Cards' Have Smash Mouth Practice on Wednesday
March 31, 2011 | Football
March 30, 2011
Video of Practice on March 30
Josh Chichester Talks After March 30 Practice
Louisville, Ky. - - Louisville's fifth practice of the spring focused on being physical, and that's exactly what happened on Wednesday afternoon in the Trager Practice Facility. The Cardinals conducted a 25-period practice indoors and really put the focus on making the offensive and defensive lines being tough upfront.
"It was a really physical practice," junior tight end Stephon Ball. "We put our goal line setting in. There are only three of us tight ends so we play whether it's ones or two's, we're always going. It was a real tough practice."
Louisville did a little work outside in the cold temperatures, but head coach Charlie Strong moved the troops inside. Louisville went through its daily ritual of individual drillsm special teams work and a lot of 7-on-7 work, but the end of the practice focused on goal line settings.
The offense had its way with the defense, for the most part, but that was to be expected because Louisville is without its starting defensive line. The Cardinals are without several key linemen this spring. William Savoy, Brandon Dunn, B.J. Butler, and Greg Scruggs are all out with injuries this spring.
Defensive line Coach Clint Hurtt knows his defensive front is under-manned, but still wants to see production.
"The defensive line should be the leader of the defense," Hurtt said. "We didn't perform well in the goal line scrimmage. I told them if the front isn't worth anything you don't have a defense. That's the biggest thing I'm stressing to them and they have some pride about it. When all the troops get there things will be a lot better."
Wide receiver Charles Gaines returned to practice on Wednesday and practice for the first time in a couple days.
The Cardinals hit the practice field again on Friday afternoon.
