🏈 Game week previewing Louisville.

[252BAMA]

Phil Steele ranks the Louisville Receivers at #10, and the Bama DBs at #8 so it is going to be a good match-up. Probably tougher than he perceives.

 

[TerryP]

I figured we needed a pregame/lead-up analysis/news thread since that's going to be the prominent topic starting pretty much now.

I've got more than a few thoughts on this game I've been 'compiling' over the last month.

Here's one for you to chew on before we get down to some nitty-gritty.

Given the choice, are you taking the receiving corps at Ole Miss or Louisville? Both teams have lost their QB from last year but both are returning their production with the WR's. Right now it looks like the best WR's Bama will face for '18's regular season.

Notsomuch personnel as x' s/o's, but I remember our DBs/OLBs were burnt a few times in 11 with BP's go-to... Y sweep-action across formation while X, Z, and H ran clear-out routes for the Y catch on the wheel route behind them.

Y-sweep-wheel, as it were.

You sure you're not thinking about 2010? Mallett had over 350 that year, Wilson didn't do so well in '11 as I'm recalling.

 

[rick4bama]

I look to see if this was posted.

 

[Max]

Louisville fan opinion.

LilBigCard 2258 posts
22 hours ago
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CardinalEra said... (original post)
I think we have the better QB. You all have forgotten how bad Alabama wanted Jawon Pass. The Alabama boy is motivated, too. And so is Khane. These boys will be ready to play.
Can't believe I failed to mention Puma in my earlier post about our passing game. I agree that our QB should & will be better than theirs. Hurt has real short comings as a QB, and the other kid is a true sophomore. People will counter that Puma is inexperienced as well, but the difference is that he has a redshirt year under his belt. Plus he has a very experienced cast around him. The biggest advantage Puma has is Petrino. Though there are some in our fan base seem to think he's not getting it done, one thing is beyond debate; Petrino is virtually unmatched when it comes to preparing QBs. Puma is just talented as Lamar, just in a different way. His skill set is different, but can be every bit as affective. While Lamar's play is Michael Vick like, Puma is more Cam Newton-ish. Puma is a more natural passer than Lamar (no knock on Lamar). And though he can't break off 80 yard TD runs, he does have enough speed to go the distance from about 40 on in. As well as get first downs to move the chains.
GO CARDS BABY! L1C4!

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

I figured we needed a pregame/lead-up analysis/news thread since that's going to be the prominent topic starting pretty much now.

I've got more than a few thoughts on this game I've been 'compiling' over the last month.

Here's one for you to chew on before we get down to some nitty-gritty.

Given the choice, are you taking the receiving corps at Ole Miss or Louisville? Both teams have lost their QB from last year but both are returning their production with the WR's. Right now it looks like the best WR's Bama will face for '18's regular season.

Notsomuch personnel as x' s/o's, but I remember our DBs/OLBs were burnt a few times in 11 with BP's go-to... Y sweep-action across formation while X, Z, and H ran clear-out routes for the Y catch on the wheel route behind them.

Y-sweep-wheel, as it were.

You sure you're not thinking about 2010? Mallett had over 350 that year, Wilson didn't do so well in '11 as I'm recalling.

May have been 10. Still, a BP offensive concept that I'm SURE is still fresh in CNS's cranium as they gamelan defensively.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Louisville fan opinion.

LilBigCard 2258 posts
22 hours ago
via Mobile
VIP
CardinalEra said... (original post)
I think we have the better QB. You all have forgotten how bad Alabama wanted Jawon Pass. The Alabama boy is motivated, too. And so is Khane. These boys will be ready to play.
Can't believe I failed to mention Puma in my earlier post about our passing game. I agree that our QB should & will be better than theirs. Hurt has real short comings as a QB, and the other kid is a true sophomore. People will counter that Puma is inexperienced as well, but the difference is that he has a redshirt year under his belt. Plus he has a very experienced cast around him. The biggest advantage Puma has is Petrino. Though there are some in our fan base seem to think he's not getting it done, one thing is beyond debate; Petrino is virtually unmatched when it comes to preparing QBs. Puma is just talented as Lamar, just in a different way. His skill set is different, but can be every bit as affective. While Lamar's play is Michael Vick like, Puma is more Cam Newton-ish. Puma is a more natural passer than Lamar (no knock on Lamar). And though he can't break off 80 yard TD runs, he does have enough speed to go the distance from about 40 on in. As well as get first downs to move the chains.
GO CARDS BABY! L1C4!

