The contention for the starting quarterback job was not resolved in the University of Kentucky?s first scrimmage of fall practice, and all for positive reasons.
The returning starter, junior Andre? Woodson, and sophomore challenger Curtis Pulley each looked competent and in command during the one and one-half hour scrimmage that capped Fan Day activities Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium.
Both Woodson and Pulley worked with the first and second teams as the first-, second-, and third-team offenses scrimmaged against their defensive counterparts. Woodson got off to a slow start when a deflected pass was intercepted by defensive end Durrell White. But after that he got in a rhythm and threw three touchdown passes, a 40-yard bomb to Keenan Burton, a 12-yarder to John Logan, and a short toss to fullback Terrell Bankhead, who took it in for a five-yard TD. Known as more of a passer than a runner, Woodson also showed improved footwork during the scrimmage. On one play, he completed a pass after shaking off a defensive lineman?s attempted sack and he also made a couple of nice scrambles for positive yardage.
Carrying a reputation as an excellent running quarterback, Pulley certainly showed that ability with a beautiful 58-yard touchdown run and also finished a drive with a two-yard scoring scamper. But he also looked sharp in the passing game and it is apparent that he is much-improved in that area.
?QB is still even, still a battle,? Coach Rich Brooks said after the scrimmage. ?I was pleased with a lot of things that both of them did today.
?Overall, there were a lot of very good things out here today,? Brooks continued. ?Obviously, there were some plays that were not good from the offensive standpoint, the turnovers. But almost every one of the defensive takeaways was earned. There was some good hitting, some good execution on defense, some good execution on offense. A lot of different guys look like they can step up and make plays for us. There?s more players out there who can make plays. I think it was the best first scrimmage since I?ve been here.?
Most of the turnovers came when the third-team offenses and defenses were on the field. Freshman safety Ashton Cobb had two interceptions and freshman cornerback E. J. Adams also had a pickoff. The defense also caused and came up with a pair of fumbles. The third-team offense did drive for one touchdown, a three-yard run by redshirt freshman tailback Antoine Brown.
?Ashton Cobb really caught my eye,? Brooks said when asked to comment on some of the young players. ?He made a nice pick, made a really nice hit and did some other good things. Jamil Paris came in and got a sack and showed some speed in pursuit. We have a lot of guys in this recruiting class that weren?t mentioned as (much as) some others who are good players and I think that?s starting to show up now. Since I?ve been here that we haven?t had a lot of threes (third-teamers) that could play and that?s not true now. There is serious competition at a lot of spots because of that.?
An estimated crowd of 3,500 came to the stadium for Fan Day, which began with a one-hour, 40-minute session for fans to get autographs and photos with the coaches and players. Following the autograph session, the Wildcats practiced for an hour, then had the 90-minute scrimmage.
Here are some additional quotes from Coach Brooks? post-practice news conference:
On the progress of the wide receivers ?
?We?ve been working the quarterbacks with a lot of different receivers and I don?t think they?re all in synch with their timing yet, but that will come in the next couple of weeks. A couple of the young guys have been very impressive. (Freshman wide receiver Michael) Strickland had an unbelievable day yesterday and did some good things today. John Logan made a couple of nice catches today. Dicky Lyons has made some nice plays. Steve Johnson has stepped up with some nice things. We?re starting to get some guys who can earn some more reps (practice repetitions).?
On the competition throughout the team ?
?Quarterback is only one of the positions where we have competition. There?s a lot of competition going on in the offensive line, competition at tight end, cornerback, linebacker, and in the defensive line. I?m just pleased that the guys are out there battling and competing. There will be some shuffling tomorrow and Monday on the depth chart, but it doesn?t mean it?s permanent. Someone who goes down a notch still has time to make it up, but we are running out of time as we approach the (first) game.?
On running back Tony Dixon returning from last season?s injury ?
?He showed some very good things today. He showed he?s back. I don?t know he?s 100 percent, but he?s very, very close to it. This was a big day for him because he got hurt last year in the first week, so for him to get through today and come out healthy (is good). I think (defensive end) J. D. Craigman is the only guy with anything of significance (in terms of injury during the scrimmage). He?s got a shoulder bruise. He?ll miss three days, maybe.?
On Eric Scott moving to center ?
?Eric Scott has moved to center. He was doing good job in the defensive line, but I?m looking for an athletic guy who can do some things (at center). This is his third day at center, he?s picked it up remarkably well. (Starting center Matt) McCutchan has worked with him on his assignments. I think he?s going to give us more depth and competition at that position.?
Kentucky Preview on FSN South, Turner South Channels: A preview of the Kentucky football team will be televised on FSN South on Mon. Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. (times are Eastern).
The same show will be televised on the Turner South channel on Wed. Aug. 16 at 10:30 p.m., Thu. Aug. 17 at 2:30 p.m., and Sun. Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Rafael Little Featured on Aaron?s Football Saturdays: Rafael Little and his friendship with James Kennedy, the man who inspired the movie ?Radio,? will be featured on an upcoming episode of ?Aaron?s Football Saturdays.?
The show will air on the following stations that serve Kentucky markets:
Bowling Green, KY – WBKO Sat. Aug. 19, 2 p.m. CDT
Cincinnati, OH – WSTR Sat. Aug. 19, 1 p.m. EDT
Evansville, IN – WTVW Sun. Aug. 13, 5 p.m. CDT
Lexington, KY – WKYT Sat. Aug. 12, noon EDT
Paducah, KY – WQWQ Sat. Aug. 12, 3 p.m. CDT
The show is produced by Lincoln Financial Sports (formerly Jefferson-Pilot Sports) and is syndicated throughout the South. For a complete list of stations, go to website lfsports.com.
Lincoln Financial SEC Preview Coming Up: The hour-long Southeastern Conference Football Preview Show, produced and syndicated by Lincoln Financial Sports (formerly Jefferson-Pilot), will be televised around the South in the coming weeks.
The show will air on the following stations that serve Kentucky markets. For a complete list of stations, go to website lfsports.com.
Bowling Green, KY – WBKO Sun. Aug. 27, noon CDT
Charleston, WV – WSAZ Sat. Aug. 26, 1 p.m. EDT
Evansville, IN – WTVW Sun. Aug. 27, 5 p.m. CDT
Lexington, KY – WKYT Sun. Aug. 27, 6 p.m. EDT
Louisville, KY – WAVE Sat. Aug. 26, 1 p.m. EDT
Paducah, KY – WQWQ Sat. Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m. CDT
