Louisville Cardinals vs Marshall Thundering Herd Football Preview

If Sesame Street was previewing this weekend’s upcoming clash between the Marshall Thundering Herd and the Louisville Cardinals, it would probably frame this encounter by mentioning four numbers.

If college football was sponsored by numbers and letters, the folks at the Children’s Television Workshop would say that this tilt at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium was brought to you by the numbers 6, 3, 5, and 9. They’re the only numbers you really need to absorb when understanding the dynamics of Marshall versus Louisville.

What does this mean? The answer is surprisingly simple even if the riddle might seem outwardly confusing at first glance.

Louisville won its most recent game of the season on Sept. 17. The Cardinals scored a huge road win at Kentucky, 24-17, by turning from veteran quarterback Will Stein to freshman signal caller Teddy Bridgewater, a hyped prospect out of the state of Florida. How did Louisville land Bridgewater? Keep in mind that Florida is a place that’s very familiar to UL head coach Charlie Strong. The current coach of the Cards once worked the recruiting trail as the defensive coordinator for the ascendant Florida Gators.

In sizing up Bridgewater – and his turnover-free performance against Kentucky – one detail very quickly emerges about the freshman: He is six feet and three inches tall. Stein, the man he replaced, is five feet and nine inches tall. There’s your unpacking of 6, 3, 5, and 9, in relationship to this game against Marshall on Saturday. Bridgewater might be far less experienced than Stein, but the first-year player can scan the field and see over defensive linemen. He can stand tall in the pocket and use his elevated release point to power the ball through open passing lanes. Stein played with pluck and resilience in his time under center, but in a Friday night loss to Florida International on Sept. 9, Stein had several balls batted down at the line of scrimmage. Stein’s football IQ is pretty solid, but he simply doesn’t have the physical stature needed to play within a pro-style offense at a particularly elevated level. Bridgewater’s height – a pure extension of numbers and nothing else – makes a 6-3 freshman a far more valuable commodity than a 5-9 veteran. It’s cruel math for Stein, but it’s very much the necessary direction for Louisville.

Marshall’s defense should not be underestimated. The Herd, under head coach Doc Holliday, stunned Conference USA East Division foe Southern Mississippi earlier this year. Marshall’s defense also contained Virginia Tech, limiting the Hokies to just 23 points through three quarters. If Louisville and Bridgewater can’t play a clean game, Marshall’s defense will pounce and gobble up turnovers. Marshall’s offense will be hard pressed to do much of anything against a Louisville defense that forms the backbone of the Cardinals this season, but if UL gives the Herd enough turnovers in key situations, there’s no doubt that the visitors from the state of West Virginia can add to the Big East’s misery this weekend.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer