Spring Football: Louisville

Louisville held their annual spring game on Friday night. Because just like during the regular season, they are way too cool to play on Saturday. Actually, I think it had something to do with horse racing. The Red-White Game Presented by UPS (terrific marketing technique) was a 38-17 triumph for the offense over the defense.

The Cards are in Season 2 of the Steve Kragthorpe regime, and looking to replace Brian Brohm among others. Brohm is the only QB Louisville has known in the Big East era, but senior Hunter Cantwell has game experience, filling in for Brohm at times the last few seasons due to injuries. Matt Simms, son of CBS announcer, former New York Giants QB and general douchebag Phil Simms is also vying for the quarterback spot as a redshirt freshman, but Cantwell seems to be the clear favorite for the time being.

Louisville’s offense did not commit a turnover, which is big news for the Cards. In six losses last season, UL committed 20 turnovers, compared to just 4 turnovers in their six wins.

If the spring game is any indication, and who knows if it may or may not be, the Cards may be committing more to the run next season, as the Cards ran more than they passed by a 4-to-3 ratio. Some of that is probably lower string players just running familiar running plays, but I think with the loss of Brohm they will tend to pass less. Not that Cantwell isn’t capable, but without Brohm it just makes sense to pass less, and Kragthorpe probably wants to normalize the offense somewhat to that degree. Also a factor are the losses of Mario Urrutia and Harry Douglass at wide receiver. The Cards just don’t seem to have a lot of quality receivers as has been their strong point in the recent past.In the backfield, senior Brock Bolen and redshirt freshman and former WVU commitment Vic Anderson will be called upon for most of the carries this season, which will provide Louisville with a change of pace between the larger, more physical Bolen and smaller, quicker Anderson.

Earl Heyman and Adrian Grady stood out on the defense for the Cards with two sacks apiece. Card Chronicle posted a fairly in-depth rundown. Louisville announced attendance as 17,200.

Tags: Hunter Cantwell, Louisville, spring football, Steve Kragthorpe, Vic Anderson