Now...let's talk college football...

[letabrotherspeak]

With "Patucas" finally behind us...let's move to football.

 

UK, UL, and UC looking to take it a step further.

[02Ram54]

Are we talking recruiting or the actual game of football?

[gametime]

The Spring proved to me the UC D is going to be a fast, hard hitting nasty bunch. If Mauck can come in and be above average they will be bowling once again...

[letabrotherspeak]

Anything with college football...everyone...optimism should be high on all fronts.

[train3399]

I think UK has more opportunity for improvement (SEC). UL does not have much room to improve being the best in their conference won't mean much. IMO

[02Ram54]

I think UK has more opportunity for improvement (SEC). UL does not have much room to improve being the best in their conference won't mean much. IMO

 

The Big East is coming off two straight BCS bowl wins, a 5-0 2006 bowl season, will start the year with two teams ranked in the Top 10, maybe even Top 5, has four teams that have been Top 25 in different preseason rankings.

 

But being the best won't mean much. Sure. :lol:

 

As for room for improvement, I absolutely think it's there. The most obvious place for improvement is on defense: Louisville was a solid defensive team, but will be better this season. Louisville could be a better road team than we were under Petrino, that would be very nice, especially if the Cards stayed dominant at home.

[TheDeuce]

Louisville's offense will be there, as expected. As 02 said, there is room for improvement on the defensive side, and if that happens, the Cards will be back in a BCS Bowl game.

[letabrotherspeak]

I don't see how UL will be better on defense considering their losses.

Losing Okoye who probably commanded double teams along with Anderson, Abe Brown, Nate Harris, Brandon Sharp and William Gay.

Heyman will be good, but not Okoye good, and their depth was pretty good, but those are some significant losses.

That is a lot to lose and to think they will be better.

[RowdyRedRam]

I don't see how UL will be better on defense considering their losses.

Losing Okoye who probably commanded double teams along with Anderson, Abe Brown, Nate Harris, Brandon Sharp and William Gay.

Heyman will be good, but not Okoye good, and their depth was pretty good, but those are some significant losses.

That is a lot to lose and to think they will be better.

That is an understandable assessment, however a closer look will reveal that Louisville is very capable of replacing all of this talent.

First of all the defense saw a great many different players see quality time, I can count seven DB's who had played in 10 games or more last season, including freshman starter Latarrious Thomas who was outstanding. At Linebacker Nate Harris wasn't even starting in some of the games later in the season, senior to be Malik Jackson was the leader in solo tackles for the team. On the Defensive line Louisville has been one of the most impressive schools at reloading every year. Josiah, White, Dumerville, and Okoye whether it will be Heyman, Whitehead, or Grady I'm not sure but I'm confidant that someone else will step up to be the next force on the line.

 

The defense should be improved.

[Son of Bear]

UK will have a better team no doubt, but won't match their 06 record. A bowl game is likely if they can beat a South Carolina or Arkansas.

 

Louisville faithful:

Did the linebacker from Miami (Willie Williams?) ever make it to campus?

[RowdyRedRam]

Schedule wise for Louisville my biggest fear is our trip to Morgantown. I think there is no more unstoppable tandem in the nation than that of Slayton and White of West Virginia. Last year Louisville's offense was able to keep up WVU and the team took advantage of a few of WVU's mistake to pull away with an impressive victory, I think doing the same on the road will prove to be a bit more difficult.

 

The other challenges that the Big East inlcude Rutgers, South Florida, and Cincinnatti, all of which I believe Louisville is more talented than, yet all are equally capable of beating the Cards.

 

Utah, NC State, Kentucky, Middle Tenn St, and Murray St all make up the OOC schedule. Perhaps UK is the biggest name on the list this season, with Utah and NC State being less than impressive this last season. I don't think UK has the defensive horses to play with Louisville and I also think they will be shocked by Louisville's underrated defense.

[PepRock01]

With "Patucas" finally behind us...

 

Isn't that where it usually is? :lol: :lol:

[Ram]

With "Patucas" finally behind us...let's move to football.

 

Thank God, yes lets talk football.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing my Vols this year. I think they are going to have another good year. I couldn't believe Ainge was not on the top 50 QB's list. They lost several good players to the draft, but they still have some good returning players and I expect them to do rather well.

[02Ram54]

I don't see how UL will be better on defense considering their losses.

Losing Okoye who probably commanded double teams along with Anderson, Abe Brown, Nate Harris, Brandon Sharp and William Gay.

Heyman will be good, but not Okoye good, and their depth was pretty good, but those are some significant losses.

That is a lot to lose and to think they will be better.

Haven't we been through this before? 2 years ago Louisville graduated McCune, Rhodes, Leffew, Haskins and Jones and got better as a defense. This time last year Louisville lost Dumervil, Stanley, Rimpsey, and Johnson and got better.

 

Okoye won't be replaced individually, but between the fact that Peanut is on a great development path, Heyman really coming into his own, Grady offering solid run support and the overall depth of the line with really solid backups rotating, the defenisve line as a UNIT will probably be better.

 

Not a lot of people noticed, but by the end of the season Lamar Myles and Preston Smith were starting over Nate Harris and Abe Brown. Myles is a great hitter and has more speed than people realize. Malik Jackson is a born disrupter. Preston Smith really came on in the Spring, and Williams isn't even factored in yet. Again, there's good depth in the unit. The linebackers will be better than last year.

 

Louisville returns two safeties with starting experience in Latarrius Thomas and Jon Russell. Thomas looked very solid playing as a converted WR last fall, so with a full year under his belt I think it's just going to get better. The backups at safety are young but heralded. The corner position is obviously the most questionable. I think that Rod Council at one corner is going to have a pretty good year, if he stays healthy. I think early in the year Bobby Buchanen will start at the other corner, but he might be moved to the nickel package by the end of the season by Turenne as he learns his role in the system. Another player to watch is converted WR Johnny Patrick.

 

Based on what I've seen at practices and scrimmages, and what I've read, this has the potential to be the best defensive unit that Louisville has ever fielded.

[Belfry Wins]

I'm excited about the season. I know Im going to Morgantown to watch WVU and the Cards, Thursday night games is tough their, and they had a great spring also. I will go check out a couple Kentucky games, and will go to the WVU vs Marshall game, I have press box seats at Marshall, just dont go much.