Cards Conduct 175-Play Scrimmage on Saturday
August 15, 2015 | Football
As an offensive-minded head coach, Bobby Petrino loves to run a lot of plays, and that's exactly what the sixth-year year coach did as the University of Louisville football team conducted its first scrimmage of the fall on Saturday morning inside Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
Petrino scripted a 175-play scrimmage, which enabled him to get a great look at his 2015 football team, who will face No. 7 Auburn just three weeks from today.
"I liked what I saw out there in the scrimmage today," Petrino said. "I think we have improved a lot in one week. Our offensive line is coming together. We are still working on a number of combinations. I felt the quarterbacks did some good things. They looked comfortable at times, but they also made some mistakes.
Petrino said Saturday's scrimmage was mainly "about throwing the ball." The Cardinals threw the ball all over the field on Saturday and completed better than 60 percent of their throws. All three quarterbacks -- Reggie Bonnafon, Will Gardner and Kyle Bolin, earned most of the reps during the scrimmage, and made a number of impressive throws to a depleted wide receiver unit.
"I think it's great for them (quarterbacks) to go out and compete," Petrino said. "I think it's great that they have to take advantage of every rep and every meeting."
One of the quarterbacks who saw a lot of action on Saturday was junior quarterback Will Gardner. He was sharp throwing the football in his first action in game-like conditions since hurting his knee last season in a win over Boston College.
"I feel better," Gardner said. "I'm a little surprised actually how I feel. The first day when I got back into it I was a little sore, but now I feel really good."
With a number of wide receivers missing from practice due to injury, the Cardinals received production from their freshmen wide outs. DeVante Peete and Jaylen Smith performed well on Saturday, while sophomore Charles Standberry also stood out catching the football.
"We had a lot of young guys make plays today," Gardner said. "They made a number of catches and were able to get yards after the catch. Freshmen Jaylen Smith, Traveon Samuels and DeVante Peete are all making plays, and I think that is big for our offense."
While much of the focus has been on the offense because of the competition at quarterback and the offensive line, junior safety Josh Harvey-Clemons thinks the defense will have a say in the success of this squad this year.
"I feel like we can compete with any defense," Harvey-Clemons said. "We have the right tools in place. We have a strong defensive line. We have good linebackers and a good secondary. I feel like we can compete with any defense.
The Cardinals will get a much-deserved day off before resuming camp on Monday with is its third double session of fall camp, with the first practice starting at 9 a.m.
Head Coach Bobby Petrino Addresses the Media
Coach Petrino | on the scrimmage and improvement of the OL #ULCardsCamp pic.twitter.com/hvzlR8h6O7
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Bobby Petrino | On the QB performance today and the focus on the passing game in the scrimmage pic.twitter.com/mzsF0EiGIK
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Bobby Petrino | on the 175 play scrimmage pic.twitter.com/2vuwc8rlZK
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Bobby Petrino | on the defense #ULCardsCamp pic.twitter.com/q6ktnQf267
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Bobby Petrino | on the young OL pic.twitter.com/zEoHdvNKQe
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Bobby Petrino | on the freshmen who have impressed pic.twitter.com/X2hZjSgnVB
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Will Gardner, Reggie Bonnafon, Kyle Bolin and Josh Harvey-Clemons Address the Media
QB Will Gardner
Will Gardner | on the number of reps today pic.twitter.com/oK7C1fOlq7
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Will Gardner | on it being a passing scrimmage pic.twitter.com/lsS4sZ2PL8
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Will Gardner | on how he is feeling pic.twitter.com/QASP9h6Dum
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Reggie Bonnafon | on today's scrimmage pic.twitter.com/9jrudXr9rI
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Reggie Bonnafon | on being live today pic.twitter.com/yKyYLRGSsO
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Kyle Bolin | on the fitness level of team pic.twitter.com/RMGuQkdGMP
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Josh Harvey-Clemons | on the scrimmage pic.twitter.com/HAMcNdHKeo
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Josh Harvey- Clemons | on his versatility pic.twitter.com/KXuFDczRz5
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
Josh Harvey-Clemons | on the front 7 pic.twitter.com/wAGf7gZp9y
-- LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 15, 2015
