August 25, 2025 • 37 mins
It's the Monday Morning QB Show with Tom Leach and Van Hiles.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Good day, everybody. Welcome in to the Leach Report, presented
by Bobcat Enterprises. It is game week and the Cats
will open the new college football season on Saturday against
the Toledo Rockets, and it'll be at twelve forty five
Eastern and Mark Stoop's first radio show of the seasons
(00:22):
coming up tonight at six Eastern. So it is all
here upon us and we're going to talk about it
today in our first edition to the Shuffle Bean Coffee
Monday Morning Quarterback Show with Vanhiles, the former Wildcat and
NFLDB who will join us to chat about Kentucky football
and look ahead to the matchup with Toledo coming up
(00:43):
on Saturday. Wildcat News of the Day. It is always
a service of Giuseppes of Lexington. The Cats have steadily
moved down as a favorite. That's down to seven and
a half the points spread to the last one I saw,
and so that tells you Toledo is a little bit
(01:06):
of a trendy upset pick. If you look across the
various college basketball college football media sites, you'll see predictions
and you'll see more than a few touting Toledo as
an upset. Special we'll see the Rockets upset two Power
four teams last season, a bad Mississippi State team, and
(01:27):
they be pit in a bowl game by two, I
think in a shootout. The thing that I like in
the matchup a couple of things I like in the matchup.
From Kentucky's perspective, Toledo's strength is its passing game. They
were number one in the MAC last season throwing the football.
Kentucky's strength defensively should be in its secondary Toledo was
(01:49):
ninth in the MAC in rushing the football and had
four teams go for over two hundred yards on the
ground against them, and that included Pit running for three
hundred and one yards in the bowl game. Now, granted,
Toledo still won that game, but there's an entirely new
defensive front and linebacker group for Toledo. And if Kentucky's
(02:12):
O line is indeed significantly improved and those veteran running
backs dal L and mcgallan are able to get space,
then that would seem to be a favorable matchup for Kentucky.
But there are a few ifs in there, as we said,
so we get to see it all start to play
out this weekend. We'll get into the matchup in Kentucky
(02:35):
football with Van when he joins us here in a bit.
A couple of other things to discuss before we get
to the first break. Kentucky men's basketball team went on
their annual retreat over the weekend. They were at Red
River Gorge on Friday. There was a picture from UK
Athletics of Mark Pope riding the zip line. On Saturday,
(02:58):
they were in Hazarding a lot of interaction with fans,
and then on Laurel Lake in Corbin, I think on Saturdays.
So kind of a home game weekend for Trent Noah
and a lot of opportunities for team bonding and good
memories there before practices ramp back up here in a
(03:19):
few weeks. For the Wildcats. It is the time when
NFL teams are cutting their rosters, and the Jets released
Jamon Davis, former Kentucky linebacker, over the weekend. Hopefully he'll
catch on with somebody else. He's been in the league
for a while now, so I would think the chances
might be good that he'll land somewhere. And then Darien
Canard traded to the Green Bay Packers and producer Shannon
(03:44):
the dude should be thrilled about that because Darien Canard
has won a Super Bowl ring in every NFL season
in which he's played, to with Kansas City and one
with the Eagles last season, so now he's headed to
Green Bay. So the Darien Canard factor to make the
Pack the early favorite to win the Super Bowl links
to the stories that we talk about each day. You
(04:05):
can find those on the bud Light Leach Report page
at Tom Leachky dot com. Coming up around five point
fifty Eastern time tonight on wl e X The Leech
Report on TV, and we're gonna focus on something we'll
talk about here with the Van Hiles in our segment today.
Some guys whose names you aren't hearing much in the
(04:28):
lead up to this season that could be key performers
for the Wildcats comes Saturday and could be guys that
could help make a difference. So we'll get into all
of that when we return. It is The Leech Report
and our opening segment presented by Giuseppes of Lexington. If
you're making plans for a UK game, cap it off
or start it off the night before with dinner at Giuseppes.
(04:51):
Get to open table, make a reservation. Keenland's just around
the corner, so you can make a fantastic daily double
play with racing and horse play at Keenland and then
dinner at Giuseppes. Fantastic food. It's really special on Beyonce
here at Lexington at Giuseppes. We'll be right back. It
(05:11):
is the Lee Tripport and it's the Shuffle being coffee
Monday morning quarterback condition as we welcome in Van Hiles
to the program, the former Wildcat and NFL dB and
you got a little taste of college football over the weekend.
Pretty good game between Iowa State and Kansas State over
in Ireland.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yes that was. Now I want to kick it off
the show with on a negative angle, but I'm trying
to figure out why we why is that first game
in Ireland? Like why do we have to stay that
kind of game and that kind of weather in Ireland?
Because now I am love the game, but with the
(05:50):
weather and the slickness and the rain and all that stuff,
did that game go accordingly to what it is supposed
to go? Or would have been differently if they GA
was playing in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Now you know the answer to the question, and the
color is green.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Of course it always it always is.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Yes, I'm sure that's uh, that's the main reason why
you would, uh do all that. I saw the opening
to the telecast and uh, you know what, I think
it was Kansas State all the the food and uh,
you know, liquords and things that they shipped over for
you know, snacks and uh you know gatorade or powerade
or whatever product they used to for hydration and all
(06:35):
of that stuff. Because as you know football teams, it's
like moving an army.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Yes, yes, And I've played in Ireland with the Bears,
and it's like uha for all of your normal routine
with the food and all that, like it's just not
it's a great it's a great country and all that stuff.
But man, it thoes you offer your football schedule.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Now I get that. And yeah, and routine is a
big part of it for for football coaches and players.
And Kentucky's been into you know, their routine. They're into
game week prep now after going through the training Campaigse
and it's you know, it's different from when you were playing.
You know, if there's two a days, it's not what
TWA days used to be. If you have the second installment,
(07:21):
it's it's usually not too hard practices. It's definitely not
too hard practices anymore. Anyway, all of that said, let
me just start with an overview. As you know, there's
a shortage of optimism for Kentucky football heading into this season. You, however,
are a bit of an outlier on that front. So
(07:41):
tell our listeners why you believe that Kentucky can be
better than what some of the experts think.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Well, there's a lot of things. Well, I'll start with this,
is I really, after after doing it to myself and
watching the games over last season, is that team really
wasn't a four and eighteen And unfortunately we we did
things that was uncharacteristic of excuse team that had the
(08:10):
players on it, and we just shot ourselves in the
foot a lot of times. Therefore, when I when i'm
I looked at that table and then look into this season,
we have gotten better on paper and that's the That's
the great thing about football preseason is we're all look
about on paper, and on paper we are better offensively,
we are a better team defensively. With the transfer portal additions,
(08:34):
we have more depth, and I think last season we
got a kind of kind of ahead of ourselves with
how great that team was. We were top heavy, but
after that it kind of reminded me kind of of
our like ninety five football teams. We had a lot
of our starters were great, but then if we went
to backups, it kind of was a iffy situation. We
(08:57):
had a lot of backups. So now with the portal
of this, since I think offensively we are better, we
have some continuity in the play calling and I think
that's gonna help a lot. And because of that, the
other thing the big look at it is you also
got to look at other teams. What are other teams
going through. I mean, Tennessee lost their starting quarterback, they
lost one of the best I think Samson was offensive MVP.
(09:20):
Then SEC they lost the best running back in the conference,
old Miss los Jackson Dark who's playing great at Jackson
At with the Giants, they lost some offensive star power.
