Cards Ready for Return Home to Face Boston College
October 19, 2015 | Football
Boston College brings the nation's top-ranked defense into Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. Â - Trying to move on from a difficult road loss to nationally ranked Florida State, University of Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino met the media Monday at his weekly press conference to address the loss and preview Saturday's Homecoming contest versus Boston College.
Coming off a 41-21 loss to the Seminoles, the Cardinals turn their attention to Boston College, who brings the No. 1 defense into Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 12:30 p.m. and will be televised on the ACC Network.
The Cardinals return home for the first time in over a month to face one of the best defensive teams in the country in Boston College, who are giving up just 196.1 yards per game.
"We are looking forward to the Boston College game," Petrino said. "They are a very, very good defense. Right now they're the number one defense in the country. They play physical, and they're playing a lot more man coverage where they're coming up and challenging receivers."
The Eagles, who are 3-4 overall and 0-4 in the ACC, bring an offense that is predicated on the their ability to run the football. Having to play three different quarterbacks because of injuries, the Eagles are averaging 206.1 yards on the ground through seven games.
"Offensively, they've had their struggles kind of like we have with a young team," Petrino said. "It's a game that we need to win there's no question about it. We need to come home, play well, and get a win, and get some momentum going."
Carter Looks to Get on the Field
Wide receiver Alphonso Carter, who joined the program in the spring, has yet to make his Louisville debut after missing the first six games due to a hamstring injury. Carter, who started his career at Tennessee, came to Louisville after a stint at Iowa Western Community College.
He did a pretty good job at practice last week," Petrino said. "He was actually able to go the first part of the week and we did short routes with him and tried to not over-extend, try to run balls down, try to take care of them. By the end of the week he was running every route, he was running some deep balls and he did a good job."
Carter made the trip to Florida State last weekend, but didn't dress. He could be ready to make his debut this weekend versus Boston College.
"We will see how he progresses this week," Petrino said. "He certainly wasn't in a position to get into the game because he didn't have enough reps and we didn't see enough to put him into the game. It was good to get him on the trip and travel and warm up and go through everything. Hopefully he stays healthy and makes it through the week. He still has to show us he can produce in practice to get him in a game."
Bonnafon Accepts New Role
Sophomore Reggie Bonnafon is adapting to his new role in the UofL offense. After starting five games at quarterbacks last season and the opener versus Auburn in 2015, Bonnafon is being used out of the backfield. Seeing extensive action at running back versus Florida State, Bonnafon's production was evident. In the 41-21 loss to Florida State, Bonnafon carried three times for 20 yards, including a run for nine yards. Out of the backfield, he caught a career-high three passes for 31 yards, including a career-best 23-yard reception. Â
"He is a very good runner and did a nice job on the catch out of the backfield, a couple of them actually," Petrino said. "We just have to expand his role and get him the ball more. I need to get him in there more and get him the ball more, I felt good about it when he was in the game. He is very smart, and he knows what is going on because of his experience at quarterback."
Bonnafon was 8-of-13 for 67 yards as the starting quarterback in the season-opening loss to Auburn on Sept. 5.
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Cards Play Third-Ranked Schedule
The Cardinals have played one of the nation's most difficult schedules in the country. According to the Sagarin Ratings, UofL has faced the third-most difficult schedule in the nation. Opponents have combined to amass a 25-5 overall record, with three opponents currently ranked in the top 25 and are each undefeated.
Houston, Clemson and Florida State, each ranked in the top 25, are a combined 18-0 this season.
"I think the biggest thing we need to understand is that we have been against very good players," Petrino said. "With the exception of the last two quarters the other day versus Florida State, we have been in the game and in a position to win. We need to grow up and learn how to win those close games so I think there is no question we have played good football teams but we have to learn how to win those games, that is what we have to learn how to do." Â
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Coming off a 41-21 loss to the Seminoles, the Cardinals turn their attention to Boston College, who brings the No. 1 defense into Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 12:30 p.m. and will be televised on the ACC Network.
The Cardinals return home for the first time in over a month to face one of the best defensive teams in the country in Boston College, who are giving up just 196.1 yards per game.
"We are looking forward to the Boston College game," Petrino said. "They are a very, very good defense. Right now they're the number one defense in the country. They play physical, and they're playing a lot more man coverage where they're coming up and challenging receivers."
The Eagles, who are 3-4 overall and 0-4 in the ACC, bring an offense that is predicated on the their ability to run the football. Having to play three different quarterbacks because of injuries, the Eagles are averaging 206.1 yards on the ground through seven games.
"Offensively, they've had their struggles kind of like we have with a young team," Petrino said. "It's a game that we need to win there's no question about it. We need to come home, play well, and get a win, and get some momentum going."
Carter Looks to Get on the Field
Wide receiver Alphonso Carter, who joined the program in the spring, has yet to make his Louisville debut after missing the first six games due to a hamstring injury. Carter, who started his career at Tennessee, came to Louisville after a stint at Iowa Western Community College.
He did a pretty good job at practice last week," Petrino said. "He was actually able to go the first part of the week and we did short routes with him and tried to not over-extend, try to run balls down, try to take care of them. By the end of the week he was running every route, he was running some deep balls and he did a good job."
Carter made the trip to Florida State last weekend, but didn't dress. He could be ready to make his debut this weekend versus Boston College.
"We will see how he progresses this week," Petrino said. "He certainly wasn't in a position to get into the game because he didn't have enough reps and we didn't see enough to put him into the game. It was good to get him on the trip and travel and warm up and go through everything. Hopefully he stays healthy and makes it through the week. He still has to show us he can produce in practice to get him in a game."
Bonnafon Accepts New Role
Sophomore Reggie Bonnafon is adapting to his new role in the UofL offense. After starting five games at quarterbacks last season and the opener versus Auburn in 2015, Bonnafon is being used out of the backfield. Seeing extensive action at running back versus Florida State, Bonnafon's production was evident. In the 41-21 loss to Florida State, Bonnafon carried three times for 20 yards, including a run for nine yards. Out of the backfield, he caught a career-high three passes for 31 yards, including a career-best 23-yard reception. Â
"He is a very good runner and did a nice job on the catch out of the backfield, a couple of them actually," Petrino said. "We just have to expand his role and get him the ball more. I need to get him in there more and get him the ball more, I felt good about it when he was in the game. He is very smart, and he knows what is going on because of his experience at quarterback."
Bonnafon was 8-of-13 for 67 yards as the starting quarterback in the season-opening loss to Auburn on Sept. 5.
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Cards Play Third-Ranked Schedule
The Cardinals have played one of the nation's most difficult schedules in the country. According to the Sagarin Ratings, UofL has faced the third-most difficult schedule in the nation. Opponents have combined to amass a 25-5 overall record, with three opponents currently ranked in the top 25 and are each undefeated.
Houston, Clemson and Florida State, each ranked in the top 25, are a combined 18-0 this season.
"I think the biggest thing we need to understand is that we have been against very good players," Petrino said. "With the exception of the last two quarters the other day versus Florida State, we have been in the game and in a position to win. We need to grow up and learn how to win those close games so I think there is no question we have played good football teams but we have to learn how to win those games, that is what we have to learn how to do." Â
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