Offense Prepares for a Tough Virginia Defense on Saturday
September 09, 2014 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- After the getting the last two days off after Saturday's win over Murray State, the Cardinals were back in full pads Tuesday afternoon in preparation for Saturday's first ACC road game versus Virginia.
Sitting at 2-0 after home wins over Miami and Murray State, the Cardinals travel to Charlottesville to face a relentless and opportunistic Virginia defense that has created nine turnovers through the first two games.
"They have a very active defensive front," offensive coordinator Garrick McGee. "They are very active. They have two of the best pass rushers we have seen. I've been very impressed. They are an experienced defense."
McGee has been impressed with Virginia after watching them on tape. He thinks they are very long on the defensive line and in the secondary, which can cause a lot of problems for the Louisville offense.
"They are playing with speed," McGee said. "They understand what they are doing and they are playing well on defense."
The Cardinals have been solid on offense in the first two games, averaging 48.5 points per game in their first two wins. The Cardinals exploded for 66 points and 603 yards of total offense in the win over Murray State.
One of the those reasons was the play of a true freshman running back. L.J. Scott rushed for a career-high 126 yards on 11 carries and scored a touchdown. He set up his own score when he made a sensational 68-yard run that would eventually end up with Scott's first career score.
"We have been in love with L.J. Scott since the first day he has been here," McGee said. " He was a kid who enrolled early and if you didn't know, you couldn't tell he was a freshman. It didn't surprise anyone on our sideline."
Scott enrolled in January for the Cardinals and impressed the coaching staff from day one with his maturity and toughness. Coming from Marion, Ohio, Scott displayed a tough running style, but what has impressed a lot of people is how mature he has been despite being so young.
"My parents instilled in me my maturity," Scott said after practice. "They have taught me that football is more than a game of just athletic ability, it is a game of being humble and coachable."
Scott has surprised himself with how fast he has come along at the Division I level, especially putting up his first 100-yard game in his second collegiate contest.
"I thought with backs like Michael Dyer and Dominique Brown that I would redshirt," Scott said. "But I came in early and showed the coaching staff that I was ready to compete."
Scott and the Cardinals will have to be ready to compete against an aggressive, physical defense that will look to win for the second-straight week. The Cavaliers snapped a long losing streak with a win last Saturday, and would like nothing more than to end the Cardinals' eight-game winning streak.
