Early college football predictions

[WildcatRick]

’Over’joyed with profits

Kentucky - The Wildcats have a tremendous set of playmakers offensively but their defense is nothing but a question mark. This means we should see the Wildcats putting up a ton of points with the offense they like to run. It also means they won't be stopping anybody either. The key on offense is also depth that will help keep them fresh as well as help them avoid losing momentum when injuries occur as the season wears on. Kentucky is simply loaded with upperclassmen on offense.

On defense it's an entirely different story. Even though the Wildcats return many starters in the linebacking and secondary areas, that may not be good news. Kentucky was one of the worst defensive teams in the country last season. The team must also redevelop its defense under new coordinator Steve Brown. Also note the Wildcats have some inexperience on the defensive line and they have struggled mightily in the past against the SEC power rushing attacks. That could easily end up being even more of a struggle this season with the infusion of youth along the defensive battle front. Looks like many games in the 60s, 70s and 80s once again for the Wildcats.

http://experts.covers.com/includes/article_ce.aspx?ce=29179&theArt=147755&t=0

[BigblueDrew]

It's really hard to argue with his assessment right now. I do believe a new D coordinator will be a help. I hated Archers schemas, he was incapable of running a defense tailored to the talent on hand. His miserable sets required(at least in my mind) a much bigger and faster group of players to run it effectively, than we ever had. I pray coach Brown doesn't make the same mistake. If he doesn't and our defense does improve I think our record improves over last year despite the toughness of our schedule.

[Mark Blueblood]

Personally, I feel our defense is being falsely maligned. What I saw last year was two different teams on defense - the pre-LSU one and the post-LSU one. Down the stretch our defense played very well. I give them credit for the Georgia win and they were certainly NOT the reason we lost to Tennessee. They flat embarrassed Clemson and, once young players got some experience and some injuries healed, they were a very solid unit.

In short - I think these "experts" spent too much time looking at stats and not enough time watching these guys play. I saw progress after every game. I think they may very well (and probably will) surprise a lot of people.

[RV]

... I hated Archers schemas, he was incapable of running a defense tailored to the talent on hand. His miserable sets required(at least in my mind) a much bigger and faster group of players to run it effectively, than we ever had...

I respectfully disagree although I do admit that Archer's defensive scheme was probably more complex than it should have been given our circumstances. While we didn't play the 'style' that excites the masses, we have been woefully undermanned on D until this year and we're not out of the woods yet. You can see by our preseason a couple of injuries on the D-line puts us in near panic mode. Two years ago on D we played, for the most part 16 kids - TOTAL. Go up to any college football coach and tell them they are limited to only using 16 players for the season and see what reaction you would get. They would likely look at you as if you had three eyes.

Even last season at Cornerback we had a walkon Senior and a bunch of Freshmen with little pass rush from our front four, basically played 4 LB total for the season and Freshmen all over the place. Playing soft and trying to prevent the big play between the 20's was our only chance of winning. We played more aggressively once teams to into the red zone as there was less field to defend. We also began playing more aggressively overall toward the end of the season as our guys gained experience and the trust of the staff.

Will be interesting to watch the NC State defense this year.

[Will Lavender]

Don't we have more returning starters on defense than we do on offense?

[7lives]

Personally, I feel our defense is being falsely maligned. What I saw last year was two different teams on defense - the pre-LSU one and the post-LSU one. Down the stretch our defense played very well. I give them credit for the Georgia win and they were certainly NOT the reason we lost to Tennessee. They flat embarrassed Clemson and, once young players got some experience and some injuries healed, they were a very solid unit.

In short - I think these "experts" spent too much time looking at stats and not enough time watching these guys play. I saw progress after every game. I think they may very well (and probably will) surprise a lot of people.

Agree with you wholeheartily. Those so-called experts are inexperienced ignorant amatuers.

[bleedblue79]

If, according to this article, our defense is such a question mark, how do they know it will be bad. We could be pleasantly surprised. Nobody knows until they line it up and snap the ball how much the defense has improved. I tend to be positive and until I am proven wrong I am looking for the hard hitting bunch that finished last years's season to take the field and be even better this year.

GO BIG BLUE!!!