Kentucky
Wildcats
Preview 2009
By
Pete Fiutak
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2009 CFN Kentucky Preview |
2009 Kentucky
Offense
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2009 Kentucky
Defense |
2009 Kentucky Depth
Chart
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2008 Kentucky Preview |
2007 Kentucky Preview |
2006 Kentucky Preview
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Head coach: Rich Brooks
7th year: 32-41
25th year overall: 123-150-4
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 27, Def. 20, ST 3
Lettermen Lost: 12 |
Ten
Best UK Players
1. CB Trevard Lindley, Sr.
2. LB Micah
Johnson, Sr.
3. WR Randall Cobb, Soph.
4. DT Corey Peters,
Sr.
5. QB Mike Hartline, Jr.
6. RB Alfonso Smith, Sr.
7. RB Derrick Locke, Jr.
8. OT Zipp Duncan, Sr.
9.
OT Justin Jeffries, Sr.
10. LB Danny Trevathan, Soph. |
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2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 6-6
2009 Record: 0-0
9/5 Miami
Univ. (Cin.)
9/12 OPEN DATE
9/19 Louisville
9/26 Florida
10/3 Alabama
10/10 at South Carolina
10/17 at Auburn
10/24 UL Monroe
10/31 Miss State
11/7 Eastern Kentucky
11/14 at Vanderbilt
11/21 at Georgia
11/28 Tennessee
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2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 5-7
2008 Record:
7-6
8/31
at Louisville W 27-2
9/6 Norfolk State W
38-3
9/13 Middle Tenn W
20-14
9/20 OPEN DATE
9/27 Western Kent. W
41-3
10/4 at Alabama L 17-14
10/11 South Carolina L 24-17
10/18 Arkansas W 21-20
10/25 at Florida L 63-5
11/1 at Miss St W 14-13
11/8 Georgia L 42-38
11/15 Vanderbilt L
31-24
11/22 OPEN DATE
11/29 at Tennessee L 28-10
Liberty Bowl
1/2 East Carolina W 25-17
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No,
Kentucky isn't going to be a powerhouse, and it's cursed by being in the
SEC East, but that doesn't mean that Rich Brooks isn't doing a whale of
a job by making his teams competitive year after year.
There's
an old adage when it comes to coaches that once there's talk about a hot
seat or firing the head man, it's over. Almost all coaches are
eventually canned anyway, and when there's enough discontent and enough
losses to force a discussion over job status, it's usually best to cut
ties and try again. But Brooks defied the logic by turning Kentucky into
a dangerous, tough out who has to be worried about and doesn't get the
automatic circle win on the schedule it used to. He did it by upgrading
the coaching staff, by keeping the ship on track by not changing through
rocky times, and he did it by bringing in more speed and athleticism.
Kentucky might not always get the top players compared to the
Floridas, Tennessees, and Georgias of the SEC world, but it has gotten
its share of great prospects while filling in the gaps with athletes who
might not be the best football players, and football players who might
not be the best athletes. While the results have been a bit uneven over
the years, the program has played hard and has survived in the nation's
toughest conference. Now there needs to be more of an attitude and there
has to be more consistency.
If Kentucky is good enough to stay
with Alabama last year in a 17-14 battle, then why did it struggle so
much with Middle Tennessee? How could a team that battled with Georgia
in a 42-38 loss beat a woeful Mississippi State team by one? The fact of
the matter is that last year's veteran team beat the teams it was
supposed to, for the most part, and battled hard over the course of the
rest of the season.
There was only one ugly blowout game, a 63-5
loss to Florida, but UK's seven wins were over Louisville, Norfolk
State, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Arkansas, and Mississippi
State, six non-bowl teams, before beating East Carolina in the Liberty
Bowl. And while the Cats lost to Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia and
Vanderbilt all by seven points or fewer, they were also two points away
from being winless in SEC play. Now the trick will be to see of all the
speed, athleticism, and promise that Brooks has brought in can produce
wins over someone other than the weak and the sad.
This year's
team might be a year away from being truly dangerous, but there are some
bright spots. The offensive line should be the best UK has seen in
seasons. There are a few fantastic playmakers in LB Micah Johnson, CB
Trevard Lindley, and WR Randall Cobb to start with, and promising
players like QB Mike Hartline and LB Danny Travathan who appear ready to
make a big impact. Throw in a lightning fast group of skill players
(outside of Hartline), a big defensive line, and a good rotation in the
secondary, and UK has the makings to be promising.
Brooks has
never made excuses, even though he could've last year in an
injury-plagued season, and he's not going to blame any problems this
year on youth. However, with a decent schedule and enough upside to hope
for a few stunners, Kentucky could be a key part of the SEC title
picture with Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama coming to Lexington.
However, the Cats aren't going to be in the hunt, as entertaining and as
scary as they'll be against the big boys.
