With the margin for error vanishing in the weeks to come, as the ACC conference slate looms, U of L’s 40-17 barbecuing of Bowling Green was, baseline, workmanlike.
Cards clocked in.
Cards clocked out.
Despite the margin, it was not a Louder than Life victory.
But it does register on the left hand side, and the team in red remains undefeated after the exhibition portion of the schedule.
* * * * *
Kudos to the kicking crew.
Cooper Ranvier was a perfecto 3/3 on his FGs. From 24, 40 and 48.
His kicking room mate Nick Keller nailed one from 57 yards, a new school record. Sorry, Brock Travelstead.
This bland reporting thus far begs the question of why the Cardinals’ O stalled and they had to settle for three four times in the 2d half. But I’m not here to pick nits after a 23 point W.
Carter Schwartz two punts averaged 50.5.
Steady.
* * * * *
No Isaac Brown (essentially, one carry for 18). No Duke Watson.
No Problem.
Keyjuan Brown — he’d be #3 on the RB Depth Chart — scored twice. Rambled for 84 yards on 12 carries.
Second half running star Braxton Jennings scored once. 43 yards on 6 totes. And, he’s not even listed on the roster in the Media Guide. But he had a boffo day on field, and his stat line shows it.
More than acceptable for your third and fourth teamers.
* * * * *
Miller Moss played pitch and catch.
No TDs. No picks. 24/33 (73%). 329 yards.
Solid.
* * * * *
Dacari Collins. 84 yards on four grabs.
Chris Bell snared four throws for 51 yards,
Expected.
* * * * *
All of which basic info brings us to Caullin Lacy.
Yes, he muffed a punt. Which I mention only because it happened.
But, uh, he gets a pass.
Because . . .
. . . he electrified the crowd at the RR Yard several times while . . .
. . . gobbling up 281 all purpose yards.
Two Hundred Eighty One.
110 receiving on nine catches.
106 yards of punt returns, including that 75 yard beauty for a touchdown.
65 yards on kickoff returns.
Star ‘o’ Game.
* * * * *
Defense was, well, good enough. Against a MAC foe.
No sacks. Only a couple TFLs.
Surrendered 190 yards on the ground.
And those two unacceptable lapses handing Bowling Green a couple visits to paydirt. A 75 yard rush. A 38 yard score through the air.
Stanquan Clark . . . is . . . missed.
* * * * *
Next: Pitt in Steeltown.
— c d kaplan
I’m not sure if it is too early to tell but I don’t think that Miller Moss has the same skill set as his two predecessors. I suppose time will tell but I would feel more at ease with the other guys. Hope I’m wrong
Agree with Mr. Lutes
What he said.
Miller Moss is a much improvement over Plummer, but leaves more desired to be compared to Slough.
Line cannot get 2 yds on 3rd or 4th down. Especially in the Red Zone.
We will have lots of trouble giving Moss time to throw in the future ACC opponents and Despite what we may think, Kentucky will give us lots of problems in those areas.
Agree. Moss appears to be better than Plummer to me, but so far not as good as Shough. And yes the OL is likely at least part of the reason here. Moss is frequently having to make difficult throws while on the run. I think Moss will be good if not great if the OL could get their shit together and give him a clean pocket. Or get a push in the running game to take some pressure off of the passing game. The OL is the real disappointment to me, not Moss. He’s been adequate and solid so far.