Cardinals Look to Start Fast Versus Alabama
August 28, 2018 | Football
The Cardinals take on the nation's top-ranked defense from last seaspon.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville football team has an enormous opportunity to make a name for itself Saturday when it faces the nation's top-ranked team and a program that's won 17 national titles, including one last season.
With only 12 returning starters, the Cardinals are a young, but confident team, and understand if they expect to pull off the school's first win over a top-ranked opponent, it must come out of the locker room playing fast.
"The quicker team to adjust to the speed of the game will have the upper hand early. We have to go out of the locker room ready to play fast," Summers said.
Simulating game speed in practice isn't the easiest task to accomplish, but Summers gives credit to UofL head coach Bobby Petrino's practice pace for helping the Cardinals to prepare for the speed they will see on the other sideline.
"Coach Petrino does a great job of orchestrating practice … we go ones versus ones probably more than anyone in the country. So we're going against our No. 1 defense to get that game speed," Summers said.
The Cardinals came through camp better than they expected, and more importantly, they learned a lot about their football team through the first three weeks of the season.
"We feel confident that what happened through camp was good for our football team," Summers said. "We built our football team. We worked extremely hard. It's now time to put the finishing touches on the work that we've done so we can be game ready."
The Cardinals, who finished as the nation's No. 3 offense in the country, will face one of the best defenses in the country. The Crimson Tide lead the nation in yards allowed per game (260.4 yards per game), scoring defense (11.9 points per game) and rushing yards allowed per game (94.7 rushing yards per game) last season.
While those stats are certainly eye-popping, it's the physicality and aggressiveness that will be difficult for the Cardinals on Saturday night.
"As a unit, we need to all start off fast. We know our assignments. It's about effort every single play," McNeil said. "It's really important for us to play fast. We have to get on the ball quickly. We know they have a great defensive line, and we get an opportunity to play in a game like this --- we get excited."
Playing against one of the perennial programs and premier coaching staffs, the Cardinals understand they will be undertaking a daunting task. However, sophomore offensive tackle Mekhi Becton welcomes the challenge pf facing the Southeastern Conference power.
"I like playing against big competition," Becton said. "This game really excites me and tests me where I'm at as a player."
All eyes will definitely be on starting quarterback redshirt sophomore Jawon Pass, but he's not the only new starter in the backfield. The Cardinals will be breaking in a number of new running backs in the backfield, led by redshirt junior Trey Smith.
"I've seen Trey come from the bottom to where he's at right now and he's still grinding really hard. I've seen Dae (Williams) return from his injury and keeps grinding really hard," Becton said. "All of our running backs are just grinders."
The Cardinals open the season on Saturday night at 8 p.m. in front of a nationally televised audience on ABC.
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With only 12 returning starters, the Cardinals are a young, but confident team, and understand if they expect to pull off the school's first win over a top-ranked opponent, it must come out of the locker room playing fast.
"The quicker team to adjust to the speed of the game will have the upper hand early. We have to go out of the locker room ready to play fast," Summers said.
Simulating game speed in practice isn't the easiest task to accomplish, but Summers gives credit to UofL head coach Bobby Petrino's practice pace for helping the Cardinals to prepare for the speed they will see on the other sideline.
"Coach Petrino does a great job of orchestrating practice … we go ones versus ones probably more than anyone in the country. So we're going against our No. 1 defense to get that game speed," Summers said.
The Cardinals came through camp better than they expected, and more importantly, they learned a lot about their football team through the first three weeks of the season.
"We feel confident that what happened through camp was good for our football team," Summers said. "We built our football team. We worked extremely hard. It's now time to put the finishing touches on the work that we've done so we can be game ready."
The Cardinals, who finished as the nation's No. 3 offense in the country, will face one of the best defenses in the country. The Crimson Tide lead the nation in yards allowed per game (260.4 yards per game), scoring defense (11.9 points per game) and rushing yards allowed per game (94.7 rushing yards per game) last season.
While those stats are certainly eye-popping, it's the physicality and aggressiveness that will be difficult for the Cardinals on Saturday night.
"As a unit, we need to all start off fast. We know our assignments. It's about effort every single play," McNeil said. "It's really important for us to play fast. We have to get on the ball quickly. We know they have a great defensive line, and we get an opportunity to play in a game like this --- we get excited."
Playing against one of the perennial programs and premier coaching staffs, the Cardinals understand they will be undertaking a daunting task. However, sophomore offensive tackle Mekhi Becton welcomes the challenge pf facing the Southeastern Conference power.
"I like playing against big competition," Becton said. "This game really excites me and tests me where I'm at as a player."
All eyes will definitely be on starting quarterback redshirt sophomore Jawon Pass, but he's not the only new starter in the backfield. The Cardinals will be breaking in a number of new running backs in the backfield, led by redshirt junior Trey Smith.
"I've seen Trey come from the bottom to where he's at right now and he's still grinding really hard. I've seen Dae (Williams) return from his injury and keeps grinding really hard," Becton said. "All of our running backs are just grinders."
The Cardinals open the season on Saturday night at 8 p.m. in front of a nationally televised audience on ABC.
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