Louisville’s third quarter against Wake Forest last weekend never really got off the ground. It was a quiet stretch overall, and the film only yielded five clips worth talking about. The result was a 3-point quarter, with both teams mostly trading routine snaps while Louisville tried to settle in defensively and Jeff Brohm kept searching for more consistency on offense.
The biggest defensive adjustment came against the run. Louisville’s linebackers started triggering downhill more aggressively in the second half, and the line began to create more disruption too. On one snap, the front slanted while also trying to get upfield, and that helped other defenders penetrate before the running backs could build any momentum.
That kind of approach raises an obvious question about where Mark Ivey wants to take this unit. Louisville has struggled on defense, and a more aggressive run fit could be one way to shake things up.
It would likely mean more man coverage behind it, but that hasn’t been the area giving them the most trouble. Getting linebackers into the backfield might be the best chance to wake the whole group up.
There were also signs of Louisville leaning harder into pressure packages. The Cards have only six sacks on the season, though they’ve added one each week.
One of the main tweaks has been using four pass rushers in obvious passing situations. AJ Green and Jarod Smith have been kicking inside to defensive tackle, while Clev Lubin and Tyler Thompson work off the edge.
With Green out, Micah Carter got his chance, and his quickness let him bend around the right guard and flash right in front of Gio Lopez.
That kind of free edge run helps, but pressure is what really matters. Lopez didn’t have a quick answer, and by the time he looked away, a red jersey was already in his line of sight.
Coverage did its part on another pressure snap as well. Louisville was in zone, and the slot corner to the right side of the screen made the right read by jumping the out route. That took away Lopez’s first option and forced him to move on.
Wake Forest has built its identity around preventing explosive plays, so Louisville did well to hit a couple of chunk gains through the air. The Cardinals have used motion plenty this season, but on one of those plays it actually helped reveal coverage.
Wake’s outside linebacker followed the motion before passing it off to the middle linebacker, and Lincoln Kienholz had his eyes trained on the middle of the field. That gave him the perfect view of Tre Richardson running away from man coverage.
Not every issue in the quarter came down to effort or scheme. Tyler Thompson also gave up a first down when he drifted inside on his pass rush and stepped out of his lane. The effort was there - he beat his man with a nice move - but he still had to stay within the assignment.
The other thing that stood out was alignment. Louisville was not set at the snap far too often, and this was at least the third play that showed it.
There were more instances that didn’t even make the cut. That would be easier to excuse if the defense were complicated, but this is a simple scheme that should allow for clean, straightforward calls.
The formations looked like the problem, especially against Wake Forest’s overloaded receiver sets.
If Louisville wants to clean this up, simplification may be part of the answer. Getting the calls in on time and creating more negative plays has to be the goal. There are ways to steady the defense, but from the film, it feels like it may take some outside-the-box thinking to get there.
In Other News...
Louisville Suddenly Has A Much Bigger QB Problem At NC State
Louisville heads into its trip to North Carolina State with a lot less certainty under center than it expected. Starting quarterback Lincoln Kienholz is listed as questionable because of an injury, and Jeff Brohm said only that Kienholz is dealing with one, leaving the details vague as the Cardinals turn their attention to game time.
If Kienholz is unable to go, Louisville will be forced to sort through a backup plan that was never supposed to be this prominent so soon. The options appear to be freshman Briggs Cherry or transfer Davin Wydner, a reminder that what looked like a straightforward Week 1 quarterback situation can change in a hurry once injuries enter the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Heads To NC State With No Room For Another Letdown
Louisville heads into its trip to NC State still trying to steady itself after a 30-27 loss at Wake Forest, a result that left the Cardinals with little margin for error as they move into their third conference game of the season. At 2-2, Louisville has already shown enough to believe it can stay in the mix, but the consistency has to show up now, especially against a Wolfpack team that has also been fighting through a disappointing start.
The injury picture only adds another layer to the matchup, with Louisville navigating a long list of unavailable players, while NC States status report includes uncertainty at quarterback. The Cardinals also bring a historical edge into the series, but that kind of backdrop only matters if they avoid another stumble in a game that already feels like a test of whether the season can stay on track. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Faces A Familiar ACC Problem At NC State
Louisville heads to NC State with the kind of ACC road test that can quietly shape the rest of a season, and this one carries a little extra familiarity for both sides. The matchup is set for a noon kickoff, with broadcast details already in place and the Cardinals slated to wear red. The teams have seen each other recently enough to remember how tight this series can get, and Louisvilles own recent struggles with penalties remain part of the backdrop as it prepares for another league game away from home.
NC State brings a mixed profile into the game, with quarterback play split between CJ Bailey and Will Wilson and Duke Scott giving the Wolfpack a threat on the ground. Defensively, Popo Aguirre has been one of the more active players on the roster, which adds another layer to a game that figures to hinge on discipline and execution. Louisville already knows how quickly this matchup can turn into a grind, and this one feels built for another possession-by-possession fight. [Read more 🡒]