I would be very surprised if UK is not going to a 4th straight bowl. I also think they have a shot at the #3 spot in the east IF they can end the streak against UT. I like the breakdown, but UK brings back more than they lose and I see another milestone for the Cats.

I would be very surprised if UK is not going to a 4th straight bowl. I also think they have a shot at the #3 spot in the east IF they can end the streak against UT. I like the breakdown, but UK brings back more than they lose and I see another milestone for the Cats.

 

If UK gets to a bowl it will be because of their nonconference schedule at best they will go go 4-4 in the SEC but another 2-6 performance is a lot more likely. Yes Auburn, Tn, Miss. State, and Vandy are extremely beatable, but Auburn and Vandy are on the the road and UK couldn't beat Vandy at home last year. Also South Carolina will be back on the road and it's been ages sine UK beat South Carolina and they haven't ever beaten Spurrier. As for Tennessee well UK hasn't beaten them in my life time so until it changes I will stick with the Vols. The rest of the SEC schedule is Bama, UGA, and UF and I can't see UK winning any of those 3, maybe keeping it close in one or two of them, but not winning.

^^^I disagree a little. Auburn new coach/vols new coach/Vandy lost a lot and the Cats D is very strong. Wideouts need to step up and help Cobb. Is the place kicker still there? 8-4 is what I see. Losing to the Gators/Bama/USC Maybe/Georgia maybe. And somone else. If the maybes ccome thru.

^^^I disagree a little. Auburn new coach/vols new coach/Vandy lost a lot and the Cats D is very strong. Wideouts need to step up and help Cobb. Is the place kicker still there? 8-4 is what I see. Losing to the Gators/Bama/USC Maybe/Georgia maybe. And somone else. If the maybes ccome thru.

 

Hm, I'm not so sure about that. The past 3 UK teams haven't finished the regular season at 8-4, and those 3 were all better than this one IMO.

Hm, I'm not so sure about that. The past 3 UK teams haven't finished the regular season at 8-4, and those 3 were all better than this one IMO.

 

Why do you think the last three teams are better than this one will be? D should be very, very good this year, so I assume its the O that causes you concern, correct? If so, just why do you feel that last year's O was better that this year's will be? Position by position if you don't mind.

Hm, I'm not so sure about that. The past 3 UK teams haven't finished the regular season at 8-4, and those 3 were all better than this one IMO.

 

This year's offense will be better than last year's and the defense should still be strong.

This year's offense will be better than last year's and the defense should still be strong.

 

Yea if Newton starts! If Hartline starts then it will be the same old story.

UK does not make it back to a bowl? With all they have coming back?

Why do you think the last three teams are better than this one will be? D should be very, very good this year, so I assume its the O that causes you concern, correct? If so, just why do you feel that last year's O was better that this year's will be? Position by position if you don't mind.

 

Well for UK

 

QB- Has to be better. Hartline will still be the man, but he will have a full season under his belt. I don't want the Frosh to play too much too early. It would be disaster in the SEC. Don't forget that Cobb can play QB very well. And with Fidler having a solid spring, someone out of the five should be able to atleast manage the offense. This season for UK is about defense, they don't have to score like they did with Woodson, Burton, Johnson, Tamme and Little.

 

RB- Should be very good. Alphonso Smith will be tough to stop. He is very quick. If Locke can return to form this core will be even better. If Coshik Williams is still here and is as good as people are saying well...awesome. Add in Moncel "Turtle" Allen and I like our RB's.

 

WR- Will be improved. The talent is there, if 3 or 4 become consistent look out. You have one of the best playmakers in the conference in Randall Cobb. IF, and thats a big IF, a bunch of other recievers can step up maybe Cobb goes back to QB if Hartline struggles. Unlikely, but in a dream scenario it would be a possibility. Nick Melilo has looked good so far, and I think between Roark, Boyd, Adeyemi, Adams and Lanxter someone will step up.

 

TE- Has to get better. Don't have to have a Jacob Tamme, but some production would be nice.

 

OL- Should be about the same. I will be interested in seeing how well Zipp Duncan does, isn't the moving to tackle?

 

The offense will be better than last year. It may not be top level in the conference, but it will be capable of giving the defense some rest, IMO.

Why do you think the last three teams are better than this one will be? D should be very, very good this year, so I assume its the O that causes you concern, correct? If so, just why do you feel that last year's O was better that this year's will be? Position by position if you don't mind.

 

QB - Hartline will be the starter in the opening game, and he could hold on to that for a while. Newton could be a huge plus for them at QB, but he is a true freshmen and if he does get thrown in there, it could be rough on him. Especially in the SEC.

 

RB - Smith isn't going to be a huge stud, I'm sorry. They HAVE to get Locke back and on the team (I'm not sure what's going on there, but they have to get him). That could be a big weak spot for the Cats without D. Locke.

