Count me as one of many who resisted the urge to shout-out to Rich Brooks that he should make a change at the quarterback position.  I thought the UK head coach was wise to afford Mike Hartline every opportunity to succeed as the starting quarterback.  And Brooks did just that, but with an assist from Dicky Lyons' season ending injury, the coach made the right call, at the right time.  At least in my opinion.

Now, all that seems so foolish.  I don't think I was being foolish, but it sure SEEMS as if I were. 

Since making the switch to Randall Cobb as UK's starting quarterback, the 'Cats previously feeble offense has sprung to delightful life.  I credit the sudden sea change in UK's offensive fortunes to not only naming Cobb the starter, but also to "The Change" made at halftime of the Mississippi State game last week; Joker Phillips and Rich Brooks decided to take the option look from the practice field, to the playing field. 

Where in the previous seven-and-a-half games the shotgun, and or spread look, was missing in action, but beginning with the second half of the MSU game we have witnessed a genesis in the Kentucky offensive sets: Versus Georgia, UK ran 79 offensive plays, 50 of those plays were run from the shotgun formation (63%).  Usually, there were two running backs in the backfield with Cobb, and multiple wide-outs spreading the field.  In the second half of Saturday's game, UK ran out of the shotgun on 28 of 39 offensive snaps (72%), and scored 24 points.

Here are some more tangible results due to "The Change:"

Rushing Yardage

Prior to the second half of the MSU game, UK as a team, had rushed for 1,033 yards on 273 carries (3.8 yards per carry).  In the game-and-a-half since, UK has rushed for 325 yards on 72 carries (4.5 yards per carry).  That's nearly a yard more per carry. 

• Tony Dixon has to be pleased with "The Change."  He's progressed from averaging less than three-and-a-half yards per carry, to 111 yards on only 24 carries (4.6 yards per carry).
• Alfonso Smith has carried 14 times for 71 yards (5.1 yards per carry) since "The Change."
• Randall Cobb's production has been phenomenal since "The Change."  He's carried the ball 24 times for a total of 115 yards (4.8 yards per carry).  He's also recorded four rushing touchdowns.

Lighting up the Scoreboard?

The best and most accurate method to gauge whether "The Change" is working, or not, is to gaze at the scoreboard. 

In the last six quarters UK has scored 52 points, which extrapolates out to 34.4 points per game.  It goes without saying that 34 points a game is significantly better than the 12.7 points per game UK averaged for their first four-and-a-half SEC contests. 

The yardage increase has been nearly as noticeable; UK gained 331 yards versus Georgia (the 'Dogs give up 306 yards on average).  In the second half against MSU Kentucky gained 152 yards on a team that averages giving up only 274 total yards. 

In SEC play, prior to "The Change," UK was averaging only 279 yards per game. 

Cobb

Although Rich Brooks said that he's looking to "next week," and not next year, one has to think that Randall Cobb is, to this point, making an air-tight argument for himself being the prohibitive favorite to start at quarterback next year.  Up to this point I've considered Cobb to be merely a seat-warmer for either Newton, Mossakowski, or Hartline in '09.  But, that may merit reconsideration.

Cobb certainly has not played mistake-free football; he has thrown a few ill-conceived passes which were intercepted, and he has a penchant for fumbling the ball (both a product of his youth), but man, what about his incredible athleticism.  He has accounted for four rushing touchdowns, and one passing touchdown in the last six quarters played.  That's an incredible output against quality competition.  With Cobb at quarterback, the opposing defense has to pay an inordinate amount of attention to only one guy.  That in itself makes him dangerous.

Rich Brooks

Who said an ol' dog will resist change?  Papa Brooks seems to have embraced "The Change," even though some will say he waited too long to make his move.

If UK wins out against Vandy, Tennessee, and a bowl victim, I would bet that next year UK will resemble the West Virginia of three and four years ago (or some variation thereof).  The more success that Cobb has, the easier Brooks' decision will be.

I'm betting Rich Brooks knows what to do with a thoroughbred. 

DeMoreo Ford

It seems that junior UK wide receiver has been told by doctors that he should quit playing football.  Ford has experienced several head injuries over the last few years (he's suffered two concussions this year).

DeMoreo will always be remembered for his 70 yard touchdown scamper in the Music City Bowl two years ago versus Clemson.

We wish you well.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats.

So what has changed as a result of the Florda game?  Micah Johnson has re-injured his sprained ankle and is doubtful.  Marcus McClinton's knee is a bit worse, Myron Pyor is still out, Kyrus Lanxter is still down with a knee, Ricky Lumpkin has a strained calf, Justin Jeffries and Maurice Grinter are banged up, as is Josh Minton.  Dicky Lyons and Derrick Locke are both still out for the season (Yes, we have no miracles today).  Finally, Randall Cobb is now the starting quarterback

The Wildcats are still far from 100% healthy as they head down to Starkville to take on the Mississippi State University Bulldogs, and MSU is much, much healthier than Kentucky with only one minor injury and one major injury.  What this means is that even though UK is facing a foothill instead of Mt. Everest relatively speaking, the Wildcats still have a hill to climb against a team that went bowling last year.

Injuries are a part of football, and as much as we moan and groan about them, UK's troubles are absolutely nothing compared to what the Georgia Bulldogs have been dealing with -- they have 10  players with long-term injuries, seven of which are season-ending, and they just undressed LSU in Death Valley, 52-38.  When you are in the SEC, injuries must be overcome, and great teams overcome them.

OK, so Kentucky is not a great team this year, but can they become a competent one?  So far, UK is adequate only on defense, as even giving up 63 points to the Gators moved Kentucky down from #1 to just #7 in scoring defense.  Obviously, the 'Cats defense is better than that, but a combination of injuries and a red hot Florida offense made them look like a high school team.  The real problem, though is UK's offense, which has not been competent against SEC competition.  Yes, it has had a few good moments in the Alabama and Arkansas game, but generally speaking, the Wildcat offense has put tremendous pressure on the defense to carry the load.

Will that change with Randall Cobb now at the helm?  Obviously, we hope so, and Brooks at least thinks it may or he wouldn't have made the move.  Don't think for a minute that Rich Brooks isn't stubborn enough to thumb his nose at Kentucky fans who have been screaming at the top of their collective lungs for Randall Cobb at QB if he thinks the things that are going wrong can't be corrected to some extent with this move.  The fact that Brooks is making it is really a confirmation that the situation looks to Brooks pretty much like it looks to the rest of us -- Cobb provides an extra dimension that appears to take UK's offense from futility to some semblance of proficiency, something Kentucky has only known against inferior competition this year.  Is a merely competent offense enough to overcome our other problems?  We won't know until Saturday.

I know this is obvious, but it bears repeating -- the biggest thing Cobb can give UK at quarterback is the ability to sustain favorable field position by moving the football.  Yes, points are important also, but Kentucky has been able to beat opponents this year by keeping them in a hole and forcing turnovers and mistakes.  Against three of our last four opponents, UK was unable to do that with any consistency.  Even if a drive doesn't score, if it keeps the defense off the field a while and backs the opponent up to near their goal line, it has to be considered a strategic success.

Tactically, though, Kentucky needs to start putting points on the board.  That begins with getting the football back into the red zone with some semblance of regularity, and getting at least three points out of those efforts.  SEC teams are going to score on Kentucky, but they will score way less if the 'Cats keep them pinned down and our defense as fresh as possible.  That gives the 'Cats an opportunity to be in every game.

Another thing Cobb brings to the table that couldn't be found under Hartline is a constant threat of a big play, which he can make either with his feet or with his arm.  Cobb's mobility forces linebackers to always be concerned about him, the pass rush to be more conservative, and blitzes much more dangerous.  That puts pressure on defenses, especially linebackers, not to make bad judgments or face the possibility of turning a running back or Cobb loose in the secondary.  That makes scoring points when the Wildcats get behind much more probable.

