Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Louisville's Defense Looks to Contain Notre Dame's Run Game on Saturday
September 25, 2024 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville linebackers coach Mark Ivey faces another tough defensive assignment this week as the Cardinals travel to South Bend to face 16th-ranked Notre Dame in their first road contest of the season.
This marks the third consecutive game where UofL will face a mobile quarterback, making it a point of emphasis for Ivey and his staff to contain the design quarterback runs against a dynamic runner in The Fighting Irish's Riley Leonard.
"He's really good. Looking at his film from last year, the things that we had to look at, [Leonard] throws the ball well and he's an athletic runner, especially for a guy with the length that he has. He's able to change direction, he's able to do some things against some defensive ends and some linebackers and even some secondary players, to where he's able to stop and start and restart, and they can't redirect and change direction well enough with him. That's just something where we're going to have to spend a lot of time all week long, making sure that we're fitting the run correctly."
This not the first time the Louisville defense has gone up against Leonard, who was the starting quarterback for Duke last season. The Cardinals shut out the Blue Devils 23-0, holding Leonard to just 13 yards on the ground.
Redshirt-junior linebacker TJ Quinn spoke about the experience the defense has against Leonard and what they need to do differently this year in a new scheme. "This [has] been the third week we have played against a running quarterback; it would definitely help. What I remember from him last year, I know [Leonard] came into us hurt a little bit, and just what I have seen from him is [Notre Dame] like running with him a lot. So, we just definitely have to be prepared for that this week."
The linebacker room for the Cardinals is led by Quinn and Stanquan Clark, both leading the team in total tackles with 14 a piece.
When asked about the leadership displayed by Quinn and Clark this season, Ivey praised their maturity, saying, "TJ took the vast majority of every snap from last season and did a really good job with it, I thought. Obviously, there are things to improve, but he did a good job. Then Stanquan, was the guy who was a freshman learning, he was anywhere from between 10-20 snaps a game, an average of around 15 snaps a game. Obviously now, he's moved into that starter's role. His snap count has of course, logically, escalated drastically. I was really pleased with what they've done."
Quinn also spoke highly of his teammate when asked about the growth of Clark. "I am definitely proud of the progress that Stanquan has had, and just moving forward, I just try to take him under my wing and just always have him in there with me in the film room. We're out there together so we have to be on one accord. Just moving forward, for a young guy to go out there, making plays, stepping up and having that starting role, it's just something that I am really proud of him for."
Ivey and the linebackers group will look to bring pressure early as they face their first true road test of the season against Notre Dame Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be aired on Peacock.
This marks the third consecutive game where UofL will face a mobile quarterback, making it a point of emphasis for Ivey and his staff to contain the design quarterback runs against a dynamic runner in The Fighting Irish's Riley Leonard.
"He's really good. Looking at his film from last year, the things that we had to look at, [Leonard] throws the ball well and he's an athletic runner, especially for a guy with the length that he has. He's able to change direction, he's able to do some things against some defensive ends and some linebackers and even some secondary players, to where he's able to stop and start and restart, and they can't redirect and change direction well enough with him. That's just something where we're going to have to spend a lot of time all week long, making sure that we're fitting the run correctly."
This not the first time the Louisville defense has gone up against Leonard, who was the starting quarterback for Duke last season. The Cardinals shut out the Blue Devils 23-0, holding Leonard to just 13 yards on the ground.
Redshirt-junior linebacker TJ Quinn spoke about the experience the defense has against Leonard and what they need to do differently this year in a new scheme. "This [has] been the third week we have played against a running quarterback; it would definitely help. What I remember from him last year, I know [Leonard] came into us hurt a little bit, and just what I have seen from him is [Notre Dame] like running with him a lot. So, we just definitely have to be prepared for that this week."
The linebacker room for the Cardinals is led by Quinn and Stanquan Clark, both leading the team in total tackles with 14 a piece.
When asked about the leadership displayed by Quinn and Clark this season, Ivey praised their maturity, saying, "TJ took the vast majority of every snap from last season and did a really good job with it, I thought. Obviously, there are things to improve, but he did a good job. Then Stanquan, was the guy who was a freshman learning, he was anywhere from between 10-20 snaps a game, an average of around 15 snaps a game. Obviously now, he's moved into that starter's role. His snap count has of course, logically, escalated drastically. I was really pleased with what they've done."
Quinn also spoke highly of his teammate when asked about the growth of Clark. "I am definitely proud of the progress that Stanquan has had, and just moving forward, I just try to take him under my wing and just always have him in there with me in the film room. We're out there together so we have to be on one accord. Just moving forward, for a young guy to go out there, making plays, stepping up and having that starting role, it's just something that I am really proud of him for."
Ivey and the linebackers group will look to bring pressure early as they face their first true road test of the season against Notre Dame Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be aired on Peacock.
Players Mentioned
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