Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics
Ponce Likes Competition in the Quarterback Room; Sees Four Capable Signal Callers
July 01, 2020 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Heading into 2019, the quarterback room at the University of Louisville seemed set.
Jawon Pass was set to be the starter, and Micale Cunningham was a capable backup and ready if needed.
Turned out, he was needed.
The quarterback room was turned on its ear after Pass suffered a season-ending foot injury after a 42-0 win over Eastern Kentucky, leaving the Cardinals will just two scholarship signal callers in Cunningham and true freshman Evan Conley to finish the remaining 10 games.
Forced to step up, Cunningham and Conley did just that, rallying the Cardinals to key victories, including snapping a nine-game losing streak in the league and a road win over No. 17. Cunningham threw for a career high 288 yards and accounted for two scores in a 41-39 win over Boston College.
Conley, a native of Kell, Ga., picked up the first road win over a ranked opponent since 2011 when threw for 196 yards and two scores and iced the game with a 41-yard touchdown run with 2:15 remaining in a 62-59 win.
"I thought the both did a lot of great things after Jawon was injured," quarterbacks coach Frank Ponce said. "They stepped in and made plays when their numbers were called."
While both quarterbacks helped the Cardinals get through a difficult period, it was Cunningham who elevated the Cardinals to eight wins in their last 12 games.
The native of Montgomery, Ala., was one of the most efficient passers in the country, finishing second behind Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 pick Joe Burrow. Cunningham set the school mark at 194.45 and passed for a career high 2,065 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Ponce thinks because of Cunningham's growth and maturity that 2020 could see him take an even bigger step forward.
"I think the biggest thing is his study habits as a quarterback from where it was when we first got here til now," Ponce said. "Now we're seeing the poise he developed throughout the year, becoming a better student of the game and understanding the offense has turned into a lot of confidence."
"I always relate quarterback play to being confident, and the only way you're going to change that is by knowing what you're doing offensively, knowing where everybody's at, understanding the concepts and he's done that extremely well."
While 2019 saw Cunningham take his game to another level, Ponce knows the second-year starter has things he must improve on.
"He needs to keep improving in his poise, and delivering the ball on time in the pocket," Ponce dsasid. "He needs to continue to develop that. We talk about throwing a receiver open, and he's doing that. We are excited with his progress and development."
Because of COVID-19, the Cardinals were only able to get halfway through spring practice because college athletics were shut down. However, Cunningham did enough to maintain his spot atop the depth chart.
"The way we finished the spring practices, Micale would be number one," Ponce said. "Jawon would be right close to him, 1B, followed by Evan and Tee Webb is a kid that is learning."
Knowing the Cardinals used three quarterbacks last season, the quarterback room has remained competitive, knowing their number could be called at any time.
"It continues to keep them focused throughout the whole year for practices and we compete every practice," Ponce said. "So we'll look at how they did with a completion percentage to practice and the next day if you were better than the other guy then you go in first."
"So, it is something that is that worked for us in the past and we're going to continue to do those things, but everybody's ready to go. We tell every guy, whether you're one, two, three, four, or five, it doesn't matter. You prepare yourself as you would if you're the starter and when your chance comes, if you do that it'll prepare for that mentality that when your time comes, you're going to be ready and you're going to be fine."
Jawon Pass was set to be the starter, and Micale Cunningham was a capable backup and ready if needed.
Turned out, he was needed.
The quarterback room was turned on its ear after Pass suffered a season-ending foot injury after a 42-0 win over Eastern Kentucky, leaving the Cardinals will just two scholarship signal callers in Cunningham and true freshman Evan Conley to finish the remaining 10 games.
Forced to step up, Cunningham and Conley did just that, rallying the Cardinals to key victories, including snapping a nine-game losing streak in the league and a road win over No. 17. Cunningham threw for a career high 288 yards and accounted for two scores in a 41-39 win over Boston College.
Conley, a native of Kell, Ga., picked up the first road win over a ranked opponent since 2011 when threw for 196 yards and two scores and iced the game with a 41-yard touchdown run with 2:15 remaining in a 62-59 win.
"I thought the both did a lot of great things after Jawon was injured," quarterbacks coach Frank Ponce said. "They stepped in and made plays when their numbers were called."
While both quarterbacks helped the Cardinals get through a difficult period, it was Cunningham who elevated the Cardinals to eight wins in their last 12 games.
The native of Montgomery, Ala., was one of the most efficient passers in the country, finishing second behind Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 pick Joe Burrow. Cunningham set the school mark at 194.45 and passed for a career high 2,065 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Ponce thinks because of Cunningham's growth and maturity that 2020 could see him take an even bigger step forward.
"I think the biggest thing is his study habits as a quarterback from where it was when we first got here til now," Ponce said. "Now we're seeing the poise he developed throughout the year, becoming a better student of the game and understanding the offense has turned into a lot of confidence."
"I always relate quarterback play to being confident, and the only way you're going to change that is by knowing what you're doing offensively, knowing where everybody's at, understanding the concepts and he's done that extremely well."
While 2019 saw Cunningham take his game to another level, Ponce knows the second-year starter has things he must improve on.
"He needs to keep improving in his poise, and delivering the ball on time in the pocket," Ponce dsasid. "He needs to continue to develop that. We talk about throwing a receiver open, and he's doing that. We are excited with his progress and development."
Because of COVID-19, the Cardinals were only able to get halfway through spring practice because college athletics were shut down. However, Cunningham did enough to maintain his spot atop the depth chart.
"The way we finished the spring practices, Micale would be number one," Ponce said. "Jawon would be right close to him, 1B, followed by Evan and Tee Webb is a kid that is learning."
Knowing the Cardinals used three quarterbacks last season, the quarterback room has remained competitive, knowing their number could be called at any time.
"It continues to keep them focused throughout the whole year for practices and we compete every practice," Ponce said. "So we'll look at how they did with a completion percentage to practice and the next day if you were better than the other guy then you go in first."
"So, it is something that is that worked for us in the past and we're going to continue to do those things, but everybody's ready to go. We tell every guy, whether you're one, two, three, four, or five, it doesn't matter. You prepare yourself as you would if you're the starter and when your chance comes, if you do that it'll prepare for that mentality that when your time comes, you're going to be ready and you're going to be fine."
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