John Clay's Sidelines

Three quick notes from Joker Phillips day-after teleconference:

• The Kentucky coach said that running back Raymond Sanders does have an ankle sprain, and is “iffy” for Saturday’s game with Mississippi State. Phillips described it as a “high ankle sprain” but not so severe that it would keep him out for a prolonged period of time. The coach said it did not look good right now as far as the team’s No. 1 running back being ready for Saturday.
• True freshman wide receiver Demarco Robinson was suspended for Saturday’s game for a violation of team rules and is back with the team today.
• Phillips said he is aware of internet rumors regarding Josh Clemons being unhappy, but says he has talked to freshman back and everything is fine. “That’s just an unknown rumor started by someone,” said the coach.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Christian Laettner coming to Lexington to coach in Villains game.
• Kentucky staff visits No. 1 prospect Shabazz Muhammad.
• Kentucky recruiting could experience a slight letdown, says SI’s Luke Winn.
• Kentucky officially off Mitch McGary’s final list.
• South Carolina’s point guard Bruce Ellington is now returning footballs.
• Matt Roark follows his early drops with his first touchdown catch.
• Wide receiver LaRod King wants everybody on the same page.
• South Carolina’s offense is behind new starting quarterback Connor Shaw.
• Don’t count Stephen Garcia out just yet, says Brad Senkiw.
• Raymond Sanders: Dap King.
• Previewing Saturday’s Kentucky-South Carolina football game.
• Doron Lamb returns for his sophomore season with a purpose.
• Kentucky’s point guard transfers are working to improve.
• John Calipari has a bad case of Rick Pitino envy, writes Rick Bozich.
• The hilarious whine from many quarters over Calipari’s comments.
• John Calipari’s subtle geography lesson.
• After knee surgery, Jon Hood wants to use recovery time to improve.
• UK freshman Anthony Davis grew into a big man overnight.
• More details on those Big Blue All-Stars games.
• UK women’s soccer reaches highest ranking in school history.
• It’s tough to hate the most hated man in Kentucky.

(H-L photo/Amy Wallot)

After Tuesday’s practice, UK running back Raymond Sanders was downright bubbly. And why not? The sophomore from Georgia is back on the practice field after a three-week absence caused by a knee injury.

Sanders actually injured the knee on the kickoff return that started the second half in UK’s 27-13 win over Central Michigan. In fact, Sanders fumbled on that return. He played sparingly the rest of the way, then underwent knee surgery the next week. He was cleared to run on Sunday. No swelling on Monday. He practiced on Tuesday. No swelling on Wednesday. So he was allowed to pop some pads today.

“It felt good,” he said.

Click the continue line to see video of Raymond talking after today’s workout.

Continue reading ‘Video: Raymond Sanders thrilled to be back at practice’

So Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips is expected to announce this morning that starting tailback Raymond Sanders will miss Saturday’s game with arch-rival Louisville because of a knee injury.

Next question: How badly does this hurt Kentucky?

My take: Not all that badly. This isn’t a knock on Sanders, who is after all No. 1 on UK’s depth chart. But the fact is Sanders was about to be passed by true freshman Josh Clemons, if Clemons hadn’t passed Sanders already.

Even before this injury, you wondered if Sanders had fully recovered from his off-season knee surgery.

He was held out of a contact early in training camp and gained just 35 yards on 13 carries in the Cats’ opening-week win over Western Kentucky. Sanders did have 62 yards on eight carries last week against Central Michigan, but 25 of those yards came on a single run. And 44 of his 62 yards came in the fourth quarter when Kentucky had obviously worn down the MAC team.

After rushing for 71 yards on 24 carries against Mississippi State last season, Sanders gained just 51 yards on his next 23 attempts before last Saturday’s game.

Meanwhile, Clemons is coming off an SEC co-Freshman of the Week performance, his 87-yard touchdown run leading to a 126-yard, 14-carry effort against the Chips. And remember it was Clemons who scored on a 14-yard run against Western Kentucky. So Phillips and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders obviously have a capable backup to play in Sanders’ absence.

Who will back up Clemons? That will be the question for Phillips when we talk to the UK coach after his morning’s practice. He hinted last week that another freshman – Marcus Caffey? – could see the field. Or will CoShik Williams be thrust into a more prominent role? Check back.

Related links:

• Father says Sanders likely to miss Louisville game
• Raymond Sanders has surgery on knee
• Video: Sanders on his health and challenge

(H-L photo/Amy Wallot)

If, as WLEX’s Mary Jo Perino is reporting, sophomore running back Raymond Sanders will miss Saturday’s Louisville game with a knee injury, look for true freshman Marcus Caffey to possibly get a shot at some playing time.

