Here is a list of things that would make my day if they happened during the Kentucky vs. Norfolk State game.

1. Run blocking. Chalk it up to first game jitters, new starters or whatever, butt run blocking was a big disappointment against Louisville. To make matters worse for Saturday, Garry Williams had surgery to repair some torn cartilage in his knee and will be out for a few weeks. According to the sources I’ve seen, He should be back to speed during the bye week, which means he would be able to play against Alabama. Given the defensive domination of Alabama last week, Kentucky will need all the help they can get, and a healthy Williams will make a huge difference. Until then, Williams’ injury opens the door for the Cats’ younger tackles to get some playing time against weaker opponents.

2. Sweeps. I understand why Kentucky kept running up the gut against Louisville. It was hot, Kentucky had field position and the lead. It was a battle of attrition. It also didn’t get a lot of yardage. If the lanes were there for the backs to get to the outside against Louisville, they should be there against Norfolk State.

3. Derrick Locke and Alfonso Smith. Tony Dixon is good in short yardage situations, but he fumbles too much to be a lead back. Also, Dixon doesn’t have the breakaway speed that Locke and Smith possess. I’d love to see these guys get more carries, even though I understand why they don’t (Locke is small and Smith doesn’t pick up the blitz well). Hopefully they’ll get their chance on Saturday.

4. Enough of a passing game to keep the defense honest. Mike Hartline did pretty much all the right things on Sunday against Louisville. The one mistake, the safety, was more the fault of Joker Phillips than Hartline. He didn’t make many bad throws, but one was a surefire touchdown that sailed over the head of TC Drake. I think he got so excited that Drake was wide open over the middle that he just gunned it. Well, now that Mike has a college start in a rivalry game under his belt, he should be a little calmer during this game. If his receivers start catching balls, defenses won’t put eight in the box, and that’s when the running game will take over.

5. Continued excellence on defense. I couldn’t have been any prouder of a defensive unit than I was after the Louisville game. I have no idea when Kentucky last kept an offense from scoring. I know there was a shutout in 1998, but that was against Eastern Kentucky. The Kentucky defense wrapped up better than any UK defense I’ve ever seen, which isn’t saying much, but they did do an excellent job in that area. Hopefully Jeremy Jarmon will bust loose for some big plays, now that Myron Pryor has started to play out of his mind. If the UK front seven can control the line of scrimmage against Louisville, I’d like to think they can do it in the next three games.

6. Win the field position battle with special teams. This was the most surprising story of Saturday, even more surprising than the defense. Tim Masthay just killed kickoffs, especially the one after the safety. I think Louisville got to return one kick all day. Masthay and Ryan Tydlacka pinned Louisville deep in their own territory in the punting game. On the other side, Dicky Lyons Jr. had a couple of nice punt returns that set Kentucky up for scores. These simple plays win ballgames, especially in a league like the SEC where every team is so good on defense.

7. Win while avoiding major injury. Obviously injuries are part of football and are often unavoidable, so this might be wishful thinking. But it would make my day, which is why it’s on my list.

I’m Seth Stogsdill, and I hope Kentucky makes my day on Saturday.

This has been a boring week so far. The most significant piece of news was that Midnight Madness was moved up a week to Friday, October 10. This coincides with the time that John Wall is supposed to be visiting Kentucky. I have never thought Kentucky stood a chance with this kid, and I still don’t, but I applaud Coach Gillispie and his staff for throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Wall. He’s worth every effort, and you truly never know what will happen in college basketball recruiting, so keep those fingers crossed.

Another good thing about bumping Madness up one week is that I think there’s a good chance that Coach Gillispie will bring back the Blue/White scrimmage, which I actually enjoy more than Madness. If you recall last year, Coach Gillispie decided not to have the Blue/White game because he needed more time to install his system. Of course, based on November and December, he needed a lot more time than what he was given, so I don’t think having the Blue/White game would have mattered much in the grand scheme. Still, this year players don’t have to adjust to different systems anymore. I don’t think any of the remaining players recruited and coached by Tubby Smith are as firmly entrenched in Smith’s ways as they were last year, so the transition should be a lot easier for newcomers and upperclassmen alike.

