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Louisville football: Grading the Cardinals’ performance against Virginia

By Maxwell Owens

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - NOVEMBER 14: DAngelo Amos #30 and Nick Grant #1 of the Virginia Cavaliers force a fumble by Malik Cunningham #3 of the Louisville Cardinals in the second half during a game at Scott Stadium on November 14, 2020 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - NOVEMBER 14: DAngelo Amos #30 and Nick Grant #1 of the Virginia Cavaliers force a fumble by Malik Cunningham #3 of the Louisville Cardinals in the second half during a game at Scott Stadium on November 14, 2020 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 14: DAngelo Amos #30 of the Virginia Cavaliers defends a pass intended for Dez Fitzpatrick #7 of the Louisville Cardinals in the first half during a game at Scott Stadium on November 14, 2020 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 14: DAngelo Amos #30 of the Virginia Cavaliers defends a pass intended for Dez Fitzpatrick #7 of the Louisville Cardinals in the first half during a game at Scott Stadium on November 14, 2020 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

This group was missing their best overall player in Tutu Atwell on Saturday. They have some talent in their depth, but nobody was going to replicate what Tutu does week in and week out. You might be surprised at what these groups did best of all on Saturday.

They blocked. They blocked so well that Malik Cunningham could not believe the runways he had to run multiple times. On Malik’s first touchdown run, Dez Fitzpatrick and Marshon Ford finished their blocks all the way out of bounds to free Cunningham up to go untouched for the touchdown.

I was really impressed with the blocking. The art of blocking on the perimeter is something that takes fight and effort to do it the right way. I thought Fitzpatrick, Ford, and Ean Pfeifer were terrific as blockers today.

As pass catchers, there was something more to be desired. Braden Smith looked early on as a player that would be honed in on after he caught two very early receptions on the game’s first drive. But he cooled off quick. He only finished with four receptions for 25 yards on the day.

Fitzpatrick had a decent day filling in as the WR1 with Tutu out. However, in a comeback attempt, Fitzpatrick fumbled late in the fourth quarter to seal the deal on the loss.

The tight ends only had one target on the day. It was the reverse flea flicker that Ford came back to catch on his back shoulder that went for 46 yards.

It would be nice to see Ford and Pfeifer get more involved in the passing game. It is especially a little bit frustrating to not see Ford involved. He is a big-time playmaker for the team that I was personally disappointed in not seeing more of as a safety blanket for Cunningham.

I thought it was a solid, average performance for the group overall today.

Grade: B

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