Like a lot of these things that are going on
with us also's happened to other teams. And because of that,
I feel a little more positive about this season than
most of.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
My thought on the If you look at last year
and really you know the two years that proceeding preceded it.
They worn't quite as good as as they I think
I thought they could be, and certainly fans thought they
could be. Last season, I will say, uh, you know,
and if people honestly look back at the end of
(10:01):
that year and look back as like you look at
the quarterback play, the o line play, you know what
they had at running back. They had some talented receivers.
You'll give you that. Defensively, their two best players were hurt,
even though Dion was playing. How you would say that
was one of the best rosters in a long time
(10:22):
in Kentucky makes very little sense.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
It goes to this, and I understand from a fans perspective,
is when you have Deon Walker as a potential first
round pick, it glosses over all the other issues that
we have. We have not had a pass rusher since
Bullogie probably but definitely Josh Allen or when you lost
Derek Jackson, you lost a run game filler, and we
(10:50):
gloss over that. We gloss over the fact that Max
Harrison missed almost half the season or more than half
the season, like those issues. Fans for it because we
saw on paper that potentially this is one of the
better talented teams that we have had a long time.
But if you really dig into it, this team is
(11:10):
that team last year, in my opinion, wasn't better than
twenty eighteen or twenty twenty one team as far as talent.
So I think we got ahead of ourselves. And stupents
is its own is his worst enemy. He created this
this this excitement for the program, but then he also
has created a negativity off of last season with how
(11:31):
that season ended up. I don't think the four to
eighth season is a makes a difference with this season
because now we flipped the roster. I think flipping the
roster was a big thing that we have to do
this year. And because of that, I feeling, I really
feel each stay that goes by. I started at six
and six and I'm inching to seventy five and maybe
(11:54):
a little more. But I have to see the first
four games.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
First chat with Van Hiles. It's our shuffle being Coffee
Morning Quarterback show here on the Leechs Report. We come
to here from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return, refresh
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Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Because I feel like no one wants to go through
what we went through last year. I mean, everyone knows
that we want four games. It was a bad season
for us, and the feeling that we had when we
walked off this deal for the last time against Louisville,
no one wants to feel that way again.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
One of the leaders on the defensive side, there, Ty Bryant, safety,
talking about the mindset that Kentucky brings into this season.
We're visiting with Van Hiles, former Wildcat d B who
joins us each Monday for the Shuffle being coffee Monday
morning quarterback show. Here it's game week And what do
you think when you hear that comment from ty Bryant.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
I think it's so accurate. It's interesting that I always
say like one season doesn't lead to the next season,
and it really doesn't, but it also gives you a
little motivation for the next season. And I think that
we have some guys who have a chip on their
shoulder from last season. The way it puts all progressed
(13:16):
during the season. Also, we got in a transfer portal
and now we got some guys who also have a
chip on their shoulder because now they have to prove
why there should have been on this level from the start.
They should have been a power for conference player anyway.
And I think just those two these might end up
being a perfect storm for us this season and to
(13:38):
change the perception of all fans of how good this
program has been under the stupents era in the last
I guess ten years, eight to ten years.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
A coach at these big time programs in football and
Ben's basketball, those two in particular, the coaches are covered
a little like presidents, I think in that people are always,
you know, parsing the words and trying to analyze what
they're saying and what's the what's the extra meaning? There
is there something your message being sent, et cetera. All
(14:08):
that's the lead up to ask you what's your take
on the uh the quarterback position for Kentucky with the
transfer Zach Calzada, seventh year guy, and then all the
positive buzz about Cutter Bowley.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Yeah, it's it's I'm glad this is finally game week
and we have what four or five more days of talking.
It's talking. Season is the worst season for me because
there are just a lot of things said for their motives. Uh,
there's a reason why we're talking highly of Cutter, and
I think one reason is because of his actions, not
(14:44):
the action of anybody else. I think fans hear it
and riad it as, oh, it's a battle. I think
it's it's a It's a talk to him to build
up his confidence and make sure he's doing the right thing.
And when he does the right thing, I like. I
like that coach is rewarding him in the media. I
don't think it's a battle. I think this will be
(15:05):
the best quarterback whom we've had in a long time.
But I think Zach is semant as our number one
quarterback and cut It as the number two. But to
talk positive about a kid in the media only, it's
gonna make him more confident. So I like that from
the coaches. The one thing I can say when I
hear coaches talk is I don't really take into account
what they're saying. I've taken it to account their tone,
(15:29):
and for me, I like the tone of coach Stup's
and Coach white Bush is a new concordinator. I don't
I'm not familiar with his history, but the tone that
has been stated by coach Stups and Coach White has
also given me a lot of confidence because of the
way they're talking, Like it's the things they're saying is good,
(15:51):
but it's the like, now you can kind of hearing
their their voice and the kind of things that they'll say,
and the way they're saying is that this team, especially
the defense, it's kind of back to what the formula
that they have created to win eight, nine, ten games.
And I think that they feel like this team is
better than what people are saying they are going to be.
(16:13):
And I think they are feeling like, Okay, we we
had a little bump, but now we're back. And it's
gonna be interesting to see how far they're back this
first game, because this is gonna tell me a lot
about this team and in the rest of the season,
because if they come out focused, I'm not worried about
the scoreboard. It's to me. If they come out focused
and they play all four quarters, which they didn't do
(16:35):
a lot last year, they play all four quarters and
they are focused in the intense there, in the effort
levels there for all four quarters, it's gonna be an
interesting season, does.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Talo looks like a legit opponent, leit difficult opponent with
the best team out of the MAC is always a
team that's dangerous.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Well, that's the other thing that bothers me, mister Leech.
Here's Toledo is a very good MAC team. Toledo is
also riding the way of beating Missigpi State last year.
Toledo was a four and fourteen last year in conference
in a MAC. It'll be different if we was playing
(17:13):
the MAC champion. Oh wait, wait, wait, wait wait, let
me take that back, because we beat the MAC champion
forty one and sixth last year. So it's interesting that
all of this this positivity is going on with Toledo
and all this negativity is going with us, and this
is an upset alert. We beat the MAC champion last
year forty one and six. I like Toledo. I know
(17:35):
they're the preseason's favorite for the MAC, but I think
this is a little bit overstated. But it also is
a great thing for us because now the bulletin board
material is there and the guys should be focused and
ready to play.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
At Van Hiles, it's our shuffle being Coffee Monday Morning
Quarterback Edition of the Leads Report presented by bomb Can Enterprises.
Will come right back and continue talking Kentucky football. If
you have question, send it into Leach Report at gmail
dot com will pass it along. The Van he trepart
presented by Bobcat Enterprises and Van Hiles is with us
(18:09):
and it's our shuffle being coffee Monday Morning Quarterback Edition. Uh,
which is it's a phrase that reference is a reference
to analysis that even here in you know, in news
and politics sometimes. But Tommy makes a good point, it
should be the MMDB show since Van was a dB.
(18:30):
But then you also play quarterback in high school.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
I played quarterback from the first day I played football
until basically Kentucky. Then I in high school is the
only time I played dB. I never played I never
played defense until I became a freshman high school. So yeah,
it's it's it's I look at everything from the quarterback perspective.
