'09 Football Opponent Preview: Kentucky
July 21, 2009 | Football
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- As college football fans across the country gear up for another exciting season of action on the gridiron, UofLSports.com will give Louisville fans breakdown, analysis and things to watch for on each of the Cardinals' 2009 opponents leading up to the start of the season.
The staff of UofLSports.com continues its 2009 football season preview with an in-depth look at Louisville's first road test against Kentucky in the battle for the Governor's Cup.
 | Game Buildup |
The University of Louisville football team looks to snap a two-game losing streak to the Wildcats when the Cardinals travel to Lexington on Sept. 19. The Cardinals are trying to overcome a 27-2 home loss last season at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium when the Cardinals were held to just 205 yards of total offense. The Cardinals haven't won in Lexington since the 2005 season after losing 40-34 in their last visit to Commonwealth Stadium in 2007.
The Wildcats have won three straight bowl games and are coming off a 7-6 2008 campaign. The Wildcats held the Cardinals without a touchdown in the '08 game, but did manage just 210 yards of total offense in the win. The game is huge for the Cardinals who look to stop the two-game slide against UK. The Wildcats return 12 starters and 50 letterwinners, including one of the nation's top cornerbacks in Trevard Lindley.
| Season Outlook |
As a veteran football coach, Rich Brooks has a keen sense of history. He and his Wildcats have made plenty of it the last three years, winnin bowl games in three consecutive seasons for the first time ever at the University of Kentucky. There have been several other milestones as well, but rather than savor the success, Brooks would rather look at the tasks ahead.
| Players to Watch |
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Randall Cobb | QB/WR | No. 18 | Sophomore
Randall Cobb is one of the most dynamic players on the Kentucky squad. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team by SEC Coaches and was UK's Most Outstanding First-Year Player by UK coaches. He showed noteworthy maturity and versatility as a freshman by playing quarterback, wide receiver and as a punt returner. By November of last season he was the only player in the nation who was the team's starting quarterback and primary punt returner. He played in 11 games, starting four games at wide receiver and then the last four games of the season at quarterback.
Other Key Players
| Scouting Opponent's Offense |
The Kentucky offense had to be virtually rebuilt a year ago after massive graduation losses from the 2007 squad. The '08 attack was a mostly inexperienced crew, but the coming season should reflect the benefits of those growing pains.
Always pushing, though, Brooks' lofty goals won't be met by the simple maturation process.
After adjusting the offense to fit the youthful personnel of a year ago, Brooks and offensive chief Joker Phillips believe the Cats can return to a more wide-open version of the pro-style attack that set multiple school records in '06 and '07.
Junior quarterback Mike Hartline did a good job in leading the green offensive troops last year. He threw for 1,666 yards and nine touchdowns during the season and was the offensive most outstanding player of UK's victory in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Sophomore Randall Cobb showed playmaking ability as a passer, runner and pass catcher a year ago, accounting for 1,055 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is expected to see occasional action under center this season, but the coaches would like to keep his dynamic talents at wide receiver the majority of the time. Will Fidler and redshirt freshman DeAunte Mason will compete in the spring as well.
In addition to Cobb, who will see limited action in the spring as he recovers from a knee injury, there will be intense competition at the wideouts between junior Kyrus Lanxter, sophomores Gene McCaskill, Eric Adeyemi, Aaron Boyd and Matt Roark, and talented redshirt freshman E.J. Fields.
The tight end position is in good hands with a trio of seniors, T.C. Drake, Maurice Grinter and Ross Bogue.
Speedster Alfonso Smith (313 yards last season) and hard-running Moncell Allen (202 yards) return at tailback. The explosive Derrick Locke (303 yards) will miss the spring while he recovers from his knee injury, but hopes to be ready when practice resumes in August.
Senior John Conner, a punishing blocker and hard-nosed runner, is a valuable asset at fullback. Senior A.J. Nance is a reliable backup.
Departed All-SEC performer Garry Williams will be missed in the offensive line, but otherwise much experience is available up front, led by returning senior starters Zipp Duncan, center Jorge Gonzalez, who was named UK's Most Improved Offensive Player in 2008, and right tackle Justin Jeffries. Duncan, a two-year regular at guard, will get a spring trial at Williams' old spot at left tackle. Former starting guard Christian Johnson, also a senior, is back after a redshirt season.
| Scouting Opponent's Defense |
The Kentucky defense has made significant progress over the last two seasons, as the appointment of defensive coordinator Steve Brown coincided with the maturing of a young group.
UK has improved from 118th in the nation in total defense (2006) to 67th (2007) to 40th last year. In the same time frame, UK has gone from 99th to 80th to 35th in the nation in scoring defense.
Most of the rebuilding in the spring will come on defense, where five starters and three capable reserves graduated.
Senior tackle Corey Peters will lead the charge up front. Peters has improved his big-play performance each season and has 16 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in his career.
Junior Ricky Lumpkin is the heir apparent at the tackle slot vacated by All-SEC honoree Myron Pryor. Shane McCord provides veteran help at tackle and coaches are eager to get a first look at junior-college transfer Mark Crawford. The opposite end position is wide open, with young talents Chandler Burden, Collins Ukwu and Taylor Wyndham in the mix.
Johnson, who earned Coaches' All-SEC honors last season with 93 tackles, will be counted on to anchor the defense at middle linebacker. Well-seasoned senior Sam Maxwell appears to be ready for a full-time starting role. He can play either outside linebacker and will begin the spring at the weakside post.
Developing a starter at strongside linebacker and additional linebacker depth will be a spring priority. Senior Mikhail Mabry, junior Jacob Dufrene and sophomore Danny Trevathan have some game experience.
Lindley was a second-team All-American and consensus first-team All-SEC choice last year. Entering his fourth year as a starter, he totals nine interceptions and a UK career-record 34 pass breakups. He had four picks and 11 PBU last season.
Several more lettermen in the secondary will provide interesting competition in the spring, including cornerbacks Randall Burden, Winston Guy and Paul Warford, along with safeties Calvin Harrison, Matt Lentz, Ashton Cobb, Taiedo Smith and Greg Wilson. Warford, a starter in 2007, redshirted last year. Seniors Harrison and Cobb have extensive game experience.
| Scouting Opponent's Special Teams |
There is an enormous hole on special teams following the departure of Tim Masthay, who played a vastly underrated role in field position as an All-SEC punter and booming kickoff man.
Sophomore Ryan Tydlacka is likely to take over the punting duties. He averaged 37.1 yards last season as the team's "pooch" punter, showing a deft ability to drop the ball inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
Senior kicker Lones Seiber is the No. 2 scorer in school history with 232 points, including 38 of 63 field goals during his career. He will resume his competition with Tydlacka, who made 3-of-6 field goals last year, including a 51-yarder.
The potential for kick returns is exciting. Winston Guy and Derrick Locke averaged 29.1 and 28.5 yards per kickoff return, respectively. Randall Cobb averaged 8.4 yards per punt return.
| Game Implications |
The Cardinals need to defeat their intra-state rival to stop a two-game losing streak in the series. The game has huge implications across the state of Kentucky for recruiting and bragging rights. After losing to the 'Cats in 2007, the Cardinals dropped the following game to Syracuse, snapping their 20-game home winning streak. Each of the last two years that Louisville has lost to Kentucky has resulted in non-winning seasons.
The countdown to the start of the season marches on as UofLSports.com provides and in-depth look at Utah in its next installment.
