SB Nation - Victor Anderson

The Battle For The Big East Basement

Sean Keeley — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:34:17 -0000

Two Teams With 0-4 Big East Records Enter.

One Team Leaves With A Big East Victory.

It's Syracuse. It's Louisville. It's....The Battle For The Big East Basement.

That's right, while Cincinnati and West Virginia slug it out to determine critical Big East seedings, the Orange and the Cardinals will spend Saturday determining who in all likelihood will finish last in the Big East. Previous Basement denizens include:

2005: Syracuse (1-10, 0-7)

2006: Syracuse (4-8, 1-6), UConn (4-8, 1-6)

2007: Syracuse (2-10, 1-6)

2008: Syracuse (3-9, 1-6), Louisville (5-7, 1-6)

Illustrious company, for sure. Louisville also has the ignominious honor of being that lone Syracuse Big East victory in 2007 and 2008 so in a way, they've had a piece of both year's accomplishment.

Before we delve in it's worth discussion one man in particular. He is a legend already. He is said to possess Mjǫllnir, otherwise known as Thor's Hammer. He can tear a phonebook in two with his....mind. He once sneezed and was credited with fourteen tackles...during an Econ class. Some say he is immortal though science has yet to prove or debunk this theory.

His name is Shamarko. And he almost played for Louisville.

Actually he and LB Iron Brandon Sharpe both originally decided to attend Louisville before changing their minds and committing to Syracuse. Neither of them needs more motivation to play well this weekend, but they've got plenty anyway.

"I've got to perform well," said Thomas to laughter with himself and reporters on Tuesday. "I've got to show them the reason I came here is to change this program and we're not losing to Louisville."

"They probably do," said Sharpe when asked if the Cardinals will know who he is. "It's going to be a good game, though. The competition level is going to be high, of course, for me and Shamarko because we were both committed there, and then we decommmitted. It's going to be lots of fun.

From Shamarko's lips to the Football God's ears.

Averin Collier scored his first touchdown last weekend and as a reward he'll be seeing a lot more action. Just not at the running back spot.

Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone said Monday Collier was in discussion about how to compensate for the loss of Catalina, who was injured in the Orange's 37-10 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday. In fact, Collier was the first person Marrone mentioned during his press conference Monday,. Additionally, Marrone said tailback Mike Jones and tight ends Carl Cutler and Dalton Phillips are pieces to the puzzle as coaches try and figure out packages and personnel to replace Catalina and Provo.

"Hey, it's football. I got recruited as an athlete. They see I can play multiple positions and do multiple things on the field. That's how I"m going to be used."

In other news, CB Kevyn Scott was dressed a week after missing the Pittsburgh game, as was Randy McKinnon. Oh, and the suspendees are back! Mostly.

Tailback Antwon Bailey, offensive guard Andrew Tiller and defensive end Torrey Ball had their suspensions lifted on Monday by head coach Doug Marrone and were participating in practice. Tiller did dress out for practice but appeared limited. He did not practice last week because of some type of injury he sustained in an automobile accident Nov. 1.

Over on the Louisville side, they're bracing for the battle...once they remembered what was going on. Kraggers is in the same boat Greggers found himself in last year...a wounded duck just trying to make it to end safely before the inevitable. He's basically admitted defeat with the fans and locals but is asking for someone, anyone to come out and support the Cardinals this weekend. With their best player, RB Victor Anderson, still iffy, don't expect too much.

We've still got time on this one so in the meantime, let's take this rare opportunity to bask in our recent success with highlights from the two previous encounters (apologies for Greg Robinson sightings).

Louisville 21, Arkansas State 13

Mike Rutherford — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:11:07 -0000

First things first, congratulations to the guys on the field for picking up a victory. With everything that's happened and with all that's been said it can't be easy to keep showing up day after day, but they have and they certainly deserved to enjoy Saturday night.

Still, you may not think it's pretty, you may not think it's right, but this is the story of the game:

And I agree with Rick Bozich, the fact that U of L actually announced the crowd as 21,497 is probably the surest sign yet that Kragthorpe is definitely out of here

Hopefully so are numb Saturdays.

Even though apathy has been in complete control since somewhere the third quarter of the Utah game, I don't think any of us can deny that the Will Stein story is a pretty neat one.

I don't think he has the tools to guide any team to a BCS conference title, and I sincerely doubt that he'll ever start another game for U of L after this season, but he's really fun to watch and really easy to root for, and at this point that's about as much of a compliment as you can pay to any Cardinal.

I'm all for letting the kid take the reigns for the rest of the year.

Chris Campa is an absolute monster and he's one of those guys who I can see wowing coaches at a training camp and hanging around on practice squads in the league for multiple years. I really wish we had he, Dempsey and Campa for another year.

Maybe the highlight of the game for me was Victor Anderson going crazy on the sidelines during a long Bilal Powell run. There seems to be nothing fake about Vic. He genuinely loves his team, his teammates and this program.

Here's hoping we can get him at least one postseason trip before he leaves town.

Might be time to at least experiment with wearing a shoe, Ryan.

When the ball was in the air on the last play of the game, I only remember saying, "oh my god he's open." The sad thing is there was no fear or panic in my voice, it was pretty much just an observation.

I hate this.

Goal No. 2 for the rest of the season (behind keeping key players healthy) is getting Doug Beaumont into the endzone.

I do not believe Steve Kragthorpe is a good football coach.

Again, congrats to the team and thanks so much for working so hard so that we here have stuff - good or bad - to think and talk about.

Kentucky Football Blues

Ken Howlett — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:21:39 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

Celebrations after UK mistakes are becoming all too common.

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Lexington Herald-Leader football writer Chip Cosby and I are thinking along the same wavelength, as it pertains to the failings of the UK football team. Cosby penned an excellent article concerning the mistakes UK has made, not only this season, but also in seasons past, that have cost the 'Cats victory, or at minimum, a much better showing against SEC foes. Having already researched a post regarding UK's many mistakes this season, and the negative impact those mistakes have had on the team, I will forge ahead with my thoughts, using Cosby's piece as an excellent companion article.

I sit in amazement whenever I watch a PGA Tour event. Being a self-described "hack" when it comes to playing the links, I have a great appreciation for the skill on display when I witness Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson strike the ball with a deftness reserved for those with (what can only be described as) God-given ability. But, even the best golfers in the world mis-hit the blasted little white ball on occasion, oftentimes ending up amongst the local forestry. Now, when this unfortunate circumstance prevails itself upon the amateur golfer (or at least those with double-digit handicaps), a score well over par is usually the penalty for such a wayward shot. Conversely, the professionals almost always find a way, a path which to take, that leaves the ball on the green, or at least nearer the cup.

The pros simply have the skill, knowledge and experience it takes to extract oneself from near disaster, whereas, us amateurs find ourselves abusing the trees our ball lies among. The talent to recover from mistakes ... it's just one ability that separates the duffer from the professional. And the Kentucky football team is no different than the duffer, at least at the moment.