Everything there we go.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
That's good. Uh, let's talk about the guys who will
be in front of the quarterback on Saturday and Uh,
there's so much focused on the offensive line. What's your
expectation for that group?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Expectations are they just got to get better? The offensive
line for me, starts up the middle. If if you
have a problem at center and guard, you you're not
gonna have a good old line because for me, you
can you can game plan against one bad tackle or
one average tackle, but when up the middle you're having issues,
it's not gonna be a good season. And last year
(19:28):
that was a lot of the problems is up the
middle we did we did not have one of our
better seasons. And it's interesting to me that Burton moves
to center. It reminds me of a few years ago
when we moved Luke Fortner at center and he had
a great enough season to get him and propel himself
to an NFL career. I'm hoping that's the case because
(19:51):
I think if that's the case, i think this old
line is gonna be drastically better than last season. Now,
if he doesn't play well, then it will get me
big pause. But on paper, this offensive line is better.
And also health is another issues. I've learned that Marcus
Cox was unhealthy and majority of the season and that
also hurt us.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
And the last couple of seasons, at least they've had
guys in training camp in that O line group in
and out of the lineup, and there hadn't been much
of that this year. I made the comment last week
that was talking to somebody one day at practice who's
watched more of them than I have, and I said,
who's the best offensive lineman And the response came back
(20:33):
was farmer at right guard? And I said, well, that's
that's interesting. It's good to hear because you know, it
tells me he's you know, got more serious about it
his approach to the game, et cetera. And the response was, yeah,
he didn't have any choice with the group that's in
there now in that room. Oh that was nice to hear.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Oh that is that break the news, Joab, that was
that's that is unbelivable news. When you when you hear
right and he can lock on that right guard position,
I am. Now you'll give me really excited if that's
the case in this old line. And here's the thing
I want. We will never get back to the Big
(21:14):
Blue Wall. I mean, I want people to understand that
Big Blue Wall was led by probably one of the
better and underady to office a line coaches in the country.
We don't have to get back to that level. We
just get back to a solid offensive line and if
if we can get solid as Farmer is improved, and
if Burton can handle the center position, this old line
(21:37):
is going to be drastically different because we are healthy
and I think these players are better. And like I
said earlier, you also have players that's coming here with
a with a chip on their shoulder because now they're
playing big boy football now they want to prove that
they can play and potentially get to the next level.
So now here and that I'm feeling it better.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
To your point about the middle of the group too,
Braun at left guard, I think is a guy that
you know is a borderline NFL prospect All SEC caliber
kind of talent like you Gotta got made an All
SEC team maybe a couple of years ago at Arkansas.
So the potential, again, it's all a lot of this
is potential. Now we have to see it. But uh,
if they're really that much better the two guard spots
(22:16):
and center, and I think center is a big key
because is a new position for for Jagger. But yeah,
that's that's how those big men lead the way. As
coach Grant used to like to say.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Exactly, and the and the and the thing about it
is the potential for our fan base is seen as
a negative. The potential for other teams are a positive.
I think the potential is a great thing for us
because I just the thing about it. Like you just said, Braun,
that was somebody whom I locked in as a as
(22:48):
a solid addition to the office. The line was not
worth It's not worried about the left guard because of that,
And my concern was is former gonna get better? And
who's gonna play center? If those two guys play well,
this old line is going to be a really good
old line that is going to be able to keep
us ahead of the change. And we are. When our
(23:10):
team is ahead of change, that's when we've become dangerous.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Yeah. Let me look up the stat here to that point.
I'm starting to do game prep for Saturday. Let me
find this here. Third downs, Kentucky was last in third
downs in the two times in the last three years.
How about the stat You know how you finished last
and third downs when you have fifty nine percent of
(23:34):
your third down plays where you need seven or more yards.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Oh my goodness. Yes, people don't understand as a as
I said, I look at them from quarterback position as
a third and seven I want people to understand is
that at third and seven, linebackers typically line up about
four yards off the line of scrimmage, so therefore, a
linebacker drop gets them to ten yards. A linebacker drop
(23:59):
at ten yards forces everything to be thrown in front
of you. So third and seven is an easier down
for defenses because now we're not stressed when you get
the third and five or less. Now everything is in
front of the linebacker. Now everything is a first down
when someone catches it. I think if we can improve
and the only way you get to third and seven
is you lose on first down. I don't think we
(24:20):
were good first down last year. And if we can
win first down, and all you need to do is
get two to three yards on first down to make
it tougher on the defensive coordinator. We were not that
good on first down with pennies and things like that,
and we were not effected in the run game. I
think this year we can win on first down. It
would be a mark improvement from last season.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Tell Van Hiles some shuffle being coffee Monday morning Quarterback show. Yeah,
if you're the play caller and you're in third and seven,
a lot it's like going to Keenland and betting twenty
one shots all day. You might hit one, will like
you're gonna lose.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
Right exactly, It is extremely difficult to consist. Now, can
you get a third and seven on every now and then?
And there's the other thing that matters is where is
your third and seven? Is your third and seven on
the plus is on the negative? If you're thirty seven
on your own twenty, you're probably not gonna get it
because you're gonna be ultra conservatives. If you're third and
(25:13):
seven on the plus thirty a plus forty, you have
a better chance of getting it because now the defense
is concerned because they have been on the field for
a long time, and offense has some confidence all that stuff.
There's layers to this that we don't take into account,
but I'll say this, I do not want to live
in third and seven on offense at all.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Oh with Van Hiles, you can see him on X
and Twitter, his posts at v styles seventeen the old
football number, and great follow in terms of the cutups
that he does after games. And then also you and
another former Wildcats star, Anthony White, do your weekly podcast
The Locker and Working Where and win. Can fans find
(25:53):
that you.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Can find us Wednesdays at nine pm Eastern Standard Time
on all social media on platforms. Go to YouTube and
subscribe to us is free, y'all. It will do us
benefits if you go the YouTube and subscribed.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
So there you go. There's your call to action. We're
gonna get a quick break, come back, continue with Van.
It is the Leads Report Radio Network and we're presented
by Bobcat Enterprises. Quarter before the top of the hour,
Leach Report coming to you from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return,
Refresh and refuel At Clark's. We're visiting with Van Hiles,
former Wildcat defensive back. It's our Shuffle being coffee Monday
(26:31):
Morning Quarterback edition to the show, and we were talking
about the O line in the last segment. Let's shift
gears over to the other side of the ball and
here's left tackle SHIAJ. Pete, who is such an interesting
guy that he's gotten a lot of attention in the preseason.
But there's a guy that hedn't whose name hadn't been
(26:53):
mentioned a lot, that I think could be a significant
player for them, and Pete talks about him and talking
about mcquee. Humphrey Grace, the transfer from South Dakota. Here's
shiajh Pete talking about him in that D line. He
plays really hard. He strains throughout the entire entire play
up until the whistle. I've noticed that, and he's really
(27:13):
working hard to get to the quarterback. I mean he
plays it like he's it's like fourth quarter kind of mentality.
So I respect that and mccuee. Humphrey Grace is van
a guy that's at the probably the top of my
list of players that could have an impact that we
haven't heard much, if anything about in the lead up
(27:36):
to the season. As I said, it's from South Dakota
FCS school, but he had fifteen career sacks twenty six
career tackles for loss. He's from Cincinnati Princeton High School
that has sent thirteen players onto the NFL, So he
comes out of a really good high school program. And
there's been so much Gusta's the most highly touted D
(27:57):
line transfer, so and he's got an interesting bastory, so
he's probably got most of the attention. But Humphrey Grace
is a guy that I think could be an impact
player for them.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
On that D line, and look, I've that was one
of the things that got my ears perked up when
Stoops said something early in the preseason about how twitchy
these players are and they might do some things differently
on the front. And the great thing about coach White
(28:27):
that people underestimate is his ability to adapt his scheme
to the players that he has in front of him.
