Louisville Football: Five Questions Surrounding Brian VanGorder and the Defense

Brian VanGorder is the new signal caller for the Louisville football defense. With experience in the NFL, and at multiple power five schools at the college level, VanGorder is challenged with getting the Louisville defense back on track.

Brian VanGorder comes to the University of Louisville football team having coached at an abundance of places. VanGorder had previous stints at Georgia, Auburn, Notre Dame and in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, achieving  moderate success at each stop.

VanGorder brings a wealth of experience to a program who is in desperate need of a dramatic change from last year. Going into the season, a handful of questions have to be answered.

We tackle five of those that may give you a better look at what to expect this season.

Who replaces Jaire Alexander as the leader?

There was no doubt last year that when Jaire Alexander was on the field, the defense seemed to rally around each other and play better as a whole. You could see clearly that Jaire brought an aspect to the defense that nobody else could seem to duplicate. Trash talking, swag, and intensity were evident from both Alexander and his teammates, when the junior corner was on the field. So, who on the current team could possibly be the guy to lead and get guys fired up?

Talking with current players, the vibe I am getting is that redshirt junior Jon Greenard could be that guy. Being one of only two guys Bobby Petrino took to ACC Kickoff, that speaks volumes. Look for Greenard to take a step forward this year as his teammates and coach seem confident in his abilities to be a guy that can motivate.

In his redshirt sophomore season, Greenard played a hybrid pass rushing role behind James Hearns and Trevon Young, and still put up big numbers. This season Greenard will be counted on to be the primary pass-rusher, a challenge he should absolutely be able to handle.

What is the difference between VanGorder and the previous defensive coordinators?

As a fan of the Louisville football program, there was something that was noticeably different about last year under Peter Sirmon. We didn’t see Sirmon take chances to get into the backfield. We didn’t see Sirmon take opportunities to put pressure on the quarterback. What is Brian VanGorder going to do differently?

More from Louisville Cardinals News

• How to Get $615 in Kentucky Pre-Registration Bonuses with DraftKings + Bet365 Promos!
• Kentucky Sign-Up Promo: Win up to $415 in Bet365 Bonuses on Launch Day!
• How Louisville Fans Can Claim up to $415 in Bonuses with Bet365 Sign-Up Promo!
• FanDuel Kentucky Sign-Up Promo: Get $100 Bonus PLUS $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket GUARANTEED!
• Claim $100 Bonus Today with BetMGM Kentucky Pre-Registration Offer!

The Courier Journal highlighted what VanGorder said back in the spring. VanGorder mentioned he had run both the 4-3 and 3-4 defensive schemes, but his scheme was one that would be built around the talent he had at his disposal. This is a change from Peter Sirmon, who often ran a 4-2-5. VanGorder is known for his attacking, downfield defense who takes risks with unique pass rushes and backfield blitzes. Sirmon would often times just rush his front four. This is refreshing to hear after a season that was frustrating on multiple levels, one being the lack of sacks and tackles for loss.

Who is a guy that takes on a larger role this upcoming season for the Louisville defense?

Chatting with folks around the program, the name that kept coming up was CJ Avery. A highly recruited, four-star guy who had offers from Alabama, Auburn, and Clemson, Avery will likely be a starter at the linebacker position.

Avery was featured in the Under Armour All American game as a high school standout. Avery played a little last year as a true freshman but look for him to be a well-known name this year for the Cardinals. As a true freshman, Avery racked up 25 total tackles. For the most part, the four-star recruit played in the “star” position, which was a bit of a hybrid of safety and linebacker.

There’s a chance that he sticks in that same type of role this year, seeing that he’s only up to 213 pounds. But those who are in the know of VanGorder’s scheme and play making needs, believe that Avery will start in a true linebacker position and will bring speed and heavy hitting to the position. Louisville’s linebackers struggled last season to drop into coverage, so adding a guy like Avery to their lineup should be extremely beneficial.

What do Ryan Beard and Grady Brown bring to the staff?

I had a chance to speak with a source who had high praise for the two new coaches on the defensive side of the ball. According to that source, Beard is a great young recruiter who has bought into Brian VanGorder’s scheme. Grady Brown is a guy who is all in on Brian VanGorder’s philosophy, and is a coach that players play hard for. Brown was also described as a player’s coach, and a coach who all the defensive backs love.

On the surface, I really like the addition of these two coaches. A huge part of having a successful unit is the assistant coaches. Grady Brown comes to the staff as an assistant in the secondary, and Ryan Beard will take over coaching the linebackers.

Which position group on the defensive side of the ball will feature the most new faces?

Looking at each position group on the defense, one sticks out when it comes to new faces. The secondary, more specifically the cornerback position, will likely see two new starters. PJ Mbanasor, a highly touted transfer from Oklahoma, has been turning heads and looks to lock up a starting spot when fall camp starts this upcoming week.

Opposite of Mbanasor, the competition could heat up. In my opinion, and from the information I have gathered, the favorite to win the other starting cornerback spot is Rodjay Burns, a local star who transferred from Ohio State. Other than Burns, another player competing for the spot is true freshmen Chandler Jones. If you remember, Jones was also an Under Armour All American who the staff lured in from Miami. Also in the mix is a player who played a lot last year in Russ Yeast. However, Burns seems to be the most likely candidate to get the start alongside Mbanasor.

So, what are the expectations for the Louisville defense? Coming off a disappointing season, most people would expect the Louisville defense to be better. The defense returns a plethora of key veterans we didn’t feature in the article. Dee Smith and GG Robinson are names that fit the bill to name a few. Another guy to continue to keep an eye on is Dorian Etheridge. Look for the sophomore, who started every game last year, to lead the team in tackles from his middle linebacker position.

I really think the Louisville defense will be much improved. I think we will see a lot more aggression from VanGorder, and I think it will pay off. As football season is right around the corner, make sure to keep it locked right here with BRL for the latest buzz around the program.