Defense Prepares for a Talented Virginia Offense
September 10, 2014 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- Losing eight starters on the defensive side of the football, no one knew what to expect from the defense this season. Missing were two first-round draft picks and a third rounder from a unit that led the nation in rushing and total defense.
Throw in an entirely new staff and a new scheme, it was a recipe for disaster. However, the Cardinals look like a better defense than a year ago.
I've been pleased with our progress," defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. "I think the guys have continued to work. I thought the first group on Saturday did what they had to do, really took care of business. They went out a did a solid job."
The Cardinals are doing the most important thing a defense can do, and that is stop the run. Louisville is yielding just 55.5 yards per game after allowing 41 in the 66-21 victory over Murray State last Saturday.
However, those two games were at home and the Cardinals must take to the road for the first time on Saturday versus Virginia.
I think it'd be more hard for offense, just because of the crowd getting into it with their defense," linebacker James Burgess said. "But defensively, it's a lot better because it's quiet when their offense is on the field. It gives us a chance to get into all of our checks."
Louisville will face a much-improved Virginia offense on Saturday in a crucial ACC game. It will be the first meeting between the two schools since 1989.
"First of all, they're a talented team offensively," Grantham said. "When you look at runners, they got some guys who can take it to the house. They play multiple guys there. Each do certain things well and they try to get them the ball. When you look at their receivers, they've got some young, talented guys that have made some plays. Particularly when you look at the UCLA game. They were able to stretch the field and make some plays that way. "
Virginia has played two quarterbacks in the first two games and Grantham expects to see much of the same on Saturday with Matt Johns and Greyson Lambert splitting plays.
"They've got two young quarterbacks that are talented, in my opinion. Lambert, I think, leads the nation in completion percentage," Grantham said. He's pretty accurate with the ball. Both can put it in tight coverage, which is something that you always look for in quarterbacks. And then up front, I think they're well coached, they're big, they've got length to them. Any time you play on the road it's going to be a challenge, and we understand that and we've got to be ready to play."
Whoever Virginia throws out there at quarterback, Grantham knows the Cavaliers will just try and do what they are comfortable with. The task for the Cardinals is to figure out what that's going to be this week.
"They're going to run their offense," Grantham said. "They're similar in the sense that the style of guys they are the each do certain things well. But for the most part they're going to run their team. It's not like the two guys are different guys. We've seen them both, we'll be ready for both."
Heading on the road for the first time, the Cardinals have to be ready for a lot of different variables and a hungry team looking for a league win. The Cardinals will need another strong effort by the defense on the road, which is not a bad unit to rely on so far in 2014.
