Saturday night will see another state-wide sports related brawl, when the Louisville Cardinals and Kentucky Wildcats go head to head again in the annual grid-iron battle, this year in Lexington.
The game will be broadcast live at seven on ESPNU, but the whole thing got me thinking about who would make up an All-Cards as well as an All-Cats team. Yesterday, I took a look at an All-Cards offensive team and today we look at Louisville’s “All-defensive team.”
Starting with a pair of safeties, both of whom have retired jerseys at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Ray Buchanan was quite frankly a defensive beast in college and the pros. Bouncing around in the backfield Buchanan proved his versatility early in his career, a one time pro bowler, and two time all-pro selection Buchanan will provide that utility defensive player that always comes in handy.
Across from him, Frank Minnifield, this Lexington native is a four-time pro-bowler, and a member of the NFL’s all-80’s decade team.
Good cornerbacks create a duel attack against the offense and the combination of pro-bowler Lenny Lyles and Sam Madison would do just that. Madison won a superbowl with the New York Giants and is a four time pro-bowler and three-time all-pro selection. Lyles creates a steady performance that one can always count on.
In the linebacker position- a triple-threat of Doug Buffone, Tom Jackson, and Otis Wilson; a standout at Louisville as well as with the Chicago Bears, Buffone is the experienced veteran that every solid defense needs. Meanwhile Jackson provides an explosiveness, with 3 pro bowls and four all-pro selections. And, Wilson has a pro-bowl under his belt as well as two all-pro selections.
The defensive line, like the offensive line is so important to any well-rounded team. As such plugging in the right athletes is a feat that should not be taken lightly. First at the End position Dwayne Woodruff and Elvis Dumervil, I’m actually moving Woodruff from Cornerback to the end position for a little added speed off the line.
The Bowling Green native offers not just a standout career in Louisville but also eleven years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. And, as so many Cards fans will remember, the fake sideburns that so many fans were sporting a few years ago wasn’t because of Presley but rather Dumervil, and for good reason. The current Denver Bronco won Big East defensive player of the year while in college, and is a pro-bowler as well as all-pro selection.
Finally in the trenches the dual tackle positions will be filled by Amobi Okoye and Ted Washington. Okoye currently holds the record for the youngest player to be drafted to the NFL and currently suits up with the Chicago Bears, Okoye’s enthusiasm makes him a quality pick in this position. Meanwhile, Ted Washington’s stats speak for themselves; a superbowl champion, Washington is a four-time pro-bowler and three time all-pro selection.
Tomorrow, I take a look at the All-Cats Offensive squad.
Image courtesy of iTunes
Outside information: Wikipedia and U of L Sports
