That is pretty much all the bad news out of the way, but there is one large question mark still hanging over the team: Defense. Last year, the Wildcats defense ranked second-to-last in the nation, allowing more tan 450 yards per game. To put that into even more perspective, that’s over 200 yards per game more than LSU. Last year’s defense did have some bright spots, however. It was tied for second in the nation in turnover margin, and if that can be maintained along with more solid overall play, then the unit can be one of the most improved in the nation. A lot of the responsibility rests on the shoulders of defensive coordinator and former Houston Oilers cornerback Steve Brown. Brown seems to be making a good impression, too. Defensive tackle Myron Pryor is a fan, saying, “He is a very straight-forward guy. He’s not going always going to tell you what you want to hear. He just tells us to go out there and play the best we can. He has a good attitude and is very knowledgeable about the game.”

All the signs are there for the defense to improve this year, though it can only get one step worse. Only Louisiana Tech stood between the Cats and being the bottom of the barrel in Division I-A in 2006. Still, with more depth and with the team returning all but two defensive starters, the Cats’ defense looks good to be on the field less this coming season. They will need players like much-heralded recruit Micah Johnson to step it up this year, but the signs are good and Brown seems to be exactly what is needed.

With the defense looking like it might make a step up, it’s time to look at the offense. Aside from the problems at backup quarterback, there rest of the O should be a major strength. Kentucky returns a glittering array of talent, and at the top of the pile is Woodson. He will be a lock for the first round of the NFL draft if he puts up numbers anywhere near last year’s 31 TDs with just seven picks. Woodson goes into the season having thrown 162 passes without being intercepted, and a lot of early draft predictions have him as the Atlanta Falcons’ savior after Vickgate. (Anyone considering Joey Harrington as a long term solution is completely crazy.) That is looking too far ahead, however, because Woodson needs to play like a beast this season to be a high first-round pick.

Also returning is highly rated receiver and projected second-round pick Keenan Burton, who ate up more than 1,000 yards last year while dragging in 12 touchdowns. The Cats need to show last season was no fluke and Burton agreed.

“If you build tradition at a school, it automatically shows with the rankings and all of that,” he said. “We’re a Kentucky team that wasn’t supposed to beat Georgia and I think a lot of people felt that it was a fluke or whatever, so now it’s time to go show that we can contend with the great teams. The Georgias and Floridas, those great teams, we want to go out and contend with those teams and give us a chance in the fourth quarter.”

There are more plusses on the offensive side of the ball as well. Tailback Rafael Little is fully healthy this year, after last year he suffered with a knee problem, missing four games but still managing to rack up 673 yards rushing and close to 400 yards receiving. Last season, he was getting chased down by defenders once past them, expect to see less of that this season.

Tight end Jacob Tamme had a great season last year, but coming off a full summer of training and improving instead of rehabbing injuries like last summer, he figures to put up much improved numbers this year. Tamme and Little being back to full strength opens up defenses even more for the likes of WRs Dicky Lyons Jr. and Steve Johnson among others. On the offensive side of the ball, Kentucky is loaded.

However, as Burton mentioned, there is a need to build up tradition at Kentucky. They need to build up a reputation that makes four- and five-star recruits put Kentucky into their mix and to come to visit Lexington. They need to get across that barrier that Louisville has already made it over and become a program at least on the fringes of the top 25. They need to sell the SEC to recruits and get in elite players. If they don’t, their success will quickly fizzle out and lead them back to where they started, being the SEC’s doormat.

Tradition, however, is for the future. This year, the Cats are looking very well placed; any team with Woodson, Burton, Tamme, Little and Wesley Woodyard has to be taken seriously. Even though the Cats must take on one of the hardest schedules in the nation, they are going to be taken seriously by everyone in 2007. That doesn’t mean they can’t go far. With a lot of effort and a little luck they could do great things this season. Talk of the SEC championship game and contending for the SEC East may be a little premature, but anywhere between 6-6 and 8-4 at the end of the season are realistic goals and a bowl game is a must if the Wildcats want to keep on progressing.

Now Kentucky has to deliver on its promise. The Wildcats need Woodson to be an All-American at the end of the season, not just the start. They need Little to stay healthy. They need Burton to keep making those grabs. They need Woodyard to keep levelling people. And if all of that happens maybe they can start taking those steps toward tradition and preseason top-25 rankings.

Stay tuned, it’s going to be an exciting year in Lexington.