In football news, *** OL/TE Ed Hazelett had an interesting quote recently. He said, “I got it down to Kentucky, Cincinnati and Louisville. In watching Louisville, though, I’m not too sure about them.” It sounds like Ed is down to Kentucky and Cincinnati. UC is a rising program with Brian Kelly at the helm, but I could definitely see Kelly taking a job in the Big Ten should one come available. Kelly is one of those hot commodity coaches, a lot like Urban Meyer when he was at Utah, where it’s just a matter of time before a huge program scoops him up. Kentucky, on the other hand, has publicized continuity with its staff. I think the biggest benefit of naming Joker Phillips as the coach in waiting will happen in recruiting. Joker’s the primary recruiter anyway, so guys will know what to expect. A commitment from Ed Hazelett would be huge.

The comments by Ed Hazelett are just a sign of the times when it comes to the recruiting war between Kentucky and Louisville. Let me put it in historical terms. If the battle between Kentucky and Louisville in recruiting was World War II, the game-winning touchdown by Steve Johnson was the moment Hitler decided to attack the Soviet Union. In other words, the tables have turned. Morgan Newton attended last season’s UK/UL game on a visit with Louisville (probably because most of Louisville’s home games were on school nights), and that played a big role in his decision to come to Kentucky. *** linebacker Ridge Wilson from Louisville Central HS attended Sunday’s game and committed to Kentucky shortly after it was over. That’s especially surprising, considering how many Louisville people are on the Central staff. Kentucky is winning the battle on the homefront.

The good guys were lucky to escape Louisville without any major injures, but there was one significant minor injury. Garry Williams has had some swelling in his knee and will undergo an MRI to see what the problem is. As of today, he is doubtful for Saturday’s game against Norfolk State, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be out much longer than that. As long as he’s back by the Alabama game, I think Mike Hartline will be okay.

I’m Seth Stogsdill, and we’re one month away from Madness.

Kentucky will not be as good on offense as they were in 2007. This is a given. Andre Woodson, Rafael Little, Keenan Burton, Steve Johnson and Jacob Tamme are all trying to cut their teeth in the NFL. Mike Hartline emerged as the starting quarterback after Curtis Pulley was dismissed from the team, though I believe that Hartline would have been named the starter anyway. If you believe coaches, Mike did a lot of the same things Andre Woodson did during the offseason where he was expected to battle with Pulley for the starting job. Hartline became a leader and gained the support of his teammates. As Dicky Lyons says, “Nobody doesn’t not like Mike Hartline.” In fact, quarterback is not my biggest area of concern for the offense. Hartline is green, but by all accounts he has been very efficient. Also, watch out for Randall Cobb. I don’t think he’ll get any snaps at QB, but I do think you’ll see him on the field a few times, maybe just as a decoy by Joker Phillips to scare the crap out of the Louisville defense.

My biggest concern is wide receiver. Lyons is awesome and everybody loves him, but he’s not a #1 receiver. He’s a slot guy. He’s more of a possession guy than a slot guy. It would be like the Indianapolis Colts making Anthony Gonzalez their top receiver. Some guys are just natural in the slot, and with Burton and Johnson on the edges last season, Dicky got to play at his most natural spot on the field. Now he has to carry the same kind of load that Burton or Johnson did last year, and I worry about his ability to do that. More that that, though, I worry about the depth at the position. EJ Adams is going to start opposite Lyons instead of the injured Kyrus Lanxter. I don’t really know enough about either man to say which guy would work out better, but I do know that Lanxter is more experienced. Demoreo Ford is a blocker first and foremost. Matt Roark and Eric Adeyemi are freshmen, which means they’re unpredictable. Roark has pro size and Adeyemi has blazing speed, but who knows how they’ll do in backup roles in a game situation? I like Maurice Grinter at tight end. Nobody can replace Jacob Tamme, but if Grinter won the starting job over TC Drake in his first season playing the position (Mo used to back up John Conner at FB), then he must be decent.

