Louisville Football: 5 takeaways from the Syracuse game

Sep 9, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) leaps over Syracuse Orange defensive back Cordell Hudson (20) while running with the ball during the second quarter at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) leaps over Syracuse Orange defensive back Cordell Hudson (20) while running with the ball during the second quarter at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 9, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange running back Dontae Strickland (4) runs with the ball against the Louisville Cardinals during the second quarter at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange running back Dontae Strickland (4) runs with the ball against the Louisville Cardinals during the second quarter at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Louisville has a habit of beating themselves

Other than watching Lamar Jackson, this may be the best news that Cardinals fans will hear all night long. Louisville has struggled with penalties and turning over the football so far this season, however both of those things are very fixable. I mean, they were still able to put up 60 points in this game. How many teams can say that?!?

At the same time, Louisville gave away too many points in the game versus Syracuse. Those are points that they cannot afford to give away in games against Florida State, Clemson, and Houston. Fumbles and penalties will kill any type of momentum that you are wanting to building during the game. They must improve.

On the other hand, if Louisville didn’t drop passes, fumble the ball, and commit too many penalties, they would have played that much better. The Cardinals have a very talented football team with senior leadership that showed up big time against Syracuse. This team has a very high ceiling and it’s going to all come together here soon.

There were teams on the first weekend of football that lost because they played a game like Louisville. Fortunately for the Cardinals, they were able to weather the storm and come out with the win. However for Louisville, they did it while putting up 60 points!

Syracuse made some nice plays on the ball, but it was mostly Louisville shooting themselves in the foot in this one. I expect head coach Bobby Petrino to help them clean things up for the next game.

Next: Number One