Louisville football took care of business against EKU but questions still remain.
As Ahmari Huggins-Bruce outraced an entire defense for a 95-yard jaunt to the south endzone of Cardinal Stadium, the crowd erupted in a relieving celebration. Finally a big play. Finally, the Cards were breaking the game wide open. In the press box, a group of reporters let out a collective drone. Bruce dropped the ball and let it roll out of the endzone two yards before he crossed the pylon.
At this point, nobody is surprised. Louisville football has found every way there is to show potential while simultaneously shooting itself in the foot. The play was a microcosm of the season and the last year as a whole.
Louisville, as expected, made easy work of Eastern Kentucky, but left much to be desired.
“A win is a win, but we aren’t proud about that win,” quarterback Malik Cunningham said in the postgame.
Cunningham is right. Louisville took care of business, but what the Cardinals needed on Saturday was execution. That didn’t happen.
Takeaways
Louisville football offense remains predictable
Speed option left. Speed option right. Everyone in the stadium knows what Louisville is going to run on offense in certain situations. Granted it was EKU, but the Cardinals offense remained bland and predictable on Saturday.
Given the number of playmakers that Louisville has, Satt and the offensive play-callers have to find a way to create more production and sustain drives.
The Cards are fine in the playmaking department- Just get them the ball
The question on offense entering the season was whether or not Louisville could replace the playmaking ability of Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick.
It seems the answer is going to be a resounding “yes,” particularly in the speedy playmaking department. Josh Johnson, Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, Tyler Harrell, Jordan Watkins, and Braden Smith highlight a wide receiver group that is going to continue to improve as the season progresses. If there is a major positive to take away from the first two games its that the offense is oozing with potential. Now, Louisville just has to find a way to get its playmakers the ball.
Louisville’s “back eight” is among the best in the ACC- but is that enough?
Louisville’s starting linebackers and secondary are as impressive of a group as I can remember since the Charlie Strong era. Safeties Qwynnterrio Cole and Kenderick Duncan have assimilated seamlessly with the defense. Kei’Trel Clark is probably the best corner in the ACC. CJ Avery, Monty Montgomery, and Yassir Abdullah provide a triumvirate of hard-hitting downhill stoppers at linebacker. Still, this is all for naught if the Cards cannot get pressure on the quarterback. The defensive line continues to struggle to apply pressure, and this is putting the back 7 or 8 in undesirable positions over and over.
The trenches have to get better
All we heard about in the offseason was how excited the staff was about the offensive and defensive lines. Louisville football has talent and experience on both fronts, yet the Cardinals are struggling to get any push. That is the number one concern right now. If UofL can simply be average in the trenches, it has the ability to take care of business at the skill positions. If not, Cards fans might be in for a long season.
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