Compared to the rest of college football, UK’s offense is still just a work in progress. Among the 120 division I-A collegiate football teams across the country, the Cats rank 90th in rushing with 123 yards per game, 107th in passing with just under 158 per game and 107th in points at 17 a game.

A big reason for the offense’s struggles are the big guys up front. Throughout training camp, UK’s veteran offensive line was supposed to be a strong-suit of this year’s team. Featuring three seniors and two juniors, the veteran presence of the line was going to hold the offense together as head coach Joker Phillips and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders found talent to surround them with at the skill positions.

So far this season, the line has suffered through injury problems and inconsistent play, and the offense as a whole has suffered. Left guard Stuart Hines nursed a sprained knee for much of training camp and didn’t start in the team’s first game against Western Kentucky. Center Matt Smith missed action in UK’s first three games with a sprained ankle, and right tackle Billy Joe Murphy missed time with a knee injury of his own.

But in the second quarter of UK’s matchup with Florida, Murphy checked into the game for his replacement, freshman Darrian Miller. It was the first time all year that the Cats’ original five starting lineman lined up together in a game.

“It’s been good getting to play with them again,” junior guard Larry Warford said. “It feels more natural… Where I’ve had more experience playing with Billy Joe and Matt, it’s all just coming back together.”

As the Cats’ offensive line rediscovers its chemistry and unity, the rest of the offense stands to improve as well. In its two losses against Louisville and Florida, UK averaged just 1.1 and 3.7 yards per carry respectively, allowing defenses to defend the pass without fearing the run. Cats’ opponents have also taken advantage of UK’s banged-up offensive line by putting more pressure on junior quarterback Morgan Newton, making it more difficult for him to find rhythm with his inexperienced receiving corps.

“I think these guys are excited to be back, and now we just need some time together to kind of get back what we lost in fall camp,” UK offensive line coach Mike Summers said.

Saturday UK travels to Baton Rouge, La. to face the No. 1 team in the nation in the LSU Tigers. The Tigers’ defense thrives on speed and athleticism, and LSU plans on taking that speed and athleticism and attacking UK’s offensive line with it. LSU will likely crowd the line of scrimmage, swallowing up running plays and chasing down Newton when he drops back to pass.

For UK’s offense to have a chance, the line will have to be up to the test that the Tigers’ aggressive defense will provide.

“They are a really stout defense,” Warford said. “They get off the ball well, their defensive backs are really fast so it’s easy for them to disguise a lot of blitzes. That’s going to be a real challenge for us. If we can pick them all up and give our quarterback time to pick them apart then we’ll be fine.”

The biggest challenge for the line will be dealing with the noise of LSU’s home fans in Death Valley. This week in practice, Phillips has played simulated crowd noise while his team practices in order for them to become used to playing effectively despite the commotion. For the line, communicating blocking assignments and signaling different protections will be more important than ever against a Tiger defense that has helped LSU defeat three ranked teams on the road already this season.

“It forces us to communicate as best as we can,” Warford said. “We have to have our checks out there to know who we’re blocking and who’s got who. It’s just really forcing us to communicate and make our checks and know what we’re supposed to be doing.”

For Summers, the noise is an inconvenience, but nothing he doesn’t already expect out of an SEC road game.

“Every stadium we play in on the road in this conference that’s an issue and so we always prepare for it,” Summers said.

But against a team at the caliber of LSU, Summers said the only thing that matters is that his unit plays a perfect game and keeps the Cats’ offense moving for all four quarters.

“Our preparation doesn’t change each week,” Summers said. “We prepare for all the circumstances in the game. all the situations that come up. Certainly when a team has as many quality players as they have we have to prepare for the little things because they can expose you when you’re not exactly perfect. We spent a lot of time focusing on the details of our preparation.”