And if he has twitchy players like Gusta and Humphrey Grace,
I think you're gonna see some things differently than what
we did. Let's say last year, when we had bigger
guys who are more two gap guys the whole guys
(28:50):
off like Walker and when Josiah played for the end
of the season. It's gonna be interesting to see how
you implement these guys. Because here's the thing. If David
used to have a good season the same way I
was talking about the center and the guards, if he
has a good season and they can keep the offensive
lineman off of all undersize to inside linebackers and allow
(29:11):
those guys to run similar to when we had Trevn Wallace.
If they allow if they allow double teams and allow
those two twitch your linebackers to run, I think this
defense is gonna be better than people think too.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Yes, I saw a note where Wallace, according to the
story I read, there's a thought that he's gonna gonna
get a roster spot with Carolina. Uh but you know
he was a very athletic guy, and you know, like
a Fari and Rainer that they're gonna be the starters
of the inside there. They're really good football players, but
you don't want, you know, the you don't want them
(29:46):
having to fight off centers and guards to try to
make plays.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
No, you do not win. And honestly, I would say this,
there are no linebackers. Derrick Jackson and Pop Doolan jongs
them like guys at their feet, but they could probably
withstand it a little better. These two guys are a
little lighter, and if you can keep them off of them,
if you can keep lineman off of one of them,
because you can only keep them off for one, you
(30:10):
can keep lineman off of one of them, I think
those guys are going to have a really, really good
season because they have the athletic ability to play sideline
and sideline better than we've had in recent history. If
they are able to flow, I think this defense run
defense is going to be better than it was last year,
which was an issue towards about midpoint last year on
(30:30):
is all run defense start to suffer? And I mean rightfully,
so when you lose one of your better linebackers.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Talking with Van Hiles here on our shuffle being Coffee
Monday Morning Quarterback Show, let's talk a little bit about
the back end of the defense in your old area.
And I think a guy that has I don't know
that I've heard his day mentioned all through training camp,
but Kashid Scott is going to be the nickel and
there's so many multi whiteout formations. He'll be on the
(30:56):
field a lot, former four star recruit and two cousins
that made it to the NFL. Two other cousins playing
at South Carolina, so there's you know, good jeans there
and uh he's the guy that, uh, I think will
get an opportunity to be a playmaker for him in
that secondary. And then Waller has gotten a lot of
buzz for how well he has played coming into this
(31:17):
season at corner.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
Yeah, I'm gonna be honest with you, miss Leech. This
is maybe because I played the position. I was a
little underwhelmed by how they played last year consistently the
Old Miss game showed what they can do as a unit,
but as a season hold, I wasn't as happy. I
know I'm gonna be a little more harsh on them
that they were consistently inconsistent, and it's gonna be interesting
(31:43):
to see can they can they become a better unit
as a as a unit because they have played together
if that unit is good, because I know people are
gonna say, and this is why I hate stats, is
that that wise the unit was pretty good from on paper,
they had great numbers, but when you look at the game,
when our run defense became bad, people started passing less,
(32:04):
so the amount attemptsould get also get enter into that conversation.
I think you have two safeties who have played together
for some years. They should be better this year and
now Waller JQ has got to show what they have
the ability to do. If those two corners played well
and the safeties have great discipline, then I would be
(32:26):
more happy with this unit. But I'll say this last
year I was not happy with the unit.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
Let's get back to offense for a couple of minutes
to wrap things up, because we didn't get into the
running backs, and they have two transfers that are gonna
be the two guys that figure to carry most of
the load, at least from the start. Now theyll from
Nebraska and mcgallon from New Mexico State and then started
out at Oklahoma and got into it, has some trouble there,
(32:53):
but has found his way back to the another shot
at the big time in the SEC this time and
two very talented guys to seemingly complimentary guys. What's your
expectation at the running back position?
Speaker 2 (33:10):
This is on paper for my estimation, this is probably
your deepest room since we had aj Rowse, c Rod
and Smoke. And you need three running backs potentially sometimes
you need four. And when your third and fourth running
backs played great for US last year in spot duty,
(33:31):
will Cox and Patterson played very good football for US.
Will Cox later in the season, Patterson played great at
the beginning of the season until you got hurt. When
you have those guys as your third and fourth option,
I feel really good about this running back room now.
I honestly don't know much about a McDonald because I
just didn't watch Nebraska football. But I do know a
(33:52):
little bit about Seth and I think given the opportunity
and given an opportunity to have a second chance of
play in big town football, I hope he take advantage
of it and show what he showed what he can
do in high school. So he's still a young football player.
As far as experience in playing the game of football,
I think he has a chance to be Ray Davis.
(34:13):
Not saying he's gonna be He's gonna put up the numbers,
but Ray Davis injected some excitement to this offense. He
asked that chance to inject some excitement back in his offense.
So I'm looking forward to see what he can do.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
Good stuff with Van Hiles as always at v Styles
seventeen and then Wednesday nights on the YouTube. Go and
subscribe to see the Locker with Van and Anthony White
at nine Eastern time there on Wednesdays, and you'll hear
him here every Monday on the leads for Board. Thank you, Van.
Anykoy Shuffleban Coffee is one of our great partners on
(34:48):
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(35:08):
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(35:28):
our final segment of the Leads Report. It is the
Leads Report final segment for this Monday and our Wildcat
History Notes each day, presented by Kentucky road Shows, sports
cards and Memorabilia on Romedy Road in Lexington and at
roadshowcards dot com. Happy Birthday, Richie Farmer. Kentucky Basketball Legends
(35:50):
saw Richie Saturday night. It was good to catch up
with him at the Ksbar reopening event and he is
looking good and very eager to see what this Kentucky
basketball team is going to do. So good to see Richie.
Corey Price, who was with us last week. He is
officially celebrating his birthday today as well. Excuse me. Women's
(36:16):
soccer beat Detroit Mercy yesterday to nil. They are undefeated
through four matches, and men's soccer has a match coming
up tonight at the Bell Soccer Complex. They will take
on Bellerman at seven thirty. The men opened up with
went over a ranked Western Michigan team last week. Labor
Days on the horizon a week from today. As a
(36:37):
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(37:23):
Coming up tonight, it's the first Mark Stoops radio show
of the season on the UK Network six Eastern Time.
For that, about ten minutes before, look for the Leach
Report TV version on WLX. We'll be talking a little
more about some of the names that you haven't heard
as much that could be impact guys coming up this
(37:44):
fall for Kentucky football as the Cats open the season
on Saturday against Toledo. That'll do it. We'll see you
tomorrow on The Leech Report, presented each day by Bobcat Enterprises.
