Louisville football faces a disciplined Air Force team in the 2021 First Responder Bowl. What the Cards must do to win.
Louisville football enters its bowl game in Dallas, Texas against an Air Force team that is not sexy by name but presents a great challenge.
UofL is looking to lessen the bitter taste in its mouth after a blowout loss to Kentucky to end the season. A win over the Falcons in the First Responder Bowl certainly won’t heal all wounds, but it would serve to provide the Cardinals with much-needed momentum heading into the 2022 season.
Here are a few things the Cards must do to leave with a victory.
Score first
Air Force runs the ball nearly 8 more times than it throws the ball. As a result, the Falcons win the time of possession battle more than anyone in the country, holding the ball for over 36 minutes per game.
The Falcons are known to get out to a big lead and then never surrender said lead again. So, how do you beat Air Force? By jumping out to a lead first and forcing them to throw the ball.
In two of its three losses, Air Force trailed 13-0 to San Diego State before it scored and 14-3 to Army. Only in a loss to Utah State did Air Force score first and then lose.
Find a solution for the triple option
Louisville football defensive coordinator Bryan Brown spoke last week about preparing for a unique Air Force triple-option attack.
“You got to make sure that somebody has the dive, somebody has quarterback, and somebody has the pitch. That’s the key,” said Brown. “Those are the things we’re trying to get accomplished in practice, and it’s going well so far.”
Brown went on to praise the Air Force offensive line.
“Those guys are doing a great job this season with mauling people upfront. They also just do a good job with different little eye candy pieces that try to get a guy one step slow, or one step too fast, and then that ball’s out of the gate.”
The good news is that Louisville has the right pieces to slow a triple option offense. The Cardinals defense employs smaller, shifter linebackers and defensive lineman who are adept at getting out on the edge but maintaining gap discipline.
Players like CJ Avery, Yasir Abdullah, and Jack Fagot will be crucial in helping the Cards to a victory.
Create mismatches on offense
Additionally, Louisville football must take advantage of a less athletic Air Force defense.
The Falcons are strong on defense against like teams but have struggled to halt quick, athletic offensive players.
Malik Cunningham will obviously be a major factor with his speed and duel threat ability. Howevever players like wide receivers Ahmari Huggins-Bruce and Tyler Harrell and running back Trevion Cooley will be key in a game where team speed could be the difference-maker.
Keep the foot on the gas
The greatest criticism almost any Louisville fan has this season is the Cards’ inability to keep the foot on the gas when jumping out to leads.
On five occasions this season, Louisville has jumped out to a double-digit lead, only to let the lead slip away in the fourth quarter. This was no more aggregious than in a blown 17 point lead in the fourth quarter to Virginia and 21-0 deficit in the fourth quarter at NC State.
If Louisville loses focus late in this game, it will cost the Cards against a highly disciplined Air Force squad.
