Blogger Q&A: Kentucky Edition

This Blogger Q&A comes from Ken of the Kentucky blog, A Sea of Blue. Enjoy!


1. How much longer do you see Rich Brooks staying at Kentucky? Do you like the fact that Joker Phillips will become the next head coach?

Coach Brooks will be 67 on August 20th, and he's been coaching in one capacity or another since 1963 ( except for a short 2 year hiatus in '01 and '02 ). One would think that he would be ready to call it a career very soon, but based on his statements ( he's said that he wants to be UK's longest tenured head coach, which would be ten years ), and the fact that he is in great physical shape, I feel that he will coach at least another five years ( including the '08 season ). His energy level and enthusiasm for the game have not faltered in the least. He seems to be behaving like wine, getting better with age, and he has certainly earned the right to leave on his own terms.

The announcement that Joker Phillips will be taking over the head job at UK after Brooks' retirement was met with resounding approval from UK football fans. I personally think it was the right thing to do. Phillips is a Kentucky guy, with great connections throughout the country in the recruiting arena. He is a tremendous relationship builder, and that talent is evident in how the players and the high school coaches rave about him. He has done a tremendous job as offensive coordinator over the last few years, and is deserving of the opportunity to coach the team he once played for.

Continuity was also an important factor in Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart's decision to name Joker as coach-in-waiting. The atmosphere around the football complex is noticeably more positive and upbeat, which of course is the result of having two good seasons in a row. Replacing Brooks with a key figure in UK's "revival" was vital in letting future recruits know that UK is serious about winning.


2. Who will win the QB battle? [E-Mail Sent Before Pulley's dismissal]

At the present, Mike Hartline has the slightest of leads in the QB battle with Curtis Pulley. Both quarterbacks claim very similar strengths and weaknesses: both are very mobile, with Pulley being the slightly quicker, and more mobile of the two. Both have struggled with accuracy in the passing game, with Pulley fighting with his accuracy a bit more than Hartline. Neither quarterback has vast experience at the collegiate level playing quarterback.


The coaching staff has announced that they will continue UK's recent tradition of utilizing a drop-back passing attack. Even though that statement points to Hartline as the starter, I feel that if Pulley can improve his accuracy ( arm strength is not a concern ) then he will win the starting job. Pulley's athleticism is exceptional, and I feel he provides UK with more offensive options via his speed and elusiveness. I also feel the coaching staff, regardless of their public pronouncements, will throw a wrinkle or two into the playbook in order to take advantage of Pulley's attributes.


3. With a ton of offensive talent graduating, will Kentucky remain one of the more potent offenses in the SEC?

Last year Kentucky averaged 36.5 points per game, scoring 40 touchdowns through the air, and 20 on the ground ( with three passing, and two rushing TD's coming in the seven total overtimes UK played in ). With the loss of quarterback Andre Woodson, wide-outs Keenan Burton and Steve Johnson, as well as tailback Rafael Little one would logically think that the offensive production will suffer. I don't disagree with that notion, but I do feel UK will score enough points to stay competitive. Kentucky returns a stable of running backs most coaches would be envious of: Tony Dixon, Derek Locke, and Alfonso Smith all possess breakaway speed, with Dixon and Locke more than happy to run over a defender as well. They can all catch the ball out of the backfield with much aplomb, and are threats to turn a five yard pass in the flat into six points.

Although I don't feel that UK will average 35 points this year, they will be able to control the clock with their new emphasis on running the ball, and put up points . If they can average somewhere around 24-28 points per game they should have at least the opportunity to win more than they lose.


4. Does Kentucky have another LSU-caliber upset left in them (such as knocking off a Georgia or Florida this year)?

Wouldn't that be nice! When pondering possible upsets, I look at who UK plays at home. This year they have South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia and Vanderbilt coming into Commonwealth Stadium. Wins versus either Georgia or Carolina would be considered an upset.

With UK's ability to run the ball, and the fact that their defense will probably be the teams strength, I definitely think that they are capable of pulling off an upset. Beating Carolina would certainly be sweet, considering that a Kentucky football team has never beaten a Steve Spurrier coached team. That's the game I point toward as being the sweetest of victories, other than beating Louisville ( which they should ) or Tennessee. Winning versus S. Carolina isn't on par with beating LSU last year, but it would be very satisfying to most UK football fans.


5. Will the Wildcats continue the success or struggle in 2008?

The schedule this year provides UK with a couple of breaks not enjoyed last year, so UK could finish with a very similar record, but be not quite as good; they drop LSU and pick up Alabama, with very winnable games versus S. Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, and Vanderbilt all at home ( non-conference home slate -- Norfolk St., Middle Tennessee, and Western Kentucky ). Kentucky travels to depleted Louisville, Alabama, Tebow Unive ... uh, Florida, and Tennessee.

I feel that seven wins is not an unreasonable goal. With a superior rushing game, and an experienced, solid defense, Kentucky should challenge for a bowl bid for the third year in a row, for the first time since 1951.