Good day, everybody. Welcome in to the Leach Report, presented
by Bobcat Enterprises. It is game week and the Cats
will open the new college football season on Saturday against
the Toledo Rockets, and it'll be at twelve forty five
Eastern and Mark Stoop's first radio show of the seasons
(00:22):
coming up tonight at six Eastern. So it is all
here upon us and we're going to talk about it
today in our first edition to the Shuffle Bean Coffee
Monday Morning Quarterback Show with Vanhiles, the former Wildcat and
NFLDB who will join us to chat about Kentucky football
and look ahead to the matchup with Toledo coming up
(00:43):
on Saturday. Wildcat News of the Day. It is always
a service of Giuseppes of Lexington. The Cats have steadily
moved down as a favorite. That's down to seven and
a half the points spread to the last one I saw,
and so that tells you Toledo is a little bit
(01:06):
of a trendy upset pick. If you look across the
various college basketball college football media sites, you'll see predictions
and you'll see more than a few touting Toledo as
an upset. Special we'll see the Rockets upset two Power
four teams last season, a bad Mississippi State team, and
(01:27):
they be pit in a bowl game by two, I
think in a shootout. The thing that I like in
the matchup a couple of things I like in the matchup.
From Kentucky's perspective, Toledo's strength is its passing game. They
were number one in the MAC last season throwing the football.
Kentucky's strength defensively should be in its secondary Toledo was
(01:49):
ninth in the MAC in rushing the football and had
four teams go for over two hundred yards on the
ground against them, and that included Pit running for three
hundred and one yards in the bowl game. Now, granted,
Toledo still won that game, but there's an entirely new
defensive front and linebacker group for Toledo. And if Kentucky's
(02:12):
O line is indeed significantly improved and those veteran running
backs dal L and mcgallan are able to get space,
then that would seem to be a favorable matchup for Kentucky.
But there are a few ifs in there, as we said,
so we get to see it all start to play
out this weekend. We'll get into the matchup in Kentucky
(02:35):
football with Van when he joins us here in a bit.
A couple of other things to discuss before we get
to the first break. Kentucky men's basketball team went on
their annual retreat over the weekend. They were at Red
River Gorge on Friday. There was a picture from UK
Athletics of Mark Pope riding the zip line. On Saturday,
(02:58):
they were in Hazarding a lot of interaction with fans,
and then on Laurel Lake in Corbin, I think on Saturdays.
So kind of a home game weekend for Trent Noah
and a lot of opportunities for team bonding and good
memories there before practices ramp back up here in a
(03:19):
few weeks. For the Wildcats. It is the time when
NFL teams are cutting their rosters, and the Jets released
Jamon Davis, former Kentucky linebacker, over the weekend. Hopefully he'll
catch on with somebody else. He's been in the league
for a while now, so I would think the chances
might be good that he'll land somewhere. And then Darien
Canard traded to the Green Bay Packers and producer Shannon
(03:44):
the dude should be thrilled about that because Darien Canard
has won a Super Bowl ring in every NFL season
in which he's played, to with Kansas City and one
with the Eagles last season, so now he's headed to
Green Bay. So the Darien Canard factor to make the
Pack the early favorite to win the Super Bowl links
to the stories that we talk about each day. You
(04:05):
can find those on the bud Light Leach Report page
at Tom Leachky dot com. Coming up around five point
fifty Eastern time tonight on wl e X The Leech
Report on TV, and we're gonna focus on something we'll
talk about here with the Van Hiles in our segment today.
Some guys whose names you aren't hearing much in the
(04:28):
lead up to this season that could be key performers
for the Wildcats comes Saturday and could be guys that
could help make a difference. So we'll get into all
of that when we return. It is The Leech Report
and our opening segment presented by Giuseppes of Lexington. If
you're making plans for a UK game, cap it off
or start it off the night before with dinner at Giuseppes.
(04:51):
Get to open table, make a reservation. Keenland's just around
the corner, so you can make a fantastic daily double
play with racing and horse play at Keenland and then
dinner at Giuseppes. Fantastic food. It's really special on Beyonce
here at Lexington at Giuseppes. We'll be right back. It
(05:11):
is the Lee Tripport and it's the Shuffle being coffee
Monday morning quarterback condition as we welcome in Van Hiles
to the program, the former Wildcat and NFL dB and
you got a little taste of college football over the weekend.
Pretty good game between Iowa State and Kansas State over
in Ireland.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yes that was. Now I want to kick it off
the show with on a negative angle, but I'm trying
to figure out why we why is that first game
in Ireland? Like why do we have to stay that
kind of game and that kind of weather in Ireland?
Because now I am love the game, but with the
(05:50):
weather and the slickness and the rain and all that stuff,
did that game go accordingly to what it is supposed
to go? Or would have been differently if they GA
was playing in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Now you know the answer to the question, and the
color is green.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Of course it always it always is.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Yes, I'm sure that's uh, that's the main reason why
you would, uh do all that. I saw the opening
to the telecast and uh, you know what, I think
it was Kansas State all the the food and uh,
you know, liquords and things that they shipped over for
you know, snacks and uh you know gatorade or powerade
or whatever product they used to for hydration and all
(06:35):
of that stuff. Because as you know football teams, it's
like moving an army.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Yes, yes, And I've played in Ireland with the Bears,
and it's like uha for all of your normal routine
with the food and all that, like it's just not
it's a great it's a great country and all that stuff.
But man, it thoes you offer your football schedule.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Now I get that. And yeah, and routine is a
big part of it for for football coaches and players.
And Kentucky's been into you know, their routine. They're into
game week prep now after going through the training Campaigse
and it's you know, it's different from when you were playing.
You know, if there's two a days, it's not what
TWA days used to be. If you have the second installment,
(07:21):
it's it's usually not too hard practices. It's definitely not
too hard practices anymore. Anyway, all of that said, let
me just start with an overview. As you know, there's
a shortage of optimism for Kentucky football heading into this season. You, however,
are a bit of an outlier on that front. So
(07:41):
tell our listeners why you believe that Kentucky can be
better than what some of the experts think.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Well, there's a lot of things. Well, I'll start with this,
is I really, after after doing it to myself and
watching the games over last season, is that team really
wasn't a four and eighteen And unfortunately we we did
things that was uncharacteristic of excuse team that had the
(08:10):
players on it, and we just shot ourselves in the
foot a lot of times. Therefore, when I when i'm
I looked at that table and then look into this season,
we have gotten better on paper and that's the That's
the great thing about football preseason is we're all look
about on paper, and on paper we are better offensively,
we are a better team defensively. With the transfer portal additions,
(08:34):
we have more depth, and I think last season we
got a kind of kind of ahead of ourselves with
how great that team was. We were top heavy, but
after that it kind of reminded me kind of of
our like ninety five football teams. We had a lot
of our starters were great, but then if we went
to backups, it kind of was a iffy situation. We
(08:57):
had a lot of backups. So now with the portal
of this, since I think offensively we are better, we
have some continuity in the play calling and I think
that's gonna help a lot. And because of that, the
other thing the big look at it is you also
got to look at other teams. What are other teams
going through. I mean, Tennessee lost their starting quarterback, they
lost one of the best I think Samson was offensive MVP.
(09:20):
Then SEC they lost the best running back in the conference,
old Miss los Jackson Dark who's playing great at Jackson
At with the Giants, they lost some offensive star power.
Like a lot of these things that are going on
with us also's happened to other teams. And because of that,
I feel a little more positive about this season than
most of.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
My thought on the If you look at last year
and really you know the two years that proceeding preceded it.
They worn't quite as good as as they I think
I thought they could be, and certainly fans thought they
could be. Last season, I will say, uh, you know,
and if people honestly look back at the end of
(10:01):
that year and look back as like you look at
the quarterback play, the o line play, you know what
they had at running back. They had some talented receivers.
