) are a little dead-legged and sore, but they’re pushing through it, which is encouraging.”
Asked about his thoughts on the young defensive unit, Brooks said, “What I’ve been impressed with is their hitting, attacking, and running to the ball. If we continue that progress we can be a physical defensive unit. Also, I’ve been encouraged with what I’ve seen out of the defensive line and think we’ll have better depth there.”
Also after Tuesday’s practice, defensive coordinator Mike Archer noted that he is pleased with the competition developing at the two inside linebacker positions. Archer said that the starters coming out of spring practice, junior Justin Haydock and sophomore Dustin Williams, are being challenged.
“Nobody owns a starting position in preseason practice,” Archer said. “The University of Kentucky owns the starting jobs and they have to be earned every day. Jon Sumrall played very well this morning and he moved up (the depth chart) in the afternoon (practice). Kamaal Ahmad also has been pushing hard and Chad Anderson is having a nice camp. We have to have competition for positions in order to improve as a team.”
New NCAA rules prohibit two practices on consecutive days, so the Wildcats will have one practice on Wednesday, set for 2:45 to 5:45 p.m.
