Leading up to Kentucky’s season-opener against Western Kentucky in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 1, Cat Scratches presents an exclusive series of positional previews to prepare you for the football season. Every day before kickoff, Metz Camfield and Guy Ramsey will bring you Joker Phillips’ philosophy for each positional group, a spotlight feature on a selected member of the group and rundown of other projected contributors. First up is the unit that many are calling the strength of this UK team: the offensive line.Joker Phillips’ philosophy“This is the best group of offensive lineman (I’ve been around at Kentucky). You talk in terms of knowledge of our offense, experience and playing the game at a high level and this is the best. In terms of things that we’re looking for, we want guys that are smart, guys that will compete and guys that are durable because up front you get beat up every play. Every snap is a train wreck and you’ve got to have guys who can withstand all those train wrecks.”Spotlight: Murphy ditches ‘utility guy’ role, takes over right tackleBilly Joe Murphy has been there and done that.The senior right tackle has played every position on the offensive line at the University of Kentucky except center, and provides the Wildcats not only with experience, but a wealth of knowledge that underclassmen can learn from.

Entering the 2011 season, things are beginning to change for Murphy. Gone are the days of serving as the “utility guy” of the offensive line, filling in whatever holes the unit has. This year Murphy will be starting at right tackle on an offensive line that appears to be the strongest group on the team.”It’s always easier to focus on one certain technique than two different techniques, and when you count the different sides it’s four different techniques,” Murphy said. “So, I think it’s benefitted me a lot by just concentrating on one spot and my development has come along a lot faster than it would have come if I was playing different spots.”That’s not to say Murphy was raw and needed a ton of work, instead it’s a glimpse into the mindset of a guy who takes every practice seriously. It sounds cliche – in part, because it is – but Murphy said he and the rest of the offensive line tries to practice how they would play in a game. The harder they practice, Murphy says, the less likely they are to have mental lapses in game.”You have to treat every practice like a game, if you don’t you’re not going to get better,” Murphy said. “At the o-line, (offensive line) coach (Mike) Summers does a great job at keeping us motivated and keeping the tempo up. It’s really important to concentrate on practice and be able to focus like you would if it were a game. Because if you don’t focus on practice like it were a game you’re probably going to make a few mental mistakes you wouldn’t make in a game.”For Summers, having Murphy starting at just one position is nerve-wracking in a way. If a starting offensive lineman goes down – four have already in fall camp – Summers can no longer plug Murphy in and expect all to be fine.But having Murphy, who is entering his fifth year at Kentucky and has appeared in 33 games, is a blessing for the Wildcats in so many ways. Summers pointed to Murphy’s knowledge of the position and the defensive schemes he faces as key attributes that help make him as good as he is.”I think he understands a lot of the defensive structure he’s looking at,” Summers said. “He knows not just his position, but the concept of the plays so he’s better able to identify what could hurt the play and put himself in the right position for it. All of that is knowledge and knowledge is power.””A consummate leader” as Summers describes him, Murphy understands the Kentucky offense inside and out. While his name might not be talked about as much as offensive guards Larry Warford and Stuart Hines, don’t let that fool you. Summers told his guys last year Murphy was their most valuable player.”My statement to all those guys last year was, he was our most valuable player,” Summers said. “We basically played six linemen all season last year which is kind of unusual,” Summers said. “But we were able to do it because he could play all of those spots. Someone’s going to have to fill that role this year.”To be able to do fill that role and to be able fill it as well as Murphy did will be a tall order. Murphy started six games in 2010, two at left tackle, two at left guard and two at right tackle, and appeared in all 13 games. With all of the injuries occurring at camp, Murphy’s knowledge of lining up in both a left- and right-handed stance has been an advantage for the underclassmen.”Billy Joe has done a great job of trying to lead those young guys (while the other four starters have been injured),” UK head coach Joker Phillips said. “I’m so proud of him. He’s been a journeyman around here his whole career, played every position (in the offensive line) except center. Now he’s getting into the right tackle (full time) and taken every snap for the first team in training camp.”Serving as the “utility guy” for three consecutive seasons, Murphy is now ready to step into the role of the starter at right tackle. Playing in the always brutal Southeastern Conference, injuries are bound to strike and newcomers will be called upon, as Murphy was as a freshman in 2008. Coach Summers and the Wildcats will be in safe hands, though, because the newcomers will have Murphy, who has been there and done that.”He’s willing to spend time with them to make our whole football team better,” Summers said. “He’s the definition of a selfless player. He’s concerned about the team, he’s concerned about the offensive line and where he fits into that group is secondary to the success of that whole group.””We know all the pressure is on us, and we’ll take it,” Murphy said. “Coach Summers preaches to us that we should be the toughest group on the field and the most disciplined. … It doesn’t matter who has the ball in their hands, we just have to do our job.”Other contributorsJunior guard Larry Warford – Along with Murphy, Warford will anchor the right side of Kentucky’s line. The 6-foot-3-inch, 336-pounder is a preseason All-SEC selection and has already established himself among the conference’s elite offensive lineman in just two seasons. He has battled minor injuries in fall camp, but returned to the field for practice on Monday. Senior guard Stuart Hines – The Bowling Green, Ky., native returns to the offensive line after starting each of the past two seasons. For his career, he has played in 36 games and made 24 starts. He is an unquestioned leader of the team and has been identified as one of the faces of UK football, a rare feat for an offensive lineman. Like Warford, he has missed time due to injury but should be healthy enough to play in next week’s opener.Senior tackle Chandler Burden – Burden is perhaps the most amazing story of the unit. He came to UK as a defensive end and played at the position his first two seasons. However, the coaching staff made the decision to move him to offensive tackle and he responded. He started 11 games at left tackle, one of the most important positions on the field, and thrived. Playing just his second season at the position, he is more comfortable and should improve further.Junior center Matt Smith – The Louisville St. Xavier graduate won a battle for the starting center position before the 2010 season and did not look back. Like Burden, he arrived at UK as a defensive lineman before transitioning to center. He will be asked again to make calls at the line, a key role with Morgan Newton in his first full season as a starter.Senior guard/center Jake Lanefski – If you’re looking for an offensive lineman most likely to fill the utility role that Murphy played last year, the best bet is Lanefski. He made four starts as a redshirt freshman at right guard despite playing just one season of football in high school. In 2010, he played in 11 games at a number of different spots and played more and more as the season wore on. He may not be a starter, but Lanefski will play an important role this season.Sophomore guard Kevin Mitchell – Mitchell is a very good athlete considering his 6-foot-6-inch, 296-pound frame. He came to UK as a tackle, but has played mostly guard since arriving on campus. With four of UK’s five starters on the line missing time during camp, he has seen significant playing time.LinksHines the quiet leader of Kentucky’s offensive line (Jen Smith, Lexington Herald-Leader)UK’s offensive line can be as good as they want to be (Metz Camfield, UK Athletics)A pond bonds Kentucky’s offensive line (Jen Smith, Lexington Herald-Leader) Kentucky football’s problem solver Larry Warford is top of the line (Kyle Tucker, Louisville Courier-Journal)