You'll give you that. Defensively, their two best players were hurt,
even though Dion was playing. How you would say that
was one of the best rosters in a long time
(10:22):
in Kentucky makes very little sense.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
It goes to this, and I understand from a fans perspective,
is when you have Deon Walker as a potential first
round pick, it glosses over all the other issues that
we have. We have not had a pass rusher since
Bullogie probably but definitely Josh Allen or when you lost
Derek Jackson, you lost a run game filler, and we
(10:50):
gloss over that. We gloss over the fact that Max
Harrison missed almost half the season or more than half
the season, like those issues. Fans for it because we
saw on paper that potentially this is one of the
better talented teams that we have had a long time.
But if you really dig into it, this team is
(11:10):
that team last year, in my opinion, wasn't better than
twenty eighteen or twenty twenty one team as far as talent.
So I think we got ahead of ourselves. And stupents
is its own is his worst enemy. He created this
this this excitement for the program, but then he also
has created a negativity off of last season with how
(11:31):
that season ended up. I don't think the four to
eighth season is a makes a difference with this season
because now we flipped the roster. I think flipping the
roster was a big thing that we have to do
this year. And because of that, I feeling, I really
feel each stay that goes by. I started at six
and six and I'm inching to seventy five and maybe
(11:54):
a little more. But I have to see the first
four games.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
First chat with Van Hiles. It's our shuffle being Coffee
Morning Quarterback show here on the Leechs Report. We come
to here from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return, refresh
and refuel at Clark's and sign up for their loyalty
rewards program so you can get discounts. When you stop
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Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Because I feel like no one wants to go through
what we went through last year. I mean, everyone knows
that we want four games. It was a bad season
for us, and the feeling that we had when we
walked off this deal for the last time against Louisville,
no one wants to feel that way again.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
One of the leaders on the defensive side, there, Ty Bryant, safety,
talking about the mindset that Kentucky brings into this season.
We're visiting with Van Hiles, former Wildcat d B who
joins us each Monday for the Shuffle being coffee Monday
morning quarterback show. Here it's game week And what do
you think when you hear that comment from ty Bryant.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
I think it's so accurate. It's interesting that I always
say like one season doesn't lead to the next season,
and it really doesn't, but it also gives you a
little motivation for the next season. And I think that
we have some guys who have a chip on their
shoulder from last season. The way it puts all progressed
(13:16):
during the season. Also, we got in a transfer portal
and now we got some guys who also have a
chip on their shoulder because now they have to prove
why there should have been on this level from the start.
They should have been a power for conference player anyway.
And I think just those two these might end up
being a perfect storm for us this season and to
(13:38):
change the perception of all fans of how good this
program has been under the stupents era in the last
I guess ten years, eight to ten years.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
A coach at these big time programs in football and
Ben's basketball, those two in particular, the coaches are covered
a little like presidents, I think in that people are always,
you know, parsing the words and trying to analyze what
they're saying and what's the what's the extra meaning? There
is there something your message being sent, et cetera. All
(14:08):
that's the lead up to ask you what's your take
on the uh the quarterback position for Kentucky with the
transfer Zach Calzada, seventh year guy, and then all the
positive buzz about Cutter Bowley.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Yeah, it's it's I'm glad this is finally game week
and we have what four or five more days of talking.
It's talking. Season is the worst season for me because
there are just a lot of things said for their motives. Uh,
there's a reason why we're talking highly of Cutter, and
I think one reason is because of his actions, not
(14:44):
the action of anybody else. I think fans hear it
and riad it as, oh, it's a battle. I think
it's it's a It's a talk to him to build
up his confidence and make sure he's doing the right thing.
And when he does the right thing, I like. I
like that coach is rewarding him in the media. I
don't think it's a battle. I think this will be
(15:05):
the best quarterback whom we've had in a long time.
But I think Zach is semant as our number one
quarterback and cut It as the number two. But to
talk positive about a kid in the media only, it's
gonna make him more confident. So I like that from
the coaches. The one thing I can say when I
hear coaches talk is I don't really take into account
what they're saying. I've taken it to account their tone,
(15:29):
and for me, I like the tone of coach Stup's
and Coach white Bush is a new concordinator. I don't
I'm not familiar with his history, but the tone that
has been stated by coach Stups and Coach White has
also given me a lot of confidence because of the
way they're talking, Like it's the things they're saying is good,
(15:51):
but it's the like, now you can kind of hearing
their their voice and the kind of things that they'll say,
and the way they're saying is that this team, especially
the defense, it's kind of back to what the formula
that they have created to win eight, nine, ten games.
And I think that they feel like this team is
better than what people are saying they are going to be.
(16:13):
And I think they are feeling like, Okay, we we
had a little bump, but now we're back. And it's
gonna be interesting to see how far they're back this
first game, because this is gonna tell me a lot
about this team and in the rest of the season,
because if they come out focused, I'm not worried about
the scoreboard. It's to me. If they come out focused
and they play all four quarters, which they didn't do
(16:35):
a lot last year, they play all four quarters and
they are focused in the intense there, in the effort
levels there for all four quarters, it's gonna be an
interesting season, does.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Talo looks like a legit opponent, leit difficult opponent with
the best team out of the MAC is always a
team that's dangerous.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Well, that's the other thing that bothers me, mister Leech.
Here's Toledo is a very good MAC team. Toledo is
also riding the way of beating Missigpi State last year.
Toledo was a four and fourteen last year in conference
in a MAC. It'll be different if we was playing
(17:13):
the MAC champion. Oh wait, wait, wait, wait wait, let
me take that back, because we beat the MAC champion
forty one and sixth last year. So it's interesting that
all of this this positivity is going on with Toledo
and all this negativity is going with us, and this
is an upset alert. We beat the MAC champion last
year forty one and six. I like Toledo. I know
(17:35):
they're the preseason's favorite for the MAC, but I think
this is a little bit overstated. But it also is
a great thing for us because now the bulletin board
material is there and the guys should be focused and
ready to play.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
At Van Hiles, it's our shuffle being Coffee Monday Morning
Quarterback Edition of the Leads Report presented by bomb Can Enterprises.
Will come right back and continue talking Kentucky football. If
you have question, send it into Leach Report at gmail
dot com will pass it along. The Van he trepart
presented by Bobcat Enterprises and Van Hiles is with us
(18:09):
and it's our shuffle being coffee Monday Morning Quarterback Edition. Uh,
which is it's a phrase that reference is a reference
to analysis that even here in you know, in news
and politics sometimes. But Tommy makes a good point, it
should be the MMDB show since Van was a dB.
(18:30):
But then you also play quarterback in high school.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
I played quarterback from the first day I played football
until basically Kentucky. Then I in high school is the
only time I played dB. I never played I never
played defense until I became a freshman high school. So yeah,
it's it's it's I look at everything from the quarterback perspective.
Everything there we go.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
That's good. Uh, let's talk about the guys who will
be in front of the quarterback on Saturday and Uh,
there's so much focused on the offensive line. What's your
expectation for that group?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Expectations are they just got to get better? The offensive
line for me, starts up the middle. If if you
have a problem at center and guard, you you're not
gonna have a good old line because for me, you
can you can game plan against one bad tackle or
one average tackle, but when up the middle you're having issues,
it's not gonna be a good season. And last year
(19:28):
that was a lot of the problems is up the
middle we did we did not have one of our
better seasons. And it's interesting to me that Burton moves
to center. It reminds me of a few years ago
when we moved Luke Fortner at center and he had
a great enough season to get him and propel himself
to an NFL career. I'm hoping that's the case because
(19:51):
I think if that's the case, i think this old
line is gonna be drastically better than last season. Now,
if he doesn't play well, then it will get me
big pause. But on paper, this offensive line is better.
