Secondary will be forced to step up to lock down Louisville receivers

When UK’s defensive backs line up against Louisville’s deep receiving corps, junior cornerback Paul Warford won’t be worried about covering all the Cards.

Senior cornerback and All-America candidate Trevard Lindley will line up on one side. Warford and sophomore cornerback Randall Burden will be on the other.

“I think Randall is an excellent player,” Warford said. “He’s just as good as Trevard.”

Junior corner Paul Warford breaks up a pass in the Cats' season opener against Miami of Ohio. Photo by Adam Wolffbrandt | Staff

That’s especially high praise when you consider Warford won a heated position battle with Burden in fall camp to become the second corner.

In the season opener, Miami of Ohio appeared to target UK’s defensive backs who lined up opposite of Lindley.

Warford and sophomore cornerback Randall Burden will be counted on to shut down anyone who lines up opposite of Lindley.

After sitting a year out, Warford expects to see plenty more passes thrown his way.

“It’s going to be like that all year,” Warford said. “As long as Trevard is on the other side they’re always going to throw at us … I already know they’re going to throw at me.”

UK defensive coordinator Steve Brown doesn’t plan on matching any one corner against a particular receiver, barring something spectacular. He said the Cats will just have to cover Louisville’s receivers “as best we can.”

Brown is expecting to see more play-action and longer passes from Louisville than he saw against Miami of Ohio.

That could mean UK’s top safeties – neither of whom were full-time starters last year – will have more strain put on them.

Warford said he’s already seen plenty of improvement from the safeties. He only expects them to get better as the season progresses.

“It takes chemistry,” Warford said. “You have to get used to different safeties back there. They’re getting better each week.”

Even with all the talent Louisville will split wide, Warford and Brown said they don’t plan on doubling any one player for the whole game. Much like how Louisville spreads its talent at receiver around, UK will spread its best cornerbacks across the field.

“We have full confidence in all our guys,” Brown said. “Those are the type of receivers we’re going to have to face in the SEC.”