The other thing Cobb brings, in my opinion, is confidence.  It has been clear to me, as it has to others, that the offense has lost much of its confidence in Mike Hartline's ability to run the team.  It isn't all Hartline's fault, but as I have said before, UK needs to forget about blaming people and start looking for ways to fix the problem.  Cobb's presence gives the offense more confidence, and that is very important.  A confident offense is a dangerous offense, as we all well remember from the gunslinging days of André Woodson & Co.

Finally, Cobb gives UK a look for which there is precious little tape for opponents to study.  Cobb has been used sparingly at quarterback, and he gives Phillips the freedom to call plays that the opponents simply haven't seen, which is always an advantage, and Kentucky needs every advantage they can find against SEC opponents on the road.  Mississippi State may not be as threatening a competitor as the Gators this year, but last year Brooks & Co. took the Bulldogs for granted, and they sent UK fans home from Commonwealth Stadium with frowns instead of smiles.

In the final analysis, Cobb's presence under center makes UK's offense look much more threatening than Hartline has this year.  A lot of that is because of Kentucky's youth and inexperience at wide receiver, but as I said earlier, blame is not relevant here.  What is relevant is making the offense a genuine threat, and taking some of the pressure off a defense that is trying to get healthy enough to compete for the  SEC stretch run.  It's a sure bet that if Cobb can't get that done, his stint at starting QB will be a short one.

With Arkansas riding high off of their 25-22 upset road win over Auburn, UK is once again catching an opponent feeling good about themselves (South Carolina had just won in Oxford).  Victories like that tend to build confidence and team unity, especially in a team as young as Arkansas.  Will Bobby Petrino's squad continue to improve, or was the Auburn victory more of a showcase for all that is wrong on the plains of Tubber-ville?   I know that Bobby Petrino will have his group ready to play, so UK better bring the good stuff if they harbor any hopes at all of reaching six or seven wins.

Razorback Personnel

Quarterback Casey Dick: 6'2", 215 lb senior -- On the year Dick is 115-197 through the air for 1,411 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions.  He has started all six Arkansas games.  Last year Dick started all 13 games and was 150-262 for 1,695 yards, with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. 

Running back Michael Smith: 5'7", 173 lb junior -- Smith has 109 rushes for 599 yards, which is good for a 5.5 yards per carry average.  He leads the SEC with 119.8 yards per game and he has ran for four touchdowns.  Of course last year Smith played behind Darren McFadden and Felix Jones (both future NFL superstars), so he only garnered 46 carries for 303 yards (6.6 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. 

Tight end D.J. Williams: 6'2", 250 lb sophomore -- Williams has made 28 catches for 315 yards (11.2 yards per catch) and two touchdowns (all three totals lead the team).  He was selected to the All-SEC Freshman first team last year after making five catches for 94 yards.   

Wide receiver Joe Adams: 6'0", 175 lb freshman -- The true freshman is second on the team with 22 receptions for 285 yards (13.0 yards per catch) and one touchdown.  The multi-talented athlete is a converted cornerback.  He was ranked the #12 best cornerback prospect in the country by Rivals, and the #2 overall prospect in the state of Arkansas.  He's started in five of six games this year.

Wide receiver London Crawford: 6'2", 200 lb junior -- Smith has 15 catches for 163 yards (10.9 yards per catch).  Last year he started the first six games at split end, making eight catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.  He missed the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Wide receiver Greg Childs: 6'4", 205 lb freshman -- Childs has made 12 catches for 171 yards (14.2 yards per catch) and one touchdown.  Another true freshman, the receiver was the #9 ranked recruit in Arkansas, and was the #72 rated receiver prospect nationally.

Defensive end Adrian Davis: 6'4", 238 lb junior -- Davis is second on the team with 35 tackles.  He has also recorded three sacks (all versus Auburn), five tackles for loss and one interception.  In '07 Davis made 65 tackles (10 tackles for loss), two interceptions and three sacks.

Linebacker Jerry Franklin: 6'2", 229 lb redshirt freshman -- Franklin leads the Hogs with 48 tackles.  He also has 2.5 tackles for loss, and one interception.  Franklin is another conversion; he was the #38 rated safety prospect according to Rivals and the overall #8 prospect in Arkansas. 

Cornerback Jamar Love: 6'1", 197 lb senior -- Love has recorded seven pass-breakups, which is impressive considering the Hogs have only had to face 161 thrown passes by their opponents.  He is experienced, having played in all 13 games last year ( 22 tackles and four pass break-ups).

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Congratulations to South Carolina and the Ol' Ball Coach for a great second half.  Despite the best efforts of USC to give the game away in the first half, they managed to capitalize on Kentucky's mistakes and put points on the board.  Great effort.  Perhaps this is the sign that USC fans have been looking for.

For Kentucky, it was a frustrating day.  The Kentucky offense simply isn't SEC quality at this point, and Mike Hartline worked hard, but just doesn't throw the ball like an SEC quarterback.  Many, many times he had open receivers only to sail the ball over their head, or throw it in the wrong place.

But lest you think I am blaming this all on Hartline, I'm not.  Locke did not deliver on his implicit claim that running the football would be more effective despite many bites at the apple.  Randall Cobb helped, but the loss of Dicky Lyons took the Kentucky offense from suspect to second-rate.  The defense spent far too much time on the field, and it showed in the second half.  Special teams were bad all day, giving up a kick return that led to a touchdown and several short punts that gave USC good field position.  If Succop had been even marginally capable, this would have been a 16-point pounding.

I think that Stephen Garcia has "all SEC" in his future, as his size, arm strength and running ability reminded me as much of Tim Tebow as any player I have seen this year.  UK just didn't have an answer for him, and despite getting a few sacks, the defensive line did not get enough pressure on Garcia, primarily because he is so capable with his feet.  Garcia made throws that made UK's secondary look very bad, and in general, it did not play well in the second half, particularly David Jones who was burned repeatedly for big plays.

If UK is to achieve its goal of a third straight bowl, there have to be changes on offense.  As it stands, with the possibility of Lyons going down for many games and perhaps even the season, UK looks incapable of putting up enough points to be successful from here on out, and even if Lyons is only mildly injured, I feel uncomfortable enough about what I have seen that I don't see another sure victory on the horizon.  Having seen Hartline now for six games, I can say that he is unquestionably not SEC-quality right now now, and I don't know if we have an SEC-quality quarterback on our football team this year.  Cobb is exciting, but I don't believe he is the answer -- he is just too young.  Hartline may get better, but with a young receiving corps, and too much youth overall at our skill positions, Kentucky no longer looks like a sure bet to win any of the remaining SEC games, even next week when Arkansas comes to town.

Right now, I am not at all optimistic about the rest of the year.  Something may change, but we have far too many offensive holes to plug in seven more weeks.  We may have to cobble together some kind of gimmick offense to take advantage of where we are athletic, but the inability of receivers to get open or catch footballs, and the inability of Hartline to deliver the ball on target combined with the possible loss of Dicky Lyons Jr. make our offense look like it is on life support.

It's an awful realization that we truly do stink on offense as badly as some have said.  At this point, I believe that this game removes all doubt in that regard.  But who knows, perhaps I am too pessimistic -- perhaps UK will suddenly start catching balls, or Hartline will start throwing them on target.  Who knows?  But I do know this -- this game was a massive regression offensively.  We rarely looked like a team who could score, even in the red zone.

Todd at the outstanding SB Nation blog Roll 'Bama Roll traded questions with me over the email this week, and this morning is a fine time to put it up for all to see.  The Kentucky at Alabama game is easily one of the more interesting games of this weekend in the SEC along with Auburn @ Vanderbilt (can you believe a Vandy game is "interesting?"  Amazing job so far by the 'Dores) and ... well, nothing.  Actually, I am looking forward to seeing South Carolina at Mississippi -- if the Gamecocks can win this game, my estimation of them would go up significantly.

