Three straight years the Kentucky Wildcats have reached a bowl game and have won all three. Known for basketball, the football team has stolen some headlines in Lexington as they enter the 2009 campaign looking to go bowling four straight years—something NEVER seen in Lexington in over 100 years of existence. In their way is a brutal SEC schedule, a loss of some star talent on defensive line, and huge question marks on offense. Head Coach Rich Brooks doesn’t seem too phased by the national and local media calling for the Cats to drop to last in the East as Brooks put it; “We are picked last every year.” And since they are picked last, Kentucky can only surprise teams in the coming season.
OFFENSE
In Lexington the talk has been centered around the quarterback position. Last season, Kentucky began with sophomore Mike Hartline under center, but when he was unable to move the ball he was replaced by true freshman Randall Cobb. Cobb was recruited to play receiver and play in the Wildcat formation, but Hartline’s inability to lead allotted Cobb to get a majority of the reps until an injury at the end of the season. This past offseason, Kentucky recruited two of the nation’s top quarterbacks- running quarterback Morgan Newton and true pocket passer Ryan Mossakowski. Prior to fall camp, both were thought to have a strong shot at the quarterback position. However, both have shown some their age and lack of maturity behind center. It will be Mike Hartline’s team as for as long as he can hold it. Randall Cobb will now move to fulltime receiver and run the Wildcat formation when needed. The running game should continue to be strong with senior Alfonzo Smith getting a bulk of the carries. Also coming back will be Derrick Locke. Locke is has a tremendous freshman season but last year had a devastating knee injury. If Locke can return to his freshman form, Kentucky should have a solid one-two punch in the backfield. The offensive line returns seven players with starting experience, which should only create more time for quarterback Mike Hartline and create holes for the running game.
DEFENSE
Defensively the Wildcats hope to get back to the early season form of a year ago. Entering the fifth game of the season, Kentucky was in the top 10 defenses in the country. However injuries at the line backing core and inconsistency at the corners caused the Cats to struggle the rest of the season. A major cause for worry on defense within the interior, The Wildcats must replace 3 fourths of their defensive line. The huge strength to the Cats though will be at the second and third levels. At corner, Kentucky fields pre-season first team All-American Trevard Lindley who last year picked off four passes and shut down opposing team’s top receiver. At linebacker, senior Micah Johnson will lead the defense. Johnson had an opportunity to leave early last season and possibly be a solid second round draft choice. However, he decided to give it a go one more year and with an injury free year he could put himself in the first round of the NFL draft in April. Other than the two standout players, Kentucky only returns 2 other players and must rely on their strongest recruiting class yet, to mature quickly and play at SEC speed.
Defensively the Wildcats hope to get back to the early season form of a year ago. Entering the fifth game of the season, Kentucky was in the top 10 defenses in the country. However injuries at the line backing core and inconsistency at the corners caused the Cats to struggle the rest of the season. A major cause for worry on defense within the interior, The Wildcats must replace 3 fourths of their defensive line. The huge strength to the Cats though will be at the second and third levels. At corner, Kentucky fields pre-season first team All-American Trevard Lindley who last year picked off four passes and shut down opposing team’s top receiver. At linebacker, senior Micah Johnson will lead the defense. Johnson had an opportunity to leave early last season and possibly be a solid second round draft choice. However, he decided to give it a go one more year and with an injury free year he could put himself in the first round of the NFL draft in April. Other than the two standout players, Kentucky only returns 2 other players and must rely on their strongest recruiting class yet, to mature quickly and play at SEC speed.
SEASONAL PROJECTIONS
With fall camp 3 weeks in the books, Rich Brooks has said numerous times that this team is the best all around team he has seen since he has been here. If that is the case Kentucky could be bowl bound for a fourth consecutive year. Kentucky will be battle tested early as the schedule appears daunting. After an opening game in Cincinnati against Miami of Ohio, the Cats get a bye week. Following the bye, Kentucky must play 11 straight weeks. Depth has always been an issue for Kentucky in the SEC, so the Big Blue faithful will truly see how ready Kentucky is to compete in the most competitive conference in football early this season. Following the bye, Kentucky faces rival Louisville, Florida, and Alabama in consecutive weeks. In October, the Wildcats head to Columbia and play Steve Spurrier and South Carolina and go to Auburn. Although Kentucky has NEVER beaten a Steve Spurrier led team, if they can get by the Gamecocks, and win all the nonconference games- Miami, Louisville, Eastern Kentucky, Louisiana-Monroe; Kentucky has a shot at finishing the season with seven wins (assuming a win in Vanderbilt and hosting Mississippi State). Rich Brooks has been known to pull an upset or two in his tenure here in Lexington, taking down Georgia in 2006 and LSU in 2007 so the ball is really up in the air to see if he can pull another this season. Look for Kentucky to finish around the same as the past three years and reach a fourth consecutive bowl.
With fall camp 3 weeks in the books, Rich Brooks has said numerous times that this team is the best all around team he has seen since he has been here. If that is the case Kentucky could be bowl bound for a fourth consecutive year. Kentucky will be battle tested early as the schedule appears daunting. After an opening game in Cincinnati against Miami of Ohio, the Cats get a bye week. Following the bye, Kentucky must play 11 straight weeks. Depth has always been an issue for Kentucky in the SEC, so the Big Blue faithful will truly see how ready Kentucky is to compete in the most competitive conference in football early this season. Following the bye, Kentucky faces rival Louisville, Florida, and Alabama in consecutive weeks. In October, the Wildcats head to Columbia and play Steve Spurrier and South Carolina and go to Auburn. Although Kentucky has NEVER beaten a Steve Spurrier led team, if they can get by the Gamecocks, and win all the nonconference games- Miami, Louisville, Eastern Kentucky, Louisiana-Monroe; Kentucky has a shot at finishing the season with seven wins (assuming a win in Vanderbilt and hosting Mississippi State). Rich Brooks has been known to pull an upset or two in his tenure here in Lexington, taking down Georgia in 2006 and LSU in 2007 so the ball is really up in the air to see if he can pull another this season. Look for Kentucky to finish around the same as the past three years and reach a fourth consecutive bowl.
8-4
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