At running back, I feel great about the good guys. Little ran all over the Cardinals defense last year, but even though he’s gone, Kentucky still has amazing depth in the backfield. Tony Dixon will start, but I’m not sure if he’ll get the most carries. Dixon is a good power runner, but he’s always had problems with fumbling. Derrick Locke is second on the depth chart. If he were three inches taller and 25 pounds heavier, he’d be #1 on the list. He’s the fastest back on the team, and his play in the games against LSU and Arkansas showed that he could take a hit. I don’t think Locke got one carry against Louisville last season, so the Cards are in for a treat. Alfonso Smith is probably the most complete back on the roster in terms of running ability, but he had problems last year with blocking. Moncell Allen is the tank. I’ve always loved his running style, and he’s so short and stocky that it’s very tough to bring him down. I hope he gets the nod in goal line situations instead of Dixon, unless Dixon has gotten better at holding onto the ball. John Conner is an outstanding fullback in all phases of the game. He runs hard in what few touches he gets, he runs a good flat route in goal line packages and he’s also a very good blocker.

At the line, Kentucky has three starters returning. Garry Williams, Justin Jeffries and Zipp Duncan all got better as the season progressed. In fact, I’m pretty sure Williams won SEC Lineman of the Week one week last year, possibly for not giving up a sack against LSU. Jess Beets beat out Brad Durham and Stuart Hines to take the spot at RG vacated by Brodhead resident Jason Leger. I thought Durham would have gotten it, so Beets beating Durham is a bit of a surprise to me. At 6’2”, 285 lbs., Beets is the smallest of the five linemen. Jorge Gonzalez takes over for Eric Scott at center. It was his job to lose going into the season, and he didn’t lose it. He should do just fine.

Louisville has experience along the defensive line and in the secondary as well. Ends Maurice Mitchell and LD Scott are pretty big for their position. I don’t remember Scott, but I do remember Mitchell from last season. If my memory serves me correctly, he lined up against Jeffries last season. Tackles Adrian Grady and Earl Heyman are seniors and are both very good. Both guys held their own on the 2006 Louisville defense, though most of the praise went to current Houston Texan Amobi Okoye. I don’t think this Louisville defense is strong at all, but I will say that the line is the least of their concerns.

Linebacker, however, is a huge concern. None of the linebackers on the Louisville depth chart have been credited with a tackle in a game. Linebacker was probably the Cardinals’ strongest position last season. I liked Malik Jackson, Lamar Myles and Preston Smith. I thought it was an incredibly stupid decision by Myles to test the waters in the NFL and not come back. He would have been huge because of the leadership that comes with the MLB position. Instead, the depth chart lists Antwon Canady at MLB and Jon Dempsey and Dexter Heyman on the outside. Dempsey is a junior, Heyman is a freshman (but supposed to be pretty good for a freshman), and the depth chart I looked up didn’t say what Canady was. If Kentucky can open up the same kind of holes against Louisville that they did for Little last season, these linebackers had better be able to wrap up. All four of the Kentucky backs are tough to take down.

Louisville has experience at three of the four positions in the secondary, but that was probably the weakest part of Louisville’s 2007 defense, so I’m not sure that returning experience is necessarily a good thing. At cornerback, Woodny Turenne returns, and if you’re a Louisville fan, you hope he’s better at defending the deep ball than he was last year. Steve Johnson thanks you while he collects his check from the Buffalo Bills. Bobby Buchanan and Richard Raglin return at safety – good if you’re a fan of alliteration. I didn’t think that Louisville’s safeties communicated well with the corners during the Kentucky game, and really during every other game. The Cards also bring back LaTarrious Thomas at safety, who missed most of the 2007 season on the shelf.

It comes down to this: I think Kentucky is weak at WR, strong at RB and right in the middle at QB and OL. I think Louisville is weak at LB and DB and decent at DL. If push comes to shove, I say Kentucky has the advantage when they have the ball, but it’s closer than I made it look. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about the offense. I have very bad memories of the 2006 game.

