Louisville football: 3 biggest storylines as Cards travel to face Pittsburgh
By Jacob Lane
How will Louisville football’s offense fair against their first “dominant” defensive?
By all accounts, Pittsburgh has been one of, if not the, top performing defenses in college football through two weeks. They currently are at the top of most major defensive statistical categories, including no. 3 in total defense, no. 1 in rushing defense, no. 2 in turnovers gained, no. 4 in team sacks, and no. 5 in total passing efficiency defense.
Pitching a shutout in week one and following it up with a seven sack performance against Syracuse is certainly one way to convince people that you have a dominant defense. Led by Patrick Jones II and a deep stable of defensive linemen, the Pittsburgh defense specializes in rushing the passer and forcing turnovers.
In the secondary safeties Paris Ford and Damar Hamlin will be capable of limiting weapons Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick, while waiting to take advantage of the first slip up from Malik Cunningham.
There’s reason to question just how good this defense is, considering they’ve played an FCS opponent and likely the worst team in the ACC in Syracuse. Anytime you can force 10 sacks, five total turnovers, and keep your opponents to just 10 points – it’s clear you’re good. But when that comes against a team from a division down and a team who could be one of the worst in P5, there’s an opening for doubt. Pittsburgh knows that and will want to prove against one of the nation’s best offenses that they are legit.
No matter who they’ve played, Louisville football’s offense has to take this game seriously and improve on their performances through the first two weeks, especially the turnovers against Miami, or else they’ll struggle.
Even without likely first rounder Jaylen Twyman, who opted out of the season after a 41 tackle, 10.5 sack sophomore season and is likely to be a 1st rounder in the 2021 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh still has a star-studded group. That pass rush will test an offensive line that has been susceptible to strong edge rushers and given up hits on their quarterback, but the Cards will have a clear speed advantage in my mind.
Still, if Cunningham has to constantly deal with rushers swarming him it wouldn’t be shocking to see him struggle. We’ve already seen a few instances of Cunningham making bad decisions running out of the pocket and being forced into inaccurate throws.
There’s room to take advantage of Pittsburgh’s defense, which we’ll look at further this week, and if anyone can do it, it’s Louisville.