Could we have had a worse opening drive? Louisville cannot keep using the opening possessions to get up to game speed. Against better teams, slow starts become deficits. Dictate the tempo instead of adjusting to it.
Credit Villanova. They executed exactly what they wanted to do early: shorten the game, quick decisions, milk the clock and keep Louisville from finding rhythm.
I’m questioning how much we can press at corner. Louisville clearly wants to be aggressive outside, but I’m not convinced yet that this cornerback group can consistently survive playing that way when playing high level receivers. Really hoping Ivey can settle into the role and make adjustments when they matter most.
The offensive line still isn’t creating enough movement. Louisville’s playmakers are making things happen, but too often it feels like they’re doing it in spite of the blocking rather than because of it. Against lower level competition it overall wasn’t encouraging.
Tre is electric! Richardson looks like Isaac is supposed to look. His twitch is elite.
What can brown do for us? Hoping his slow ramp up from camp start pays dividends sooner than later.
Special Teams Shoutout. Kudos to the players and staff for turning what was expected to be liability into a point of consistency thus far.
Hit the layups. The short throws have to become automatic. Those are free yards, and Louisville left too many of them on the field.
Kienholz looks sped up at times. That magic that makes Lincoln special is the juice he brings to the game. That same juice I think creates excitement and causes those missed bunny throws.
Tayon Holloway has to chill out. His aggressiveness is part of what makes him good, but there’s a line. Louisville already paid a massive price for that against Stanford 2 years ago. At the game he got lucky to not get another penalty. There’s no excuse for letting unnecessary penalties become a recurring storyline.
Roster-building thought: I’d rather Louisville invest heavily in the offensive line than keep pouring resources into running back. When a former five-star and a walk-on can produce as your third- and fourth-string backs, it says a lot about the depth Brohm can create at that position. Give those backs better holes.
Biggest theme so far
Louisville has enough skill talent to make plays. The question is whether the details around that talent-fast starts, protection, easy completions, discipline and defensive adjustments, are good enough when the competition gets significantly better.
Now the Cardinals get eight days to tighten things up and prepare for one of the biggest home games in L&N Stadium history.
Go Cards!