I don't intend to disparage the football 'Cats, rather, my intent is to illustrate the self-defeating ways and means of this team, and to show the high cost of the unusually high number of mistakes the Wildcats have saddled themselves with this season. And while I like the team, and believe they are talented, they don't yet possess the ability needed to overcome so many miscues, and still come out victorious against the elite teams of the SEC.

Ironically enough, the pattern of self-destruction began during the second quarter of a win, albeit, a win whose margin of victory should have been much greater:

UK 31 Louisville 27

Kentucky Penalties -- 8 for 95 yards.

Kentucky Turnovers -- One interception, and two fumbles.

Turnover Margin -- UK - 3 U of L - 2

Second Quarter -- Louisville running back Victor Anderson rushed the ball for zero gain on 2nd & 10. Instead of the Cards facing a 3rd & 10, a face mask penalty was whistled on UK, resulting in the line of scrimmage being moved from the U of L 33, to the U of L 48 yard line. Result of the drive -- UK took over on downs.
Late Second Quarter -- UK had a 1st & Goal on the U of L five-yard line, up 17-7. A false start penalty against UK placed the ball back five yards to the 10 yard line. Result of the drive -- Zero points for UK due to a combination of the penalty, and poor clock management.
Third Quarter -- On the opening kick-off of the second half, U of L's Trent Guy returned the kick 65-yards to the UK 34 yard line. Result of the long return -- A Ryan Payne 23-yard field goal.
Third Quarter -- On the ensuing kick-off return, UK fumbled the ball away, giving U of L the ball on the UK 44 yard line. Result of the turnover -- A U of L missed 28-yard field goal.
Third Quarter -- A U of L interception results in the Cards taking over possession of the ball on the UK 25 yard line. Louisville gained a net zero yards on the position. Result of the turnover -- A Ryan Payne 42-yard field goal.
Third Quarter -- A UK fumble gave U of L the ball on the Louisville 41 yard line. Result of the turnover - A U of L touchdown.
Fourth Quarter -- UK intercepted a Justin Burke pass. Sam Maxwell returned the pick 17-yards to the UK 36 yard line, but a UK clipping penalty on the return resulted in the 'Cats losing precious field position: Instead of taking over near mid-field, UK took possession on their own 21 yard line. Result of the drive -- A UK punt.

Of U of L's 27 points, 13 came via UK mistakes.

UK, on that day, was good enough to overcome penalties, turnovers, and clock mismanagement, in large part due to Louisville's own generosity with the football. Also enabling a UK victory is the fact that, inarguably, U of L is not in the same stratosphere, talent-wise, as South Carolina, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, or any of the remaining games on UK's schedule with the exception of Eastern Kentucky, and Louisiana-Monroe. And the Cards certainly are light-years behind what were to be UK's next two fortunate opponents, Florida and Alabama.

Florida 41 UK 7

Kentucky Penalties -- 9 for 69 yards.

Kentucky Turnovers -- Two interceptions.

Turnover Margin -- UK - 2 Florida - 0

First Quarter -- On UK's first drive of the game (from their own 20 yard line), a Derrick Locke five-yard gain was negated by an illegal motion penalty, immediately followed by a UK false start penalty which cost UK an additional five yards. Florida then sacked UK quarterback Mike Hartline for a loss of nine yards. Result of the drive -- Lost field position, and a 34-yard UK punt from their own five-yard line.
First Quarter -- On the Gators ensuing possession: It's 1st & 10 from the UK 36. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow threw an incompletion, but a Wildcat holding penalty resulted in the ball being spotted at the UK 26 yard line. Result of the drive -- A Florida touchdown.
First Quarter -- UK had a punt blocked thanks to a missed blocking assignment. Result of the block -- A Florida touchdown.
First Quarter -- On the ensuing kick-off, UK's Winston Guy returned the ball to the UK 14 yard line, but an illegal block on Kentucky sent the ball back seven yards to the UK seven-yard line. Result of the drive -- Lost field position and a UK punt, which resulted in ...
First Quarter -- Florida took over possession at their own 42 yard line following the UK punt. Result of the short field -- A Florida touchdown.
Late Second Quarter -- On the possession following a UK 59 yard drive for six, and down 31-7, UK gained ball possession on their own 22 yard line. Here is the series that followed: 1st & 10 -- Hartline nine-yard completion to Chris Matthews; 2nd & 1 from the UK 31 yard line -- A Locke one-yard gain for the first down is wiped-out by a UK holding penalty; 2nd & 10 from the UK 22 yard line -- A Hartline 20-yard pass completion to Matthews is negated by a UK holding penalty; 2nd & 21 from the UK 11 -- Three-yard rushing loss, resulting in a UK punt. UK gained a positive 30 yards on the possession, yet lost a total of 14 yards due to penalties.
Opening Drive of the Third Quarter -- On 1st & 10 from the UK 24 yard line, a Hartline 21-yard pass to John Conner is negated by a pass interference penalty on a UK receiver not involved in the play. Kentucky lost 12 yards on the play, and instead of facing 1st & 10 from their own 45 yard line, they instead were left with 1st & 22 from their own 12 yard line. Result of the infraction -- A UK punt.
Late Third Quarter -- A Florida interception resulted in the Gators taking over the ball at the UK 49 yard line. Result of the mistake -- A Florida fumble.
Fourth Quarter -- A Florida interception returned by the Gators to the UK eight yard line. Result of the turnover -- A Florida touchdown.

Through the carnage inflicted upon themselves, UK's mistakes awarded the Gators, either directly or indirectly, 28 of their 41 points.

Alabama 38 UK 20

UK Penalties -- 7 for 78 yards.

UK Turnovers -- Three interceptions, and one fumble.

Turnover Margin -- UK - 4 Alabama - 0

Opening Kick-off -- The Tide's Javier Arenas returned the kick 60-yards to the UK 37 yard line. On 1st & 10, Greg McElroy threw an incompletion, but a personal foul penalty on UK moved the ball to the Kentucky 17 yard line. Result of the penalty -- A Tide touchdown.
1st Quarter -- On UK's following possession, an Alabama interception is returned to the UK 37 yard line. Result of the turnover -- An Alabama punt.
End of Second Quarter -- With the score standing at 14-6 'Bama, UK had the ball at mid-field, but a UK fumble was returned by the Tide 45-yards for a touchdown.
UK's First Possession of the Second Half -- On 1st & 10 from the UK 46 yard line, a Derrick Locke 18-yard rush was negated by a 15 yard personal foul penalty. This resulted in UK facing 1st & 7 from the UK 49 yard line, instead of 1st & 10 from the UA 36 yard line. On the next play, a Tide interception was returned 21-yards to the UK 38 yard line. Result of the penalty and turnover -- An Alabama touchdown.
On UK's Next Possession -- After a dropped pass, a 16-yard completion to Derrick Locke, and a Locke one-yard gain, the Tide intercepted a UK pass and returned it to the UK 47 yard line. The result of the turnover -- An Alabama field goal.