I’m Seth Stogsdill, and I’ll turn the tables with Part 2 either tomorrow or Saturday.

Earlier, we made a list of the top 10 impact freshmen this season. Guys who thought were going to see significant playing time or do something important. Now, we bring you the top 10 returning players. These guys are upperclassmen who should know it’s their time to shine, possibly after playing second fiddle.

1. Dicky Lyons Jr.
There’s no doubt that Lyons is essential this year. If Lyons shows his 2006 form, the wide receiver position will be solid. If he hides like he did last year, the offense could be in trouble.

2. Braxton Kelley
Kelley has big shoes to fill since Wesley Woodyard left, but has shown that he can do a good job after sliding over.

3. Alfonso Smith
Tony Dixon is the current starter and everyone knows about Derrick Locke, but Smith will be the key to the running backs. Forgotten by the fans, Smith is hungry as the spring game showed. Smith was the speedster before Locke came on the team and he’ll remind everyone of that.

4. Jeremy Jarmon
The dude is a beast. If he can disrupt half of the line and create pressure, things get easier for everyone.

5. Micah Johnson
After two years it’s Micah’s time. His success at middle linebacker could really made UK’s linebacking corps really really good.

6. Garry Williams
This tackle protects Mike Hartline’s blindslide. And Williams needs to make sure Hartline doesn’t end up on his backside often.

7. Trevard Lindley
If Mr. Lindley continues to improve and virtually lock down half the field, both on the run and the pass, it makes things a whole lot easier to scheme your defense. Would be higher, but we know Trevard will bring his A-game.

8. Kyrus Lanxter
Coming off injury, Lanxter is a tall WR with potential. If he can lock down the No. 2 spot, that allows UK to send all of it’s talent freshmen into the slot and no. 4 receiver roles, creating havoc for opposing secondaries. Lanxter is the second part of the WR puzzle.

9. Ashton Cobb
The strong safety could play an important role if Marcus Clinton shows lingering effects of his injury last year. A hard-hitter in the defensive backfield, the more he makes a TE or WR think about coming over the middle, the better.

10. Mike Hartline
C’mon, you knew I had to put the QB on the list. Although I will say this, if Hartline is less than stellar, it won’t kill the offense. Give it the old SEC QB approach son: just don’t cost your team the game.

By now, we’ve all seen the pre-season All-SEC teams that were voted on by the coaches and released by the SEC yesterday, in advance of SEC media days.

If you haven’t seen the lists, go here.

The Cats landed 5 players on either the second or third team. No Cat made the first team. Which is a BIG snub.

Even ESPN’s Chris Low agrees: Trevard Lindley deserves to be a first-teamer in the SEC. Instead, a three-way tie for two of the four DB positions on the first team pushes Lindley to the second-team.

Sure, there are other good corners in the league.. but as good as Lindley as been as a freshman and sophomore? I’m not so sure. Lindley has key interceptions in multiple games the last few years. He is closing in on breaking UK’s career pass break up record. And he was a big help in run support last year.

But the snub is nothing new. Lindley has been under the radar the past two years and he’s starting under the radar last year. But go back and watch some tapes, coaches stayed away from Lindley. No.1 receivers would suddenly turn into slot guys when playing UK. He’s UK’s best kept secret.

DE Jeremy Jarmon, is a good pick as a second-teamer. So is OT Garry Williams for the second-team offense.

And linebackers Braxton Kelley and Micah Johnson as third team LB’s. Well, that’s just interesting that they are paired together. With both of them on the field, I see a lot of pair activities. Those two are going to wreck havoc on offenses this year, together, and it’s only fitting that how they land on the third team All-SEC defense.

The five players were good enough for seventh in the 12 team SEC. Finally, the summer snubs against the Cats lift…if only for a little bit.

This is the second leg of a series where we here at WC break down what each preseason college football magazine says about UK football for the 2008 season.

In what we hope is a soon-to-be frequent post on this site, WC is ready to provide you with the UK Football Award Watch. Currently, we have three contestants on this lovable show.