Photo by: Carl Schmid | Louisville Athletics
Ledford Happy to be Back on the Field with his Players
August 05, 2020 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - If there is one person who was excited to be back on the practice this week, it was offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford.
Ledford has developed a special relationship with his players, and the hardest time was being away from his linemen while navigating through a pandemic.
The Cardinals returned to the practice field for the second day of fall camp, and the second-year coach was back in his happy place.
"It's great to be around the guys," Ledford said after practice. "To me, it's therapy to be back around my group. It's totally different on how we have to
operate, but to just be around them, and be in the element we all love, it's just fun to be around these kids."
Through the first two days of camp, the UofL offense looks like it hasn't missed a beat after battling back from a 14-0 deficit to overcome Mississippi State 38-28 in the Music City Bowl.
Louisville was one of the top big-play offenses in the country, rushing for over 200 yards per game and utilizing their weapons to garner big chunks of offensive yardage.
"We made a lot of big plays last year," Ledford said. "Guys like Tutu Atwell, Javian Hawkins, and Marshon Ford were very explosive. We have to continue to find ways to get the ball to our play makers and just let them make plays. We have a lot of guys who can do things with the ball in their hands. We have flexibility within our offense to make sure we do that."
One player Ledford singled out was tight end Ian Pfeifer, who was granted a sixth-year of eligibility and returned to the team this summer.
"I think that he looked extremely good out there. He looked good running routes. He looked good at catching the football. And, honestly, what we asked him to do from a blocking standpoint, he looked really, really good."He was the guy in that first practice that you're like, man, he did a really good job. He's somebody that definitely stood out on day one, as far as a name you might not have heard of that much."
Pfeifer was used primarily for blocking purposes in 2019, but was clutch when needed. Both of his catches last season resulted in touchdowns, the first in a loss to Miami and another against NC State.
In terms of the offensive line, the unit must replace Mekhi Becton, a first-round draft pick of the New York Jets, and Tyler Haycraft, who was signed as a free agent, Ledford has begun to develop depth at that position in his short stint with the Cardinals.
Losing both of his tackles is a priority this fall for Ledford, but he feels like the first couple of days of practice have shined a positive light on that position in the early going.
"It's coming around well," Ledford said. "Cam DeGeorge has a lot of starts under his belt. He's a very experienced player. Renato Brown has had a good first two day of practices and done a great job. Although, he is still young, he's still doing a great job."
 "I told the guys we are going to be rotating a number of guys at a number of different positions. We are going to shuffe guys around to put the five best players out on the field and to build the depth chart."
Seniors Robbie Bell and Cole Bentley, and junior Caleb Chandler are three returning starters, and added a graduate transfer in DeGeorge and a talented transfer in Trevor Reid, but Ledford continues to look for others to step into the depth roles.
"We have to just keep hammering away," Ledford said. "I think the more opportunities we can get these guys in game-like positions it will be big days for us. I feel like we are close to building the depth that we need upfront. We are loading these guys with a lot of information, and I've been pleased with what I've seen from them."
The Cardinals will put shoulder pads on for the first time when the Cardinals hit the field for the third practice on Thursday morning.It's
Â
Â
Â
"
Â
Â
Â
Ledford has developed a special relationship with his players, and the hardest time was being away from his linemen while navigating through a pandemic.
The Cardinals returned to the practice field for the second day of fall camp, and the second-year coach was back in his happy place.
"It's great to be around the guys," Ledford said after practice. "To me, it's therapy to be back around my group. It's totally different on how we have to
operate, but to just be around them, and be in the element we all love, it's just fun to be around these kids."
Through the first two days of camp, the UofL offense looks like it hasn't missed a beat after battling back from a 14-0 deficit to overcome Mississippi State 38-28 in the Music City Bowl.
Louisville was one of the top big-play offenses in the country, rushing for over 200 yards per game and utilizing their weapons to garner big chunks of offensive yardage.
"We made a lot of big plays last year," Ledford said. "Guys like Tutu Atwell, Javian Hawkins, and Marshon Ford were very explosive. We have to continue to find ways to get the ball to our play makers and just let them make plays. We have a lot of guys who can do things with the ball in their hands. We have flexibility within our offense to make sure we do that."
One player Ledford singled out was tight end Ian Pfeifer, who was granted a sixth-year of eligibility and returned to the team this summer.
"I think that he looked extremely good out there. He looked good running routes. He looked good at catching the football. And, honestly, what we asked him to do from a blocking standpoint, he looked really, really good."He was the guy in that first practice that you're like, man, he did a really good job. He's somebody that definitely stood out on day one, as far as a name you might not have heard of that much."
Pfeifer was used primarily for blocking purposes in 2019, but was clutch when needed. Both of his catches last season resulted in touchdowns, the first in a loss to Miami and another against NC State.
In terms of the offensive line, the unit must replace Mekhi Becton, a first-round draft pick of the New York Jets, and Tyler Haycraft, who was signed as a free agent, Ledford has begun to develop depth at that position in his short stint with the Cardinals.
Losing both of his tackles is a priority this fall for Ledford, but he feels like the first couple of days of practice have shined a positive light on that position in the early going.
"It's coming around well," Ledford said. "Cam DeGeorge has a lot of starts under his belt. He's a very experienced player. Renato Brown has had a good first two day of practices and done a great job. Although, he is still young, he's still doing a great job."
 "I told the guys we are going to be rotating a number of guys at a number of different positions. We are going to shuffe guys around to put the five best players out on the field and to build the depth chart."
Seniors Robbie Bell and Cole Bentley, and junior Caleb Chandler are three returning starters, and added a graduate transfer in DeGeorge and a talented transfer in Trevor Reid, but Ledford continues to look for others to step into the depth roles.
"We have to just keep hammering away," Ledford said. "I think the more opportunities we can get these guys in game-like positions it will be big days for us. I feel like we are close to building the depth that we need upfront. We are loading these guys with a lot of information, and I've been pleased with what I've seen from them."
The Cardinals will put shoulder pads on for the first time when the Cardinals hit the field for the third practice on Thursday morning.It's
Â
Â
Â
"
Â
Â
Â
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
TE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ FootballThe Card Tape: Boca Raton Bowl
Friday, December 26
FB: Bush's Boca Raton Bowl Postgame Press Conference
Wednesday, December 24
The Card Tape: Kentucky (2025)
Monday, December 01
FB: Highlights vs. Kentucky
Sunday, November 30
