Get to Know the Louisville Football Opponent: Virginia

Louisville football will get ACC play underway in week four when they travel to Charlottesville to take on the Virginia Cavaliers.

Thankfully for the Cardinals when these two teams square off in week four of the season this game will take place on the football field, and not on the basketball court, which means Louisville football actually has a legit chance to win.

The last time Louisville and Virginia met, was late in the season last year with the Cards getting a much needed victory, 38-21. Behind a dominating performance from Lamar Jackson, where he totaled 342 yards and four touchdowns, and the catch of the season from Jaylen Smith, the Cards got their season back on track after a couple of extremely close games.

This season both teams will be tasked with replacing their star Quarterbacks’ and will come into this game with new starters making their ACC debut. Virginia will be replacing a ton of talent (we’ll touch on that more in a bit) and like Bronco Mendenhall alluded to this offseason, they are short when it comes to having ACC caliber talent.

The Cards should have a very winnable game on their hands, but we’ve seen crazier things happen in shorter amounts of time against Virginia.

Let’s take a look at Louisville’s week four opponent.

2017 Recap

With Bronco Mendenhall at the helm for his second season in Charlottesville, a team who struggled for relevancy in the ACC for many years, finally looked to have a shot at becoming just that. Behind his weird, yet lovable charisma, Mendenhall had a plethora of talented players, led by QB Kurt Benkert and former five star recruit, S Quin Blanding.

The Cavaliers got off to a fast start, making some noise on a national level after knocking off Boise State in week 4 of the season, and getting off to a 5-1 start (2-0 in the ACC). But moving into week 7, the wheels fell off the proverbial Bronco.

Down the stretch of the season the offense, which showed some real firepower early on, fell apart averaging just 13 points per game. Even with Benkert, a proven signal caller for the Hoos, the offense averaged a measly 3.4 yards per play in the final three games of the season before getting flat out destroyed against Navy in the 2018 Military Bowl.

While the season ended poorly, some in Virginia might say that the season the Hoos had proved the resiliency and coaching ability of Bronco Mendenhall. After coaching on the West Coast for most of his career before surprisingly taking the Virignia Job, Mendenhall helped the Cavaliers improve from 2-10 in 2016-17 to 6-7 in 2017-18. Not too shabby.

Who did Virginia lose?

Viriginia lost quite a bit of talent from last year’s team, and I expect them to take a big step back because of it. The biggest loss without question is Kurt Benkert, who exhausted all of his collegiate eligibility at the end of 2017-18.

On the other side of the ball the Cavaliers lost star safety Quin Blanding, a player who provided an equal amount of firepower and leadership to the defense as Benkert provided to the offense. Also gone on the defensive side of the ball is linebacker Micah Kiser, the ACC’s leading tacklers for each of the last two seasons.

Unfortunately that’s not it. The Cavaliers lose pass catchers Andre Levrone, Doni Dowling, and Joe Reed, and DE Andrew Brown.

Who does Virginia return?

The Cavaliers will struggle to find depth this season, but at the top of the roster they do return a couple of extremely talented players. 

WR/RB/KR/Do it all/Play maker Olamide Zaccheaus is back after catching 85 passes for 895 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2017-18, while rushing for 182 yards and another score. Along with Zacchaeus the Cavaliers get back leading rusher Jordan Ellis, who had 836 yards and six touchdowns.

The Cavaliers get back 7. 5 sacks and 10.5 tackle for losses from Chris Peace, who will be the team’s leading pass rusher heading into 2018-19. Virginia also gets back/introduces, Arizona State transfer and Dual Threat quarterback, Bryce Perkins, who may be an upgrade to Benkert. His ability to make plays with his legs and his arm should help spread things out and make their weapons a bit more of a threat.

Why should Louisville be worried?

Bronco Mendenhall is a great coach, who eventually should get things “turned around” at Virginia. His ability to get the most out of his roster is second to none in the ACC and the biggest reason for Louisville to worry.

Though Quin Blanding is gone the Virginia defense still has a ton of talent led by Chris Peace and Juan Thornhill. If Thornhill and the Virginia secondary can make a couple of plays, while the defensive line, led by Peace and Mandy Alonso, makes a few stops, this could be a competitive game.

I don’t think Virginia has enough on the offensive side of the ball, especially running the football, to make this game one to worry for Louisville. However, we saw what Wake Forest did to the Louisville defense through the air. If Perkins is as good as advertised, and Zaccheaus makes a few plays like Greg Dortch did, this could be a winnable game.

Why should Virginia be worried?

27 ACC caliber players may be a hyperbole and more of a statement directed at the Virginia higher ups, but Bronco Mendenhall may not be too far off base.

Virginia has some talent, but I don’t think they have nearly enough to keep up with the offensive firepower of Louisville. If Jawon Pass is who we think he could be, this game could get out of hand early – as long as the Louisville defense can get off the field.

Behind Smith, Fitzpatrick, Dawkins and the other offensive weapons for Louisville, the Cavaliers really don’t stand much of a chance if you ask me. Thus the need to worry is there.

Key player for Virginia

To me it’s Jordan Ellis, the leading tail back for the Cavaliers heading into 2018-19. The senior back has played in big games against Louisville, and knows what it takes to win. If he’s able to get the blocking he needs up front and can rip off a few runs against a defense that we really don’t know much about, BVG and the Cards could be in for a long one.

We saw Louisville give up 163+ rushing yards per game last season, which was 63rd in the country. If Ellis can get going on the ground, it’ll only enhance the chances of QB Bryce Perkins getting more opportunity for play action plays across the middle and room to run with his legs.

Early Prediction: Louisville 45 – Virginia 24 

Louisville moves to 3-1 on the season and gets the ACC schedule started off on the right foot. Getting a win against a team they’ve struggled with in the past is a big boost for them as they head into week five with a big time matchup against Florida State, a team they’ve owned over the last two seasons.