SEC Football 2008: Kentucky

Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither was Great Wall of China nor, more to the point, was the Steel Curtain defense of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers.

So it goes with Kentucky football. Rich Brooks is doggedly trying to improve Kentucky's defense because he knows that's where championships are won.

"You look at LSU last year,'' said Brooks. "Florida, the year before. Were they good on offense? Yeah, they were really good, but they were great on defense.''

When Kentucky football talks about great defense, it has to time-travel all the way back to 1977, when the Wildcats went 10-1, 6-0 SEC, and led the league in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.

In the 21st Century, and much of the 1990s, Kentucky has been dreadful on defense. But even though the Wildcats allowed 397 yards a game in 2007, that may have been a turning point.

It was only the second time in eight years Kentucky's defense averaged less than 400 yards allowed and was a big improvement from 453 yards in 2006.

"The offense has carried the load around here,'' junior defensive end Jeremy Jarmon said. "We're old enough and we're responsible enough to know what we're supposed to be doing. It time we stepped up and carried the load.''

It could happen. In fact, it better happen.

Kentucky's prolific offense graduated quarterback Andre Woodson, four of his top five receivers and 1,000-yard rusher Rafael Little.

Furthermore, the battle to replace Woodson is in disarray due to the recent arrests of two candidates, Curtis Pulley and Will Fidler.

Pulley had been in a virtual dead heat with Mike Hartline and his off-the-field woes give Hartline the upper hand as fall camp opens. Brooks, however, says the job will be eventually decided on the field so don't count out Pulley.

Don't expect the Wildcats average 36 points or 443 yards a game this year. The defense, thus, must make sure the opponents don't either.

"We've got guys that belong in this league on defense,'' Brooks said.

Guys like . . .

Jarmon, Myron Pryor and Corey Peters up front. Micah Johnson and Braxton Kelley are quality linebackers. Trevard Lindley and Marcus McClinton are proven in the secondary.

"I believe we have people lining up on 11 positions on defense that can start at a lot of schools in our league,'' Brooks said, "and I'm talking about a lot of the big-name schools.''

Offensively, only five starters return. Lack of proven receivers other than Dicky Lyons Jr., shifts the emphasis to the running game. Tony Dixon and Alphono Smith must prove they can stay healthy. Speedy Derrick Locke could be a weapon.

Two Alcoa products, Randall Cobb and Kyrus Lanxter, could earn playing time at receiver and the Cats are counting on freshman receiver Aaron Boyd.

Kentucky is coming off back-to-back Music City Bowl wins that capped eight-win seasons. The program hasn't strung together three eight-win-seasons since 1949-51. It's hard to see eight wins in 2008, given the offensive overhaul. Still, Kentucky is closing the gap on the SEC's elite.

Ask LSU: UK beat the eventual national champs last year. Ask Tennessee: The Vols have required narrow escapes three of the past four years to run a nation's-best winning streak to 23 years.

"We were one of the teams that everybody used to think they could put an automatic 'W' up next to as they went into the season,'' said Brooks.

"It's not that way any more.''

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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