Offensive Line to Face Another Challenge at No. 21 Pit
September 24, 2020 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It seems like each week the University Louisville offensive line faces an extraordinary challenge.
In a week one victory over Western Kentucky, the Cardinals had to deal with defensive end DeAngelo Malone, who is widely considered an NFL prospect.
Against Miami, the Hurricanes featured a pair of prospects on the edges in Jalean Phillips and Quincy Roche.
The offensive line is likely to see the biggest of the season this Saturday at No. 21 Pittsburgh. The Panthers are off to a 2-0 start and features the No. 3 defense in the country led by Rashad Weaver and Paris Ford.
They have two big defensive ends that can rush the passer, the defensive tackles are very solid on the inside," Satterfield said. "They are going to put pressure on your offense a lot with those four. Then as you mentioned, the free safety (Paris) Ford is an outstanding tackler but he also can cover. He is an amazing football player. The defense can lock you down on the outside with their corners."
Despite facing major challenges, the offense hasn't skipped a beat, averaging over 500 yards of total offense after recording 516 yards in a loss to No. 17 Miami last weekend.
"I like it," UofL offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford said on Tuesday. "It forces these guys to really see right away, are the fundamentals where they need to be? Are they where they need to be as far as alignment, assignment, technique, and execution.
"I love it, I think it's really good and I told the guys today, looking back to last year to where we were at the beginning of the season or any point, I think the guys up front are straining, they're playing physical. I like how they came out this season and have worked. They cleaned up some issues we had in the first game. I really like being tested early out of the gate. You know right now what you've got to get better at, what you've got to work on and the guys are getting to see it."
Facing a major obstacle against Miami's defense, the offensive line assisted producing a 164-yard outing from Javian Hawkins and allowed quarterback Malik Cunningham to throw for 307 yards and three scores.
"I thought they did a really good job," Ledford said. "I was very pleased with what they did on Saturday. Obviously, there's stuff we still have to clean up, but as far as the way they came out and prepared during the week of practice and playing a real physical defensive front. It was a good, physical game up front and I like the way the guys played. I've been very pleased from an effort standpoint and some of the things they're doing right now."
Pittsburgh owns defense that ranks is tops nationally in numerous categories. The Panthers lead the nation with 10 sacks through two games and sit third in the country with 22 tackles for a loss.
Ledford has spent a great deal of his week stressing to his group about the third-straight challenge they will encounter Saturday.
"I spent a good amount of time in our meetings [Tuesday] just making sure the guys understand," Ledford said. "I said, 'You guys understand what I'm telling you. When I tell you these things, do you think it's just coaching talk or do you really believe what I'm saying? Because what I'm about to tell you about this defense is they're really, really good. I talked to them about the history of that program. That team prides themselves on playing sound, physical defense and obviously they've done that. They're a defensive front from the back end all the way up to the front end that's very talented, they're physical, they've got great size and year in and year out they're a great defense. I told our guys this is a big-time test for them. Huge."
