Louisville football: Predicting the Cards offensive MVP for 2019

Jawon Pass – Quarterback

Redshirt junior

If you had told me after the end of 2018 that Jawon Pass would even be in the mix for the starting quarterback position for Louisville football, I may have called you some crazy things, as I assumed it was only a matter of time before he transferred.

In the midst of everything that happened last season with the previous staff and the epic collapse of the Louisville program, Jawon Pass looked like a lost cause. Though he started nine contests last year, playing well in a few games including Florida State, in others he looked like a quarterback who just didn’t have the makeup or abilities to get the job done at the ACC level.

When you consider who his coach was in Bobby Petrino, a known “quarterback guru” it seemed to many that Pass just couldn’t make the throws or run an offense at a high level. While that still may be true, the biggest issue plaguing Pass last season was the ineptitude of the Petrino family, specifically relating to Bobby pulling the young quarterback in nearly every game he played at some point or another.

Under Scott Satterfield, Jawon Pass will get the fresh start he so desperately needs and through the first seven months of the new regime, the redshirt junior seems to be doing everything correctly.

“He’s (Jawon Pass) become more vocal and is night and day from December to right now with his confidence, command, and work ethic. It’s exciting to see for him,” Scott Satterfield told Cameron Teague-Robinson of the Courier-Journal.

With that newfound leadership and weapons like Dez Fitzpatrick, Tutu Atwell, Hassan Hall, Seth Dawkins, and Javian Hawkins surrounding him, Pass very well could be headed for a big season. In order to have a breakout, MVP type of season, the first place Pass will have to improve is in the accuracy department.

All numbers from 2018 are throwaways as the entire program was in shambles for most of the season. However, the 0.66 touchdown-to-interception ratio (8 touchdowns, 12 interceptions) and 54 percent completion rating, aren’t exactly good or even mediocre.

Under Satterfield’s direction, Jawon Pass will have to show he’s able to stand in the pocket and read defenses whether it’s in the shotgun or under center. The running game will be the primary focus for Louisville, but that will be used as a way to set up the short, intermediate, and deep passing game.

Satterfield and quarterbacks coach Frank Ponce have a guy who has the ability to lead their team and help them win games in 2019. Jawon Pass has all of the tools needed to win, too. He has a pro frame and has showcased the ability to make big time throws when he has time to stand in the pocket or even get out on the run without linemen down his throat. When needed, Pass can run the ball like “Baby Cam” Newton, as some of his teammates refer to him, accounting for two rushing touchdowns in 2018.

The weapons are there, the offensive line should be improved, the running game very well could be the best it’s been (outside of Lamar Jackson) in quite some time, and if Louisville is going to have a bounce-back year, Jawon Pass will be a big, big part of it.