 

O-Line - Doesn't look to be to strong this year, but I could be wrong. They have to protect whoever is in the backfield, that's for sure.

 

WR - Aside from Cobb and Lanxter it's pretty down hill for me. Cobb is a big play maker, but Lanxter showed me nothing a year ago. Unless he has improved by 110%, then I will continue to think he isn't ready to be a big time wide out threat.

 

This year's offense will be better than last year's and the defense should still be strong.

 

I'm not so sure about that. They lost Dicky Lyons and I guess Mr. Locke. Their running, receiving, and passing games could all be weak this year.

 

UK does not make it back to a bowl? With all they have coming back?

 

They could get 6 wins, but to me that's all they will get.

QB - Hartline will be the starter in the opening game, and he could hold on to that for a while. Newton could be a huge plus for them at QB, but he is a true freshmen and if he does get thrown in there, it could be rough on him. Especially in the SEC.

 

RB - Smith isn't going to be a huge stud, I'm sorry. They HAVE to get Locke back and on the team (I'm not sure what's going on there, but they have to get him). That could be a big weak spot for the Cats without D. Locke.

 

O-Line - Doesn't look to be to strong this year, but I could be wrong. They have to protect whoever is in the backfield, that's for sure.

 

WR - Aside from Cobb and Lanxter it's pretty down hill for me. Cobb is a big play maker, but Lanxter showed me nothing a year ago. Unless he has improved by 110%, then I will continue to think he isn't ready to be a big time wide out threat.

 

 

 

I'm not so sure about that. They lost Dicky Lyons and I guess Mr. Locke. Their running, receiving, and passing games could all be weak this year.

 

 

 

They could get 6 wins, but to me that's all they will get.

 

I disagree on Smith. He has great speed and I think Joker will use him really well. I think he has a nice season, maybe not Adrian Peterson/Reggie Bush numbers but a nice season. Locke should/could/might be back, but you can't count on him being the same even if he does play this season.

You do realize they played most of the season without Dicky Lyons don't you? So the WR core is basically the same. I don't see Lanxter as the 2nd best of the group.

Is the UK line ever strong?

What you asked was will the offense be better, and the answer has to be yes. They have mostly the same players back, minus Tony Dixon and some O-Line, but I think the players that will be in there make up for that. There's no were to go but up for the UK offense. I don't care if you are a UK fan, and U of L fan, a Gator fan, who ever you cheer for you have to think UK's offense will be improved some what.

Why is everyone down on Hartline. He is the type of QB that UK needs this season. They need low scoring defensive struggles. You want a guy who manages the game, a guy who throws the ball away. That is what you want. I don't disagree that they could only win 6 games. Knowing UK I wouldn't be surprised if they only win 2 or 3, but MATTER OF FACT: the Offense will improve. That may not be good enough for 8 or 9 wins, but they will be a little more respectable atleast.

Hm, I'm not so sure about that. The past 3 UK teams haven't finished the regular season at 8-4, and those 3 were all better than this one IMO.

 

This years UK team will be better than last seasons. The record might not show it but:

1. UK had a very, very, very GREEN combination of QB's. Still sort of the case this year, but atleast UK has two players who have taken snaps against SEC defenses.

2. Injuries- Locke, Lyons, Micah Johnson, Trevard Lindley, Cobb at the end of the season, and almost everyone else were hurt and missed atleast a few games. If everyone on UK's roster plays in every game they would have been a little better, but the Cats do not have the depth that the SEC elite have. If LSU loses a RB, they just put another one in. Harvin got hurt for Florida and Murphy, Moore, Nelson, and even TE Hernandez picked up the slack. UK doesn't have that kind of talent all around.

I disagree on Smith. He has great speed and I think Joker will use him really well. I think he has a nice season, maybe not Adrian Peterson/Reggie Bush numbers but a nice season. Locke should/could/might be back, but you can't count on him being the same even if he does play this season.

You do realize they played most of the season without Dicky Lyons don't you? So the WR core is basically the same. I don't see Lanxter as the 2nd best of the group.

Is the UK line ever strong?

What you asked was will the offense be better, and the answer has to be yes. They have mostly the same players back, minus Tony Dixon and some O-Line, but I think the players that will be in there make up for that. There's no were to go but up for the UK offense. I don't care if you are a UK fan, and U of L fan, a Gator fan, who ever you cheer for you have to think UK's offense will be improved some what.

Why is everyone down on Hartline. He is the type of QB that UK needs this season. They need low scoring defensive struggles. You want a guy who manages the game, a guy who throws the ball away. That is what you want. I don't disagree that they could only win 6 games. Knowing UK I wouldn't be surprised if they only win 2 or 3, but MATTER OF FACT: the Offense will improve. That may not be good enough for 8 or 9 wins, but they will be a little more respectable atleast.

