Louisville is bad end of discussion.

 

UL had one below-average (for our standards) year and that makes them bad...I guess that made UK god awful before the 2006 season....

UL had one below-average (for our standards) year and that makes them bad...I guess that made UK god awful before the 2006 season....

 

Statistically and historically speaking, UK/UL fans really have nothing to gloat over. Both programs are traditionally terrible with a lot more down times than high.

Statistically and historically speaking, UK/UL fans really have nothing to gloat over. Both programs are traditionally terrible with a lot more down times than high.

 

But lately, UL has been better than 6-6. UK has been far from world-beaters in basketball the last decade, but you all dont expect them to be 9-9 halfway through the season. Same principle applies.

With what weapons on offense? UK's running game is stout, other than that, nothing impressive at all. Where do you think UK will get the most offensive production against UL?

 

 

The rushing game should count for a lot since UL was in the 80's in team rush defense. Also UK does bring back Dicke Lyons Jr. who had 56 catches for 655 yards and 7 touchdowns last season as well as 3 starting offensive lineman (and a 4th that started at least 2 games) along with 2 good blocking fullbacks.

 

Where do you think that UL will get production against UK's defense? UL's returnees in the backfield are not as impressive as Locke, Dixon, Smith and Allen. Scott Long is the leading returning reciever and his 27 catches for 358 yards and zero touchdowns isn't overly impressive. Cantwell has gotten a lot of hype from the UL faithful but his career numbers are 92-159 58.5% 10 TDs and 7 Ints. Most of those numbers were racked up against 3 teams: in 2005 against a 5-6 UConn team and in 2006 against a pair of 7-6 teams, Kansas State and Middle Tennessee State. In those games he was 51-83 61.4% with 5 TDs, 3 Ints and 6 Sacks. I'm not saying those are horrible numbers but are they really good enough to say that UL's offense won't miss a beat at quarterback? Those 6 sacks have to be enough to warrant some concern about his ability to read defenses and get rid of the ball. I picked UL to win next season's game and I still feel that they will but let's not act like the returners from last season's 6-6 train wreck of a season are going to step in and be better than last season's edition of the Cards. Maybe they will and maybe they won't. It should be a good game and the home field may be the difference.

The rushing game should count for a lot since UL was in the 80's in team rush defense. Also UK does bring back Dicke Lyons Jr. who had 56 catches for 655 yards and 7 touchdowns last season as well as 3 starting offensive lineman (and a 4th that started at least 2 games) along with 2 good blocking fullbacks.

 

Where do you think that UL will get production against UK's defense? UL's returnees in the backfield are not as impressive as Locke, Dixon, Smith and Allen. Scott Long is the leading returning reciever and his 27 catches for 358 yards and zero touchdowns isn't overly impressive. Cantwell has gotten a lot of hype from the UL faithful but his career numbers are 92-159 58.5% 10 TDs and 7 Ints. Most of those numbers were racked up against 3 teams: in 2005 against a 5-6 UConn team and in 2006 against a pair of 7-6 teams, Kansas State and Middle Tennessee State. In those games he was 51-83 61.4% with 5 TDs, 3 Ints and 6 Sacks. I'm not saying those are horrible numbers but are they really good enough to say that UL's offense won't miss a beat at quarterback? Those 6 sacks have to be enough to warrant some concern about his ability to read defenses and get rid of the ball. I picked UL to win next season's game and I still feel that they will but let's not act like the returners from last season's 6-6 train wreck of a season are going to step in and be better than last season's edition of the Cards. Maybe they will and maybe they won't. It should be a good game and the home field may be the difference.

 

I'm going to just say this:

 

Louisville's defensive ranking, production, lack of production, etc, from last year should make no difference in this year's game. I expect EVERYTHING to change for the better for this year. If you're banking on the same-old, same-old for this year, I fear you will be disappointed.

I wouldn't expect the same old same old, but last years performance would have to be the base you start with. How much they can improve will be the key.

I'm going to just say this:

 

Louisville's defensive ranking, production, lack of production, etc, from last year should make no difference in this year's game. I expect EVERYTHING to change for the better for this year. If you're banking on the same-old, same-old for this year, I fear you will be disappointed.

 

Again, I pick UL to win this game. However, for UL fans to automatically assume that the defense will improve by leaps and bounds while their offense will come right out and produce at a level like last season is just as foolish as UK fans assuming that the Cats will be able to reload and not miss a beat. The game will require a lot a adjustments on the fly as two teams with a lot of new starters will be trying to find their way. I think UL being at home will make that process a little bit easier.

Again, I pick UL to win this game. However, for UL fans to automatically assume that the defense will improve by leaps and bounds while their offense will come right out and produce at a level like last season is just as foolish as UK fans assuming that the Cats will be able to reload and not miss a beat. The game will require a lot a adjustments on the fly as two teams with a lot of new starters will be trying to find their way. I think UL being at home will make that process a little bit easier.

 

The defense will be better, and Im not sure anybody has said that the offense will "come right out and produce at a level like last season." I expect the offense to run smoothly, and be effective, but never have I said it would be as good as last years. I am 100% confident in Cantwell's ability to run the offense.

Again, I pick UL to win this game. However, for UL fans to automatically assume that the defense will improve by leaps and bounds while their offense will come right out and produce at a level like last season is just as foolish as UK fans assuming that the Cats will be able to reload and not miss a beat. The game will require a lot a adjustments on the fly as two teams with a lot of new starters will be trying to find their way. I think UL being at home will make that process a little bit easier.

 

 

I'm sorry...I quoted you, but I didn't mean to. :creepy:

The defense will be better, and Im not sure anybody has said that the offense will "come right out and produce at a level like last season." I expect the offense to run smoothly, and be effective, but never have I said it would be as good as last years. I am 100% confident in Cantwell's ability to run the offense.

 

I disagree, the Cards defense has no returning linebackers with starting experience and they are on the small side. Both strong safeties are gone, DE Cox is gone,DT Williams is gone, Peanut is gone, the corners could not cover anyone, a new staff & scheme, they will struggle again IMO.

I disagree, the Cards defense has no returning linebackers with starting experience and they are on the small side. Both strong safeties are gone, DE Cox is gone,DT Williams is gone, Peanut is gone, the corners could not cover anyone, a new staff & scheme, they will struggle again IMO.

 

And you are entitled to your opinion. :thumb:

I know many are excited about English coming in at D-Coordinator, but assuming WVU and S. Florida are some of the better teams in the Big East, they both run spread offenses which Michigan (with English at the helm) really struggled to stop with a lot more talent than what UL has.

UL has never been that good at stopping the spread, regardless of the DC... Yet they've have found ways to win those games in the past.

UL has never been that good at stopping the spread, regardless of the DC... Yet they've have found ways to win those games in the past.

 

Which gets back to my point, why would UL hire someone that has had little success against the spread if some of your main counterparts, in conference, run this type of offense?

 

Who knows, maybe it will work out better than it has at Michigan.

I'm sorry...I quoted you, but I didn't mean to. :creepy:

 

No problem, I'm a huge UK fan but I like UL a lot--except for one game a year. I really do feel that, while out of the 2 offenses and defenses UK has the most "sure thing" (if there is such a thing) on defense since they return so much, it isn't enough to have them favored at UL in the opening game. I feel like pretty much anything can happen--from a blowout by either team to a game decided on the last play, but that since it is at UL's place that they should be favored. Either way it is way to early to speculate much on what'll happen.