Big Red Louie
Fansided

Seven bold predictions for the Louisville football 2019 season

By Jacob Lane

SYRACUSE, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Dez Fitzpatrick #7 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates a touchdown with Tutu Atwell #1 of the Louisville Cardinals during the second quarter against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on November 9, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Dez Fitzpatrick #7 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates a touchdown with Tutu Atwell #1 of the Louisville Cardinals during the second quarter against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on November 9, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 8
Next
LOUISVILLE, KY – NOVEMBER 17: Nick Okeke #97 and Telly Plummer #23 of the Louisville Cardinals tackle Brady Bodine #33 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the fourth quarter of the game at Cardinal Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. The Wolfpack won 52-10. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY – NOVEMBER 17: Nick Okeke #97 and Telly Plummer #23 of the Louisville Cardinals tackle Brady Bodine #33 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the fourth quarter of the game at Cardinal Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. The Wolfpack won 52-10. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Kyle Brown -Louisville’s defense will give up 100 rushing yards per game less than last season.

2018’s run defense for the Cardinals was appalling.

Louisville gave up an average of 278.8 rushing yards per game, which is a number big enough to make you feel nauseous. When you look at the totals from some of the games, it makes you want to seek a safe space to hide.

Look at some of these numbers and tell me it doesn’t look like teams were playing a video game against UofL with the gameplay setting set on ‘Petrino’:

  • Alabama: 222 yards
  • Indiana State: 174 yards (that’s not a lot, but it’s Indiana State for crying out loud!)
  • Virginia: 204 yards
  • Georgia Tech: 542 yards, 8 touchdowns (hold me…)
  • Boston College (without AJ Dillon): 251 yards
  • Wake Forest: 368 yards
  • Clemson: 492 yards (I think they just scored, again.)
  • Syracuse: 344 yards
  • Basketball Academy of Lexington: 340 yards

I’m offended by how bad that is. Also, the Georgia Tech, Boston College, Wake Forest, Clemson, and Syracuse games were consecutive! That’s a 399.4 rushing yards per game given up over that five-game span.

It will not be that bad this year. Scott Satterfield cares about run defense. His Appalachian State team gave up 125 yards rushing per game last year. I’m aware the competition was different and the players were different, but I believe that having a coach actually realizes there is a defensive side of the ball will work wonders for this team and it will be most reflected by their improvement against the run.

Home/Louisville Football