Cards Turn the Page on FSU; Focus Attention on Marshall
September 19, 2016 | Football
Louisville travels to Marshall for a Saturday night contest.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville head football coach Bobby Petrino, and most coaches for that matter, have a 24-hour rule. A team will get 24 hours to celebrate after a victory, but must move on the following day and get ready for the next challenge.
That's exactly what Petrino wants his team to do after defeating No. 2 Florida State on Saturday at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium -- one of the biggest wins in school history.
"We did a great job and it was a great win for us, but we haven't reached our goals. We are only three games into the season and we have to get back to work."
The work starts Tuesday as the Cardinals hit the road this week to face Marshall on Saturday at 8 p.m. The Thundering Herd have been one of the top teams over the last couple of seasons, and will present a major challenge for the third-ranked Cardinals.
"Marshall is always very talented," Petrino said. "Defensively, they like to play a lot of man coverage and they've got some physical linebackers that run hard to the ball."
"Offensively, they are kind of back playing that spread offense again and no huddle. They've got a big quarterback that can throw it and a couple of running backs that look good on video. We have to go in and execute and play the game we know how too."
Moving up to No. 3 in the Associated Press and No. 4 in the Coaches Poll last weekend, the bullseye is firmly planted on the back of the Cardinals, and Petrino knows his talented team must be ready for what's in store this weekend.
"You know, the last time I was there, and it was a long, long time ago," Petrino remembered. "It was in the second round of the I-AA playoffs, when I was coaching for Weber State. They were cranked up and ready to go. I remember getting off the bus and all these people running up to the fence and started yelling at us. So I imagine it'll be a pretty good atmosphere. I think it's great. It's what we like to do."
Heading into the Marshall game, the Cardinals are leading the nation in a number of different offensive categories. Louisville is averaging 65.0 points per game and 679.0 yards of total offense during the young season, but the seventh-year head coach sees a lot of room for improvement, especially in sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who leads the nation with 18 touchdowns – including 10 on the ground.
"You know he's upset he missed two throws in the first quarter," Petrino said of Jackson's performance on Saturday. "One would have been a touchdown and the other would have been a third-down conversion. We are three games in and we have a long way to go and a lot of things to focus on and work on and get better individually. All of our guys need to understand they need to get better individually."
With all the focus heavily on the offensive success, the Cardinals played their best defensive game of the season in the win over Florida State.
Playing one of the most explosive and talented running backs in nation, the Cardinals limited Dalvin Cook to 54 yards on 16 carries, while frustrating freshman quarterback Deondre Francois to finish the game 7-of-18 for 101 yards and one interception.
Bringing pressure and creating havoc up front for 60 minutes, the Cardinals registered a season-high five sacks and held FSU to 284 yards of total offense - a season low for the powerful Seminoles.
"Our plan going in was to set the edge and get guys playing gaps, control and don't give guys many seams and for the most part we did a great job with that and that put them behind the sticks," Petrino said.
"Then we wanted to pressure and go after the quarterback a little bit so we were able to mix it up and do that. Our guys understand their protection schemes and did a good job going after him."
With the national spotlight on the Cardinals, they will have their hands full getting ready for a high-powered team like Marshall.
It will take the same focus and attention to detail the Cardinals used last week versus Florida State. If they can play with the same intensity and focus, then the Cardinals will get another chance to celebrate – but never for more than 24 hours.
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That's exactly what Petrino wants his team to do after defeating No. 2 Florida State on Saturday at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium -- one of the biggest wins in school history.
"We did a great job and it was a great win for us, but we haven't reached our goals. We are only three games into the season and we have to get back to work."
The work starts Tuesday as the Cardinals hit the road this week to face Marshall on Saturday at 8 p.m. The Thundering Herd have been one of the top teams over the last couple of seasons, and will present a major challenge for the third-ranked Cardinals.
"Marshall is always very talented," Petrino said. "Defensively, they like to play a lot of man coverage and they've got some physical linebackers that run hard to the ball."
"Offensively, they are kind of back playing that spread offense again and no huddle. They've got a big quarterback that can throw it and a couple of running backs that look good on video. We have to go in and execute and play the game we know how too."
Moving up to No. 3 in the Associated Press and No. 4 in the Coaches Poll last weekend, the bullseye is firmly planted on the back of the Cardinals, and Petrino knows his talented team must be ready for what's in store this weekend.
"You know, the last time I was there, and it was a long, long time ago," Petrino remembered. "It was in the second round of the I-AA playoffs, when I was coaching for Weber State. They were cranked up and ready to go. I remember getting off the bus and all these people running up to the fence and started yelling at us. So I imagine it'll be a pretty good atmosphere. I think it's great. It's what we like to do."
Heading into the Marshall game, the Cardinals are leading the nation in a number of different offensive categories. Louisville is averaging 65.0 points per game and 679.0 yards of total offense during the young season, but the seventh-year head coach sees a lot of room for improvement, especially in sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who leads the nation with 18 touchdowns – including 10 on the ground.
"You know he's upset he missed two throws in the first quarter," Petrino said of Jackson's performance on Saturday. "One would have been a touchdown and the other would have been a third-down conversion. We are three games in and we have a long way to go and a lot of things to focus on and work on and get better individually. All of our guys need to understand they need to get better individually."
With all the focus heavily on the offensive success, the Cardinals played their best defensive game of the season in the win over Florida State.
Playing one of the most explosive and talented running backs in nation, the Cardinals limited Dalvin Cook to 54 yards on 16 carries, while frustrating freshman quarterback Deondre Francois to finish the game 7-of-18 for 101 yards and one interception.
Bringing pressure and creating havoc up front for 60 minutes, the Cardinals registered a season-high five sacks and held FSU to 284 yards of total offense - a season low for the powerful Seminoles.
"Our plan going in was to set the edge and get guys playing gaps, control and don't give guys many seams and for the most part we did a great job with that and that put them behind the sticks," Petrino said.
"Then we wanted to pressure and go after the quarterback a little bit so we were able to mix it up and do that. Our guys understand their protection schemes and did a good job going after him."
With the national spotlight on the Cardinals, they will have their hands full getting ready for a high-powered team like Marshall.
It will take the same focus and attention to detail the Cardinals used last week versus Florida State. If they can play with the same intensity and focus, then the Cardinals will get another chance to celebrate – but never for more than 24 hours.
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