Before last week’s Central Michigan game, head coach Joker Phillips said that a freshman could see time at running back. And during pre-game warm-ups, Caffey was running with the second-team offense, though the Atlanta native did not make it into the game.

The one problem with playing the 5-foot-11, 189-pound Caffey, or any true freshman who has yet to play, is that Louisville loves to blitz and UK will rely on its running backs for blitz pick-up. Offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said after practice that the thought of that was pretty scary heading into Saturday night.

Continue reading ‘If Sanders can’t go, Caffey could get a shot Saturday’

Raymond Sanders is coming off arthroscopic knee surgery performed in June. The sophomore running back will be held out of contact the first four practices. He said he’s ready to go, but the trainers and doctors would rather be safe than sorry.

After all, Sanders is an important piece of the Kentucky puzzle. Derrick Locke has graduated. Sanders rushed for 254 yards last season as a true freshman, behind the now-graduated Derrick Locke. Sanders gained 79 yards against Georgia and 71 against Mississippi State. At 5-foot-8, 205 pounds, he has to prove he’s an every-down back in the SEC.

(H-L photo/Pablo Alcala)

WLEX is reporting that UK sophomore running back Raymond Sanders has undergone arthroscopic surgery to repair his cartilage in his left knee. Sanders should be ready for camp in the fall, UK officials say.

Sanders is the No. 1 back on the depth chart that will try and make up for the loss of starter and near-1,000-yard rusher Derrick Locke. Recently, espn.com’s Chris Low rated the Kentucky backfield situation as the worst in the SEC heading into next season.

Sanders rushed for 254 yards on 68 carries last year.

(The State photo/Gerry Melendez)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Chris Low of espn.com does video talk about South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery.
• Kentucky’s cornerbacks hope to avoid a repeat of last year with Jeffery, reports B.W. Jones of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Steve Brown is hearing some mumblings and rumblings, says my column.
• Raymond Sanders and Donald Russell will get their chances against South Carolina, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Calipari says UK will lose some games early, blogs Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• Calipari talks athletics and academics at UK forum, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia finds redemption, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Ramon Harris is still pursuing a professional career, reports Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Volleyball trying to keep NCAA Tournament streak alive, writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• Jake Lanefski plays role in latest UK football commitment, reports Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register.

Five things we learned at Joker Phillips press conference today:

• 1. Derrick Locke still can’t feel his arm: Well, Locke does have feeling in his arm, just not all the feeling he should be feeling. Or something like that. So it’s looking very questionable if the senior will play on Saturday. If he can’t go, the wildcat formation may be more of a go. But Joker wasn’t keen on wildcat questions. Nor was he keen on assertions that Donald Russell had dropped to third on the depth chart. Phillips kept saying that Russell was bracketed with Raymond Sanders, but did point out that Sanders went in the game first against Auburn. But when Russell entered, he outplayed the freshman.
• 2. South Carolina leads the league in third-down conversion percentage: The Gamecocks are at 55.2 percent. This should send fear into the Big Blue Nation, especially the segment that habitually complains about the defense’s inability to get off the field on third down, especially third-and-long. But to be at 55 percent in third-down conversions, you have to be getting a lot of third-and-shorts. On third-and-short, South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore is pretty good.
• 3. Alshon Jeffery remembers Kentucky: The USC wide receiver leads the league in receptions and reception yardage. He had his breakout game last year against Kentucky, catching seven passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns. He caught seven passes for 127 yards against Alabama. He should be pumped for Saturday.
• 4. Winning the toss and taking the ball: Joker said he is not usually for that, yet has done it several times this year, including the last two Saturdays. And the offense has scored both Saturdays. Phillips said he just has faith that the offense will get things going in the right direction.
• 5. Lack of sacks: Kentucky’s offensive line has protected Mike Hartline well, and part of the credit goes to the quarterback. Phillips said that Hartline has really helped the line communicate, get in the right protection schemes, and get rid of the football. South Carolina sacked Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy seven times.

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that Luke McDermott was the big news in Kentucky football on Monday.
• The Cats are intent on running their winning streak over Louisville to four straight, reports Cosby.
• Louisville’s Charlie Strong wants poise and aggressive play, reports Mark Maloney of the Herald-Leader.
• Mark Story of the H-L gives you 25 reasons to watch Kentucky football this season.
• Rookie coaches and old friends will face off on Saturday, writes Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
• Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal writes that Joker Phillips has little room to breathe.
• No jitters for Joker, reports Brett Dawson of the C-J.
• Freshmen Jerrell Priester and Raymond Sanders could be double trouble for Cats’ foes, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• UK wants receivers that can win games, reports Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Mr. SEC has a formula for Kentucky cotending in the SEC race.
• A Sea of Blue takes a look at the Kentucky-Louisville football rivalry.
• Kentucky rounding back into shape, writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.