But with regards to Alabama, I think you will find Todd's answers to be most illuminating.  I consider Alabama football fans to be the only fans in the SEC that match the intensity and passion of Kentucky basketball fans, and you can see why below or just visit Roll 'Bama Roll anytime during football season and it will jump right out at you why I think the way I do.  By the way, you can find my answers to Todd's questions over at Roll 'Bama Roll at approximately 9:00 AM or so today.

So without further gilding the lily and with no more ado, I give you Todd of Roll 'Bama Roll.  My questions are in boldface, and Todd's answers are just below:

1. Knowing that 'Bama fans are as rabid about football as Kentucky is about basketball, I wonder if you could describe what being in the national conversation (and in a good way) again means to Alabama fans.

It's a wonderful, glorious feeling.  Alabama fans have clearly been on tough times the past decade or so, and for the kids that don't really know or remember the glory days before the post-Stallings era began I can only imagine what this must be like.  But for those of us old enough to remember them, it's been tough times and to be perfectly honest, it's nice feeling smug about it again.  I'm sure I'm jinxing us into a three game skid by just saying that, but after hearing nothing but the constant chattering from our rivals about everything from "Alabama's time is past" to "Nick Saban is overrated" to "BEAR IZ DED WOOOOO!!!111", it's more than a little satisfying to look back at the last five weeks and think "eat it, haters."

2. People look at Nick Saban's salary and think, "There is no way he could be worth that much," but if Alabama continues to play this kind of football, that thinking may become obsolete. How much the sudden rise of the Tide changed the way Alabama looks at Saban through the lens of his salary?

We thought it was a bargain to begin with, actually.  He's a proven commodity as a college head coach, he built an LSU program that had been wallowing in mediocrity for decades to two SEC Titles and a National Title, and he's known as one of the best recruiters to ever walk through a five star prospect's door.  If he wasn't worth the money, he wouldn't have been offered it in the first place, and all he's done so far is earn every penny of it.

3. John Parker Wilson has been variously reviled and revered by Crimson Tide fans. Is Wilson consistent enough now to take the Tide back to the promised land? If not, in what area does he come up short?

Before last weekend I would have made the comment that he isn't hitting the deep ball well yet and there are still some concerns about how he'll handle an elite SEC defense, but so far the Georgia win was his best game.  We only threw the ball 16 times (he hit 13 of them for 205 yds and a TD) in that game, but new OC Jim McElwain, who flew under the radar when he was hired because of the much ballyhooed switch to the high octane spread offenses of Dave Clawson and Tony Franklin at UT and Auburn, has really turned Wilson into a savvy game manager and concocted an offensive philosophy and approach that prizes brutal efficiency over gaudy stats and the idea of "explosive" plays.  Considering that, Wilson is the guy to run it, and he's improved by leaps and bounds over his very up and down career now that he finds himself in a position where he can trust everyone around him to do their jobs as opposed to having to take responsibility for the offense all on his own shoulders.  The o-line is blocking for him now, the running game is effective, all of his receivers are running clean routes and looking for the ball instead of slacking off is they don't think he's coming their way, and he's got a guy calling plays that he knows Wilson can make.  The only knock we can put on him so far is that we don't know how he'll handle any real adversity considering the Tide hasn't trailed yet, and at some point we're going to find ourselves in a hole needing a scoring drive, and then we'll really know what we have in John Parker Wilson.  From what I've seen so far this year, it doesn't concern me at all that he'll be the guy leading that drive.

4. Which player on the Alabama offense who doesn't get a lot of press clippings should we worry about? On defense?

That's actually a tough question considering the hype that has surrouned Alabama so far.  I don't know if I can name one person on offense, but I will say that, aside from Julio Jones who has shown that he deserves every ounce of hype he's gotten so far, the receiving corps has really kind of flown under the radar with all the focus being on how well Alabama is running the ball.  We have a ton of talent at that position, and those runs wouldn't be quite as effective if they weren't doing the stuff you really don't think of when talking about receivers (i.e. run blocking).  Mike McCoy will likely sit this game (he tweaked his hamstring early against Georgia), and it's kind of a toss up as to who will fill in for him.  Nikita Stover and Will Oakley are both seniors that are likely to get some increased snap with McCoy out, but there really isn't a significant drop off between McCoy and the next three or four guys.  Our biggest strength there is, as mentioned before, they all play every down like the ball is coming to them and when you have three (and at times four) guys out there that are a threat to break something it really gives defenses something to think about.

On defense, our defensive ends have played a huge role but are understandably lost in the all the talk over Terrance Cody.  Cody is the biggest reason (literally and figuratively) that the defense is doing so well, especially against the run.  Saban's 3-4 is designed to take away the inside runs and force everything outside where the speed of the linebackers and defensive backs can shut down the cutback lanes, but until Cody arrived we didn't have the size inside to actually do that.  But also key in this are the ends, who don't function like rush ends in a typical 4-3, but instead act more like tackles and are more responsible for occupying blockers and clogging up gaps.  To that end, guys like Bobby Greenwood, Lorenzo Washington, Brandon Deaderick, and Luther Davis all struggled last year because they didn't have anyone in the middle taking up multiple blockers and it made their jobs almost impossible, but now that Cody (and backup Josh Chapman, who is a great NT in his own right and usually comes in on passing downs) is freeing them up more, they have become a very disruptive force and are getting a great push into the pocket.

5. Kentucky is currently sporting one of the top defenses in the country. The only common opponent between Kentucky and Alabama is Western Kentucky, whom Kentucky held to 157 total yards and Alabama held to 158, but 'Bama allowed more passing yards and UK more running yards. What, if anything, can we learn about the defenses from this common opponent that might indicate how the game will go on Saturday?

Not a whole lot, really.  The Hilltoppers aren't a particularly good team, and any respectable defense should shut them down.  The key part of that, though, would probably be that if they could rush against Kentucky, Alabama should definitely be able to rush aganst Kentucky.  On the flip side, though, the Hilltoppers do run a spread offense that likes to throw a lot of quick passes, and the Tide's passing D has left something to be desired at times, so if Kentucky can get that part of their offense going they could have some success moving the ball with a steady dink and dunk approach.

6. Which Kentucky offensive player most impresses you, and why? Which defensive player and why?

On offense, I'm going with Dicky Lyons.  There was some concern before the start of the season that he wouldn't be able to function as well being the primary go to guy, but he's put up solid numbers so far and is a great punt returner.  For a team that's kick coverage has been very disappointing so far this year, he's someone that really concerns me.

On defense, first instinct is Micah Johnson, a very solid linebacker that could start anywhere in the SEC, but since he's likely out for the game I'll show some respect to Mr. Braxton Kelly, another great linebacker that looks like a beast of a pass rusher off the edge.

7. Kentucky has been perceived historically been little more than an automatic win for Alabama. Has this perception really changed at all in light of Kentucky's recent success?

Definitely, I know several folks have made the comment "thank God we didn't have to play them last year."  Nothing is really a gimme in the SEC anymore, and there are plenty of people down here nervous about the prospects of a letdown game.  We remember the upset of LSU last year, and we remember some close games the last time our teams met.  In fact, last time we were in Lexington a lucky break on a busted punt (Bo Freeland was forced to kick again after an offisides and the second time he pulled the ball down and ran for the first after a UK defender broke free) was what finally got the team going and turned a very uncomfortable game into a convincing win.  So yeah, we aren't taking the Wildcats for granted in football anymore.

