Louisville Football: 5 pivotal problems the Cards have to fix this season

Nov 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) and Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1) shake hands after a game at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) and Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1) shake hands after a game at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Louisville Cardinals running back Brandon Radcliff (23) is tackled after making a reception during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Louisville Cardinals running back Brandon Radcliff (23) is tackled after making a reception during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Offensive Line

Louisville’s offensive line just gave the worst performance I have ever seen. They gave up 11 sacks to a football team who got beat by SMU and Navy this season. We knew that this line was suspect, but I am not sure that anyone one of us knew that they could be that bad. Houston did whatever they wanted to do and the O-line didn’t have an answer.

As if not blocking wasn’t enough, they let the crowd noise in Houston (yes, Houston) cause numerous false starts that killed any kind of field position Louisville had. Again, it was the worst performance I have ever seen from an offensive line.

The Cardinals have to get this figured out or they won’t be able to do anything on offense in these last two games. Controlling the line of scrimmage is everything for this offense. Their long passing plays are mostly based off of play-action passes, which cannot happen unless Jackson has enough time to throw.

Not to mention, play-action isn’t a possibility unless the run game can get going outside of Lamar Jackson.

The scary thing, is that this line has gotten worse as the season has gone along and they haven’t given us any reason for optimism.

Next: 3 Reasons Why Lamar Jackson will still win the Heisman Trophy