Of Alabama's 38 points, 24 were the direct result of either UK turnovers, or penalties. The 'Bama game was there for the taking, if not for the 12-gauge UK had aimed directly at Big Blue's foot -- Kentucky held the Tide to almost 150 yards under their per game average, and UK ran the ball much more effectively than any other Tide opponent this season, but it was all for naught.

Sifting Through the Wreckage

Like the duffer maddeningly slicing the ball into the woods, UK simply is not good enough to give up 62 points (out of 106 scored) off turnovers and mental mistakes through an entire season, much less over only three games, and expect to win more than they lose. Even though the program has made great strides over the previous five years, the 'Cats' margin for error is super model-slim. And beating good teams while constantly playing out of the rough, is a level of achievement yet to be attained by the gridiron 'Cats.

Allow me to venture out on a limb and say: UK must play every SEC game with focus and determination. The 'Cats must display discipline, and good decision-making. And in order to win football games in the SEC, one must play winning football, and winning football is relatively mistake-free football. Giving up field position, thus leaving opponents with short fields, and committing careless turnovers, runs contrary to winning football. And those mistakes must dissipate with the morning dew if UK aspires to play in a fourth straight bowl game.

With South Carolina and Auburn, both now ranked in the Top 25, hosting the 'Cats over the next two weeks, UK must, like the golfer, find the rhythm that enables optimum results. And if a 2-4 record doesn't seem appetizing, Kentucky must hit the practice (range) with a common purpose -- Reducing mental errors, and beating to death the turnover bug that currently has a stranglehold around this teams psyche.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!

UK Football: Beating Back the Overreaction, and Kentucky's Areas of Need

Ken Howlett — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:41:11 -0000

More photos » by James Crisp - AP

UK football coach Rich Brooks asks for patience from the fans, and improvement from his players.

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Kentucky's unceremonious 41-7 de-cleating at the hands of the Florida Gators on Saturday seems to have unleashed a chorus of negativity, and talk of the need for change within the UK football program. I suppose I'm not surprised at the outcry, but I should be. You see, even in seasons in which they win more than they lose, UK has consistently found a way to suffer indignant defeat -- Fran Curci's 1976 9-3 season was briefly interrupted by a 31-7 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in Lexington; Jerry Claiborne's 1983 team, which went 6-5-1, lived through two beatings: One at home to Auburn, 49-21 (I was at that game), and another on the road at Georgia, 47-21; again in 1984, a UK team that recorded a fine 9-3 mark, lost two games by wide margins: To LSU in Lexington, by a score of 36-10, and at home the very next week to Georgia, 37-7; Billy Curry's 1993 Wildcats finished the season 6-6, but lost 48-0 to Tennessee; Hal Mumme's 1998 Tim Couch-led 'Cats went 7-5, yet lost 59-21 to Peyton Manning and the Tennessee Vols; in 1999 UK went 6-6 and lost to both Florida, 38-10, and Tennessee (who won the national title), 56-21, by wide margins; Guy Morriss' underrated 2002 team that went 7-5 lost 53-24 to Georgia, in Lexington (I was at that game as well). And finally, in the last four years, (a high-water mark in UK football history), the 'Cats have lost games in embarrassing fashion each season-- 2006, 49-0 at LSU -- 2007, 31-14 to the underdog Mississippi State Bulldogs -- 2008, 63-5 to Florida, and of course Saturdays 41-7 Gator drubbing.

What does this tell us, or at least, what should this tell us? Well, the first thing the above scores indicate to me is ...

... Kentucky is paying the price for competing in the SEC; generally the strongest football conference in the land.

One aspect of UK's failing to gain considerable ground in their race to become nationally relevant in football is the fact that they compete against the very best teams in the country, on a yearly basis. Couple that with the fact that building a solid football team is a strenuously tall task, and you're left with a program, which for the last 50 years or so, has failed to maintain consistency. Which is what makes what Rich Brooks has achieved in putting together three straight bowl wins a commendable accomplishment.

But, in developing a program the Commonwealth can be proud of, there are teams such as Florida, Georgia, LSU, and Tennessee that display, in living color, what it is UK strives to achieve: A football team complete with the necessary components for playing consistently winning football -- Great skill position players, and incredible team speed, to go along with linemen who know what it feels like to push around some of the nations elite players.

To hold UK to the same standard (at this point, anyway) as the above teams, as it pertains to the number of All-SEC caliber players on Kentucky's roster, is simply unrealistic and patently unfair to the Wildcat team and coaches. To be sure, UK is in the process of building what we all hope becomes a consistently solid football program, but inherent in that growth is the occasional loss which makes one turn away from the television with disgust. And that's what we witnessed Saturday ... no more, no less.

So the recent burst of negative energy coming out of the UK fan base seems a bit misguided, and naive. Make no mistake, though, the numerous unnerving UK penalties, especially at the beginning of Saturdays tilt, contributed to the Gators easily covering the spread. But, UK's offensive and defensive line were clearly inferior to their Florida counterparts. And as any knowledgeable football fan knows, the game is won or lost in the trenches. But of course, the Gators are, if not the best team in the country, one of the two or three most dominant groups in the nation, which should also be reason enough to give UK football fans pause. For comparing this group of Wildcats to one of the preeminent teams in the country is fallacy at its finest.

Saturday's game did, quite clearly, illustrate the talent gap still in existence between UK and the top tier SEC clubs; the game quite clearly illustrated that UK still has ample room to grow as a program; and finally, with UK once again losing handily to a superior SEC opponent, the game quite clearly illustrated that the 'Cats still have another hurdle to overcome in their quest to become a formidable football program.

What fans must remember is; when a program is being built, one has to take the good with the bad. Along with the three straight bowl wins, the three straight victories over Louisville, and the wins over No. 1 LSU and Georgia, goes the lopsided losses to Florida the last two years, and UK's inability to beat Steve Spurrier or Tennessee. Not unlike grieving, building something worth following is a process. And in UK's case, a process not yet complete.

Areas of Need

With games coming up against Alabama, South Carolina and an improved Auburn team, Kentucky is staring this season's crossroad squarely in the eyes. Kentucky needs to win at least two of those games, and in order for that need to be filled, the 'Cats must show improvement in the following areas:

Rush Defense -- U of L's Victor Anderson ran 19 times for 110 yards, a 5.8 yards per carry average. Florida's stable of backs rushed for an astounding 362 yards on 52 rushing attempts (7.0 ypc).

Penalties -- In UK's last two games they have committed 17 penalties for 164 yards. Many of those penalties were drive-killers for the Kentucky offense, or drive-sustainers for the opponent.

Opponents Quarterback Play -- U of L's Justin Burke, and Florida's Tim Tebow, along with Tebow's backup, John Brantley, combined to throw for 378 yards on 44 passes. That's an 8.6 yards gained per pass attempt, and an even more disturbing 15.8 yards per pass completion.

