5 reasons why Louisville football underachieved against Duke
By Derek Snyder
1. Louisville didn’t commit to running the football
This one really surprised me to be completely honest. In the second quarter, rain started to fall and Lamar Jackson’s passes started to become highly inaccurate. Not only was he inaccurate, but he wasn’t making easy reads on the read-option and was getting himself shut down, and in turn, the Cardinals’ offense as well.
Jeremy Smith busted a huge 80 yard touchdown run that have the Cardinals some breathing room, but they never really stuck with pounding the ground game. Duke kept getting pressure up the middle, but Louisville was so intent on passing the football that the Blue Devils never had to back off.
When Brandon Radcliff only gets seven carries, then you know something needs to go back and be re-evaluated. I’m fine with Louisville only winning by 10, but not if it’s because they got away from what they have done best this season: being a well-rounded rushing attack. Lamar Jackson still had a great rushing game, but he alone rushing the football isn’t what has made Louisville great this year.
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When the weather got bad and the offense was stagnant, they should have relied on Smith and Radcliff. End of story.