Wide  Receivers: B-

The Wildcats lost a lot last year in the wide receiver position. Kentucky had the best combination of wide receivers in the SEC last season and that was a season that saw names like AJ Green and Julio Jones both go in the first round of the NFL draft.  Randall Cobb and Chris Matthews combined for 1942 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. For comparisons T.O. and OchoCinco combined only had 1814 yards and 13 touchdowns. Kentucky’s receivers helped make Mike Hartline one of the more proficient quarterbacks in the SEC and were the main reason that the Cats were very rarely out of a game.

Just like every other skill position, Kentucky was hit hard by departures, but fortunately for Joker Phillips and his coaching staff, there are some names that will help share the load when it comes to catching passes. Junior La’Rod King made huge strides last year with 478 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also came up big at big times with two touchdowns in the upset win over South Carolina and two more touchdowns against Georgia. King will finally be the number one option and only time will tell if he will be up to the task of facing off with the opponents best cornerback on a weekly basis.

Opposite King will be redshirt junior Gene McCaskill. After a promising sophomore season that was capped off with an excellent performance in the Liberty Bowl, McCaskill suffered a season ending knee injury just before the kickoff of the 2010 campaign. His return will give Morgan Newton two targets on the outside that opposing defenses will have to take seriously and their performance will be the key to opening up the field for the running game and give Newton the chance to move around and scramble out of the pocket. McCaskill also has the ability to play on the outside or in the slot and will give the coaching staff the flexibility to move Brian Adams and E.J. Fields in and out as needed.

The third name on top of the depth chart for the Wildcats is senior Matt Roark. Over his three seasons at UK, he has played only sparingly on offense and had trouble hauling in passes early on which ultimately led to limited playing time. His most significant contributions have been on special teams where he has blocked six kicks (five extra points/1 field goal). This season he will get his chance to start in the slot and use his 6’5” height to go up and get the ball and his 214 lb frame to absorb the hits when he has to go over the middle.

Sadly, one of the brightest stars of the 2011 recruiting class, Darryl Collins, suffered a season ending injury over the weekend and we won’t get a chance to see him until next year. But Adams,  Fields and freshman Demarco Robinson will see early time and have plenty of chances to prove what they can do on the field.

Like I said before, this group will be the ultimate key to the success of the offense. If they prove that they can fill the shoes of Cobb and Matthews, then this offense has the potential to light up the scoreboards like the Griswold house on Christmas Eve. But if no one emerges as a go to guy, opposing defenses will have no trouble shutting down the running game and send Wildcat fans back into Cobb withdrawals.

Tight End: B-

The deepest position on the team has one big thing going for them: they can only improve on what they did last year. That’s not to say that they were terrible. They just weren’t needed. Sophomore Jordan Aumiller tops the depth chart and will bring little experience to the table. Last season he hauled in 18 catches for 193 yards and a touchdown. This season, look for him to be more involved in the passing game as the Wildcats will have to rely on the short passes and the dumps when Newton starts moving around in the backfield. Keeping plays alive will be a key and Aumiller can bring that to the table. Sophomore Tyler Robinson will be the back-up and offers similar experience and the Cats will also have the option to line up in a two tight end set that could give them a throwback look and create confusion and keep the opposing teams guessing at all times.

Obviously, this group is young and has a lot to prove. But expectations have to be reasonable. There isn’t a Jacob Tamme on this team, but going into his sophomore season, Jacob Tamme wasn’t Jacob Tamme. Tight end is one of the toughest positions on the field to play because it requires a combination of strength and athleticism and smarts to make sure everything else falls into place. If you go left when you are supposed to go right, an opposing defensive end is sending your quarterback to the hospital. By mid-season, I feel like Aumiller will be one of the most reliable options on field and opposing defenses will have to plan for him like they did Jacob Tamme just a few years ago.

Offensive Line: A

One thing that Joker Phillips doesn’t have to worry about is his offensive line. Five returning starters can take the worries out of anyone’s mind. When Newton takes his snaps this year, he will have the type of protection in front of him that made Sandra Bullock America’s Sweetheart a couple of years ago. Well, they may not be that good, but seniors Chandler Burden (LT), Stuart Hines (LG) and Billy Joe Murphy (RT)  and  juniors Matt Smith (C) and Larry Warford (RG) will give the offense time to develop and open up holes for the running game. If the skill position players just go out and do their job, everything will fall into place perfectly.

The best part about the offensive line is that unlike previous Kentucky teams, this year, the Cats have some depth. Senior Jake Lenefski has experience at guard and center and will provide a great option when the starters need a breather. Junior Trevino Woods has shown an excellent work ethic and can play guard or tackle leaving the outside covered in times of need. Sophomore Sam Simpson has also battled his way up the depth chart and offers a reliable backup at center.

Overall, the offensive line is the most skilled unit on the team, if not in the entire conference. And when the big boys upfront step on the field, everyone will notice. Although the names that you garner the most praise are Newton, Sanders and King, the offensive line will provide the protection and the paths that the offense needs to be successful.

