Cardinals Banking on Safety in Numbers
August 16, 2013 | Football
Aug 16, 2013
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville football assistant coach Tommy Restivo must have a four-leaf clover in his pocket, because he might be the luckiest coach in the country.
In his second full season as the safeties coach, Restivo is blessed to have the best safety tandem in the country in senior Hakeem Smith and junior Calvin Pryor. Both second team all-conference players, the duo could be poised once again to do huge things in the middle of the defense.
Smith is working toward becoming the second player in school history to become a four-time all-league performer, and Pryor is hoping to register over 100 tackles for the second-consecutive season. Restivo obviously likes his safeties, but they can't get complacent.
"They have to come out and compete every day," Restivo said. "They have a lot of experience. They have to compete every day. The biggest thing is if you come out and practice hard, you can become a good player."
Restivo knows he has two solid safeties, but is looking for youngsters to step in and build depth at that position. Through the first 13 practices, Restivo is pleased with the depth that is forming behind his two all-conference safeties.
Junior Kamal Hogan and sophomore Gerod Holliman are rapidly filling the role as quality backups. Hogan sat out last season with an injury, while Holliman made a brief appearance before a shoulder injury cost him his true freshman season.
"Hogan has made some strides," Restivo said. "He has a little bit of an injury right now, but he will be back. He has made some strides. I'm happy with his progress. He understands formations, splits, what he is doing, and coming down. He has made some big strides. Gerod too has gotten better. He has made a few plays on the football and has a few interceptions, but he is also tackling better."
Pryor has also been impressed with Holliman through the first two weeks of fall practice.
"Gerod has definitely impressed me this camp," Pryor said. "He is making plays on the ball and making interceptions. He is coming up and thudding guys up, which is something I didn't see in the first couple of years. That's a big improvement on his part."
The Cardinals are just 16 days away from the season opener versus Ohio and the players are starting to feel the effects of practicing against each other for 11-straight days.
"Camp is definitely a grind," Smith said. "We have been going against each other from the start of practice and guys are getting testy, but we are working hard and continuing to get better."
Defensive coordinator Vance Bedford continually stresses to his defense that they must stop the run first and foremost. The Cardinals have consistently been solid in rushing defense the first three seasons, and the focus has definitely been on getting better at it this camp.
"Our main focus is to stop the run," Pryor said. "We will have more people in the box. We are playing more zone than anything, so we focus on all 11 guys getting to the football."
As Restivo enters another year on Strong's staff and just his second as a full-time coach, he is having the time of his life coaching this talented group of safeties.
"I have another year of experience, which kind of helps you out a little bit," Restivo added. "I'm enjoying coaching. I'm enjoying coaching these guys. They have been in the program for three or four years so it's been fun."
It's certainly not hard for a coach to enjoy coaching with the talent of Pryor and Smith in the secondary, and if the Cardinals can capture a third-straight league title, the play of Pryor and Smith will be a huge reason.
