A bit off-topic: there are bigger problems at U of L than with football.

[hmt5000]

They have one of the best linemen in the country returning, might be a preseason AA. They have a QB who will break records as a dual threat. They were relatively young last year and did well in the portal. It would seem they will be better next year. Three of their ACC loses last year were one score games.

UK used to be young but never competed in the SEC the next year. The acc was down bad this year. They did not compete with us on either line by any stretch of imagination. 1 more person won't help that. Now they could scheme their way to a competitive game but talent on the lines isn't getting closer.

They didn't have a dl that would of played on our 2 deep. lb's and 2ndary wasn't much better.

 

[The-Hack]

Now they could scheme their way to a competitive game but talent on the lines isn't getting closer.

Stoops was honest approaching the Louisville game last year. He admitted respect for their mobile QB, well on his way to a remarkable season.

His longest run against UK’s defense was 7 yards.

Stoops and his team take this game seriously.

Louisville might break .500 in the ACC. I think they did in ‘19, or damn near it.

But check out the teams they beat: generally they are as weak and as light as U of L on both lines.

In reality, 85 percent of FBS teams, and at least 65 percent of P5 teams do not have strong lines. And in the PAC 12, Big 12, and ACC, a 285 pound nose tackle might suffice.

But in the Top half of SEC and Big Ten teams, O-lines average 330+ pounds, and defensive lines might be 10 pounds lighter on average. Nose tackles go 320-370 pounds, and defensive ends 265-290, and they can still move.

That is not to say that freakish ability, especially at QB can’t balance the scales, somewhat. Lamar Jackson and Tim Couch’s teams won games against teams with much more talented line play, maybe 20 percent of the time they faced such.

I went to Louisville, this year, and found myself mumbling toward UK’s team and staff, pregame . . . “just don’t forget who you are.”

We passed the ball a few times, but basically ran roughshod over the interior of their line dozens of times, for our season high in rushing. Coen’s system is pretty amazing . . . he’s a hot commodity for his passing game, which (really) was modestly better than we had in 2018, but which complimented our running game very nicely.

The most basic rule of football has changed little since leather helmet days: the bigger, better line wins 80 percent of the time.

Notice that I said the top half of SEC and Big Ten teams have big lines on both sides. Then throw in the smattering of teams, nationally that can compete with those 13/14 SEC and Big Ten teams, like Notre Dame, Clemson, Washington, Utah, USC (occasionally), Texas and Oklahoma (sort of), and you pretty much have your Top 20/25 identified, with 3 or 4 G5 teams thrown in that win 10/11 games, but play very few teams with powerful line play.