So much kool-aid in that. Lol.

Gonna be seeing a LOT of cardinal-and-black clad surrender cobras early.

 

[TerryP]

And what better way to kick this thing off than with CNS and staff working on early gameplanning...

May have been 10. Still, a BP offensive concept that I'm SURE is still fresh in CNS's cranium as they gamelan defensively

I'm thinking '11's game plan versus Arkansas is in that picture because he was fired a few months after that season. It's the last time the staff had Bama vs Petrino schemes. I also suspect that book would be a foot think if we added Louisville '18...

 

[alagator]

#3 in Total Offense -- 544 per game
#15 in Rushing Offense -- 245 per game
#15 in Passing Offense -- 299 per game

They lost Lamar Jackson, who led the country in Total Offense. Big Loss.

They also lost their top running back.

However, they have pretty much their entire WR corp back. Their leading WR had an appendectomy, but he will be back for our game.

They also return their entire OL.

Their returning QB had 8 pass attempts in a 39 pt win against Kent St, 19 Attempts in a 45 pt win against Murry St, 2 Attempts in a 10 point Loss to Wake Forest, 4 Attempts in a 44 Point win against Syracuse.

Their offense will have weapons, especially throwing the ball. They will move the ball.

Their Defense was ranked:
#62
#63
#66

They lost 7 defensive starters. I think they will have a very hard time stopping us.

 

[TerryP]

Fowler, Herbie, and Maria Taylor calling the action.

 

[#80]

Fowler, Herbie, and Maria Taylor calling the action.

Awesome Fowler and Herbie are the best!!

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[rueben]

The local sports talk guys were discussing this the other day. They said the Bama DB's might be quoting Ali, from the Ernie Terrell fight.

 

[BAMAneck]

Welp, let's see if it's mystique, or just making your ass quit, here in a couple weeks there fella.


One good catch over the middle and your bell rung by Mack Wilson and company, and I guaran-damn-tee you'll be singing a slightly different tune the rest of the game.

He better check his self, we knock people’s teeth out while playing football ..

 

[JoshB]

And what better way to kick this thing off than with CNS and staff working on early gameplanning...

May have been 10. Still, a BP offensive concept that I'm SURE is still fresh in CNS's cranium as they gamelan defensively

I'm thinking '11's game plan versus Arkansas is in that picture because he was fired a few months after that season. It's the last time the staff had Bama vs Petrino schemes. I also suspect that book would be a foot think if we added Louisville '18...

I'm glad I wasn't the only one starring at those huge game breakdowns in the background lol It would be amazing to read some of those, even if we don't understand half of it.

 

[planomateo]

 

[18Champs]

Louisville must 'believe' against Alabama

Louisville faces the most daunting opener in college football against defending national champion Alabama.

The Crimson Tide, under Nick Saban’s direction, have dominated college football the past decade and enter this season a favorite to repeat as national champions.

That’s why Bobby Petrino’s biggest task heading to Orlando is simply getting his players not only to believe they can compete with mighty Alabama, but beat the Crimson Tide.

“We have to do a good job in our preparation,” Petrino told Drew Deener on ESPN 680 Thursday. “We’ve been working hard on it. We have to really go in believing that we’re going to win the game. I’ve taken teams against Alabama that didn’t believe that and you do things you normally don’t do — overthrow a pass that you always complete, drop a pass that hits you in the hands that you always catch, you slip and fall.

“If you don’t truly believe you can’t play to your potential. We’ve been working on that and talking about believing. You do that by working hard and being in the best possible shape.”

Petrino compared the game against Alabama to Louisville’s near upset at Miami in 2004. Petrino said the key for the Cards will be to come out and attack the Tide.

“I think you have to be aggressive and go after them,” Petrino said. “I feel good about our team. This might be the most talented team that we’ve had in all positions. We’re inexperienced, but we’re bigger, stronger and we’re a lot faster than we’ve been.”

Louisville’s offense with first-year starter Jawon Pass will face a huge challenge against Saban’s strong defense, but the biggest challenge for the Cardinals might be slowing Alabama’s powerful rushing attack.

“We have our work cut out for us,” defensive end Jonathan Greenard told Deener. “We have to stop the run. The main thing is we have to stop the run. We have to stay with it the whole game. It’s going to be a whole game fight.”

