LOUISVILLE, Ky .- The University of Louisville football team has reached the midway point of its spring practice schedule, and head coach Scott Satterfield likes what he sees.
The third-year head coach Scott Satterfield addressed the media on Monday evening to discuss a new coaching hire, who's looked impressive so far in fall camp and how the Cardinals have dealt with spring ball in a world affected by a pandemic.
"I feel like they just want more football, because they're over here a lot more," he said. "Just studying film, and getting extra work in, and doing
extra things in the training room and the weight room. But overall, it's a great environment to come to work and get better."
Since the last time Satterfield addressed the media at the start of spring camp, he's added a new assistant coach to his ranks.
Greg Gasparato joined the Cardinals nearly a week into spring camp to coach the safeties. He comes from West Point where he served a similar
role for Army.
"I worked with (Gasparato) at Appalachian State (when he was) a GA," Satterifield said. "He left, then he came back as a full-time coach. He's
more of a teacher than a screamer. He's going to teach these guys what we want out of the safeties."
He also praised new recruiting coordinator David Cooper, whom UofL snagged from Florida, saying that he will likely bring a lot of value to future Cardinal classes.
Overall, Satterfield said he's happy with how the slew of new assistant coaches have adjusted to the program.
"They kind of got thrown in this thing and pretty quickly," he said. "They've done a good job with it, it's been fun to kind of watch them and get together with our guys and mesh. Our guys are learning them, but they're learning, too. It goes both ways."
Satterifield also addressed one of the more prominent talking points that has emerged this spring: the turnover situation.
The Cardinals committed 24 turnovers while forcing only 12 themselves, a ratio no head coach likes to see. As a result, the turnover margin has been a big emphasis for UofL this spring.
"What we're doing every day this year in spring practice, we've done a turnover circuit, which is offense on defense, utilizing both sides (of the ball)," Satterfield said. "Defense, obviously, wants to create turnovers, in this case fumbles. We got several different drills that we're working with."
Much of the focus in these drills has predictably been on quarterback Malik Cunningham. In addition to 12 interceptions last season, Cunningham put five balls on the ground last season, three of which were picked up by opposing teams.
"There's a huge emphasis on it with (Cunningham) because if you go back and watch some of his film, as soon as he goes to take off running, his
hands separate from the ball," Satterfield said. "We just got to get that great habit of, as he takes off running, bringing both hands with him."
The Cardinals have also put a lot of emphasis on the future of their passing game. It's no secret that college football has seen a quick and heavy trend toward more pass-heavy offenses in recent memory, and UofL will have its hands full as it prepares for life without receivers Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick.
That duo accounted for 89 of Louisville's 202 receptions (44.1 percnet) last season, so the Cardinals will be looking for the remaining receiving corps to step up.
"We're not going to replace a Tutu Attwell or a Dez Fitzpatrick this early in the season," Satterfield said. "We have to find ways, where these guys can come in and make plays in their own way, and really help our offense. But I think it's certainly going to be by committee this year."
With just more than two weeks left in the spring practice remaining, the Cardinals still have a lot to accomplish.
But Satterfield remains confident that his team continues to grow and head in the right direction.
"That's what springs are for," he said. "To kind of get a good evaluation on guys, and particularly guys that didn't play as much last year, that will have new roles this year and the newcomers. We've had some great work with that."
Rocco
The third-year head coach Scott Satterfield addressed the media on Monday evening to discuss a new coaching hire, who's looked impressive so far in fall camp and how the Cardinals have dealt with spring ball in a world affected by a pandemic.
"I feel like they just want more football, because they're over here a lot more," he said. "Just studying film, and getting extra work in, and doing
extra things in the training room and the weight room. But overall, it's a great environment to come to work and get better."
Since the last time Satterfield addressed the media at the start of spring camp, he's added a new assistant coach to his ranks.
Greg Gasparato joined the Cardinals nearly a week into spring camp to coach the safeties. He comes from West Point where he served a similar
role for Army.
"I worked with (Gasparato) at Appalachian State (when he was) a GA," Satterifield said. "He left, then he came back as a full-time coach. He's
more of a teacher than a screamer. He's going to teach these guys what we want out of the safeties."
He also praised new recruiting coordinator David Cooper, whom UofL snagged from Florida, saying that he will likely bring a lot of value to future Cardinal classes.
Overall, Satterfield said he's happy with how the slew of new assistant coaches have adjusted to the program.
"They kind of got thrown in this thing and pretty quickly," he said. "They've done a good job with it, it's been fun to kind of watch them and get together with our guys and mesh. Our guys are learning them, but they're learning, too. It goes both ways."
Satterifield also addressed one of the more prominent talking points that has emerged this spring: the turnover situation.
The Cardinals committed 24 turnovers while forcing only 12 themselves, a ratio no head coach likes to see. As a result, the turnover margin has been a big emphasis for UofL this spring.
"What we're doing every day this year in spring practice, we've done a turnover circuit, which is offense on defense, utilizing both sides (of the ball)," Satterfield said. "Defense, obviously, wants to create turnovers, in this case fumbles. We got several different drills that we're working with."
Much of the focus in these drills has predictably been on quarterback Malik Cunningham. In addition to 12 interceptions last season, Cunningham put five balls on the ground last season, three of which were picked up by opposing teams.
"There's a huge emphasis on it with (Cunningham) because if you go back and watch some of his film, as soon as he goes to take off running, his
hands separate from the ball," Satterfield said. "We just got to get that great habit of, as he takes off running, bringing both hands with him."
The Cardinals have also put a lot of emphasis on the future of their passing game. It's no secret that college football has seen a quick and heavy trend toward more pass-heavy offenses in recent memory, and UofL will have its hands full as it prepares for life without receivers Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick.
That duo accounted for 89 of Louisville's 202 receptions (44.1 percnet) last season, so the Cardinals will be looking for the remaining receiving corps to step up.
"We're not going to replace a Tutu Attwell or a Dez Fitzpatrick this early in the season," Satterfield said. "We have to find ways, where these guys can come in and make plays in their own way, and really help our offense. But I think it's certainly going to be by committee this year."
With just more than two weeks left in the spring practice remaining, the Cardinals still have a lot to accomplish.
But Satterfield remains confident that his team continues to grow and head in the right direction.
"That's what springs are for," he said. "To kind of get a good evaluation on guys, and particularly guys that didn't play as much last year, that will have new roles this year and the newcomers. We've had some great work with that."
Rocco
