Defense

[TheRealVille]

After last night’s game, Louisville’s defense is: - No. 5 in sacks per game - No. 6 in red zone defense - No. 9 in turnovers gained - No. 10 in TFLs per game - No. 26 in scoring defense.

I don't think many Cards fans expected this kind of performance when the season started. For me it's just one more frustrating thing about the football program since Lamar.

If the offense had its shit together, Louisville would be the surprise team of the ACC and not Syracuse or North Carolina. We would be 7 and 0 going into the tough part of the schedule.

The defense has improved but not the offense. This season is Malik's worst since he took over the starting job three years ago. I just keep asking why? What's keeping the offense from getting better?

We're winning with defense and the offense is regressing. It's so frustrating.

 

[PushupMan]

Lack of talented playmakers at wide receiver. No doubt about it - we miss Harrell and Watkins.

 

[ReincarnatedJungleTiger]

That and a lack of depth at WR. We all (myself included) whined and wept for years about no depth on the lines and no depth at LB. Well, we have a lot of depth on the lines with more depth building and a very deep LB room, but few WRs who want to play in the current QB/system combo.

 

[beantowncard]

We are going to face some really good offenses starting Saturday. We will see if the defense is really improved or not.

 

[earsky]

No margin for lapses with assignments.Everybody has to be on point.

 

[SpotHogCard]

After last night’s game, Louisville’s defense is: - No. 5 in sacks per game - No. 6 in red zone defense - No. 9 in turnovers gained - No. 10 in TFLs per game - No. 26 in scoring defense.

I don't think many Cards fans expected this kind of performance when the season started. For me it's just one more frustrating thing about the football program since Lamar.

If the offense had its shit together, Louisville would be the surprise team of the ACC and not Syracuse or North Carolina. We would be 7 and 0 going into the tough part of the schedule.

The defense has improved but not the offense. This season is Malik's worst since he took over the starting job three years ago. I just keep asking why? What's keeping the offense from getting better?

We're winning with defense and the offense is regressing. It's so frustrating.

Defenses figured out Malik's weakness, then discovered that he is not that hard to defend if you spy him.

Most of the plays he gets big runs are broken plays.

 

[2330859]

The high preseason expectations by UL fans was some what understandable, but it was primarily based on an experienced Malik returning at QB, and a deep and talented stable of RBs. Conversely, most UL football fans recognized the weaknesses in our secondary and our receiving corp,, along with an overall shortage of experienced depth on this roster. Losing Jermaine Lole at NT to early injury was particularly demoralizing as it put a lot more pressure on Dez Tell having to increase his number of snaps.

Our starting front 7 have improved over the course of the season despite lack of depth, and remain the strength right now. If we beat WF Saturday, I believe it will be a result of those front 7 pressuring Hartman into making mistakes. I also expect our offense to continue running the football 65 to 70 percent of the time ……run the clock and keep Hartman off the field.

 

[nccardfan]

I believe it will be a result of those front 7 pressuring Hartman into making mistakes. I also expect our offense to continue running the football 65 to 70 percent of the time ……run the clock and keep Hartman off the field.

And there it is, Satterfield's game plan...

 

[OldhamCard335]

I agree that it seems Malik has regressed but I agree with others that the defenses are on to this offense which too often features Malik as a run first QB. This run first mindset could very well be the reason for our poor WR performance. Imagine you are the second or third option in a pass play and you’re out there running your ass off trying to get open and ply your craft. But, Malik takes one look at his first option (covered) pulls the ball down and scrambles. How long do you keep putting out that effort when you know the ball isn’t coming your way? I think this is the reason the offense looked better when Brock was playing. Not saying at all that Brock is a great QB but his receivers loved knowing that he was at least gonna look their way no matter which option they were. Much the same can be said about the RBs who keep getting the ball pulled out of their grasps by Malik, especially in the red zone.
All of this isn’t Malik’s fault. Satterfield has either condoned this behavior or just feels he has no better choice at QB and decided to just live with it.
All this to say….I don’t see this changing until next year when we (hopefully) have a more traditional, pass first QB.

 

[PushupMan]

We are going to face some really good offenses starting Saturday. We will see if the defense is really improved or not.

Pitt was a good offense. Their running back was #2 in the country in rushing coming into our game, and #1 in rushing touchdowns.

Yes, Wake, JMU and Clemson are very good offenses, with Wake almost certainly the best of those three. But to discount how well our defense played last Saturday by attempting to claim that Pitt’s offense is not on par with the offenses of our upcoming opponents is wrong, in my opinion.