UK's Yards Per Completion -- Kentucky's Mike Hartline has completed 33 passes over the last two games, for a total of 263 yards. That equates to 7.9 yards per completion. Hartline has had a couple of 20 + yard completions wiped out by penalties, but in order for UK's passing game to be taken seriously, the completion average needs to be in double-digits. On a related note; Florida executed six pass breakups and two interceptions on only 28 UK passes. Eight pass interruptions are a function of throwing into heavy coverage, something Hartline has to get under control.

Florida's Average Gain Per Play -- The Gators ran 68 plays for a total of 495 yards, an average of 7.3 yards per play. That's a video game average, not real life, or at least it shouldn't be. This total tells the tale of UK's defensive line's ineffectiveness versus the Gators.

Giving Up Big Plays on Third & Long -- Third & Long = 3rd Down and at least five yards to go: Versus U of L, Kentucky allowed the following 3rd & Long[s] to be converted into first downs -- 3rd & 6 - 15 yard completion; 3rd & 8 -- 10 yard completion; 3rd & 9 - Pass interference against UK; 3rd & 14 -- 16 yard completion; 3rd & 7 -- 21 yard completion. Overall, Louisville was 9-17 in third down conversions.

Against Florida, UK allowed the following 3rd & Long[s] to be converted into first downs -- 3rd & 5 - 30-yard rush; 3rd & 7 - 11-yard rush. Florida was a much more acceptable 5-13 in third down conversions.

Average Opponents Starting Field Position -- Florida and Louisville had the tremendous advantage of beginning their drives (on average) from their own 38 yard line (UF) and 41 yard line (U of L), with seven of Florida's drives beginning on the UK 36, UK 23, UF 42, UK 46, UK 49, UK 8 and Florida 40. It matters not who UK is playing; allowing the opponent such advantageous field position will surely lead to a loss, much more than a win.

UK's Rushing Offense -- Against Florida, UK's four primary ball-carriers performed less than admirably -- Derrick Locke - 13 carries for 36 yards; Alfonso Smith - Seven carries for 12 yards; Moncell Allen - Three carries for 28 yards (not bad "Turtle"); and John Conner - 2 carries for 7 yards.

That's 25 carries for only 83 yards (3.3 ypc). Perhaps no stat is as telling -- Kentucky absolutely must improve this statistic if they harbor hopes of competing with anyone on their SEC slate.

UK's Offensive (pun intended) First Down Performance -- Of 27 first down plays against Florida, UK gained a TOTAL of 54 yards. The carnage looked like this: Five-yard rush (offset by an illegal motion penalty); false start; nine yard sack; Incompletion; three-yard rush; incompletion; three-yard rush; five-yard rush; two-yard rush; Zero gain rush (illegal formation = - five-yards); three-yard rush; five-yard rush; nine-yard completion; 21-yard completion (offset by a pass interference penalty= - 12 yards); four-yard rush (on 1st & 22); incompletion; zero gain rush; five-yard rush; minus eight-yard rush; 20-yard rush; two-yard rush; interception; 15-yard completion; six-yard rush; incompletion; six-yard rush; incompletion.

Putting UK's offense in 2nd (& 3rd) and Long, is not a recipe for winning over fans, and influencing poll voters. Now, keeping in mind that the Gators are one of the elite defensive teams in the nation; UK still must improve this statistic to keep from being consistently predictable within the parameters of the offense.

A Sea of Blue Announcement

If you haven't already read Tru's announcement about the Wildcat Tip-Off preseason UK basketball magazine, here's a link to the post.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!

Louisville report card

JazzyUte — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:44:57 -0000

More photos » by Colin E. Braley - AP

2 months ago: Utah's Aiona Key (9) celebrates with David Reed (16) following Reed's 42-yard reception for a touchdown against Louisville during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday Sept. 26, 2009, in Salt Lake City (AP Photo/Colin Braley)

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Matt Asiata's injury aside, this was a really good win for Utah and a big step in the right direction. I feel better today, especially with what Oregon did to Cal, than I did at any point this season. Now comes the tough part - sustaining this success.

Thankfully, Utah has a bye-week, which means they can look at what went right and still fix what went wrong before taking on Colorado State in a crucial conference tilt. It's always nice entering a week off on the heels of a victory and I think that bye comes at the perfect time, since now the Utes will be looking for a new running back and their two go-to guys at the moment, Sausan Shakerin and Eddie Wide, are a bit banged up (Shak taking the brunt of it).

Offense: B-plus - I'm in a generous mood. I do believe the offense could have played better, but they looked sharp. Especially when you realize they played nearly the entire game without their leading running back and hardly any real depth at that position. Wide, who has shown some good signs this season, stepped up and filled the role vacated by the Asiata injury quite well.

Clearly this was the best offensive performance of the season by the Utes, especially for Terrance Cain. Cain had two touchdowns and was 17-22 for 202-yards. A damn near perfect game all around, though he did have an interception that resulted in a Louisville score.

Beyond that, Wide, as I mentioned, played well with all things considered. He ran for a game-high 129-yards and though he didn't score, Wide was instrumental in sustaining drives. Hopefully he can continue this the remainder of the season.

Defense: B-plus - I felt the defense played its most complete game Saturday. They weren't perfect, but if you look at the box score, it really is hard to find anything to complain about.

For starters, they held the vaunted running attack of Louisville's Victor Anderson to 22-yards and overall, the Cardinals only managed 261-yards, or only slightly more than Cain had combined in both passing and rushing (253).

If it weren't for Cain's turnover, Louisville probably only scores 7 and even that took a bit of luck. The fact is, beyond their first drive of the game, the Cardinals could not get anything going and I give credit to Utah's defense for not allowing them to build long and sustained drives. Especially when the game was still up for grabs early.

Utah also forced three turnovers and it seems that's one thing this defense might be good at and hopefully something established the further the season progresses.

Special Teams: B - After an abortion last week, Utah's special teams played well. They had a huge FG block, which set the tone, didn't miss a field goal and it seems every time the Utes kicked it off or punted, there was rarely a deep return.

In fact, I think most of the punts/kick offs weren't returned for any yards.

Good bounce back for the special teams and hopefully proves last week's disaster was more a fluke than anything else.

Coaches:

Dave Schramm: B-plus - No complaints about the play calling. I think he did a good job and exploited the weakness of Louisville's defense. What's more, it didn't seem like Utah sat on a lead and that's big because I think Andy Ludwig, at times, did that and it often came back to bite the Utes in the butt. Instead, Utah managed 10-fourth quarter points even though the game felt over entering the final period.
Kalani Sitake: B-plus - Again, no complaints here. If you look at the statistics, you see the Utes' defense pretty much dominated the Cardinals' offense. Sitake deserves credit for shoring up Utah's run d, which was exposed a bit last week against Oregon.
Kyle Whittingham: A - Utah was coming off a tough loss and bounced back with a big win. I remember in 2005 when the Utes faced their first loss of the season (which also ended their winning streak) and how much they struggled, at home, against the Air Force Falcons. It was a game they dominated early and barely won. I think it showed just how much the team was losing confidence in themselves and subsequently, they went on a three-game losing streak after that victory. I don't foresee a similar scenario this season.

