The point spread — U of L minus 7 1/2 more or less with some movement — never made sense to me.
Most of the national pundits fell in line. A headscratcher.
As unexpectedly successful as Jeff Brohm’s first season had been leading up to the Holiday Bowl, it just seemed weird.
That instinct, unfortunately, was well placed.
Louisville 28, USC 42.
* * * * *
The Trojans’ talent level, even at 2d and 3d tier, is better than Louisville’s.
Especially at the skill positions. So even missing 24 fellows who chose for one reason or another not to play, there was plenty enough left and hungry enough to outplay the Cards.
Louisville missed Jawhar Jordan and Jamari Thrash. A lot. Way more than the much greater numbers of Southern Cal “stars” who opted out.
Yes, Isaac Guerendo was a hoss. 23 carries for 161. Three TDs.
But there was a big dropoff when he rested. And zero downfield passing attack. At all.
The game turned in the 2d, when IG was out for a couple futile offensive series. Not that the Trojans would not have prevailed anyway.
Trojan wideouts blew by the Cardinal D all night.
Meanwhile U of L hardly got a yard after a catch the whole game.
* * * * *
Miller Moss could have started for a lot of teams this season. Good teams. Including the University of Louisville where there would have been no “could have started” only “would have started.”
He shredded Louisville’s secondary.
Six TDs through the air. Including a couple dimes into fairly good double coverage. But for Quincy Riley’s pick at the goal line, it would have been seven.
* * * * *
After starting 10-1, Louisville returned to its norm.
The good that was accomplished cannot be overstated, given the overall talent level.
A favorable schedule helped. A defense that improved through the year until it hit its ceiling was also a factor.
That said, a three game losing skein to end the campaign reads disheartening. Disconcerting.
The QB Room was Standing Room Only. Why did JB stick with Jack Plummer exclusively? Even after the signal caller’s mediocrity became more and more prevalent?
Favorite son Jeff Brohm has suffered minimal criticism even when things have gone bad.
Seems here he’s got some ‘splainin’ to do.
10-4. Double digit Ws. That’s way good.
But this is the way the season ends: Not with a bang, but a whimper.
— c d kaplan
Dislocated pinky, absolutely a shame coaches had no confidence in the bench. As for so called defense seemed like no real answer for a rookie QB.
A first time starter, but not a rookie by far. Sat behind Williams for two years, may have been there even another.
He bided his time.
as noted by Seedy, Coach Brohm continued to try to make the proverbial silk purse from a sow’s ear, or a power 5 QB out of a slow footed, slow to recognize/read defenses and weak armed young man. If we are to trust his ability to judge talent, the rest of the QB room must be terrible.
Well, he does have two of his former protégés playing in the NFL after being nothing special recruits.
Please make it stop ! The talent gap was so obvious – Plummer was never the guy to take us there – our softer than soft ACC schedule gave yours truly and I’m sure others a false sense that we were a top 10-15 team – we had a tremendous first year under the Brohm boys & good things are surely ahead !
But Brohm’s actual big game coaching continues to befuddle – TREMENDOUS GAME by Miller Moss and kudos to Lincoln Riley for turning his team around in the 6 week hiatus –
I thought USC was the team with the weak defense !
When Brohm gets the QB that fits his style and some receivers who know how to catch the ball, look out. What puzzles me the most is how the pass defense could go so bad as the year progressed–no pressure on the QB, wide open receivers. And we still had a chance to win in spite of two terrible turnovers. Future is bright.
The defense. which showed variety in the schemes earlier in the season became one dimensional. Where were the blitzes? Sure our D-line has been good, but when the other team knows that is all thats coming its much easier to handle. Riley and Brownlee are our only solid cover guys, so USC wisely chose to mostly attack the middle.
All good and rational points above. I’m going to remember the good tings that
happened over the season, but the last 3 games will linger. Jeff knows what he
has to do. Can’t wait for September !
The only fix for a three game collapse is a 2024 6 game win streak and a QB who would rather win than wonder aimlessly in a London Fog.