Round Table: What to make of Kentucky's defensive line
Kentucky's defensive line has been under the microscope for months (years, really), and it remains a big question going into the 2017 season.
The Cats Illustrated staff discusses the unit and what to make of it going into the season.
What do you make of Kentucky's defensive line going into the 2017 season, and how prepared is it to be successful against the teams on the Cats' schedule?
T.J. Walker, Basketball Recruiting Analyst: I need to see UK's defensive line have success before I believe they can be a factor in the SEC. Luckily UK has great linebackers and a phenomenal secondary, but I still believe UK's defensive line will be a weakness. I think there are plenty of great players that I'm excited to see, but I'm still curious how it will all fit together. After seeing Kentucky get dominated in the trenches on that side of the ball the last two years, I can't predict things will change until I see it change.
Jeff Drummond, Managing Editor: From my vantage point, this is the biggest question facing the Cats in 2017. Kentucky has all the other parts in place to be an SEC East contender. Without improved D-Line play, however, it's going to be difficult to elevate from seven wins to eight or more. I think veterans Adrian Middleton, Naquez Pringle and Jacob Hyde will be solid, although lacking star power. They really need T.J. Carter to step up as a sophomore and give them an explosive presence at end.
Calvin Taylor, now up to 300 pounds on his 6-foot-9 frame, could also be poised to make a bigger impact. One can't help but be encouraged by camp reports on freshman Quinton Bohanna, but we've yet to see how he responds when the proverbial lights come on. Kordell Looney and Tymere Dubose are a complete mystery to me. Not sure what to make of the relative lack of buzz surrounding juco signee Phil Hoskins, either. And then there's Matt Elam. Can the big guy salvage a great senior year that would totally change the way he's remembered by Big Blue Nation? If he does, climbing that SEC ladder becomes a little bit less daunting.
Justin Rowland, Publisher: The line doesn't have to be great and frankly it doesn't even have to be good. That should be reassuring. Kentucky can accomplish most of even the higher-end goals fans hope for if the defense is decent or solid (so long as the offense fares well), and for the defense to be decent or solid the defensive line really only has to be adequate. Truthfully, it really only has to hold its own against most of the teams on the schedule; to play well enough for the linebackers and the secondary to carry the defense. There are definitely reasons for concern. Adrian Middleton can be a good player for Kentucky, but when we're talking about him as a possible foundation, or top tier player, I think we're stretching things. He's more SEC-rotation caliber than star. My guess is the defensive line, especially the young guys, will look better than a lot of people expect on the first half of the schedule. But as the season wears on, those guy guys will be hard pressed to continue that success into late October and November as the grind of the season takes its toll.