Louisville left the first quarter against Villanova with a 17-3 cushion, but the opening 15 minutes were hardly spotless. The Cards flashed enough firepower to build the lead, yet they also showed the kinds of early-game issues that can make a better opponent pay. There were blocking problems, coverage busts, and a defense that had to clean up a few sloppy moments before settling in.
One of the brightest early snaps came on the ground, where Louisville’s line created real movement. Cam Gorin, starting at right tackle, turned in a strong block by driving his man out of the hole with upper-body power.
Johnnie Brown helped finish that job before climbing to the linebacker level and opening a lane for Isaac Brown. The play worked because everyone did their part, but the defensive side of it mattered too.
Louisville’s split-zone look, paired with jet motion, got just enough hesitation from the linebackers to let Brown slip through and reach the third level. The defensive end at the top of the screen also jumped the snap count, something that showed up more than once on Friday.
Lincoln Kienholz has to vary his cadence.
Not every defensive snap was a problem, though. Koen Entringer had a rough night overall, but he showed his best trait on one play when he came downhill fast and met the runner squarely to blow him up. That kind of safety play has been hard to find around here for a while.
Villanova also found a clear answer in the screen game. Louisville’s aggressive pass rush and early off coverage gave the Wildcats room to attack outside, and they hit that look at least four times.
The Cards had to adjust, and they’ll need to be sharper against similar plays in at least three more games on the schedule. The defensive line has to recognize those screen calls and get outside faster to make a play.
There was also the first coverage bust of the day, and Entringer was at the center of it. Villanova used motion to help identify the coverage, and Louisville appeared to be in man with one safety high while the linebackers dropped into short zone to take away quick throws.
Entringer was the only defensive back not matched up in man, and he never really locked onto a receiver as he retreated. It looked like he realized late that he was supposed to be in man and tried to recover.
That’s the kind of mistake you can fix, but it’s not something you want from a veteran secondary.
On offense, Kienholz continued to show why there’s so much upside here. His ability to keep his eyes downfield while scrambling stood out again, and on one play he delivered a throw perfectly on the move after identifying the option. He wasn’t just running; he was still thinking throw, and that’s what makes the ceiling so intriguing.
The run game is still the engine for a lot of what Louisville wants to do, and the threat of Isaac Brown and the rest of the backs is forcing defenses to react. Keyjuan Brown’s jet sweep motion helped set up an inverted veer option play that looked a lot like the one Louisville used against Ole Miss for a long run by Kienholz.
Three defenders bit on the fake, including the option man who went after Brown without the ball. That left Kienholz with plenty of room to operate, and he was able to weave around the receiver’s block and keep the play alive.
It’s the kind of call the Cards can keep leaning on.
The offensive line, though, still has work to do. On one run, Lance Robinson was beaten across his face too easily, shutting down Brown’s only real path.
Johnnie Brown also failed to do enough to slow the backside tackle, and the two defenders they were responsible for combined on the tackle for loss. Louisville’s offense can only go so far if those kinds of breakdowns keep showing up.
The passing game is benefiting from the run threat in a big way. Jaleel Skinner had just dropped a pass before one snap in which the run action left him wide open.
The ground game is pulling defenders out of position, and when you add Kienholz as a running threat, Louisville starts to look dangerous in every direction. The Cards are one more piece away from being as balanced as anyone.
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The race is only getting tighter from here. Henry is coming off an official visit to UConn and is set to head to Arkansas this weekend, a stretch that will give him a fresh look at three major programs in short order. Louisville remains firmly in the mix, which is exactly where the Cardinals want to be at this stage, but the next round of visits will go a long way toward showing just how strong their position really is. [Read more 🡒]