 

[CardsFirst]

Bologna on the wide receivers they worked out fine for Domann. Hard to catch a ball that’s over thrown, to low, short, or not thrown to the open receiver. The problem is simple Cunningham. The O goes the way of the QB and whoever said the D have figured MC out is correct. Stop MC from running and they know he’s not a consistent passer, reading defenses, or finding the open receiver.

 

[CardHack]

The WR underperformance is less underperformance than it is limited availability. We knew back in the Spring it was thin in numbers, so losing Wiggins and now Huggins-Bruce for any length limits it further. It's basically become Hudson and a sack of magic beans around him and that was real noticeable at the game Saturday night. I had to check the program a few times to recognize the people huddling with the WR group on the sideline. Smith looked like he'd be a stalwart before his FSU injury last year but doesn't look like an every down threat and we lack that pop pass ability to stress the edge we had with Atwell. Like it or not, that's actually a pretty big component of the overall running attack for Louisville because it forces upfield and edge setting from DEs much wider which gives the zone plays a little more leverage to block.

 

[PushupMan]

Bologna on the wide receivers they worked out fine for Domann. Hard to catch a ball that’s over thrown, to low, short, or not thrown to the open receiver. The problem is simple Cunningham. The O goes the way of the QB and whoever said the D have figured MC out is correct. Stop MC from running and they know he’s not a consistent passer, reading defenses, or finding the open receiver.

First off, and most importantly, I hope you get well soon as you recover from your surgery!

Domann was 17-30 (57% completions) with a TD and 2 interceptions against Virginia. Malik on the season is completing over 60% of his passes with 5 TDs and 3 INTs. It’s incorrect to say that Domann is more consistent. Subjectively, he gets graded on an easier scale because he’s the backup QB and not a 6th year senior starter.

 

[nccardfan]

The WR underperformance is less underperformance than it is limited availability. We knew back in the Spring it was thin in numbers, so losing Wiggins and now Huggins-Bruce for any length limits it further. It's basically become Hudson and a sack of magic beans around him and that was real noticeable at the game Saturday night. I had to check the program a few times to recognize the people huddling with the WR group on the sideline. Smith looked like he'd be a stalwart before his FSU injury last year but doesn't look like an every down threat and we lack that pop pass ability to stress the edge we had with Atwell. Like it or not, that's actually a pretty big component of the overall running attack for Louisville because it forces upfield and edge setting from DEs much wider which gives the zone plays a little more leverage to block.

I count 8 or 9 WR's on this roster, so yeah losing Wiggins and Bruce hurts but we have Braden Smith and Josh Johnson, who showed a little early on and Marshon Ford was supposed to be Cunningham's Mark Andrews. We have capable receivers, its whether the QB can effectively utilize them.

 

[OldhamCard335]

Satterfield has recently stated that he is where he is because of his offensive prowess and play calling. Well….he better figure it out. His offense is predictable and limited. His quarterback has happy feet which Satterfield seems to have no control over. His RB’s and WR’s most likely feel neglected and have given up on Malik sharing the ball. And please, PLEASE stop throwing the long ball to the side line which allows the defense to use the sideline as a another defender!!!!!! I feel we have two egos that are standing in our way to having an effective offense, Malik’s and Satterfield’s and neither seem likely to change their ways.

 

[CardsFirst]

First off, and most importantly, I hope you get well soon as you recover from your surgery!

Domann was 17-30 (57% completions) with a TD and 2 interceptions against Virginia. Malik on the season is completing over 60% of his passes with 5 TDs and 3 INTs. It’s incorrect to say that Domann is more consistent. Subjectively, he gets graded on an easier scale because he’s the backup QB and not a 6th year senior starter.

Thanks doing fine. Didn’t say his completion rate was great just saying he distributed the ball. Although I think if you look at the game as a whole Domann improved as the game progressed and your comparing a first time starter to a 5 year starter, a 5 year starter who only did 3% better than the first time starter. I believe Domann is the more well rounded QB and I do believe the offense respond better to him. To include our RBs.. MC is limited.

 

[TheRealVille]

"I believe Domann is the more well rounded QB and I do believe the offense respond better to him. To include our RBs.. MC is limited."

[/QUOTE]


Unbelievable! Domann himself doesn't believe he's a more well rounded QB than Malik.

 

[2330859]

CardFirst made a great point, Doman improved as the game progressed. That 57% completion rate deserves some qualification, as I believe his first 6 or 7 passes were incomplete. Personally, I believe coming in after an unexpected injury to Malik is a difficult role to fulfill.