Saturday Down South will be looking at the SEC title chances for every team in the conference and giving three reasons for and three reasons against every team winning the SEC Championship come December…in alphabetical order of course.

Kentucky Wildcats

Three Reasons Why

1. Offensive Line – Let it be known that the Wildcats return one of the better offensive lines in 2011. Offensive line coach Mike Summers has done a great job in only two years with this group. Returning starters will be the staple and stronghold for this offense. Left tackle Chandler Burden, left guard Stuart Hines, center Matt Smith and right guard Larry Warford all return for this year. Warford is getting the preseason accolades, but this group as a whole can compete with the best defensive lines this conference has to offer.

2. Rick Minter – You have probably never heard of Rick Minter, but he is Kentucky’s new defensive coordinator. Minter was brought in from Indiana State as their linebackers coach. Wow you yet? I didn’t think so. However, he was the defensive coordinator under Lou Holtz at Notre Dame, and UND was 21-2-1 during that time. He knows how to run an old-school defense, and defense is exactly what Kentucky needs at this point in the game. He is a great asset to this team and program.

3. Danny Trevathan – Danny “Leviathan” Trevathan needs no introduction. This tackling machine does not wow you, but he proves to you over and over again why he’s a top three linebacker in this league. Last year, Trevathan led the SEC in tackles with 144, with the next tackler 18 tackles away. He was the only SEC tackler to average double figures in tackles per game, with 11.1. This is his defense; this is his football team.

Three Reasons Why Not

1. Lack of Proven Playmakers – Kentucky lost Randall Cobb, Derrick Locke, Mike Hartline and Chris Matthews. Those four playmakers accounted for primarily all of the offensive production, with Cobb being the do-it-all player. The lack of playmakers returning has to be the primary concern for Kentucky, and it could be one reason they are not as competitive in the SEC.

2. Defensive Line – The lack of proven playmakers along the defensive line are very concerning for Kentucky. Everyone knows the game is won in the trenches, and Kentucky’s defense could be slowed by lack of production in this department. Collins Ukwu and Luke McDermott return with the most experience, but the Cats need players to step up in this department.

3. Wide Receivers – Quarterback Morgan Newton will be a serviceable quarterback this season, I firmly believe. However, the Wildcats lost their two best receivers in Cobb and Matthews. It’s officially back to the drawing board. La’Rod King will have to step up in a big way and lead Matt Roark and EJ Fields like Cobb did for the entire department last year.

The Kentucky Wildcats play their first game this Saturday under new head coach Joker Phillips. It will be for the Governor’s Cup as they take on in-state rival, the Louisville Cardinals. The game will be played at Louisville in Papa John’s Stadium. Below are 5 things you need to know about this big rivalry matchup:

2. Starting Quarterbacks: The quarterback situation will be interesting to watch for both teams. Louisville waited until recently to name their starting QB, Adam Froman. They went with experience and named the senior. As you know from our previous articles on Kentucky’s quarterback decision, the Cats chose senior Mike Hartline. Our writers think all Kentucky fans should embrace Mike. I doubt that either of these quarterbacks will take all the snaps in this game. For Kentucky, it will be interesting to see if Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski get much playing time. How will the quarterbacks for both teams play?

3. Kentucky’s Offensive Line: This will be the big question mark for the Cats this year. Losing 4 offensive starters on the O-Line will hurt any team, especially one that plays in the SEC. The offensive line this season will be: Billy Joe Murphy and Chandler Burden at Tackles, Stuart Hines and Larry Warford at Guards, and Matt Smith at Center. While UK is not going against NFL caliber talent on the Cards’ defensive front, it will be a big first test for this group. Will they allow any sacks? What about holding penalties? And the main question is: will they open holes for Derrick Locke? If they do their job, he’ll be off to the races and this game will be over at halftime.

4. The Randall Cobb Train: This young man has been carrying the team since his freshman year. He does it all and has a knack for finding the endzone. Sports Illustrated ran a great article on Randall Cobb as the face of Kentucky football, and in it he said, “I feel like I’ve gained some respect from some of the coaches around the league, but I still haven’t been that impact player that I need to be. If I want to get their respect, I have to go out and earn it, I have to take it. That’s left me with a lot of hunger going into this season.” I’m excited to see that hunger out on the field this Saturday. How many times will he score against the Cards?

5. Kentucky Winning Streak: Kentucky has 3 straight wins against Louisville, beginning with clutch play in 2007 when the Cardinals were ranked #9 in the country. I had the privilege of being on the field for that game as a scout for the Capital One Bowl. It was the best football experience of my life. Here’s a photo before all the excitement happened. To read more about this streak and the storylines heading into this matchup, check out this article from A Sea of Blue. Also, below the picture is a chart of all 19 meetings between these two teams. Kentucky leads the series with 10 wins.

Individual Game Results of Kentucky (vs Louisville), 1915-2009