8. Give me the 3 things that you think have contributed most to Alabama's sudden turnaround from last year.

First and foremost has to be the development of the upper classmen.  There was the expectation that we were going to be starting true freshman any and everywhere on the field, but a lot of the battles for starting positions once the freshmen reported never materialized.  Drew Davis grabbed RT and never looked back, Corey Reamer solidified his hold on the outside linebacker position that most thought was Jerrell Harris's the minute he walked through the door, Justin Woodall finally emerged as a solid playmaker at strong safety after struggling to learn the defense last year, Javier Arenas has turned into a shutdown corner when everyone thought Alonzo Lawrence would be starting opposite Kareem Jackson, and etc.

Second, we've been able to get production out of both the true freshman and the older guys where we have lacked depth the past few years, and even though some of our key backups are true freshman, just the overall upgrade in talent is huge.  Last season there was a significant dropoff from starter to backup and, especially on defense, Saban rotates so many guys that you could almost consider the second team players as more co-starters than second team.  Now that we are able to rotate guys without that dropoff it's really helped keep everyone fresh and is a big reason we are able to play such a physical brand of both offense and defense for the full 60 minutes.

Third, the production we've gotten from the true freshman starters has been key.  Alabama really needed two things on offense coming into this season, and those were a big play threat at receiver and a tough, between the tackles runner in the backfield.  Julio Jones has lived up to his hype by being both a downfield threat and a guy that can turn short passes into big plays, while Mark Ingram has become our red zone back because he's a tough yardage kid with a great burst once he gets to the second level, always falls forward, is just hell to bring down, and he's already shown that he is a complete back (has great hands out of the backfield as well and has also shown he understands the protections and pass blocks like a veteran).

9. What is the one most important thing on offense Alabama must do to win? On defense?

I can handle both of those with one answer; continue the physical line play.  The biggest reason we are dominating opponents on offense is the fact that this is the best offensive line Alabama has fielded since 1999.  We've had some great run blocking lines since then, don't get me wrong, but these guys are both run and pass blocking like a veteran line with two future first round draft picks (LT Andre Smith and C Antoine Caldwell) on it should.  If you look back at the only game in which Alabama didn't completely dominate, vs Tulane, the biggest key there was that both Smith and Marlon Davis (RG) were out and the guys filling in for them were playing out of position.  Tulane was able to get more pressure on Wilson than any other team, and once those two players returned against WKU, the Alabama offense was back to being as brutally efficient as it was against Clemson.  So long as we can continue to control the line of scrimmage, the offense will be firing on all cylinders.

As for defense, I've already talked a little bit about how Cody has completely changed the way the line functions, and that has made things so much easier on the rest of the defense.  Last year we were having to bring way too many guys to try and get pressure in the backfield, and our pass D suffered tremendously because of it because, well, we didn't have as many guys in pass coverage and we also just weren't getting any pressure on the QB.  Now, if you look at the first half of the UGA game, you can see how Saban's defense is supposed to work.  By being able to both shutdown the run and disrupt the pocket with essentially only the three down linemen and one linebacker (typically the Jack, the DE/OLB hybrid unique to the 3-4, but it can come from anywhere which is why this defense makes me happy in ways that it shouldn't), it gives the coaches all kinds of options as far as mixing up their coverages and blitz packages to keep the opposing offense off balance.  All of that, though, is predicated on the d-line being able to do so much with so little, so as long as we can keep that up we should still be able to play very effectively on that side of the ball.

I want to thank Todd and all the denizens of Roll 'Bama Roll for linking and visiting us here at A Sea of Blue, and generally being great sports during the run-up to this game.  I have gained a ton of respect for the Tide just over the past few days, and they have earned it with their knowledgeable discussion, passion, and sportsmanship.  If the game goes as well as the pre-game blogging, we should all be in for a treat.

The Hilltoppers of WKU and the Wildcats of UK went at it last night in Kentucky's last out-of-conference game of the season.  The Toppers, and particularly Bobby Rainey, produced some spectacular runs that should give them hope for the future, and I was impressed by the clean football that my alma mater played, having only one penalty (a roughing the passer call that was pretty close).  Western is going in the right direction, even though they currently lack the kind of size and athleticism on the lines to compete against a league like the SEC.  Kudos to the Toppers for taking on all comers and playing hard, clean football.

It has been an article of faith among SEC football watchers that Kentucky needed to show some offensive competence during the easier out-of-conference schedule.  Up until this game, they have demonstrated very little offensively.  The offense was almost non-existent at Louisville, struggled to score against Norfolk State, and despite gaining significant yardage against MTSU, struggled mightily to score in the red zone.

Yesterday against Western Kentucky, Kentucky demonstrated some offensive prowess, particularly on the ground.  Unfortunately, the luster of this fact was reduced by two factors that should give 'Cat fans pause -- That most of the yards were gained in the second half, and that every other BCS team who has played Western gained more yardage than UK.  Mark Story looks at the "Glass half full, glass half empty" viewpoint of the WKU-UK game.  It would be nice to be able to say that UK has an SEC-worthy offense going into battle against an Alabama team that drubbed the highly-ranked Georgia Bulldogs yesterday in their home stadium, but unfortunately, we cannot.  UK looked competent against a lesser foe last night, but I doubt that performance against the relatively weak Hilltopper defense will cause any SEC defensive coordinators to lose sleep at the thought of playing the Wildcats.

Still, we have to grant that Hartline looked better than he has previously, and seems to be growing well into the position.  He showed a strong arm in a couple of vertical attempts that, even though they didn't connect, looked very respectable in both where the ball was thrown and the velocity it had on it.  'Cat fans have reason to be encouraged about Hartline, and Fidler looked like a competent backup in limited action against a lesser foe.

Overall, here is how I saw this game:

• Offensive line run blocking -- The run blocking looked better, but mostly in the second half.  What happened in the the first?
• Wide receivers -- The wide receivers, particularly DeMoreo Ford, did some better things than they have done so far, but not nearly enough to give anyone confidence that there are more real threats on the field than Dicky Lyons Jr.
• Special teams -- Field goal kicking seem competent now with Ryan Tydlacka, but it is only his first game and against a lesser foe.  The return game was excellent as usual, but kickoff coverage was really poor.  Yes, Bobby Rainey was a phenomenal runner, but is he SEC-quality?  I hardly think so.  If not, we could be in for trouble against tougher foes if we don't improve.  But on the plus side, Derrick Locke did return a kickoff for a touchdown, and Dicky Lyons barely missed doing the same with a punt return.
  
• Pass defense -- This was quite possibly the most dominant performance against the pass I have seen in college football in recent memory.  How do you hold a Spread Option team to 15 yards passing?  That's just unheard of, and it was primarily due to the utter domination of the Western offensive line by Kentucky's defensive line.  Yes, the UK defensive secondary was very good, but the 'Cats defensive front was always in the face of the Western quarterback, and got four sacks for thirty negative yards.
• Run defense -- After the Wildcats figured out that Rainey was a serious threat, they shut him down, but not before he gained almost 100 yards against a Kentucky defense that has been very stingy against the run (#5 in the nation) up until now.  It is a cause for worry.  If the 'Cats struggled with Rainey, what will Knowshon Moreno do?
• The passing game -- Kentucky was competent in the passing game, but the UK wide receivers still have issues with route running, catching the football and blocking.  The blocking was somewhat improved, but it's clear that UK has a long way to go to get the receivers up to SEC quality with the exception of Dickie Lyons Jr.  Brooks can't be all that pleased with what he saw yesterday, but it was a clear improvement over the last game.
• Pass blocking -- Pass blocking was excellent against Western, but their defensive front is hardly SEC quality.  Still, it was a good game for the line when it came to giving Hartline time to throw.  I consider them untested at this point, except against a decent Louisville defense, but I think they may be fine.
• The running game -- Impressive in the second half, but what happened in the first?  The running backs hit the holes, such as they were in the first half, hard, but the line simply wasn't getting the job done.  The 'Cats did a much better job in the second half, racking up impressive yardage and some long runs, and pretty much looking like the team we expected to see.  This game gives me some hope that we may be able to move the ball on the ground if we can get some kind of threat out of the passing game.