This was Whittingham's 40th victory at Utah, making him the fastest coach to win 40-games in Ute football history. The Utes didn't play perfect, but they played better than they have all season. For a team that struggled in its first three weeks, that's a step in the right direction.

What do you grade the victory?

Poll

Grade it...

A - They played about as well as one could hope with all things considered.

16 votes

B - Good victory, good game.

60 votes

C - Not bad, but they could have played a lot better.

15 votes

D - They're lucky they didn't lose this one.

0 votes

F - I passed out in the tailgate lot prior to the game and missed it...

0 votes

91 votes | Poll has closed

Q & A with Card Chronicle

JazzyUte — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:20:14 -0000

As the Utes ready for the Cardinals, I had the opportunity to ask Mike over at Card Chronicle some questions about the upcoming game and their program. You can read my answers to his questions here.

Hopefully this will give you a feel of what to expect Saturday.

Block U: Steve Kragthorpe entered the season on the hot seat. Has anything changed two games into the season?

Card Chronicle: Not really. Louisville looked awful against probably the worst program in all of college football (Indiana State) and then Kragthorpe dropped to 0-3 against Kentucky, in the process producing the program's first three-game losing streak to its arch-rival since the series renewed in 1994.

He has to be competetive in the Big East and take this team to a bowl game to win back even a small portion of the fan base.

Block U: Do you feel better about the Cardinals' prospects after their comeback loss to rival Kentucky?

Card Chronicle: I do. Admittedly, I thought the game was going to get ugly but Louisville played as inspired a four quarters as they have in the Kragthorpe era and really should have come away with a victory against a team that appears a lot stronger than they do on paper. Quarterback Justin Burke looked light years ahead of where he was in the season-opener, and Victor Anderson showed again that he's worthy of the hype surrounding him.

The biggest issue now is how will this group bounce back from such a deflating loss. These guys have been through a lot over the last couple of seasons, and a win against an arch-rival that was supposed to beat them by two touchdowns would have been enormous. After the game a lot of the players were very emotional and it made you wonder how they were going to be able to regroup after coming up just short in a game they'd put so much emphasis on winning.

Block U: There has been a great deal of change on the offensive side of the ball since Utah and the Cardinals met last season. Can you go into a bit of detail about what has changed (and I'm not just talking players, but if the offense has changed its philosophy since 2007).

Card Chronicle: Well, pretty much everything besides the head coach has changed. The program has lost its hype, gone from Big East powerhouse to doormat, and about 85% of the talk amongst the fan base on any given day surrounds the topic of who the next Louisville coach should be.

Kragthorpe has had a new offensive and defensive coordinator in each of his three seasons. This year he brought in former Utah State head coach Brent Guy to lead the defense while promoting himself to offensive coordinator.

With Brian Brohm gone and Victor Anderson now roaming the backfield, the strength of this team lies in its rushing attack. Anderson was the Big East's Rookie of the Year in 2008, and is off to another great start in his sophomore campaign. U of L is still deep in its receiving corps, but the offensive line isn't nearly as strong as it was in 2007 or 2008. The defense is very much the same, and that's not good.

Block U: Who do you think is the biggest offensive threat this year?

Card Chronicle: It's Anderson. The kid's the real deal.

Block U: Two years ago, the Cardinal defense was abysmal and the Utes had no problem moving the ball on them. Has that changed?

Card Chronicle: The defense showed signs of improvement under Ron English last season, and really didn't play that poorly against Kentucky a week ago. The defensive line has some talent, but they produced zero pressure on UK quarterback Mike Hartline. The strength of the unit lies with its linebackers who are fast and experienced. The secondary outside of cornerback Johnny Patrick is a sore spot once again.

Block U: What type of game do you expect?

Card Chronicle: Honestly, I'm having a hard time putting my finger on it. If the Louisville players come into the game with the same mindset they had against Kentucky, I really think the Cards have a shot to spring the upset. If not, well, then I think a lot of people here are going to be happy that they don't have the CBS College Sports channel.

I can't really see either team taking a lot of big chances, so I don't to see anywhere near the offensive showcase we saw two years ago. Turnovers and time of possession will likely dictate the victor.

Block U: How many wins does Kragthorpe need to save his ass?

Card Chronicle: Six or seven, whichever gets U of L into a bowl. That probably saves his job, but it won't necessarily get him back in the good graces of the fan base. Block U: How do Cardinal fans perceive the Utah program?

Block U: How do Cardinal fans perceive the Utah program?

Card Chronicle: Well, I can't speak for everyone but I have a great deal of respect for what Utah has been able to accomplish over the last decade or so. Regardless of where you're playing or who you're playing, two unbeaten seasons in such a short period of time is a remarkable accomplishment. When I hear "Utah Utes," I no longer think Rick Majerus and Keith Van Horn, I think football, which is a testament to just how amazing it is what Meyer and Whittingham have done there.

Block U: Is Bobby Petrino a bad word in Louisville?

Card Chronicle: Not at all. The complete and sudden collapse of the program following his departure was the best thing that could have happened for his Louisville legacy.

Block U: Predict the final score.

Card Chronicle: I really think Louisville can keep it close, but I just can't see them coming home with a W.

Utah 27, Louisville 21

Utah Utes vs. Louisville Cardinals Preview

Michael Rueckert — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:06:24 -0000

Louisville Cardinals
@ Utah Utes

Saturday, Sep 26, 2009, 4:30 PM PDT
Rice-Eccles Stadium

TV: CBS College Sports

Complete Coverage >

Utah (2-1) is facing a situation that they have not faced in nearly 2 years: rebounding after a loss. Utah's magical 16 game winning streak came to a close last Saturday when they lost to the Oregon Ducks 31-24. They must now put that behind them as they prepare to face the Louisville Cardinals (1-1) Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Utah's homecoming opponent in Louisville is no gimme. They are also coming off a difficult loss to rival Kentucky where they lost by 4 on the road in a game that they should have won. They won their opening game 30-10 against Indiana State. They are coached by Steve Kragthrope, one of Kyle Whittingham's childhood friends. As a head coach Kragthrope is 0-2 against the Utes. Kragthorpe, who many say is on the hot seat, is trying to turn this Louisville program around and a loss to Utah would put them at a losing record.

This game is important for the Mountain West's claim that they deserve an automatic bid to the BCS. Louisville is from the Big East, the conference that is the weakest of the 6 BCS conferences. For the Mountain West to gain AQ status, they must outplay one of the 6 BCS conferences over a 4 year period. That conference is likely the Big East. If Utah wins this should only fuel the fire that the Mountain West is more deserving of the Big East of an automatic bid. If they lose, this will critically hurt the Mountain West's claim that they have been making since Utah beat Alabama 31-17.

