James Burgess
#ReportCards: Cards Return to Action Against No. 8 Florida State
October 12, 2015 | Football
Cards head to Florida to face third top 10 opponent this season.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After a week off, the University of Louisville football team returns to face its third top 10 team when they take on No. 8 Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., on Saturday at noon.
It's the first break in the schedule for the Cardinals, who opened the season with five-straight games, going 2-3 in those games.
"We had a good bye week, you know we practiced on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday gave the players Friday and Saturday off and then came back and practiced last night. I think we got a lot accomplished," head coach Bobby Petrino said. "I think they worked extremely hard. Hopefully we improved and got better and last night's practice was a lot of fun, guys are excited we know we have a great challenge ahead of us going to Florida State and playing against a great football team.
Coming off a 20-13 win over NC State on Oct. 3, the Cardinals look to even their record at 3-3 overall and improve to 2-1 in the ACC. Louisville will attempt to snap an eight-game losing streak in Tallahassee, looking for its first win at FSU since 1952.
Louisville dropped a 42-31 decision to the second-ranked Florida State last season after the Cardinals wasted a 21-0 lead in the second quarter.
Cards Must Be Able to Run the Football
The Cardinals have won 22 of the last 23 games when totaling 200 or more yards on the ground after running for 203 in the win over NC State on Oct. 3. Louisville is averaging 163.6 yards on the ground this season, but Petrino knows the rushing offense needs to get better.
"Well it starts everywhere really," Petrino said. "Our offensive front coming off the ball, using the proper technique and driving their feet and finishing blocks, quarterback being better at getting the ball to the running back at the right exchange point, running backs path before they get the ball. That's one of the things you try to coach a lot is what the running back does before he gets the ball and then pressing the blocks and then cutting to daylight. I have been really happy with the way our receivers are blocking down field. They've been giving us great effort. They've helped us a lot with some of the long runs that we've gotten but certainly it all starts up front."
Young Cards Get a Break
With 17 new starters and a number of freshmen making contributions, the Cardinals received a much-needed week off last week to work out some of the issues, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The Cardinals play at least seven freshmen during a game on offense, and the youth has showed up at times. The bye week allowed the staff to use the time to continue to teach the offense and work on fundamentals.
"Yeah I think it was good for us, it was a good time for us coming off a win," Petrino said. "It is always better to have a bye coming off of a win, there is no question about that. It allowed us to do a lot of things, we focused hard on our academics, we were able to practice fast and hard, we were able to get out and do some community service. So it is a fun time for our players and you get to relax a little bit and not having to prepare for a game on Saturday and enjoy the college experience a little bit more on a bye week."
Staples Returns to the Lineup
After missing the first four games of the season, wide receiver Jamari Staples made his Louisville debut in the 20-13 win over NC State on Oct. 3. Hurting his knee on the Sept. 2 in practice before the season opener against Auburn, Staples, a transfer from UAB, caught two passes for 22 yards against the Wolfpack.
"It was great having him back," Petrino said. "He really understand the offense, he is tall and fast and catches the ball away from his body and his hands. We understand that whenever he is out there, he is going to do what the offense calls for."
In two seasons with the Blazers, Staples caught 40 passes for 648 yards and five touchdowns. Staples was slowed by injuries in 2014, holding him to nine receptions for 190 yards and a score. His best season came in 2013 when he caught 31 passes for 458 yards and four scores.
Cards Face Golson on a New Team
Last season, the Cardinals took on Everett Golson, who was taking snaps for Notre Dame. Golson was effective, completing 16-of-24 passes for 236 yards and two scores as the Cardinals defeated the Irish 31-28 in South Bend, Ind. However, this week, the Cardinals will face Golson again, however, as the Florida State quarterback.
"He has done a really nice job like I said of taking care of the football," Petrino said. "He hasn't turned it over and has been very reliable making good decisions for them. He still utilizes his quickness, his ability to run and make plays."
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It's the first break in the schedule for the Cardinals, who opened the season with five-straight games, going 2-3 in those games.
"We had a good bye week, you know we practiced on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday gave the players Friday and Saturday off and then came back and practiced last night. I think we got a lot accomplished," head coach Bobby Petrino said. "I think they worked extremely hard. Hopefully we improved and got better and last night's practice was a lot of fun, guys are excited we know we have a great challenge ahead of us going to Florida State and playing against a great football team.
Coming off a 20-13 win over NC State on Oct. 3, the Cardinals look to even their record at 3-3 overall and improve to 2-1 in the ACC. Louisville will attempt to snap an eight-game losing streak in Tallahassee, looking for its first win at FSU since 1952.
Louisville dropped a 42-31 decision to the second-ranked Florida State last season after the Cardinals wasted a 21-0 lead in the second quarter.
Cards Must Be Able to Run the Football
The Cardinals have won 22 of the last 23 games when totaling 200 or more yards on the ground after running for 203 in the win over NC State on Oct. 3. Louisville is averaging 163.6 yards on the ground this season, but Petrino knows the rushing offense needs to get better.
"Well it starts everywhere really," Petrino said. "Our offensive front coming off the ball, using the proper technique and driving their feet and finishing blocks, quarterback being better at getting the ball to the running back at the right exchange point, running backs path before they get the ball. That's one of the things you try to coach a lot is what the running back does before he gets the ball and then pressing the blocks and then cutting to daylight. I have been really happy with the way our receivers are blocking down field. They've been giving us great effort. They've helped us a lot with some of the long runs that we've gotten but certainly it all starts up front."
Young Cards Get a Break
With 17 new starters and a number of freshmen making contributions, the Cardinals received a much-needed week off last week to work out some of the issues, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The Cardinals play at least seven freshmen during a game on offense, and the youth has showed up at times. The bye week allowed the staff to use the time to continue to teach the offense and work on fundamentals.
"Yeah I think it was good for us, it was a good time for us coming off a win," Petrino said. "It is always better to have a bye coming off of a win, there is no question about that. It allowed us to do a lot of things, we focused hard on our academics, we were able to practice fast and hard, we were able to get out and do some community service. So it is a fun time for our players and you get to relax a little bit and not having to prepare for a game on Saturday and enjoy the college experience a little bit more on a bye week."
Staples Returns to the Lineup
After missing the first four games of the season, wide receiver Jamari Staples made his Louisville debut in the 20-13 win over NC State on Oct. 3. Hurting his knee on the Sept. 2 in practice before the season opener against Auburn, Staples, a transfer from UAB, caught two passes for 22 yards against the Wolfpack.
"It was great having him back," Petrino said. "He really understand the offense, he is tall and fast and catches the ball away from his body and his hands. We understand that whenever he is out there, he is going to do what the offense calls for."
In two seasons with the Blazers, Staples caught 40 passes for 648 yards and five touchdowns. Staples was slowed by injuries in 2014, holding him to nine receptions for 190 yards and a score. His best season came in 2013 when he caught 31 passes for 458 yards and four scores.
Cards Face Golson on a New Team
Last season, the Cardinals took on Everett Golson, who was taking snaps for Notre Dame. Golson was effective, completing 16-of-24 passes for 236 yards and two scores as the Cardinals defeated the Irish 31-28 in South Bend, Ind. However, this week, the Cardinals will face Golson again, however, as the Florida State quarterback.
"He has done a really nice job like I said of taking care of the football," Petrino said. "He hasn't turned it over and has been very reliable making good decisions for them. He still utilizes his quickness, his ability to run and make plays."
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