The House of Blue

i think larod is going to have a very very big year. i would like to put king and parkers stats side by side after the yr is up. king will have 800 recieving yards book it.

Would you be surprised to know UK averaged more yards per game rushing than UL last year? I am. And that's rushing in the Big East vs the SEC! U of L also ranked #103 in total yards. But one area where UL really racked up the yds last year is penalty yds. 735 penalty yds! UL ranked #103 in penalties/play, #89 in penalty/game. UK had 482 yards in penalties last year. Sounds like a very undisciplined team if you ask me. If we can get under their skin, they could lose it. U of L ranked #116 in QB sacks % at 10.31% So U of L's o-line got their QB sacked over 10% of the time! Almost their entire O-line 2nd string are freshmen. If our defense can get to Bridgewater early and often(and it sounds like that's a reasonable expectation), I like our chances.

I am well aware that UK's numbers were AWFUL last year, but all I've heard is how awesome U of L's offense was, but when compared to the rest of the nation, it was really bad as well. Level of competition DOES make a difference. To win a share of your conference with an offense that's ranked #103 in total yards (and ranked #93 in points per game) is pretty shocking.

yeah sir uofl is such a juggernaut r we will have 4 frosh r true soph in r top 5 wr. robinson collins sweat legree. and fields who killed yall last year will be the 6th wr. uofl will be decent but to act like they have an advantage on the dline r oline is rediculus. i give uofl the advantage on paper at qb cb wr. uk advantage at dline rb oline safety and of course home field. louisville has some talent but uk has some very good talent that will be arriving this year.

What does Vegas know? Not much in this rivalry game. I believe 3 of the past 5 games were won by the underdog. And Vegas had U of L as an 11 pt dog last year. Vegas even had U of L the favorite back in 2008 when UK won 27-2!

In all seriousness, we're not the ones saying it's going to be a blowout. We believe the 2 teams are closer matched than many U of L fans think. We both have VERY young teams. We will probably have a similar amount of Freshmen or Sophomores in our 2 deep. And with young teams on both sides, just about anything can happen.

I gotta feeling LaRod King is gonna show you something this year. He's big and capable. He's one hell of an outside threat. He was just a little distracted in the spring d/t so much going on his life and I think last year he was a little shocked being the #1 guy when he had been no higher than #3 in his first two years. I expect a big season from him as long as our Oline keeps the QB upright.

UK: LaRod King (6'4", 210lbs, Senior)
2011 Stats: 40 receiptions, 598 yards, 15 average per catch, 7 TDs
Career Stats: 86 catches, 1,218 total yards, 14.2 average per catch, 13 TDs

UL: DeVante Parker (6'3", 204lbs, Sophmore)
2011 Stats: 18 catches, 291 yards, 16.2 average per catch, 6 TDs
Career Stats: (Only stats are 2011)

Look, I am a Ballard grad and have seen Parker and know how good he can be...he has a much higher ceiling than King, and is a better pro prospect...but to say he is way better than King is ignorant at this moment.

Hell last years stats show otherwise...and that is not taking into account the SEC vs Big East schedule. (and horrible QB play form UK)

All things equal, I take Parker...but all things arent equal, King has got a couple years on him.

This side by side matchup is close.

I've read this and tried to think about it objectively before posting. But here it is.....
RB
Uk may have some good fr backs that I haven't seen but any of our 3 backs would start over Williams or sanders.

WR
Andrell Smith was a starter and is very similar to larod king in size, speed, and ability but he lost his spot to a stud freshman last year. (Parker)

Loosing Harris hurt or size and reliability away going over the middle but we got much faster with Charles Gains(clocked at 4.31 at UF camp). Demling quoted one of our coaches saying "safe bet that Gaines scores a td Sunday. Kid is electric....

QB.... We know who is better! Teddy is listed at 203 in the op and max is listed at 230. Teddy is 221 and has put on 28lbs since the bowl game last year.

OL
We rushed for 181 yards to your 35 last year with 3 true freshman starters. Enough said.

Obviously I think we r better across the board. Better hope for a rainy day and some turnovers to keep it close. Which is looking likely

QB Who is better? You haven't seen the "new" Smith yet. Wait till Sunday to make that proclamation.

OL - Most of ours were injured. Were yours?

It will rain.

Let's just put it this way, I have someone in the know who has relayed that OL Coach Mike Summers, the same Summers who turned UofL into a dynamic ground game under Petrino is extremely confident in UK's ground game this season.

Card fans know how good of a coach he is.

You guys do have more exp and talent returning on Off at QB and RB but we have some good RB's,WR's and Max is doing fine these days. I also think we hold the edge up front. I'll take Miller, West, Smith, Warford and Mitchell over your 5 anyday...

On defense we are better at DT, I'm not sure if you know this or not but many have said you best DT Philon isn't 100% healthy... I hope the kid bounces back, I don't like to see anyone injured even a UofL or TN player but I hope it's after we play, kids good... We also have more exp and depth at DT. Since we base out of two different schemes on defense I think it's fair to say you guys hold the edge at DE in exp but before the season is over I think Bud Dupree will prove to be a better pass rusher than any DE on UofL's roster.

At LB you guys have the exp with Preston and Daniel Brown both have played a ton the past few years but that doesn't mean we are void of talent. Avery Williamson has played a lot and should have started last year... The sad truth is the best Inside LB in KY doesn't play for either school, Mr. "Dey spose to be SEC" is the best ILB in KY and he plays for WKU (Andrew Jackson).

Miles SImpson and Tyler Brause have both played but not a lot, they will man the SAM-Hybrid and WILB positions with Bud and Avery at Rush-backer and Mike LB. Josh F and Malcom M are super athletic, both will play. I give you guys the edge at LB in exp, but as far as talent I think it's a toss up.

In the secondary you guys have a obvious edge, Bushell is a good cover corner and Johnson is solid, he's a better tackler than cover man (I hope we take advantage of that), at safety Smith, Pryor and Holliman are very talented, but so is Lowery, Blaylock, Tyler and Dixon, not to mention Glenn (hurt) Zack B, Benton (coach on the field)...

So IMO you guys hold the talent edge at QB, RB, DE, DB's AT THIS POINT, MAYBE... With us holding the edge on the O-line, TE, Kicker, DT.

LB, Punter and returners are a toss up IMO.

I'll give credit when it's due, you guys have a few more proven returning players than we do however kids improve... As I'm sure you know Football is the ultimate team game and nothing is given, I can see why your team are favored but at the end of the day I think it could go either way and is much closer than either party wants to say... I can also see your team being over confident... Having good position groups mean nothing, it's all about execution, coaching and developement. If everything us fans have heard is true we have came a long ways from where we were last year, a long way... Can't wait to see the out come around 7:00 Sunday. One thing is certain, if you guys loose it will destroy your season, if we loose it will suck but to hear everyone talk we were suppose too...

Damn, If Vandy and UofL are "pathetic" then what is UK football? We are in the top 25 with a team that is younger than yours. How good will we be in 2014??

What will you be saying about when we win this game with such a young team? Doubt it will be how good will they be in 2014.