Louisville’s second quarter against Villanova started with a mess and ended with a much clearer picture of what this team can be. The Cards had some issues to clean up, sure, but there were also signs of a group that can adjust quickly and make plays on both sides of the ball.
One of the first breakdowns came in coverage, where a defensive back at the top of the screen ended up in the wrong spot. Koren Entringer or DJ Waller should have been playing off the ball, because the setup left Louisville vulnerable to exactly what Villanova ran. The two receivers worked a pick route, Entringer got caught up, and the slot receiver had a clear path down the sideline.
That’s the kind of play Entringer is supposed to help prevent. If he’s there to lead the secondary and make sure everyone is lined up correctly, he can’t be the one getting trapped in the traffic.
There was also one offensive snap that left plenty to sort through. Lincoln Kienholz turned right immediately, but the receivers at the bottom of the screen were positioned like they were setting up a screen.
The line cut blocked together, which fit the slant routes to the right, so maybe the idea was to show screen action to the backside and pull the linebackers. Either way, it was a play that wasn’t easy to pin down.
What was easy to see was Kienholz’s ability to create when things break down. He showed off his improvisation, including a wild sideways juke to dodge the defensive end chasing him. He and Lawayne McCoy are already building real chemistry early in the season, and that connection keeps showing up in big moments.
DJ Waller also delivered a very different kind of answer on defense. After getting hit with screen throws early, he kept attacking the blocker and the plays were still going for at least a handful of yards. On this snap, he came downhill hard and fired at the receiver as the catch was being made.
That aggressive approach mattered even if he didn’t get there first. By clearing out the blocker, Waller removed an obstacle that could have slowed the rest of the defense. If he had played it more conservatively, the receiver likely would have had room to work outside while everyone else chased from the inside.
Jeff Brohm’s use of Tre Richardson has been one of the more encouraging parts of Louisville’s start, and the motion package has been a big piece of that. The offense keeps moving pieces around before the snap, making it hard to know where the ball is going.
Sometimes that motion is useful as a coverage tell, but it’s even better when the defense never gets a chance to settle in at all. That showed up here, with Villanova blitzing into an obvious numbers disadvantage.
Not everything was clean, though. One run play looked like a timing problem from the blocking side.
Jaleel Skinner came in motion with the job of taking the defender filling from the top of the screen, and that defender turned out to be the linebacker. Skinner got too wide before hesitating and missing the block.
Johnnie Brown had issues at right guard too. He was responsible for the middle linebacker, but he should have helped the center before climbing to that second level.
He did help, but he didn’t get his head up in time and got blown by. That’s the kind of execution Louisville can’t afford to let linger.
There was also a third-and-four snap that hit on a familiar frustration. Louisville lined up in man coverage across the board, and Villanova used motion to identify it. With the defense showing blitz, the quarterback knew he’d get the ball out quickly.
Kaleb Beasley was in the right place to start the play. He was lined up behind the sticks and positioned to drive on anything short.
But then he hopped back at the snap and ended up nearly 8 yards off the line of scrimmage by the time the quarterback reached the top of his drop. At that point, there was no chance to stop the throw short of the sticks.
That’s the sort of detail that can swing a close game. A first down like that can turn into a touchdown in one situation and a punt in another.
The best part of the quarter may have been what Lincoln Kienholz showed as a passer. Jeff Brohm has kept saying he needs to keep improving there, but in a live game he keeps flashing the kind of touch and anticipation that matter.
On one throw, he placed the ball over and around a linebacker dropping into deep coverage, while also keeping it in front of a safety who could have taken out the receiver. It had enough air to clear the linebacker and enough pace to protect the target.
For a quarterback who hasn’t played much, it was excellent work.
The running game also found its way back right before halftime, just like it did against Ole Miss. Villanova was leaning to stop the pass, and that opened the door for Isaac Brown to look more like himself.
Brown has kept doing his job even while being bottled up this season. He hasn’t been forcing extra cutbacks or stopping his feet to search for something that isn’t there.
This time, though, he had room to make the right cut. He read the play well when a Villanova defender cut off his path outside, and he turned it into a strong run up the middle.
His initial patience stood out too. He didn’t hit it with full speed right away, and that mattered.
If he had, he likely would have bounced it outside or run straight into the linebacker waiting to cut him off. Instead, he gave the play time to develop and found the opening.
It’s something to watch for against SMU this weekend.
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Jeff Brohm had already sounded hopeful about Browns status, and the early reporting only strengthens the sense that Louisville is trending in the right direction ahead of Saturday. With SMU on deck and conference play beginning to matter, having Brown available would give the Cardinals a much steadier offensive setup as they try to keep their momentum going. [Read more 🡒]