Overall, it was obviously a great defensive game for Kentucky, and a comptetent if unspectacular offensive game.  The coaching staff has greased a few squeeky wheels, and even though UK didn't look like the well-oiled offensive machine they have been in the last couple of years, the first signs of genuine offensive faculty showed up yesterday, and that is a very good thing.

On the injury front, Justin Jeffries has a serious knee injury and is very likely done for the season.  Even if it is more benign than many think, it is still going to sit him for a number of weeks, perhaps more than are left in the regular season.  I hope for the best, but fear the worst.  T.C. Drake also suffered an ankle sprain, but it doesn't look likely to keep him out more than a week.  Maurice Grinter served capably and even rather impressively in his stead.

On the good news side, it is looking more and more likely that Randall Cobb's high ankle sprain will heal in time for South Carolina, if not Alabama.  I expect to see Micah Johnson back at practice this week, and Ricky Lumpkin as well.

Next week we get the Crimson Tide, and the Elephants are coming of an impressive manhandling of the #3 team in the nation at their place.  As the Tide has an open date after the UK game, that places next week's tilt firmly in the "trap game" category for them.  We need to hope that they are still licking their wounds an enjoying the glow of defeating Georgia and vaulting to a top 5 national ranking (which they surely will) when the Wildcats bring their 4-0 record into Tuscaloosa next Saturday.

The defense

Kentucky's newly vaunted defense recorded several seldom seen landmark achievements in Sunday's 27 -2 road rout of the Louisville Cardinals:

• U of L failed to score an offensive touchdown for the first time since the 2000 season.
• U of L had their lowest home point total since 1987.
• UK held an opponent to zero offensive points for the first time since 1996.
• UK last held a home opponent to two points or less in 1976.

I think it's safe to toss away those questions about Kentucky's defense.  Consider them answered. 

The credit for UK's punishing defensive effort can be spread around all over the field, from the front four ( Myron Pryor, Corey Peters, Ventrell Jenkins, Jeremy Jarmon ), to a secondary that blanketed U of L's receivers like grandma's home-made quilt.  Defensive coordinator Steve Brown must be grinning like a proud papa over his defenses rise from slightly better than incompetent, to downright devastating, in a little over a year. 

The devastation begins with Myron Pryor.  He was nothing less than a ubiquitous presence in U of L's backfield and of great concern to quarterback Hunter Cantwell.  The 'Cats only got to Cantwell for two sacks, but that doesn't begin to tell the story of what Pryor and his defensive cohorts reined down on the Card quarterback; too many pressures to count ( Pryor did have 4 ), at least 5 deflections, and a general disruption of what Cantwell was trying to achieve.  Cantwell did have occasion to scan the field, but no defense in history has pressured every pass attempt.

What made the Wildcat effort even more impressive was the fact that the four O-lineman bothered Cantwell to the point that Steve Brown didn't have to employ the blitz, which enabled UK to comfortably cover U of L's receivers, especially in the flat.  That's a reversal of a decades long trend. 

To go along with Pryor and his mates up front, middle linebacker Micah Johnson deserves credit for stopping a potential momentum swing just before the half; with UK up 10 - 0, U of L had the ball on UK's 21 yard line.  On fourth and one, UL coach Steve Kragthorpe, perhaps sensing an opportunity to change the flow of the game, decides to go for the first down instead of kicking a field goal.  The result; running back Brock Bolen is wrapped up by a swarm of Wildcat defenders led by Micah Johnson ( assisted by Pryor, and linebacker Johnny Williams ). 

Johnson ( co-team leading 5 tackles ) had this to say about UK's harassment of Cantwell, and the U of L receivers:

"We felt like he was out of sync from the word go.  We were jamming ( the receivers ), taking the timing routes away from him that they do so well.  And there was pressure on him.  Guys always had their hands up in his face."

The list of overall defensive achievements looks like this:

• A Pryor forced fumble resulting in an Ashton Cobb fumble return for a touchdown.
• Six pass break ups.
• Seven tackles for loss.
• A Johnny Williams created fumble, returned by Pryor for a touchdown.
• Five total takeaways.
• Three interceptions.
• Held U of L to 1.8 yards per rush.
• Held U of L to 5 - 16 on third downs.
• Held Cantwell to only 20 - 43 passing.
• Held U of L to only 7.6 yards per reception.
• On a Ventrell Jenkins tip, Trevard Lindley returned the interception to the U of L two yard line.
• Held U of L to 205 total yards ( only 53 passing ). 

The Card bashing didn't stop with the front four and linebackers.  UK's secondary also performed extremely well.  Trevard Lindley is the most heralded of the UK secondary, but new starting cornerback David Jones played beyond his experience ( which is nonexistent at the cornerback spot ); he was thrown at more than any other in the secondary, and he had his man covered without fail.  The only misstep he suffered was getting turned around in the end zone, allowing receiver Troy Pascley a chance for a touchdown catch, but luckily for Kentucky, he dropped the ball.  Marcus McClinton made a spectacular interception at the 6:05 mark of the fourth quarter; his falling-down body-twisting pick was one of the more athletic moves I've seen lately, and on this day served as a death-knell for all those wearing red  ( maybe that's why Papa John's looked like Commonwealth Stadium an hour before kick-off, after the INT ).

An additional trend reversal that occurred Sunday; Kentucky's secondary allowed only precious few yards after the catch.  The reason for that is the fact that UK's defensive backs and safeties are experienced ( except for Jones ), and they all possess great speed.  Their ability to anticipate the throw was also on display, which added to the considerable difficulties Mr. Cantwell was experiencing.  Even though U of L's receivers and quarterback are inexperienced, I'm still looking forward to seeing how UK's secondary performs against SEC competition; I think a few folks are going to be unpleasantly surprised ( I'm talking to you 'Visor' ).   

Defensive devastation on this day, but can we expect this type of performance week-in and week-out?  After-all, U of L is breaking in a new quarterback ( anybody want to rethink that Unitas Award watch list ), and the Card receivers are greener than Hank Hill's lawn.  The Louisville running backs came into the contest as being a potential bright spot in U of L's offense, but they are also young and inexperienced.  So what is one to take away from this impressive display?  Is UK's defense that good, or was their performance a product of U of L's youth?

I suspect, after watching a tape of the game, that UK's defense is going to be as good as advertised.  But, I have no expectations that they will be as overpowering every week as they were Sunday.  The offenses that UK will face in the future, in particular in the SEC, are much more polished, experienced, and blessed with more speed and beef up front.  But, hey, not a bad way to start the season.

On an A to F grading scale, the defense gets an A+.

The offense 

I thought, considering the play calling and Mike Hartline's youth, that he did what was asked of him, and he didn't hurt his teams chance at victory with mistakes.  Even though Hartline was only 16 -31 ( zero interceptions ) through the air, a closer look at the statistics reveals a slightly better performance:

• Of his 15 incompletion's, six were not his fault; Kyrus Lanxter dropped a pass at the U of L 11 yard line because he tried to run with the ball before he caught the ball ( for those of you new to football this is just the opposite of what he's supposed to do ).
• Lanxter missed a perfectly thrown fade in the corner of the end zone; this would have been a terrific catch, but the ball was thrown where only Lanxter could catch it, and Joker likes his fades thrown short.
• Hartline had to throw away three balls due to excellent coverage, or because a defensive lineman was in his face ( the end zone toss- away which resulted in a safety was a no-brainer; Hartline either throws the ball away, or takes a hit ). 
• DeMoreo Ford had a drop. 

