The Louisville Cardinals have handled business as they should have during its two game exhibition series.
Yesterday’s 49-14 victory over Rich Rodriguez’s Jacksonville State was workmanlike. On occasion scintillating, more often routine. A good thing I suppose.
Enough was revealed that Jeff Brohm and his staff know what needs to be tweaked, what needs to be fixed, what needs to be enhanced in the two week hiatus before the daunting schedule ahead starts.
There shall be tightening up.
The Cards next three foes are all smarting today after being surprisingly upended this weekend. Georgia Tech at rising Syracuse. Notre Dame embarrassed by Northern Illinois in South Bend. SMU at home to Brigham Young.
* * * * *
Sometimes my aging eyes deceive me. Or, my perception of things morphs to overreaction.
It seemed that journeyman QB Tyler Huff was able to find too many open receivers in gaps in the Cards’ secondary. At least before halftime.
But the reality is the Gamecocks only scored twice. And moved the ball into U of L territory only once after halftime. That only as far as the Cardinal 45. Actually they only crossed midfield thrice in the opening half. The touchdown drives. The other, a missed FG.
My surmise is that DC Ron English and CB Coach Steve Ellis saw what I observed and corrections will be made.
Don’t want to make too big a deal about it. Wasn’t horrible. Just early season stuff that needs to be dealt with if one has CFP aspirations.
* * * * *
My other misguided observation.
Was struck by my perception that Louisville was running the ball a lot more than airing it out. Sort of like last year. An oddity, given HC’s rambler gambler rep.
Buuuuuuuuuut, the numbers don’t lie.
U of L rushed it 36 times. For 233 net yards. 6.5 yards per tote. Not bad.
Workload was fairly evenly divided among the residents of a overflowing RB room. Maurice Turner. 61 yards. TD. Duke Watson. 51 yards. TD. Donald Chaney Jr. 21 yards. TD. And the UPS Brothers, Keyjuan (51 yards) TD and Isaac Brown. (48 yards)*
*You remember the commercial, “What can Brown do for you?” They deliver.
FB Duane Martin also rammed one in from the two.
But, back to my point, to my surprise, Cards threw it but one less time. On 35 snaps.
So it was almost perfectly balanced, the running and passing attacks.
Steady, seemingly unflappable Tyler Shough 349 yards. Two TDs. 21/33.
Harrison Bailey 2/2 for 28.
Thirteen different Cards had a reception, led by Ja’Corey Brooks with 9. Chris Bell and Mark Redman found paydirt.
* * * * *
The Cards OL did not allow a sack, and only a couple TFLs.
U of L’s D registered two sacks and five TFLs.
Reasonably solid. Except for Tyler Huff’s keepers and scrambles. 101 yards. Contain?
Were I to compare him to a QB, it would be Billy Kilmer, not Lamar Jackson. Tape shall be broken down.
* * * * *
My macro view is that Brohm and English didn’t want to show any wrinkles they surely have in store for the road ahead.
Pretty basic stuff. O and D looked a lot like last week schematically.
* * * * *
Quincy Riley’s pick was pretty acrobatic.
Jamari Johnson’s lone reception — for 29 yards — was highlight reel fodder.
FG game needs to be worked on. Missing from 60. Cannot complain. Missing from 28. Ought to be a gimme.
* * * * *
Despite two “impressive” Ws, school’s still out on the Cardinals.
Playing Indiana yesterday, as originally scheduled, would have told a lot more. Hoosiers bailed.
We’ll get a better read on the Cards in two weeks against Tech.
— c d kaplan