Louisville has a very good sophomore running back in Victor Anderson. He has already rushed for 203 yards and 3 touchdowns in his two games that he has played this season. Utah has struggled against the run this season allowing Oregon to rush for 217 yards, and Utah State rushing for 221 yards. They must make adjustments or Anderson will give them trouble in this game.

Many expect this to be a breakout game for Terrance Cain. Now with three games experience Cain should feel much more comfortable at home facing a down Big East team. Kyle Whittingham expects Cain to rebound after the poor performance against Oregon.

"Terrance like the entire offense has to rebound. He didn't play particularly well on Saturday; his numbers were very average due to a lot of factors, not just him. Everyone has to get better. My guess is he'll rebound and respond."

The last time these two teams met was back in 2007 when the Utes handed Louisville an embarrassing 44-35 loss at home on national TV. All time Utah leads the series 3-0. Utah is a 14 point favorite in this game and has never lost to a Big East team.

Matt Asiata is expected to play in this game, although he is still not 100 percent back from his shoulder injury. Look for the Utes to come out of the game hungry and with a chip on their shoulders. Relieved from the pressure of the winning streak and top 25 ranking expect Utah to come out and play Utah football to wrap up their non conference schedule.

UK - 31 U of L - 27: A Paint-by-Numbers Portrait of How to Make Winning More Difficult Than it Should Be

Ken Howlett — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:31:39 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

Randall Cobb doin' what Randall does.

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No, Kentucky didn't lose the football game to Louisville, but they did everything within their power to give the contest away. And along the way, they broke the Cardinal Rules of winning football: The 'Cats turned the ball over in bunches (three in a 7:04 time-span of the third quarter), they committed four 15 yard penalties (one which sustained a U of L drive, another negated an incomplete pass by Burke), and displayed pathetic clock management at a critical juncture of the game.

Commit those sins against any of their eight SEC opponents, and a freshly laid egg will be all UK has to show for their efforts come season's end. I don't mean to take away anything from Louisville's performance -- They played an outstanding game. And if quarterback Justin Burke (15-28-1 for 245 yards and two touchdowns) continues to play as well as he did Saturday, the Cards will win more than they lose -- But, the SEC is an unforgiving league, a league where mistakes are made to be paid for. And Saturday, Kentucky got lucky, not that the 'Cats didn't play well in three of the four quarters, but they should count themselves among the fortunate to come out victorious.

Let's begin our examination with a look at the ...

Clock Mismanagement

Most of us are aware of the clock operator's (now timing the arrival of grizzly bears in northern Alaska) error which occurred at the end of the first half -- With the clock ticking away, Mike Hartline hit Chris Matthews for a 19 yard gain, taking the ball to U of L's five yard line. A false start penalty on UK's next play resulted in the 'Cats being pushed back to the 10 yard line, where UK was facing 2nd & Goal with 15 seconds remaining on the clock. Hartline then passed to Matthews again, this time for no gain, but, the clock never started. Seeing the wisdom of at least attempting to show he knew what he was doing, the clock operator did eventually start the clock (after the play was completed), and the digits began to tick-off (the entire crowd) until it reached 00:00.

Now, one must understand that the official time is kept on the field by a referee. It doesn't matter what the scoreboard clock reads, the official time is kept on the field. This, someone, anyone on UK's football staff should know, and a timeout should have been called. But instead, the official clock (on the field) ticked to zero without UK calling a timeout, or running another play. What's the word I'm looking for? Inexcusable, yeah, that's it.

Folks, that's called taking points off the board. And one never takes points off the board, not if winning is the ultimate goal. And in this case, not just any points, rather, points that would have pushed UK from a 10 point lead, to a more disheartening 17 point lead. Points are points, but some points do more damage.

Speaking of taking points off the board -- U of L coach Steve Kragthorpe did just that in the second quarter: After a nice Louisville drive, Kragthorpe opted to go for the first down on 4th & 1 from the UK 12 yard line. Bilal Powell was stuffed well short of the 11, and UK retained possession. That move more than likely cost the Cards three points (it would have been a 29 yard field goal attempt). Three points, which later (in the 4th quarter), would have meant Louisville only needed a field goal to win, instead of a touchdown.

Also not conducive to providing Wildcat fans fun-filled Saturdays are ...

Third QuarterTurnovers

1. After allowing speedy U of L return specialist Trent Guy to return the second half kickoff 65 yards to the UK 34 yard line, which resulted in a Ryan Payne 23 yard field goal (great defense!), the Wildcats took the ensuing kickoff and promptly fumbled it away -- At 11:29 of the third quarter, Derrick Locke, who played a terrific game (310 all-purpose yards), was simply stripped of the ball by U of L's Terrence Simien. Locke, who carries the ball securely with both hands, was hit low, and his right arm came loose from its grip, and Simien made the play. UK time of possession: :09 seconds.

Locke's fumble gave U of L the ball at the the Kentucky 44 yard line. This time though, the 'Cats were lucky, Payne missed a 28 yard field goal attempt.

2. Following a Randall Cobb six yard run out of the "Wildcat Formation" (the package's only play), and at 9:01 of the third quarter, UK quarterback Mike Hartline threw an interception at the UK 25 yard line. Hartline, who played very well at times (20-27-1 for 178 yards and one touchdown), simply telegraphed his throw. UK time of possession: :52 seconds.

The UK defense, though, would once again come to the aid of their brothers -- After allowing U of L a net zero yards on seven plays, Ryan Payne made a 42 yard field goal.

3. Following-up a Derrick Locke three-yard run, Mike Hartline opted to become an option quarterback, and ran for roughly three yards and politely fumbled. No, there wasn't a spine-tingling hit, nor was he rendered the meat of a Cardinal sandwich. Rather, Hartline paid the high price charged for carelessly carrying the ball.

Those around me in a stunned Commonwealth Stadium voiced their, uh, displeasure in the unusual play call, but I liked the call, because it was unusual -- No one was expecting Hartline to run, and when he fumbled, he was only three yards from a first down. Remember, Hartline came to UK with a reputation of being mobile, but he must remember that his body is his friend; hold the ball close to it! UK time of possession: :26 seconds.

Third Quarter Synopsis

Two fumbles, and an interception ensured the Wildcats possessed the ball for only 1:25 of the third quarter. Add the 65 yard kickoff return of Guy, and the four flaws in UK's performance gave U of L 13 of their 27 points. Not to mention the damage inflicted upon Kentucky's defense by them being on the field for 13:35 of the third quarter.

The third quarter of Saturday's game might not be the worst quarter a UK football team has ever played, but it was ugly enough to notate, and almost cost UK a delicious third straight victory over the Cards.

And finally, the most surprising aspect of the Louisville game ...

