Posted on Sun, Apr. 06, 2008

FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

Scrimmage pleases Brooks

ALL THREE QBS LEAD TD DRIVES; ADAMS HAS 167 RECEIVING YARDS

By Chip Cosby

HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Chip Cosby

The University of Kentucky football players got plenty of chances to make a good first impression, as Coach Rich Brooks put them through a 95-play, one-hour, 20-minute scrimmage during their first official scrimmage of the spring Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium.

The scrimmage pitted the first, second, and third-team offenses against the first, second, and third-team defenses. Each series began on the offense's 35-yard line.

Brooks said he was pleased with the scrimmage and noted the Cats got out of it without any significant injuries.

"We made some very good plays in every phase of the game, and we also made some bad plays, inconsistencies, which you're going to expect," Brooks said. "You can't be happy about both sides of the ball when you scrimmage yourself. Overall, though, I thought it was a very, very good first scrimmage."

The top three quarterbacks, junior Curtis Pulley and sophomores Mike Hartline and Will Fidler, each played six series. Hartline and Pulley alternated with the first and second teams.

Pulley was 3-for-10 passing for 31 yards and an interception and added 45 yards rushing on six carries. Pulley guided the Wildcats to two touchdowns and a field goal.

Hartline was 12-for-19 passing for 175 yards and led the offense to one touchdown and two field-goal opportunities, one made and one missed.

Fidler played one series with the first team and had five series with the third-team offense, going 4-for-10 for 92 yards with a 52-yard TD pass to E.J. Adams and one interception.

"I thought all three of them did some good things, and they did some things they need to get better at," Brooks said. "That's why we're practicing. I was relatively pleased."

Alfonso Smith led all rushers with nine carries for 60 yards and two TDs.

Adams was the statistical star of the day, catching four passes for 167 yards. In addition to the 52-yard TD reception, he had a 62-yard catch-and-run before being chased down at the 3 by Taiedo Smith. He also hauled in a 39-yard wounded duck thrown by Hartline.

But Adams' numbers didn't totally win over Brooks. Brooks pointed out several mistakes and labeled Adams, who moved over from cornerback the first week of spring practice, "a mess."

"Obviously, he (Adams) has great ability and that's why we moved him over there," Brooks said. "He can't get lined up half the time yet, he has to learn to practice harder, but ability-wise, he can be a factor for us."

The first-team defense didn't allow a touchdown in six series. Senior free safety Marcus McClinton and junior linebacker Micah Johnson each had interceptions.

Brooks OK with UK-U of L

Brooks opposed Louisville's proposition to play the season-opening game on Labor Day night, but he has no problem with the announced 3:30 kickoff on Sunday, Aug. 31.

With the game being on Sunday, the players won't have class the following day and would likely still be able to take their typical Monday off before practicing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The two teams that ended up in the Monday night slot, UCLA and Tennessee, have the following week off.

"If we had played it on Monday night, we'd have gotten back at two or three in the morning, then the kids would have class the next day and we'd have to try and get in a practice," Brooks said. "That's not a real good scenario. We'd have a short turnaround, would only get in two really good days of practice and possibly be beat up going into the next game."

No QB decision any time soon

Don't expect the UK coaching staff to name a starting quarterback in the near future. Curtis Pulley is the perceived front-runner, but he still has academic work to do to ensure his eligibility in 2008. Sophomore Mike Hartline has shown enough improvement to earn serious consideration, and sophomore Will Fidler, who's returning from off-season shoulder surgery, is in the mix as well.

Offensive coordinator Joker Phillips said he'll have to proceed with caution as far as Pulley is concerned. Pulley worked with both the first- and second-team offenses in yesterday's scrimmage.

"You try to give him as many reps as you can with the (first team), but you can't completely turn it over to him because it could destroy your offense and your No. 2 quarterback if he doesn't make it," Phillips said earlier this week.

Phillips insists that the quarterback competition isn't a smoke screen to motivate Pulley.

"It's a real competition," he said. "It reminds me of when Curtis and Andre (Woodson) were competing a couple of years ago. And Will is making a push."

On the mend

Will Fidler is one of three in-state products trying to make a mark after missing last season because of injuries.

Redshirt freshman Chris Cessna, who's battled through two knee injuries, had a sack in Saturday's scrimmage. Cessna injured his right knee three games into his senior year at North Laurel and grayshirted his first year at UK. Then he tore up his left knee in spring practice last year.

"It's been a long time," said Cessna, who's fighting for time at strongside linebacker. "It just felt good to get out there and make a play."

Josh Minton is still struggling to get back in the flow after suffering a knee injury in last year's Blue/White Spring Game.

"Josh needs to turn up the dial a little bit," Coach Rich Brooks said. "He's still not 100 percent, especially from a confidence standpoint."

"I'm not a patient person, so it's been hard," Minton said. "I'm just trying to use the spring to get my confidence back and then I'll try and make a big push in the fall. I need to learn the defense and how to be physical again."