And also health is another issues. I've learned that Marcus
Cox was unhealthy and majority of the season and that
also hurt us.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
And the last couple of seasons, at least they've had
guys in training camp in that O line group in
and out of the lineup, and there hadn't been much
of that this year. I made the comment last week
that was talking to somebody one day at practice who's
watched more of them than I have, and I said,
who's the best offensive lineman And the response came back
(20:33):
was farmer at right guard? And I said, well, that's
that's interesting. It's good to hear because you know, it
tells me he's you know, got more serious about it
his approach to the game, et cetera. And the response was, yeah,
he didn't have any choice with the group that's in
there now in that room. Oh that was nice to hear.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Oh that is that break the news, Joab, that was
that's that is unbelivable news. When you when you hear
right and he can lock on that right guard position,
I am. Now you'll give me really excited if that's
the case in this old line. And here's the thing
I want. We will never get back to the Big
(21:14):
Blue Wall. I mean, I want people to understand that
Big Blue Wall was led by probably one of the
better and underady to office a line coaches in the country.
We don't have to get back to that level. We
just get back to a solid offensive line and if
if we can get solid as Farmer is improved, and
if Burton can handle the center position, this old line
(21:37):
is going to be drastically different because we are healthy
and I think these players are better. And like I
said earlier, you also have players that's coming here with
a with a chip on their shoulder because now they're
playing big boy football now they want to prove that
they can play and potentially get to the next level.
So now here and that I'm feeling it better.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
To your point about the middle of the group too,
Braun at left guard, I think is a guy that
you know is a borderline NFL prospect All SEC caliber
kind of talent like you Gotta got made an All
SEC team maybe a couple of years ago at Arkansas.
So the potential, again, it's all a lot of this
is potential. Now we have to see it. But uh,
if they're really that much better the two guard spots
(22:16):
and center, and I think center is a big key
because is a new position for for Jagger. But yeah,
that's that's how those big men lead the way. As
coach Grant used to like to say.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Exactly, and the and the and the thing about it
is the potential for our fan base is seen as
a negative. The potential for other teams are a positive.
I think the potential is a great thing for us
because I just the thing about it. Like you just said, Braun,
that was somebody whom I locked in as a as
(22:48):
a solid addition to the office. The line was not
worth It's not worried about the left guard because of that,
And my concern was is former gonna get better? And
who's gonna play center? If those two guys play well,
this old line is going to be a really good
old line that is going to be able to keep
us ahead of the change. And we are. When our
(23:10):
team is ahead of change, that's when we've become dangerous.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Yeah. Let me look up the stat here to that point.
I'm starting to do game prep for Saturday. Let me
find this here. Third downs, Kentucky was last in third
downs in the two times in the last three years.
How about the stat You know how you finished last
and third downs when you have fifty nine percent of
(23:34):
your third down plays where you need seven or more yards.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Oh my goodness. Yes, people don't understand as a as
I said, I look at them from quarterback position as
a third and seven I want people to understand is
that at third and seven, linebackers typically line up about
four yards off the line of scrimmage, so therefore, a
linebacker drop gets them to ten yards. A linebacker drop
(23:59):
at ten yards forces everything to be thrown in front
of you. So third and seven is an easier down
for defenses because now we're not stressed when you get
the third and five or less. Now everything is in
front of the linebacker. Now everything is a first down
when someone catches it. I think if we can improve
and the only way you get to third and seven
is you lose on first down. I don't think we
(24:20):
were good first down last year. And if we can
win first down, and all you need to do is
get two to three yards on first down to make
it tougher on the defensive coordinator. We were not that
good on first down with pennies and things like that,
and we were not effected in the run game. I
think this year we can win on first down. It
would be a mark improvement from last season.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Tell Van Hiles some shuffle being coffee Monday morning Quarterback show. Yeah,
if you're the play caller and you're in third and seven,
a lot it's like going to Keenland and betting twenty
one shots all day. You might hit one, will like
you're gonna lose.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
Right exactly, It is extremely difficult to consist. Now, can
you get a third and seven on every now and then?
And there's the other thing that matters is where is
your third and seven? Is your third and seven on
the plus is on the negative? If you're thirty seven
on your own twenty, you're probably not gonna get it
because you're gonna be ultra conservatives. If you're third and
(25:13):
seven on the plus thirty a plus forty, you have
a better chance of getting it because now the defense
is concerned because they have been on the field for
a long time, and offense has some confidence all that stuff.
There's layers to this that we don't take into account,
but I'll say this, I do not want to live
in third and seven on offense at all.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Oh with Van Hiles, you can see him on X
and Twitter, his posts at v styles seventeen the old
football number, and great follow in terms of the cutups
that he does after games. And then also you and
another former Wildcats star, Anthony White, do your weekly podcast
The Locker and Working Where and win. Can fans find
(25:53):
that you.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Can find us Wednesdays at nine pm Eastern Standard Time
on all social media on platforms. Go to YouTube and
subscribe to us is free, y'all. It will do us
benefits if you go the YouTube and subscribed.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
So there you go. There's your call to action. We're
gonna get a quick break, come back, continue with Van.
It is the Leads Report Radio Network and we're presented
by Bobcat Enterprises. Quarter before the top of the hour,
Leach Report coming to you from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return,
Refresh and refuel At Clark's. We're visiting with Van Hiles,
former Wildcat defensive back. It's our Shuffle being coffee Monday
(26:31):
Morning Quarterback edition to the show, and we were talking
about the O line in the last segment. Let's shift
gears over to the other side of the ball and
here's left tackle SHIAJ. Pete, who is such an interesting
guy that he's gotten a lot of attention in the preseason.
But there's a guy that hedn't whose name hadn't been
(26:53):
mentioned a lot, that I think could be a significant
player for them, and Pete talks about him and talking
about mcquee. Humphrey Grace, the transfer from South Dakota. Here's
shiajh Pete talking about him in that D line. He
plays really hard. He strains throughout the entire entire play
up until the whistle. I've noticed that, and he's really
(27:13):
working hard to get to the quarterback. I mean he
plays it like he's it's like fourth quarter kind of mentality.
So I respect that and mccuee. Humphrey Grace is van
a guy that's at the probably the top of my
list of players that could have an impact that we
haven't heard much, if anything about in the lead up
(27:36):
to the season. As I said, it's from South Dakota
FCS school, but he had fifteen career sacks twenty six
career tackles for loss. He's from Cincinnati Princeton High School
that has sent thirteen players onto the NFL, So he
comes out of a really good high school program. And
there's been so much Gusta's the most highly touted D
(27:57):
line transfer, so and he's got an interesting bastory, so
he's probably got most of the attention. But Humphrey Grace
is a guy that I think could be an impact
player for them.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
On that D line, and look, I've that was one
of the things that got my ears perked up when
Stoops said something early in the preseason about how twitchy
these players are and they might do some things differently
on the front. And the great thing about coach White
(28:27):
that people underestimate is his ability to adapt his scheme
to the players that he has in front of him.