Hartline did not play perfectly, of course; he overthrew a wide open T. C. Drake in the flat on the first play of the second quarter, which would have resulted in a touchdown.  He overthrew Drake again, by a yard or so, with a long pass into the end zone ( Drake had his man beat by a step ).  And he overthrew an open John Connor in the first series of the second half, which would have resulted in first down. 

Hartline had this to say about UK's offensive performance:

"Our whole ( offensive ) game plan was not to do anything stupid, was to take care of the ball and when we had opportunities, to try to take advantage.  We played smart ball today."

I tend to agree with him.  UK had only one turnover ( a Tony Dixon fumble ), and although Hartline's numbers are not awe-inspiring, he did what was asked by Phillips and Brooks. 

Conversely, one troubling aspect of the offenses performance came on this series with 10:00 minutes left in the game, and UK up only 13 - 2:

1st down on U of L's 12 yard line -- Derrick Locke up the middle for no gain,  2nd down -- Locke up the middle, hit for a three yard loss, 3rd and 13 -- Hartline complete to T. C. Drake for an eight yard gain.

That particular series was a microcosm of the games play calling.  I certainly understand, and do not question Joker Phillips and Rich Brooks wanting to be conservative with the offensive game plan on this day.  But, I think that trying to get Locke or Alfonso Smith out on the edges would have been a more successful choice.  After the way that UK's offensive line was inexplicably handled by U of L all day long, and with the speed UK's backs possess, running to the corners just seems logical. 

Not to pile on UK's O-line, but keep in mind when reviewing UK's 1.9 yards per carry average ( resulting in 63 net rush yards ), that the backs were hit either in the backfield, or within one yard of the line of scrimmage on 15 of 31 rush attempts ( yes, I counted ).  The three primary ball-carriers, Tony Dixon, Locke and Smith combined for 28 carries for 74 yards.  If before the game someone would have told me that would happen, I would have responded with rolling eyes.  But the joke would have been on me.  The offensive line simply MUST play better.  They have one month until Alabama, after that, things could get ugly for the 'big uglies'  who occupy space in front of Hartline. 

The key to this teams success ( i.e. 7 wins ) is the running game, because the defense will not ALWAYS be the game-winning unit.  Holding Georgia, Florida and Steve Spurrier to single-digit points will be nearly impossible, so at some point UK will have to score some offensive touchdowns, and all that begins with the front four opening up some running lanes.  Which is something they did not do Sunday.

Overall, gaining only 210 total yards is not good, regardless of how one spins the number.  But there is definitely talent on that side of the ball, it's just young.  Hopefully with some experience, and confidence which can be gained over the next three games, they will improve enough to be competitive versus the elite of the SEC.

To end the offensive review on a positive note; freshman Randall Cobb is very good when he has the ball in his hands.  He led the team with three receptions for 31 yards, and showed why he is being raved about by all around him.  He seems to have huge, soft hands, and he is very quick.  I envision him being used more and more as Hartline evolves as a quarterback.  My crystal ball says he will be special.

Offense grade -- C-

Special teams

After the defensive performance, the special teams play was UK's saving grace; both Tim Masthay and Ryan Tydlacka punted the ball exceptionally well.  Masthay averaged 42.8 yards on four punts, and Tydlacka averaged 41.7 yards on three punts ( Masthay's kick-off after the safety, from the twenty yard line to the two yard line, most decidedly a 'wow' moment ).  UK won the field position battle largely off the power of the two punter's legs, with U of L starting a drive in UK's territory only three times.  If Kentucky continues to play in close games ( and you know they will ), the importance of solid punting will continue to be at the top of UK's must-do list.

Also contributing to the special teams success:

• Dicky Lyons played mostly marvelously on special teams, except for fair-catching a ball he didn't catch, resulting in a 50 yard punt for U of L, and lost yardage for UK ( about 15 ).  Lyons caught six punts for 64 yards.  Many of those yards coming after the funky Lyons juked his pursuers, leaving them tackling air. 
• Lones Seiber did what was asked of him.  He made two short field goals ( missing a 49 yard attempt ), and all of his point after tries.  Coming off of a rough ending to last year, Seiber needs to get and maintain is confidence in order for UK to have every chance at victory.
• Freshman Matt Roark recorded a tipped field goal attempt. 

Overall an excellent effort by the special teams.

Special teams grade -- A

Final Analysis

A 27 -2 demoralizing of ones hated rival is never a bad thing.  And in the end, that's what matters.  UK won the game convincingly, in the fourth quarter, where over the last couple of years UK has dominated ( finally, a continuing trend of a positive nature ).  They won despite being very conservative on offense, and having to rely on a host of young receivers.  

Additionally, I think this was the first step in the education of Mike Hartline, and if Hartline is as smart as he seems, then I feel his quarterbacking abilities will catch up with his intelligence.  I look forward to watching him 'grow up' before our very eyes.  

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!  

It feels really good, and I mean really, really good to win the Governor's Cup two years in a row.  I have to admit, UK looked better on paper in this game, and first games of the season are often where that matters the most, before experience, coaching and overall comfort with the game begin to take hold.  Here are some overall impressions of this games statistics that got left out of my earlier effort:

• The statistics of this game will not make anyone fear Kentucky.  Yes, we looked good on defense, but Louisville's ineptitude on offense was a big part of that.  Cantwell had a really bad day, and Louisville did not go back to plays that were working often enough.
• The special teams were truly special.  Absent one out of bounds kick by Masthay and Seiber missing a very makable field goal, UK was perfect on special teams, getting good returns on punts and the one kickoff by Lyons, and Masthay's 78-yard crush of a free kick after the Hartline safety allowed UK to pin Louisville inside their own 20.  I can't remember that ever happening on a free kick from the 20 in any game I have ever seen.  Masthay also punted the ball very well.
  
• The penalty for not allowing sufficient room for the punt reception that Lyons fumbled was a correct call.  Many Louisville fans have bemoaned that call by claiming the Halo Rule is no longer in the game.  That's true, but that rule enforced a 2-yard zone around the receiver that the defense wasn't allowed to violate.  The new rule simply does away with that automatic zone of exclusion and allows the officials to judge when the punting team is interfering with the reception.  The fact that the football either touched or just missed Bilal Powell's helmet is all the evidence one needs to know he interfered with the fair catch.  Powell was less than a yard away from Lyons, and whether he was moving one way or another is utterly irrelevant.  Lyons could not move forward under the ball without running over Powell, and that was why he fumbled.
  
• Is Louisville's defense good, or is Kentucky's offense just inept?  Probably a combination of both, just like the other side of the coin.  But there can be no doubt that Kentucky's defense made many more big plays.
• The path to six wins just got much easier.  The question is, can we find a path to the scoreboard on offense (thanks ESPN)?  The offense can only claim direct responsibility for 3 points, and that is reason for concern.
• DeMoreo Ford can't get healthy fast enough for me.
• Matt Roark needs to learn to use his size like Chichester.  Believe it or not, it was Roark who blocked the Louisville field goal attempt.
  
• Look for a lot more Randall Cobb in the next few games.
• Mike Hartline showed more poise than I expected, and a weaker arm than I hoped for.
• Can Steve Kragthorpe survive the calls for his head?  I really don't know.  They may not be fair, but they are certainly loud and getting louder by the minute.
• Our linebackers can play better.  They had 12 tackles among all of them, with Micah Johnson leading with 5.
  
• Kudos to Brooks or to the 'Cats themselves for not rubbing it at PJCS.  I love teams that act like they've been there before, even when they haven't.
• I expect Louisville to improve, a lot.  There is nothing wrong with Cantwell that a few games and some practice can't solve, and their defense is so much better than last year that the offense won't need to be that great.  Let's be honest, we didn't sack Cantwell but twice.  He had enough time to be effective, but he just had a bad day and Kentucky's line had a great day slapping, tipping and generally harassing his passes.  He has a long throwing motion, but so did Woodson.  He just needs to learn when to throw hard and when not to.
  