Greenard, and UofL’s defense, also will have to prepare for two Alabama quarterbacks. Jalen Hurts started the national championship game, but Tua Tagovailoa replaced him at halftime and led the Tide to a comeback overtime win over Georgia.
“We know Jalen likes to run, but Tua has the better arm,” Greenard said.

Greenard said new Louisville defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder will have the Cardinals prepared for their opening challenge against Alabama.

“I love the mentality we have,” said Greenard. “Coach Van Gorder has us prepared. (His defense) is more similar to Coach Grantham’s defense, but this is more of a four down. But I love the aggressiveness Van Gorder puts on the field. We blitz and have a lot of pressures. We don’t want the quarterback sitting back there with too much time.”

Louisville Cardinals must believe against Alabama Tide

 

[alagator]

Five takeaways from Louisville football's scrimmage on Saturday

With two weeks remaining until the Cardinals' season opener against Alabama, the Louisville football team's Saturday scrimmage would be important for a number of position battles, coach Bobby Petrino said.

While the scrimmage was closed to reporters, co-offensive coordinator Mike Summers and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder shared thoughts afterward.

A few takeaways:

A more even battle

The team said after Monday’s scrimmage that Louisville's offense scored six first-half touchdowns against the defense.

Wednesday, VanGorder said his defense had a lot of work to do to improve.

In Saturday’s scrimmage, the defense seemed to fare better. Summers and VanGorder both said the offense was settling for field goals early.

“I thought we came out maybe a little bit (out of) sync at the start,” Summers said. “I think the defense was really playing hard and doing a good job at the start of the scrimmage, and we were just missing on a few plays. We were on the edge on some blocks. We were missing on a few pass plays.”

Added VanGorder: “That’s part of becoming a good defense, keeping them out of the end zone, forcing field goals. So we’ll play that as a positive the best we can.”

Summers said the offense clicked more in the second half of the scrimmage, producing some long touchdown drives.

"I saw some better things overall," VanGorder said, "but the mark of inconsistency, still, we battle.”
Feeding the studs

Petrino uses the phrase “Feed the Studs” to express his goal of getting the ball to his best playmakers on offense. While Louisville doesn’t have Lamar Jackson, there’s no shortage of those impact players, with Jaylen Smith, Seth Dawkins, Dez Fitzpatrick, Tutu Atwell, Marcus Riley and Kemari Averett around.

Summers talked about spreading out the defense, isolating receivers for one-on-one coverage and even stacking formations to facilitate the running game. Expect to see the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Averett as a lead blocker on the edge.

“All of those pieces are there, so what you do when you’re a really talented head coach and offensive coordinator, you structure the offense to fit the players that you have, and coach does a great job of that,” Summers said. “That’s what this offense will be.
It’ll be structured around getting the ball to our best players that can make plays.”

Ball hawks

VanGorder described how the defense is seeking “ball disruptions” to create turnovers. The team’s Twitter account posted a clip from practice Wednesday of defenders attempting to strip the ball in a drill.

Senior safety Dee Smith and sophomore linebacker C.J. Avery were two players VanGorder mentioned for their production in forcing turnovers.

“We’ve got to keep emphasizing it,” VanGorder said. “No bigger stat in football than the turnover rate.”

Louisville defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder speaks to media after the team's scrimmage Saturday. Jake Lourim, Louisville Courier Journal

Freshman running backs

Summers said again that Louisville will involve freshman running backs Javian Hawkins and Hassan Hall in the offense. Petrino has raved about their speed and mentioned Friday the goal of finding a personnel package that can use both Hawkins and Hall.
“They’ve got incredible speed,” Summers said. “They’ve got great vision, and they’re dangerous with the ball in their hands. They’re hard to tackle in the open field. Our job is to get them in a position where they can use that talent.”

Competing for time

One of the more intriguing battles for playing time is at the defensive end spot opposite redshirt junior Jonathan Greenard. VanGorder said the rotation is still “fluid” there, naming redshirt junior Amonte Caban, senior Gary McCrae and freshman Jarrett Jackson. He also mentioned Tabarius Peterson, though Peterson has been rotating between defensive end and outside linebacker.
Caban made eight tackles in 10 games last season. McCrae had four tackles in eight games. Both played mostly on special teams. Peterson played in every game.

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[18Champs]