 

When I think about Smith being a solid back for Kentucky, I just don't see it. To me he isn't near as explosive as Locke, or as Little was for Kentucky. He won't be a top back in the SEC that's for sure.

 

I do realize that, and that's why they mostly had struggles. Lyons was their go to guy, they don't have a true wide out threat this year. Cobb can be a play maker, but can he be one like Keenan Burton or Steve Johnson? No.

 

Exactly. The O line won't be solid at all, and that only results in sacks to the ceiling.

 

Hartline showed me he was one of the worst starting qb's in the SEC a year ago. I have read a lot on his improvement, but I'm not sold on that just yet. Hartline will have to manage games far better than he did a year ago. He is the type of guy who can get you 160-180 yards a game, and maybe a touchdown or two. That's just not enough to get it done in the SEC to me. Look at what UK got done with Andre Woodson in his last 2 seasons. Hartline is far from being an Andre Woodson, I'm sorry.

 

Sure, they offense can improve some, but not enough to win 6-8 games in the SEC. Kentucky doesn't have the firepower to win the big games in the conference, and could lose some that they should win.

 

This years UK team will be better than last seasons. The record might not show it but:

1. UK had a very, very, very GREEN combination of QB's. Still sort of the case this year, but atleast UK has two players who have taken snaps against SEC defenses.

2. Injuries- Locke, Lyons, Micah Johnson, Trevard Lindley, Cobb at the end of the season, and almost everyone else were hurt and missed atleast a few games. If everyone on UK's roster plays in every game they would have been a little better, but the Cats do not have the depth that the SEC elite have. If LSU loses a RB, they just put another one in. Harvin got hurt for Florida and Murphy, Moore, Nelson, and even TE Hernandez picked up the slack. UK doesn't have that kind of talent all around.

 

Hartline isn't going to be able to handle a 12 game schedule especially once the conference games begin. He isn't an SEC quarterback, I'm sorry. He just can't get the job done, he has shown it over and over again. Cobb will have to play the wide out spot because he is pretty much the only solid wide out they have.

 

As for the injuries, yes that did play a role in some of their losses, but then again it didn't. They still could have won some games even without those guys. I know it's hard losing key guys like that, but we have seen over the years teams lose guys but can still go out and win the games they should have. If everyone does stay healthy this season, 6 wins is as high as I can go.

When I think about Smith being a solid back for Kentucky, I just don't see it. To me he isn't near as explosive as Locke, or as Little was for Kentucky. He won't be a top back in the SEC that's for sure.

 

I do realize that, and that's why they mostly had struggles. Lyons was their go to guy, they don't have a true wide out threat this year. Cobb can be a play maker, but can he be one like Keenan Burton or Steve Johnson? No.

 

Exactly. The O line won't be solid at all, and that only results in sacks to the ceiling.

 

Hartline showed me he was one of the worst starting qb's in the SEC a year ago. I have read a lot on his improvement, but I'm not sold on that just yet. Hartline will have to manage games far better than he did a year ago. He is the type of guy who can get you 160-180 yards a game, and maybe a touchdown or two. That's just not enough to get it done in the SEC to me. Look at what UK got done with Andre Woodson in his last 2 seasons. Hartline is far from being an Andre Woodson, I'm sorry.

 

Sure, they offense can improve some, but not enough to win 6-8 games in the SEC. Kentucky doesn't have the firepower to win the big games in the conference, and could lose some that they should win.

 

 

 

Hartline isn't going to be able to handle a 12 game schedule especially once the conference games begin. He isn't an SEC quarterback, I'm sorry. He just can't get the job done, he has shown it over and over again. Cobb will have to play the wide out spot because he is pretty much the only solid wide out they have.

 

As for the injuries, yes that did play a role in some of their losses, but then again it didn't. They still could have won some games even without those guys. I know it's hard losing key guys like that, but we have seen over the years teams lose guys but can still go out and win the games they should have. If everyone does stay healthy this season, 6 wins is as high as I can go.

 

We will continue to disagree I guess. Where did I say Alphonso would be the best RB in the SEC? I said tough to stop, which being one of the top 5 or so fastest players in the league will do. Of course I think Locke is better, but who knows what he will be able to do this season?

Cobb is a different type of playmaker than Burton or Johnson, he is in the mold of the hybrid type players you see everywhere now. Though not as good as a Harvin or Maclin, he is that type of player, a guy who plays all over the field and his worth cannot be measured by how many passes he gets.

Like I said, injuries make a bigger difference to the UK's, Vandy's, Mississippi State of the SEC than the big dogs.

And you don't have to apologize to anyone, if you think UK is going to be a 4 win team that is fine you just have to be prepared for people to think differently.

I don't think explosiveness is an issue for Smith...He is probably one of the fastest guys in the country