Louisville football: Three keys to the Cards beating Notre Dame

Control the clock and minimize big plays

The first key for Louisville football is going to be to continue to control the clock on offense. This is a staple of every Scott Satterfield team. When you have the ball in your hands, you control the game.

Last season, Louisville football fans were pleased with the effort in a season opening loss to the Fighting Irish because of the Cards’ ability to hold onto the ball, keep things on the ground, and keep things closer than expected. This will, again, be vital to the team’s success.

The Irish do not operate quickly on offense, ranking 52nd out of 76 eligible teams in plays run per game.

Louisville ranks in the top 20 in the country with just less than 55 percent average time of possession. Notre Dame hovers right around the national average at 52 percent.

Holding the ball isn’t everything. Against Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets had a short field to work with on three occasions and benefited from big plays and quick drives. Louisville had the ball for just under 62 percent of the game and still lost by 19.

However, Louisville turning in another performance where they sustain drives and drain the clock is one of the key components to keeping things competitive with the Irish. It keeps the defense off the field and, theoretically, gives Louisville a better chance to win as the game wears on.