#ReportCards: McGee and Scott Preview Syracuse Game
November 03, 2015 | Football
Cards know they face a difficult challenge against a pesky Syracuse defense
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- It's been a long road back to 4-4 for the University of Louisville football team. After last Friday's 20-19 win over Wake Forest, the Cardinals have won four of their last five games after an 0-3 start.
Louisville evened its overall record and 3-2 in the league, and the Cardinals are excited about returning home for the next two weeks beginning this Saturday against Syracuse.
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"It was an exciting conference game, and we look forward to another exciting conference game," sophomore running back L.J. Scott said after Tuesday's practice. "The crowd will be juiced up and we look forward to be at home."
The Cardinals are averaging 18.5 points per game over the last two wins, but Scott feels it's not as bad as everyone perceives it to be heading into the final four games of the season. The Cards have scored 24 against Auburn and 31 versus an undefeated Houston team, so they know they can put up points.
"It's definitely not as bad as it seems," Scott said. "The thing with us is consistency. We put numbers up against good teams so we know we can do it."
Scott said head coach Bobby Petrino told the team after the game that it doesn't matter if the Cardinals win by 20 or one. A win is a win.
"Coach Petrino said a one-point win is a win," Scott said. "We do everything within our power to win by 60 points and something we take pride in that, but we are glad we came out with a win. We are just coming out and grinding. When we turn on the film, we see a lot of good things."
Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee on the Syracuse defense
The Cardinals will face a very young Syracuse defense with eight freshmen or sophomores expected to start, but offensive coordinator Garrick McGee knows the Cardinals are expected to be challenged.
"If you watch their film and look at their personnel, they have a real fast defense. They are young in the secondary so they have missed some tackles that has caused some big plays. They have some good pass rushers off the edge. We have a lot of respect for Zaire Franklin their middle linebacker. He sets the defense and gets them lined up."
McGee on wide receiver Jamari Staples
Junior wide receiver Jamari Staples, who missed four games with a knee injury, has returned to the lineup with 20 catches for 307 yards and two touchdowns. McGee coached Staples while he was the head coach at UAB, where Staples spent two seasons before transferring to Louisville this year.
"It was great to have Staples out there," McGee said. "It was really good to have a veteran kid on the field that understood the situation and knew that we needed someone to step up. A lot of times when you are playing this many young kids, they are out there playing one snap at a time and don't understand the urgency of the situation."
Staples caught a career-high 10 passes for 133 yards and two scores in the win over Wake Forest, including a 22-yard reception right before the end of the first half.
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Louisville evened its overall record and 3-2 in the league, and the Cardinals are excited about returning home for the next two weeks beginning this Saturday against Syracuse.
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"It was an exciting conference game, and we look forward to another exciting conference game," sophomore running back L.J. Scott said after Tuesday's practice. "The crowd will be juiced up and we look forward to be at home."
The Cardinals are averaging 18.5 points per game over the last two wins, but Scott feels it's not as bad as everyone perceives it to be heading into the final four games of the season. The Cards have scored 24 against Auburn and 31 versus an undefeated Houston team, so they know they can put up points.
"It's definitely not as bad as it seems," Scott said. "The thing with us is consistency. We put numbers up against good teams so we know we can do it."
Scott said head coach Bobby Petrino told the team after the game that it doesn't matter if the Cardinals win by 20 or one. A win is a win.
"Coach Petrino said a one-point win is a win," Scott said. "We do everything within our power to win by 60 points and something we take pride in that, but we are glad we came out with a win. We are just coming out and grinding. When we turn on the film, we see a lot of good things."
Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee on the Syracuse defense
The Cardinals will face a very young Syracuse defense with eight freshmen or sophomores expected to start, but offensive coordinator Garrick McGee knows the Cardinals are expected to be challenged.
"If you watch their film and look at their personnel, they have a real fast defense. They are young in the secondary so they have missed some tackles that has caused some big plays. They have some good pass rushers off the edge. We have a lot of respect for Zaire Franklin their middle linebacker. He sets the defense and gets them lined up."
McGee on wide receiver Jamari Staples
Junior wide receiver Jamari Staples, who missed four games with a knee injury, has returned to the lineup with 20 catches for 307 yards and two touchdowns. McGee coached Staples while he was the head coach at UAB, where Staples spent two seasons before transferring to Louisville this year.
"It was great to have Staples out there," McGee said. "It was really good to have a veteran kid on the field that understood the situation and knew that we needed someone to step up. A lot of times when you are playing this many young kids, they are out there playing one snap at a time and don't understand the urgency of the situation."
Staples caught a career-high 10 passes for 133 yards and two scores in the win over Wake Forest, including a 22-yard reception right before the end of the first half.
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