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Louisville football will have their hands full against Notre Dame

By Kyle Brown

LOUISVILLE, KY - DECEMBER 05: Scott Satterfield the new head coach of football team at the University of Louisville talks to the media before the start od the Louisville Cardinals against the Central Arkansas Bears at KFC YUM! Center on December 5, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - DECEMBER 05: Scott Satterfield the new head coach of football team at the University of Louisville talks to the media before the start od the Louisville Cardinals against the Central Arkansas Bears at KFC YUM! Center on December 5, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 29: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers looks to pass in the first half against Julian Okwara #42 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 29: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers looks to pass in the first half against Julian Okwara #42 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Defense

A solid front-four mixed with an experienced secondary makes this a difficult ask for the Cardinals in their first game in a new system.

Anchored by senior defensive end Julian Okwara, the defensive line returns a number of players that had contributions last season.

Okwara tied for the team-high in sacks (8.0) with first-round draft pick Jerry Tillery. On the other end of the line, Khalid Kareem got to the quarterback 4.5 times.

This is going to be a big task for a Cardinal offensive line that did not live up to their own hype last season.

Left tackle Mekhi Becton must (MUST!!!!!) keep Okwara off of Jawon Pass. If he can’t give his quarterback time to throw, this thing will be over before it even starts.

They must not get in long third down scenarios, as Okwara rated as Pro Football Focus‘ top pass rusher on third and fourth downs last season.

The Irish secondary is one of the most experienced groups Louisville will see this season.

Seniors Alohi Gillman, Jalen Elliott, and Troy Pride, Jr. return to the secondary, combining for eight interceptions last season. This veteran group will welcome sophomore corner Houston Griffith to the starting lineup, to replace current Oakland Raider Te’von Coney.

Two questions that face Louisville’s receiving corps against this group are 1.) How well can Dez Fitzpatrick and Seth Dawkins get separation? and 2.) Will they be able to hang on to the ball if it gets to them?

If the receivers are unable to give Pass open targets quickly, Okwara and company could make a living in the Cardinal backfield.

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