Grantham Ready for New Challenge this Weekend Versus Houston
September 10, 2015 | Football
Cards face Cougars at 12:03 p.m.
The University of Louisville defense had its hands full with a potent Auburn attack  last weekend, but was showed it was up for the challenge in a 31-24 loss.
Despite giving up 24 points (other seven points came on a fumble return for TD), the Cardinals stymied the Tigers, limiting them to just 327 yards of total offense. The longest run was a 12-yarder and the longest pass was 18 yards, so the Cards did a lot of good things on defense, but still came up a little short, which disheartened defense coordinator Todd Grantham.
"We just didn't make enough plays," Grantham said. "We did create three turnovers, but the bottom line we didn't win the game. In the first half, we played really well, but in the second half we gave up too many double-digit runs."
There will be no time to rest because an explosive Houston team invades Papa John's Cardinal Stadium for Saturday's 12:03 p.m. kick in the home opener.
"Houston is sound in what they do," defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. "They understand their system. We understand that we have to play well."
The Cardinals must be concerned with dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward, who rushed for over 100 yards and threw for over 250 yards in the Cougars' 52-24 win over Tennessee Tech last Saturday.
"He is fast, Grantham said of Ward. "He is a guy who can make things happen with the ball in his hand. He is elusive and dynamic. He compliments that offense very well. We need to focus on what we need to do to get ready to play.
The Cardinals will have to be looking for miscues this week because they are facing another explosive offense.
Josh Harvey-Clemons, the ACC's Defensive Back of the Week, will look to have another big game after registering 14 tackles and two interceptions versus
Auburn. The 6-foot-5 safety looks to pick where Gerod Holliman left off when he tied an NCAA record with 14 interceptions.
"Josh has got a lot of responsibilities," head coach Bobbty Petrino said. Â "He uses different coverage techniques, but his length really shows up. I'll tell you what he can really do like Holliman that makes him similar to him is catching the ball. He has got great hands and when the ball is around him, he's got a really good chance to intercept it and make the catch."
Grantham was pleased with his defense overall, especially his outside linebackers. He felt Trevon Young, Keith Brown and DeVonte' Fields all played well.
"They set the edge for us," Grantham said. "I thought they all played fast, got off blocks and were stellar versus the run."
Despite creating three turnovers, Grantham felt the Cardinals left three other plays on the field that could have been game-changing plays.
"We have to make those plays," Grantham said. "We were in position to make plays, but we left some things out there."
The defense had five new players in the starting lineup, which didn't seem to alter the production from last season. One of the new starters, safety Chucky Williams, agreed with his coach that they Cards need to make more plays when in position.
"We performed well, but we could have done better," Williams said after practice. "We left a lot of plays left on the field. Personally, I had an opportunity to make a play and I didn't. We just have to keep getting better."
Improvement will definitely be the key this weekend, as the Cardinals will face an explosive, play-making offense with a lot of key offensive components returning. When opportunities arise this weekend, the Cardinals better secure those plays, because Houston can also turn those missed opportunities into points.
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Despite giving up 24 points (other seven points came on a fumble return for TD), the Cardinals stymied the Tigers, limiting them to just 327 yards of total offense. The longest run was a 12-yarder and the longest pass was 18 yards, so the Cards did a lot of good things on defense, but still came up a little short, which disheartened defense coordinator Todd Grantham.
"We just didn't make enough plays," Grantham said. "We did create three turnovers, but the bottom line we didn't win the game. In the first half, we played really well, but in the second half we gave up too many double-digit runs."
There will be no time to rest because an explosive Houston team invades Papa John's Cardinal Stadium for Saturday's 12:03 p.m. kick in the home opener.
"Houston is sound in what they do," defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. "They understand their system. We understand that we have to play well."
The Cardinals must be concerned with dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward, who rushed for over 100 yards and threw for over 250 yards in the Cougars' 52-24 win over Tennessee Tech last Saturday.
"He is fast, Grantham said of Ward. "He is a guy who can make things happen with the ball in his hand. He is elusive and dynamic. He compliments that offense very well. We need to focus on what we need to do to get ready to play.
The Cardinals will have to be looking for miscues this week because they are facing another explosive offense.
Josh Harvey-Clemons, the ACC's Defensive Back of the Week, will look to have another big game after registering 14 tackles and two interceptions versus
Auburn. The 6-foot-5 safety looks to pick where Gerod Holliman left off when he tied an NCAA record with 14 interceptions.
"Josh has got a lot of responsibilities," head coach Bobbty Petrino said. Â "He uses different coverage techniques, but his length really shows up. I'll tell you what he can really do like Holliman that makes him similar to him is catching the ball. He has got great hands and when the ball is around him, he's got a really good chance to intercept it and make the catch."
Grantham was pleased with his defense overall, especially his outside linebackers. He felt Trevon Young, Keith Brown and DeVonte' Fields all played well.
"They set the edge for us," Grantham said. "I thought they all played fast, got off blocks and were stellar versus the run."
Despite creating three turnovers, Grantham felt the Cardinals left three other plays on the field that could have been game-changing plays.
"We have to make those plays," Grantham said. "We were in position to make plays, but we left some things out there."
The defense had five new players in the starting lineup, which didn't seem to alter the production from last season. One of the new starters, safety Chucky Williams, agreed with his coach that they Cards need to make more plays when in position.
"We performed well, but we could have done better," Williams said after practice. "We left a lot of plays left on the field. Personally, I had an opportunity to make a play and I didn't. We just have to keep getting better."
Improvement will definitely be the key this weekend, as the Cardinals will face an explosive, play-making offense with a lot of key offensive components returning. When opportunities arise this weekend, the Cardinals better secure those plays, because Houston can also turn those missed opportunities into points.
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