The Penalties

UK, normally a very disciplined team as it pertains to receiving yellow flags, committed eight penalties (one was declined) for a loss of 95 yards. Considering U of L was coming off a game in which they committed 14 penalties, this development was one I found most surprising when analyzing this game. The most egregious of the errors:

1st Quarter -- Pass interference on Winston Guy:15 yards. I thought the call was bogus, but regardless, it was a 15 yard penalty that sustained a Cardinal drive. But, the ultimate outcome of the drive was a Louisville punt.
2nd Quarter -- Face mask on Micah Johnson:15 yards. This offense occurred on a U of L incompletion on 1st & 10. In this series, U of L ended up turning the ball over on downs.
4th quarter -- Once again, face mask on Micah Johnson:15 yards. This penalty, along with a Victor Anderson four-yard run, moved the Cards from the UL 40 to the UK 41. Luckily, this U of L drive ended in a UK interception.
4th quarter -- Celebrating with the crowd:15 yards. Give me a break! I realize this rule is to protect the player, but is it taunting? And 15 yards? Okay, if they do the Lambeau leap, hit 'em with a five yard penalty, but not 15. It just seems labeling this penalty a personal foul is a bit over-the-top. The result of the illegal field party was Lones Sieber kicking-off from UK's 20 yard line (he kicked the ball 73 yards to the U of L 12), instead of the 35. Trent Guy returned the kick 28 yards to the Louisville 40 yard line (exceptional field position). Deja vu; the Cardinal drive ended in an interception.

Although the penalties I've listed could have easily resulted in a bevy of Cardinal points, luckily for UK, none of the miscues contributed to Louisville scoring.

Leavin' it behind

A win is a win, but not all wins are created equal, and this one fell flat. But, even though we witnessed more mistakes than we would like, there were some strong performances that are to be commended -- Derrick Locke ran for 72 yards and one touchdown (4.8 yards per carry), caught four passes for 47 yards (11.9 yards per reception), and ran back four kickoffs for a total of 191 yards, including a 100 return for a touchdown: Randall Cobb caught six passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, and proved once again to be one of the most dangerous offensive weapons on the field: Mike Hartline was an excellent 20-27 passing (74.1% completion rate) for 178 yards, and one touchdown. Other than a few errant passes, and one inexcusable fumble, Hartline played a solid game.

Defensively the entire unit deserves kudos, with defensive end DeQuin Evans leading the way with two sacks, and five tackles: Middle linebacker Micah Johnson led the team with eight tackles, and one tackle for loss: Safety Winston Guy played very solid (7.5 tackles) and may be the heir apparent to Trevard Lindley as UK's shut-down defensive back: Linebacker Sam Maxwell played a solid game (oftentimes playing in coverage), he had 6.5 tackles and one large interception: Defensive back Calvin Harrison led the team with two tackles for loss, to go along with five tackles: and defensive lineman Corey Peters (3.5 tackles,one tackle for loss, and one pass break-up) harassed Justin Burke most of the day.

So, now we move forward. The No. 1 team in the country (Florida Gators) pays a visit to the Bluegrass State on Saturday, and the 'Cats must improve just to avoid being embarrassed. Not only must they get better, more importantly, they must remedy the virus that took a strangle-hold grip around their collective necks, resulting in an alarming pattern of self-destruction which nearly cost Kentucky the Governor's Cup. Such nonsense over the next several weeks will, I am afraid, leave the 'Cats without any more lives.

Food for positive thought -- Kentucky would have lost that game five years ago.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!

Kentucky vs. Louisville -- What Makes Me Confident, and What Makes Me Nervous

Truzenzuzex — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:01:59 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

Victor Anderson could give us some serious trouble tomorrow.

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I see a lot of confidence in Kentucky fans regarding the Governor's Cup tomorrow, and I see an awful lot of pessimism in Louisville fans. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at either, but perhaps Kentucky fans should be a little cautious with their optimism and save the smack-talk until after the game is over. There is nothing less tasty than ~~Cardinal~~ crow after an upset.

Now, don't count me among the pessimistic -- I'm not. On paper, Kentucky has a number of advantages over Louisville, and Mike over at the Card Chronicle has done a pretty fair job of detailing them. So what I propose to do here is detail the things that make me feel confident, and nervous, about tomorrow's contest.

Confident

The Kentucky offensive line. UK has one of the most experienced lines in the SEC, and they get Jorge Gonzalez back at center for tomorrow's game. Kentucky was 5th in the nation in sacks allowed last year, so if the line comes to play, Hartline will get all the time he needs to find receivers.

Nervous

Trent Guy. Trent Guy is a gamebreaker, a lightning-quick athlete that, if he gets the ball in space, will leave UK defenders trying to tackle his vapor trail. This kid is fast, and reminds me a lot of Florida's Jeffrey Demps -- small, quick, and if he gets a step, gone.

Confident

Our "in the box" guys. Louisville has some very solid backs, but with the exception of the edges, Kentucky has a very experienced and talented defensive front. Even if Victor Anderson or Bilal Powell get loose a little, I think the 'Cats have the speed and athleticism to tackle them.

Nervous

Kentucky's kicking game. I think our punting game is OK, but kickoffs make me nervous. We simply do not have anyone with enough leg to get the hang time we need, and Tim Masthay is not walking through that door. With dangerous returners like Trent Guy and Doug Beaumont, I have nightmares about kickoffs to the Cardinals.

Confident

Kentucky's secondary. I think that the 'Cats are going to intercept passes from Louisville if they try to throw it downfield. UK has Trevard Lindley, but the other guys in the defensive backfield are also high quality -- Paul Warford, Calvin Harrison, Winston Guy, Randall Burden and Matt Lentz all represent major threats to an untested QB.

Nervous

Justin Burke. After a pedestrian outing against Indiana State, I fear that this kid will suddenly wake up and play over his head in a rivalry game. If he is able to get the ball to guys like Beaumont and Guy in space, Louisville could move the football. And if the kicking game is as bad as Brooks' fears, the Cardinals will be starting from less than 60 yards from our end zone.

Confident

Rich Brooks. I love what Papa Brooks has done over the last few years, and I am becoming a believer in his judgment, game management and experience. Brooks is the kind of coach that if you give him enough talent, he wins, and I think the Wildcats have plenty of talent for the Cardinals.

Nervous

Field Goal kicking. Lones Seiber has been anything but consistent, and if the game is closer than expected, he could be the difference between a win and a loss. I don't feel good at all about having Seiber as the bulwark against a close defeat.

Well, those are the things that make me puff my chest out, and the things that make me toss and turn in the bed at night. Feel free to chime in with your observations, I'd love to hear them.

Kentucky vs. Louisville: No Excuses Edition

Ken Howlett — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:51:16 -0000

More photos » by Al Behrman - AP

Derrick Locke carryin' the mail -- A sight Card fan should come to appreciate.

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With Kentucky gearing up to face the Louisville Cardinals at Pizza Hut Commonwealth Stadium ... uh, rather, just plain ol' Commonwealth Stadium, it struck me that this year is the first UK vs. U of L game since 1998 that the 'Cats should be a large betting favorite to win, and win big. Am I overconfident? Am I delusional? Maybe so. I'll let you, the faithful reader make that determination after you peruse my four reasons UK will pummel the Evil Birds on Saturday afternoon.