And if he has twitchy players like Gusta and Humphrey Grace,
I think you're gonna see some things differently than what
we did. Let's say last year, when we had bigger
guys who are more two gap guys the whole guys
(28:50):
off like Walker and when Josiah played for the end
of the season. It's gonna be interesting to see how
you implement these guys. Because here's the thing. If David
used to have a good season the same way I
was talking about the center and the guards, if he
has a good season and they can keep the offensive
lineman off of all undersize to inside linebackers and allow
(29:11):
those guys to run similar to when we had Trevn Wallace.
If they allow if they allow double teams and allow
those two twitch your linebackers to run, I think this
defense is gonna be better than people think too.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Yes, I saw a note where Wallace, according to the
story I read, there's a thought that he's gonna gonna
get a roster spot with Carolina. Uh but you know
he was a very athletic guy, and you know, like
a Fari and Rainer that they're gonna be the starters
of the inside there. They're really good football players, but
you don't want, you know, the you don't want them
(29:46):
having to fight off centers and guards to try to
make plays.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
No, you do not win. And honestly, I would say this,
there are no linebackers. Derrick Jackson and Pop Doolan jongs
them like guys at their feet, but they could probably
withstand it a little better. These two guys are a
little lighter, and if you can keep them off of them,
if you can keep lineman off of one of them,
because you can only keep them off for one, you
(30:10):
can keep lineman off of one of them, I think
those guys are going to have a really, really good
season because they have the athletic ability to play sideline
and sideline better than we've had in recent history. If
they are able to flow, I think this defense run
defense is going to be better than it was last year,
which was an issue towards about midpoint last year on
(30:30):
is all run defense start to suffer? And I mean rightfully,
so when you lose one of your better linebackers.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Talking with Van Hiles here on our shuffle being Coffee
Monday Morning Quarterback Show, let's talk a little bit about
the back end of the defense in your old area.
And I think a guy that has I don't know
that I've heard his day mentioned all through training camp,
but Kashid Scott is going to be the nickel and
there's so many multi whiteout formations. He'll be on the
(30:56):
field a lot, former four star recruit and two cousins
that made it to the NFL. Two other cousins playing
at South Carolina, so there's you know, good jeans there
and uh he's the guy that, uh, I think will
get an opportunity to be a playmaker for him in
that secondary. And then Waller has gotten a lot of
buzz for how well he has played coming into this
(31:17):
season at corner.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
Yeah, I'm gonna be honest with you, miss Leech. This
is maybe because I played the position. I was a
little underwhelmed by how they played last year consistently the
Old Miss game showed what they can do as a unit,
but as a season hold, I wasn't as happy. I
know I'm gonna be a little more harsh on them
that they were consistently inconsistent, and it's gonna be interesting
(31:43):
to see can they can they become a better unit
as a as a unit because they have played together
if that unit is good, because I know people are
gonna say, and this is why I hate stats, is
that that wise the unit was pretty good from on paper,
they had great numbers, but when you look at the game,
when our run defense became bad, people started passing less,
(32:04):
so the amount attemptsould get also get enter into that conversation.
I think you have two safeties who have played together
for some years. They should be better this year and
now Waller JQ has got to show what they have
the ability to do. If those two corners played well
and the safeties have great discipline, then I would be
(32:26):
more happy with this unit. But I'll say this last
year I was not happy with the unit.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
Let's get back to offense for a couple of minutes
to wrap things up, because we didn't get into the
running backs, and they have two transfers that are gonna
be the two guys that figure to carry most of
the load, at least from the start. Now theyll from
Nebraska and mcgallon from New Mexico State and then started
out at Oklahoma and got into it, has some trouble there,
(32:53):
but has found his way back to the another shot
at the big time in the SEC this time and
two very talented guys to seemingly complimentary guys. What's your
expectation at the running back position?
Speaker 2 (33:10):
This is on paper for my estimation, this is probably
your deepest room since we had aj Rowse, c Rod
and Smoke. And you need three running backs potentially sometimes
you need four. And when your third and fourth running
backs played great for US last year in spot duty,
(33:31):
will Cox and Patterson played very good football for US.
Will Cox later in the season, Patterson played great at
the beginning of the season until you got hurt. When
you have those guys as your third and fourth option,
I feel really good about this running back room now.
I honestly don't know much about a McDonald because I
just didn't watch Nebraska football. But I do know a
(33:52):
little bit about Seth and I think given the opportunity
and given an opportunity to have a second chance of
play in big town football, I hope he take advantage
of it and show what he showed what he can
do in high school. So he's still a young football player.
As far as experience in playing the game of football,
I think he has a chance to be Ray Davis.
(34:13):
Not saying he's gonna be He's gonna put up the numbers,
but Ray Davis injected some excitement to this offense. He
asked that chance to inject some excitement back in his offense.
So I'm looking forward to see what he can do.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
Good stuff with Van Hiles as always at v Styles
seventeen and then Wednesday nights on the YouTube. Go and
subscribe to see the Locker with Van and Anthony White
at nine Eastern time there on Wednesdays, and you'll hear
him here every Monday on the leads for Board. Thank you, Van.
Anykoy Shuffleban Coffee is one of our great partners on
(34:48):
the Leach Report. It's a locally based company. Group of
Kentuckians got together more than a decade ago to form
this company and to fulfill a mission to come up
with the very best cup of coffe starts with the
best coffee beans. You can go to Shufflebean dot us
and read about that commitment to excellence. They follow the
(35:08):
process of the quality from seed to cup is how
they like to say it. You can order some Shufflebing
coffee through Amazon and here in central Kentucky if you're
in a Meyer store picks up pick up some Shufflebing coffee,
or just making an appointment to get to Meyer and
pick up Shufflebing coffee. Give it a try, and I
think you're gonna love it. We'll be right back with
(35:28):
our final segment of the Leads Report. It is the
Leads Report final segment for this Monday and our Wildcat
History Notes each day, presented by Kentucky road Shows, sports
cards and Memorabilia on Romedy Road in Lexington and at
roadshowcards dot com. Happy Birthday, Richie Farmer. Kentucky Basketball Legends
(35:50):
saw Richie Saturday night. It was good to catch up
with him at the Ksbar reopening event and he is
looking good and very eager to see what this Kentucky
basketball team is going to do. So good to see Richie.
Corey Price, who was with us last week. He is
officially celebrating his birthday today as well. Excuse me. Women's
(36:16):
soccer beat Detroit Mercy yesterday to nil. They are undefeated
through four matches, and men's soccer has a match coming
up tonight at the Bell Soccer Complex. They will take
on Bellerman at seven thirty. The men opened up with
went over a ranked Western Michigan team last week. Labor
Days on the horizon a week from today. As a
(36:37):
matter of fact, Cornbreadamp is celebrating the end of Summer Day,
Summer and Labor Day with an incredible offer for you
now through September second. When you buy any two products
at cornbreadhamp dot com, you'll get your third one free
if you put in the code Labor Day all one
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(37:01):
can stock the cooler with refreshing and delicious infused Seltzers
for the Labor Day holiday celebration, or just build a
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code Labor Day at checkout buy to get one free.
(37:23):
Coming up tonight, it's the first Mark Stoops radio show
of the season on the UK Network six Eastern Time.
For that, about ten minutes before, look for the Leach
Report TV version on WLX. We'll be talking a little
more about some of the names that you haven't heard
as much that could be impact guys coming up this
(37:44):
fall for Kentucky football as the Cats open the season
on Saturday against Toledo. That'll do it. We'll see you
tomorrow on The Leech Report, presented each day by Bobcat Enterprises.
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