futurecoach

Volson did end the year strong last year, so you may be right on that.

Just because I say Pope only even got considered for this job is because he played at UK, doesn’t mean I don’t think he will do well. No really knows how he will do. I’m excited about him. Right now he has done a great job bringing excitement, has put together a good staff. Now just needs to get the players and results. He could be the next great coach in UK history. I'm just commenting on how him being a UK guy is 100% the reason why even got an interview. If it was based on resumes, there were a lot of guys that resumes were much better but not UK guys. If based on resume, then could look no further than two of three last coaches that knocked UK out. In Kansas State current coach and Saint Peters (now Sean Hall) coaches who also built programs up like Pope but also had tournament success to go with it. The Pope connection to UK is the only reason why he even got considered for this job over guys with better resumes.

He is not wrong in the fact that him graduating and playing at UK is the only reason why he even got considered for the job. If he never played at UK, he would not have even gotten a look. It doesn't mean he can't do a great job, but him having played at UK is the only reason he got a look. Without having played at UK, his coaching resume wouldn't have gotten him a look at all.

I do think Mims has a much higher upside than him though. Plus Mims Ras Score was very high, which has been a good predictor lately for lineman and how successful they are.

With how the draft played out. Could have taken the top CB in the draft in Quinyon Mitchell. The top interior lineman in the draft in Graham Barton who probably would have started over Volson this year, and then would have been able to take over for Karras when I think his deal runs out after this season. WR Brian Thomas JR. OL- Troy Fautanu another one who probably would have started over Volson this year, and could move to tackle in a year if they wanted. So there were players available that could have helped and started right away. More so than a guy who only plays tackle, with only 8 games experience and will only most likely play if there is an injury to one of the Browns. As I said I truly think Mims may end up being the best tackle in the draft. So in the long run it probably will end up being a great pick. It is just more on how they keep going with guys in the first round hoping they help a lot in the future more so than this year. Which is what they have now done three years in a row with Dax Hill, Murphy and now him. With how it played out, I would have loved to have seen them trade back. Which obviously it takes another team to have to do that, so there might have not been anyone to trade back with. A guy I would have also loved is DT-Newton. A guy that would have been a big part of the D line rotation and possibly start. I honestly now hope they try to trade up in the second round to get him.

Probably more 12 personnel with Mayer on the line and Brock split out.

Agreed. Just seems like the Bengals don’t get first year impact guys in the first round like other teams do. In the last 13 drafts, 8 of the bengals first round picks have not started and not played much as rookies. The Bengals in the last three years in their Super Bowl window have now drafted 3 guys in the first round in Dax Hill, Murphy, and now Mims that were all guys that were not going to start and not even projected to play much their rookie years. So it’s not as much about not liking Mims as it is just the Bengals approach with first round picks through the years. Mims definitely has the potential to be a stud tackle and as I said possibly end up being the best tackle in this draft class.

I was hoping for Murphy or Newton. Mims though had the potential to end up being the best tackle from this draft. Just kind of frustrating though how the Bengals somehow find a way to take first round picks that most likely won’t even start or play their rookie year. They are in a Super Bowl window right now and the last two years with their first round picks they have taken guys that was more for the future rather than immediate help now.

I agree. It is Cal’s fault for recruiting Sheppard, another kid who was one and done and cared more about the NBA.

This! He is saying what people want to hear, but in terms of players he will get caring more about the name than players Cal got isn’t true either. That’s just not reality in todays world. He is a different voice, will bring a different energy, has put together a good staff. However, at the end of the day none of that will matter if it doesn’t produce great results.

Yet the NBA and competing with stars they grew up watching is the bigger dream than just putting on a college jersey. As even the one and done Cal players have said, UK is home for them. However, the NBA was the dream. So let’s just be fair about this. People acted like Cal recruited kids that cared more about the NBA. Well that is true for basically every kid, including a Ky boy like Sheppard. Sheppard would make millions here with NIL and possibly be a legend, yet the lure of being a lottery pick and playing in the NBA and money is even more of what players want than wearing the jersey. Shoot even though Pope said he wants players that care more about the jersey. Do we actually think all the transfer players he is recruiting care even more about the jersey, than the one and done guys Cal got? Not at all. It’s all the same, the only thing different is Pope is saying what people want to hear, even though it’s not really any different and not getting players that care more about the name than anything else.

Demanding and asking for a trade are two different things. Which he has asked for a trade if the team won’t work out a long term extension for him.

He is filling a non recruiting type role that is going to be more involved with NIL type things. So should be a good hire to go along with the other three that had been reported. Pope has put together a really good staff so far.

I think it just more shows the other schools probably were offering him more money.

Which shows the NBA even more of a dream than playing for UK. Which is the whole thing fans complained about with Cal acting like players care more about the NBA than Ky. If that is the case then have to say the same for Sheppard caring more about playing in the NBA than UK. More to the point that players even Ky boys would care more about the NBA than playing for the name across the chest.