What will serve as an appetizer for A Sea of Blue's coverage of the battle for the Governor's Cup may not be bacon-wrapped shrimp, but it's a start.

1. The Louisville defense -- Other than senior linebacker Jon Dempsey (a team high 80 tackles last year), U of L's defense is full of junior college transfers (5) and inexperienced starters who have displayed an alarming propensity to lose to teams with less talent (see Syracuse last season, and some might argue Rutgers and UConn). Although the Cardinal defense held Indiana State to 101 yards of total offense in U of L's season-opening 30-10 victory, the Sycamores are one of the worst college football teams in America: Playing out of the Missouri Valley Conference, and going back to 2005, Larry Bird's Alma mater is 1 - 47 over their last 48 contests.

More to the point: Playing with a more experienced defense in 2008, the Cards gave up (on the road): 63 points to Rutgers, 41 to Pitt, 28 to Syracuse, and 28 to Memphis. With the improvement of UK quarterback Mike Hartline, the addition of wide receiver Chris Matthews, along with the reappearance of a filthy, greasy-quick Derrick Locke. Also, Randall Cobb who can now concentrate on receiving the ball, and the occasional "Wildcat Package," will be a much more dangerous performer versus Louisville than he was in 2008. To me, this amounts to UK having a razor sharp edge when comparing U of L's defense with the Wildcat offense.

Simply put, holding Kentucky to under 30 points will be a monumental undertaking for these Cards and their defensive coordinator Brent Guy. So, my bottom line reads like this -- If UK limits turnovers and penalties, I fully expect to see the UK side of the scoreboard receive some much needed exercise.

2. The Louisville offense -- By the middle of the season Louisville Athletic Director Tom Jurich is going to wish he hadn't foolishly fought so desperately to have this game played early in the year. For U of L's offense, with a dash of seasoning for quarterback Justin Burke (a Lexington Catholic alum), should be a strength for the Cardinals. And there is no doubt the inexperienced Burke is surrounded by talent, although much of that talent is either coming off major injuries, or simply young.

Running backs Victor Anderson (St. Xavier) and Bilal Powell, receiver Doug Beaumont (Male), receiver Scott Long (coming off a broken foot in '08), and speedster receiver Trent Guy (coming off a gun shot injury) are all capable of making big plays, but quarterback Burke has played only one game (versus Indiana State) in the last two-plus years. A fact quite apparent in Louisville's initial contest. It may seem like excuse making, but offensive chemistry is vitally important to a team's success, and in their first game of the year, the Cards lacked the requisite cohesiveness to play like a team capable of challenging UK.

Adding to the concern Steve Kragthorpe must be feeling about now are the 14 penalties U of L committed against the Sycamores, eight of which occurred on the offensive side of the ball. First game, last game ... 14 penalties is simply an inexcusable number, especially against a team U of L held a tremendous physical advantage over. Can Louisville find, over the course of their off week, the necessary discipline needed to compete against UK's defense? Don't hold your breath.

Finally, due to Burke's understandable rust, and enough penalties to make Conrad Dobler blush, the U of L offense lit up the scoreboard to the tune of only 30 points on a team that has given up an average of 43.3 points per game over the last four seasons. No, the Sycamores haven't played Florida, Texas, or Oklahoma, instead, they've allowed teams such as Western Illinois, Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, and Western Kentucky to roll up numbers Steve Spurrier has pined for since he mistakenly fled the friendly confines of The Swamp.

In a nutshell, my point is this -- If U of L can only score 30 on Indiana State (for whatever reason), what are the chances of the Cards scoring the necessary 25-30 points they'll need to win Saturday? Your mileage may vary, but in my view, the Louisville offense has a long way to go, and a short time to get there.

3. Justin Burke/U of L receivers vs. the Wildcat Secondary -- I can remember, not so long ago, watching opposing wide outs race pass UK's secondary, on their way to six. Thankfully, those days are behind us, at least for now.

The Kentucky secondary is now blessed with speed, and perhaps even more importantly this game, size. Corner back Trevard Lindley is 6'0", free safety Matt Lentz is 6'3", corner back Randall Burden is 6'0", safety Winston Guy is 6'1", and strong safety Calvin Harrison is 6'1". My point? U of L has speed at the receiver spot, but they are mighty-mites -- Trent Guy is 5'9", Doug Beaumont is 5'9", running back Victor Anderson (who catches passes out of the backfield) is 5'9". Scott Long, at 6'2", is the only regular Louisville receiver who can stand tall with UK's secondary.

And if you don't think size + speed matters in the secondary, check the tapes of games UK played against Florida in the mid- to late-90's. The visual images you will witness are quite telling, and from the UK perspective, quite unpleasant.

The size advantage the 'Cats hold only tell half the story, though. The other half of the tale includes the fact that UK's secondary is the most talented conglomeration of defensive backs to roam the turf of Commonwealth Stadium, possibly ever. And after witnessing the aggressive, smothering form they took after the first quarter of the Miami game, I was left feeling confident that opposing signal-callers must be sure-of-mind, and acutely accurate in order to consistently inflict damage on the 'Cats' chances at victory.

Quarterback Burke, who went 17-31 through the air, with two interceptions and zero touchdowns against Indiana State, looked neither. Which is certainly understandable considering his extended layoff, but that only brings rise to the question: Will he become more comfortable, more at ease, and less hesitant during U of L's week off? And if Burke does succeed in bettering his game, will he, after throwing a pass that results in a pick, revert to the unsure pocket passer he was in Louisville's first game?

Lots of questions, few answers. Not a pleasant position to find oneself in while preparing to face a hated rival on the road. A hated rival with defensive talent at the ready, and a fan base foaming with frothy anticipation of a legitimate beat-down of a program once considered to be a legend ... in their own minds.

4. 27 - 2 -- The score of last season's Governor's Cup contest might seem irrelevant, and it probably is, but I can't help but come back to this -- Last year, U of L played Kentucky at home, with a new starting quarterback in Hunter Cantwell; this year, U of L plays Kentucky on the road, with once again, a new starting quarterback. Last year, U of L played Kentucky at home, against a defense superior to the Cardinal offense; this year, U of L plays Kentucky on the road, against a defense seemingly superior to the Cardinal offense. Last year, U of L played Kentucky at home, while the 'Cats broke-in a new quarterback; this year, U of L plays Kentucky on the road, while the 'Cats sport a significantly improved, and more experienced quarterback. Last year, U of L lost to Kentucky, at home, 27-2; this year U of L ...

Of course, Louisville has a couple of offensive weapons in receivers Trent Guy and Scott Long that were missing from last year's titanic tilt, but will their presence in '09 be enough to propel the Cards to victory? We'll certainly find out Saturday, but Card fan, in the interest of hygiene, I wouldn't bet the baby's diaper money.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats, beat the Cards!