• Seven tackles for loss is a really good statistic.  Keep that up and UK will be one of the best defenses in the nation.
• 4-16 (25%) in third down efficiency.  Not good at all.  For comparison, last year our third down conversion rate was 48%.
• Kentucky had 6 pass breakups compared to Louisville's 1.
• The UK O-line surrendered only 1 sack.
• Brian Bennett of ESPN was unimpressed with the Louisville effort:
  

  It was one of the ugliest and most inept losses in recent program history. Revlon doesn't make enough lipstick to gloss up this pig.

  Ouch.

So where does UK go from here?  Well, the path to 4-0 going into the Alabama game in Tuscaloosa seems very dooable.  But as good as Alabama looked against previously #9 ranked Clemson, UK is going to need to find a ton more offense than they had today, and step up their defensive effort even further.  Possible?  Sure, but next week, we will know a lot more about this team than we do this week.

As unpredictable as the upcoming Kentucky versus Louisville game seems, I feel there are a few key battles that UK must win in order to secure a victory in the war.  Looking at positional comparisons, UK seems to have an edge all over the field, except at quarterback.  And of course U of L has the good fortune of hosting this years contest.  Other than those two areas, which are important, Kentucky has the competitive advantage.

Competitive advantage, though, is not what I'm looking for.  I'm looking for what UK has to do in order to win ... period.  As I see it, if Kentucky executes the following aspects of the game plan, they will spend Sunday evening happily retelling their family, friends, and media members how they beat the University of E - Ville.

Dominate with Defense Part 1 -- Bringin' the heat 

The number one key to this game is not Hunter Cantwell, the running game, the receivers, Rich Brooks, or Steve Kragthorpe, it's UK's defense.  Kentucky's defense must live up to the hype it has received from the coaching staff, and eternally optimistic folks like me.

UK defensive tackle Corey Peters has definite ideas about how he plans to attack:

"I think pressure is very important, especially in the first game of the season.  They're probably not going to be completely in sync right off the bat.  I think it's important to not let them get into that ( rhythm ).  I think it's very important to get pressure with the front four so we don't really have to blitz."

Hunter Cantwell must feel the Blue heat.  I want him to be reminded of the hell Dave Ragone went through in 2002 ( 14 - 39 for 193 yards ).  Ragone ( who was thought to be a candidate for the Heisman ) left that UK victory in dire need of medical attention, and thoroughly familiar with the alignment of the stars in the sky.  He was battered and beaten, and looked it, especially late in the game.  Young Mr. Cantwell needs a refresher course in what Myron Pryor, Braxton Kelley, Corey Peters, Micah Johnson and Company are capable of putting a quarterback through.  If not, Cantwell is certainly talented enough to find and hit his receivers with strikes, which then puts the pressure to perform on the secondary, which always makes me nervous ( flashes of '02 LSU dance through my head ). 

Kentucky's defensive line ( it's best unit ) must gain penetration on U of L's offensive line.  "Well, that's no problem," the uninformed UK fan may think.  But, Louisville is returning two very important cogs off of last years O-line: Center Eric Wood ( 1st Team All-Big East, he's also on the Outland and Remington Trophy watch lists ), and OT George Bussey, himself an Outland candidate.  The rest of the O-line is makeshift and inexperienced, but they aren't going to just roll-over by themselves, they're going to need a little help.

Since I question whether Cantwell will be taking many seven-step drops, scanning the field for open receivers, UK's line must pressure him quickly.  Hopefully the results are hastily thrown balls, which are much more likely to be off-target, and/or intercepted.  Give him time, or relax on the rush, and he's capable of executing the pin-point pass to a covered receiver. 

UK defensive coordinator Steve Brown sounded cautionary regarding pressuring Cantwell:

"It's always important to get pressure on the quarterback, but you can't go into a game just thinking, 'Get a lot of pressure,' because they do an excellent job of running draws.  You have to be smart, see what the tempo of the game is and at that point make a decision about how you want to attack him."

Coach, as long as you "attack him," I'm with you.

Dominate with Defense Part 2 -- Stopping the run

The U of L running game will be relying on one proven commodity in senior fullback Brock Bolen, and two less experienced, yet talented backs to run the ball ( Bilal Powell and Victor Anderson ).  Once again, UK's defense must gain penetration in order to 'meet and greet' the Cardinal ball carriers in the backfield.  All three of the U of L running backs are capable of having big games, with running back Powell ( 206 yards on 24 carries ) possessing the most speed of the three.  I highly doubt that new offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm will be sending his backs up the gut of UK's D-line, so ends Ventrell Jenkins and Jeremy Jarmon, along with strong and weakside linebackers Johnny Williams and Braxton Kelley will be responsible for plugging holes before they open. 

Containing Louisville's ground game does three things: It puts more pressure on Cantwell, it keeps U of L from controlling the clock, and most importantly, it makes Louisville's offense one-dimensional.  And a one-dimensional offense is more often than not an unhappy offense, because they tend to lose more than they win.  Just ask Barry Sanders.

Dominate with Defense Part 3 -- Embarrass the receivers

Cornerback Trevard Lindley had this thought when asked about covering U of L's young receivers:

"I think we've got to get on their receivers early so they don't have any confidence."

Louisville's starting receivers, Troy Pascley and Doug Beaumont have caught exactly zero passes at the collegiate level.  Sophomore tight end Pete Nochta ( also zero career receptions ) will be replacing the excellent Gary Barnidge ( now with the Carolina Panthers ).  Trevard Lindley, David Jones, Ashton Cobb and Marcus McClinton should be licking their chops in anticipation.  I'm not meaning to imply that they should be over-confident, one must always respect ones opponent, but they have an opportunity Sunday to dominate a group of inexperienced receivers.  Generally speaking, young receivers are trying to concentrate on running the right routes and being in the right spots, on time.  If UK's Lindley and Jones get physical ( no, not the Olivia Newton-John type 'physical' ), and jam U of L's wide-outs at the line of scrimmage, that should throw off the rhythm of the young receiving corps, and it will also make them think, instead of react.  And a thinking receiver, is usually a beat receiver. 

There will be no more of a greater mismatch on the field Sunday than UK's secondary versus U of L's receivers.  There simply will be no excuse for one of the Cards gettin' off like Harry Douglas did last year ( 13 catches for 223 yards ). 

Field Position

Field position is determined by three factors; punting, turnovers, and returns.  Last year U of L was overly generous early in the game by putting the ball into UK's hands, resulting in UK enjoying a short field; on the Kentucky kick-off U of L put the ball on the ground on their own 20 yard line, resulting in a UK field goal.  A few minutes later a Brian Brohm interception gave UK the ball on U of L's 18 yard line, resulting in a touchdown.  The best field position that U of L started with that lovely day was their own 37 yard line.  Hence, the importance of field position. 

Kentucky must hold on to the ball, and Tim Masthay must be consistent with his punts ( he allowed only a 6.0 yard return average last year ).  Masthay pinning U of L deep in their own territory will only make it more difficult for the young Louisville offense to put points on the board.  And if Kentucky's defense can hold them to short yardage in those situations, UK will be looking at getting the ball back with a short field themselves.

Masthay is the king of touchbacks, leading the SEC with 23 last year.  One never knows when a break down will occur in special teams coverage allowing a long return, so that fact cannot be overstated.  His continued strong-leg displays on kick-offs are vital to ensuring that U of L starts with the ball on their own 20, instead of up-field.

The return game is very unpredictable.  Dicky Lyons and Randall Cobb will be handling most of the return work.  My only anticipation is for them to not turn the ball over.  Anything more than that, such as a long return, is gravy on momma's taters.