What to watch for on offense: The line. There
needs to be a No. 2 wide receiver to help out Randall Cobb, Mike
Hartline needs to become more of a playmaker at quarterback, and the
speedy, versatile running backs have to be more productive, and it can
all happen if the line becomes the strength of the team. Last year's
front five helped UK finish first in the SEC and fourth in the nation in
sacks allowed, giving up 13, and it wasn't awful for the ground game.
Now with four senior starters, and a fifth in sophomore guard Stuart
Hines who might be the most talented one of the bunch, this group should
allow everyone else to do their jobs. While this might not be the
high-flying spread attack of 2007, it should be more balanced and better
than last year when injuries struck. The line will have a major part in
the turnaround.
What to watch for on defense: The ends. Not only
does Kentucky have to replace its two starting ends, it has to replace
Jeremy Jarmon, who came back for his senior year but was suspended, and
Ventrell Jenkins, who's off playing for the Buffalo Bills following a
great career. Collins Ukwu has big-time upside as a pass rusher on one
side, while 296-pound Chandler Burden has good athleticism for his size
on the other side. These two have to do something, anything on the
outside early on to take the pressure off the tackles who have to focus
on holding up against the run. If the ends don't produce, the rebuilding
secondary will have issues.
The team will be far better if …
the kicking game is better. UK kickers Lones Seiber
and Ryan Tydlacka combined to hit 14-of-25 field goals last year. Seiber
is a three-year starter with nice range, but he hasn't shown it off
enough and he has missed too many kicks. Last year's team played in
eight games decided by seven points or fewer, and it needs Seiber to be
a rock to be the difference between a bowl and an also-ran, stay-at-home
season.
The Schedule:
It's not bad after what
should be an emotionally-charged stretch to start the season
facing Louisville, Florida, and Alabama, along with Miami
University, meaning the Wildcats don't go on the road until
October 10th. While Florida and Tennessee have to come to
Lexington, two of the games against the West, at Auburn and
Mississippi State, are against teams that didn't go bowling last
year. There are only four road games, but two come late with
trips in back-to-back weeks against Vanderbilt and Georgia
before closing out against Tennessee. While the Louisville game
is the big rivalry battle, the non-conference schedule is light
and breezy.
Best Offensive Player:
Sophomore WR Randall
Cobb. Without Cobb, Kentucky doesn't go to a bowl game last year. As a
true freshman, Cobb stepped up as a running quarterback and bailed the
team out of the fire in a win over Mississippi State, and he almost
single-handedly pulled off an upset win over Georgia in a 42-38
loss. He got dinged up late in the year, but he was still one of the
team's top receivers and the second-leading rusher. Now he'll be the No.
1 target who has to use his talent and experience to once again be an
explosive all-around playmaker.
Best Defensive Player:
Senior CB Trevard Lindley.
LB Micah Johnson is in the mix and should be an All-SEC performer, but
Lindley will likely earn All-America honors. One of the steadiest pass
defenders in college football over the last three years, and a sure
tackler who doesn't miss anything that comes his way, he's the one the
secondary works around. There won't likely be too many passes thrown his
way, but he'll make the most of his chances.
Key player to a successful season: Junior QB
Mike Hartline. The offense needed to replace Andre Woodson last year,
and it did a bad job of it. Hartline wasn't awful, and he had a few big
moments, but he struggled with his efficiency and didn't use his big arm
enough to make things happen. He vowed this offseason to take a bigger
role in the attack both as a player and a leader, and he came up with a
strong spring. While there's talk of a quarterback controversy going
into the fall, this is Hartline's team.
The season will be a
success if ... UK wins eight games for the third time in four
years. This is no small feat even with the favorable schedule. The team
isn't going to be as good as last year when it went 7-6, and it'll
probably look ugly at times against teams it should beat. However,
there's enough speed and athleticism, and there's enough talent, to
demand nothing less than another winning season. Get to the bowl, and
the Cats are great winning three straight and as almost a near-lock to
get an extra game this time around, too.
Key game:
Sept. 19 vs. Louisville.
After struggling for so long in the in-state rivalry, UK won its second
straight last season with a 27-2 stomping on opening day. The Cardinals
have improved, but the Wildcats can't afford to blow the home game with
Florida, Alabama, at South Carolina and at Auburn to follow. Last year,
UK got off to a 4-0 start before diving into SEC play. A loss to UofL
this year might mean a 1-5 start.
2008 Fun Stats:
- First quarter
scoring: Opponents 101 - Kentucky 34
- Sacks: Kentucky 32 for 195
yards - Opponents 13 for 88 yards
- Field goals: Kentucky 14-of-25 -
Opponents 9-of-23
-
2009 CFN Kentucky Preview |
2009 Kentucky
Offense
-
2009 Kentucky
Defense |
2009 Kentucky Depth
Chart
-
2008 Kentucky Preview |
2007 Kentucky Preview |
2006 Kentucky Preview