Lones Seiber

Since I anticipate a close game, Seiber is deserving of his own heading. 

UK's kicker has not exactly enamored himself with Rich Brooks in fall practice.  He's been inconsistent; missing chip-shots, but making a 52 yard field goal.  Seiber performed well for most of last year, but he faltered at the end of the season, missing four of his last five attempts. 

Nothing is more frustrating to a coach ( ask Bobby Bowden ), a fan ( ask me ), or a teammate ( ask Peyton Manning ) than an unsteady kicker.  So in the interest of sanity in the Bluegrass, please Lones, be dead-eye.

Ball game givens

In my mind, there are a couple of aspects to UK's game that are givens:

• Mike Hartline will be 'uneven': It's the kids first start, on the road, versus U of L, and he has only one experienced receiver ( plus tight end Maurice Grinter ).  If he's anything more than 'uneven,'  color me shocked.  What he can't do though, is turn the ball over.  All I'm looking for at this point in the season is for him to not hurt the teams chances at winning.  If he can make the screen pass, and the 10-15 yard slant ( and the occasional deep ball ), do just enough to keep Louisville's defense from putting eight guys in the box, then he'll be doing his job.
• UK's running game: Tony Dixon, Derrick Locke, Alfonso Smith and Moncell Allen should collectively, have a big day.  They will be running against a defense that pined to be considered porous last year.  They will also be facing three new linebackers, one of which is a freshman.  There will be no excuses to be had if they fail to eat up chunks of yardage; they should control the clock, keeping U of L's defense on the field for extended periods of time.  By the fourth quarter their legs should still be fresh, and easy yards should be there for all to enjoy. 

Possible surprise  

I think it is very possible that junior tight end Maurice Grinter could have a big day.  He's experienced, has soft hands, can run well ( he was a basketball star at Fairdale ), and run over just about anyone who decides to take him on.  Grinter is extremely athletic, and is capable of turning a short pass into a long gain.  With an abundance of 'green' receivers, Joker Phillips may decide to utilize Grinter as a relief-valve for Hartline, as well as in goal-line situations as a change of pace from the running backs.   

End Result

I think this game is tilted toward a UK victory.  Kentucky's defense, if they perform up to expectations, should go a long way in securing victory. 

Final score -- UK -- 27  U of L -- 23

Happy Birthday

Sunday is my mother, Linda's, 29th birthday ( or so she says ).  So, Happy Birthday mom, I love ya!

Thanks for reading, Go 'Cats!, beat Louisville!

Mike at Card Chronicle has produced this outstanding post analyzing the Governor's Cup game this Sunday.  I cannot hope to match his much more in-depth knowledge of the pigskin game, and it also hurts that I only got to listen to about the last 30 minutes of the Governor's Cup game last year (but that turned out to be the most important part).  But even given those handicaps, I can hopefully come up with some answers a la Jeopardy to the questions many Wildcat fans should be asking.

So with no further ado, let's play Governor's Cup Jeopardy!

Category:  Kentucky -- Answer:  Randall Cobb

Question:  Who is the Kentucky freshman most likely to make an instant impact on the offense?

Cobb is a multi-dimensional talent who can play football.  He can throw, he can catch and he can run.  He will see the field somewhere, and he will make an impact on Kentucky's offense.

Category:  Louisville -- Answer:  Bilal Powell

Question:  Who is the Louisville player the Kentucky defense will have the most trouble containing?

Powell is a converted defensive back who came into his own last year against Rutgers, with 13 carries for 91 yards.  Powell is an extraordinary athlete that can be devastating once he gets past the line of scrimmage.  He is inexperienced, but his raw ability is frightening.

Category:  Kentucky/Spelling -- Answer:  T-R-E-V-A-R-D

Question:  How do you spell the first name of the Wildcat most likely to pick off Hunter Cantwell?

We all know that Trevard Lindley has truly developed into one of the best cover corners in the SEC, and against Louisville's relatively green receiving corps, he should be a wolf among sheep.  No disrespect to Louisville, but balls thrown in Lindley's direction are not going to result in good things.

Category:  Louisville -- Answer:  "L" no.

Question:  Will the "Red Out" at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium make any difference at all?

No further comment necessary.

Category:  Kentucky -- Answer:  Micah Johnson

Question:  Who will lead the Kentucky defense in tackles on Sunday?

Micah Johnson is one of the most highly-touted recruits to ever don the Blue and White on defense.  Johnson was ranked #36 in the Rivals 100 as a recruit, and is a phenomenal athlete who loves to hit opposing players at high speed.  Johnson has been brought along gradually at Kentucky, but now he is ready for his coming-out party, and Louisville (who also heavily recruited him) looks like where it will happen.

Category:  Louisville -- Answer:  One

Question:  How many of the Louisville wide receivers likely to play on Sunday have ever caught a pass in a college game?

Forget proven -- Louisville has exactly one wide receiver likely to play on Sunday who has ever caught a pass in college, and that player is Chris Vaughn.  Vaughn is a senior who saw his first action last year (a tribute to the depth and skill of Louisville's receiving corps over the past few years) and caught 2 passes for 11 yards last year.  Not exactly Harry Douglas or Mario Urrutia.

As a side note, Trent Guy, who is a proven receiver recovering from a gunshot wound to the back this summer, is currently listed 3rd on the depth chart.  He could show up in the game, although I think most followers of football from both schools think it best if he wait a game or two longer before getting back into the action.

Category:  Kentucky -- Answer:  Two

Question:  How many of the Kentucky receivers likely to play on Sunday have ever caught a pass in a college game?

Unless DeMoreo Ford plays, only Dicky Lyons Jr. has ever caught a pass in college.  But Dicky has caught roughly six times more (128) by himself than the entire Louisville receiving corps including Trent Guy.

Lyons will be the #1 target for Hartline on Sunday without any doubt, so Louisville will be all over him.  That will give Kyrus Lanxter (who now looks ready to go), E.J. Adams (a converted DB) and the freshmen, Matt Roark, Eric Adeyemi and Gene McCaskill a chance to shine.

Category:  Louisville/Spelling -- Answer:  W-O-O-D-N-Y

Question:  How do you spell the first name of the Cardinal player most likely to pick off a Kentucky pass?

Woodny Turenne was a Rivals 5*, #1 ranked player out of junior college.  Like Micah Johnson, Turenne is a superb athlete with serious size and speed.  He will be a tough match up for any of Kentucky's receivers.  Turenne is quite possibly the most talented football player on either of the two squads.

Category:  Governor's Cup -- Answer:  1997 and 1998

Question:  What is the last time Kentucky beat Louisville back-to-back years?

Of course, those were the heyday of Hal Mumme and the "Air Raid" offense led by the mighty Tim Couch.  Unfortunately, that turned out to be fool's gold for Kentucky and led to 7 Louisville victories in the last 9 years, with last year's game breaking a streak of 4 in a row by Louisville, the longest such streak enjoyed by either team since the renewal of the annual game.

Category:  Governor's Cup -- Answer:  Unknown

Question:  Who will be the victor in this year's Governor's Cup game?

Who knows?  On paper, it looks to me like Kentucky has an advantage on the defensive line, linebackers, wide receivers, running backs and the kicking game.  Louisville has an advantage at quarterback and home field, which are two big ones.

The questions surrounding the young UK offense will be answered only in the game.  Louisville's defense was much-maligned last year, but should be better at least when it comes to defending the vertical game.  Underneath, Louisville has a whole new set of linebackers, but does Kentucky have the pass catchers to exploit that potential weakness?

Much has been made of the fact that the winner of the ground game usually wins the contest.  That would seem to favor Kentucky with their 4-deep stable of backs, but as the first scrimmage proved, the offensive line must step up for the backs to be effective.  In the final analysis, there are simply too many unknowns, so we'll just have to wait and see.