Louisville vs Murray State Football Preview

In past decades, three years was the widely-accepted standard for turnarounds at college football programs. Today, it’s still reasonable to think that way, but a lot more people in the industry are convinced that a coach should be able to achieve something substantial in two seasons. By that measurement, Louisville’s time to shine is now. 

Head coach Charlie Strong took a Louisville program at its lowest point on over a decade and immediately made it respectable. After winning the Big East and winning the Orange Bowl in the 2006 season, the Cardinals suffered through three long years with Steve Kragthorpe at the helm. The Cardinals never reached the postseason, enduring the utter erosion of a championship caliber program that had been built by prior coach Bobby Petrino.

Stepping into the mess Kragthorpe left behind, Strong thoroughly impressed Big East observers by leading Louisville to a very encouraging 6-6 regular season followed by a win in the Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl over Southern Mississippi. With two recruiting classes under his belt, Strong is getting closer to fielding a team with the caliber of athletes he desires. He and his coaching staff will see how much this new model of Louisville football has improved since late December.

The biggest question on offense centers around the new quarterback and who will protect him. Adam Froman and Justin Burke both played well in 2010, but both are now gone. A key part of the intrigue in this cupcake game against the Murray State Racers surrounds the performance of Will Stein, the new signal caller. If Stein proves to be shaky, freshman phenom Teddy Bridgewater is waiting in the wings, ready to take over. Strong needs a clear number-one guy to take hold of this offense and inspire complete trust in the huddle.

The challenge of replacing four senior offensive linemen will make it harder for Louisville’s quarterback – Stein or Bridgewater – to feel particularly comfortable. Center Mario Benavides will be the anchor of the line and is a Rimington Award nominee heading into the season. Senior Ryan Kessling and redshirt freshman Jake Smith will man the ride side while the left remains in question. Louisville’s coaches will probably pay particularly close attention to this part of the roster against Murray State.

As for Louisville’s defense, it should come as no surprise that in just over a year on the job, Strong – a longtime defensive coordinator – has completely retooled what was one of the worst defenses in college football before his arrival. Strong patiently redshirted some players and even played others out of position in 2010 to better position the team for 2011. Cardinal fans are hoping that these moves pay off in a big way this season – TCU is not yet in the Big East Conference, giving Louisville at least something of a shot in a league with a lot of unproven teams that have all slipped on the banana peel in recent seasons. The Cardinals lost only Rodney Gnat from a defensive line that helped the Cardinals finish seventh in the nation in sacks per game. The Cardinals will have a formidable tackle rotation of Randy Salmon, Roy Philon, Jamaine Brooks, and freshman Jamon Brown.

The back seven has both talent and its fair share of uncertainties. The team’s corners are weak, but the safety spots are solid with Big East Freshman of the Year Hakeem Smith at free safety and junior Shenard Holton at strong safety. The linebackers return intact led by Dexter Heyman and Daniel Brown and were joined by talented freshman Brandon Golson in January. Golson is a rangy, athletic outside linebacker who should see the field early.

Yes, Louisville will want its defense to flourish against an undermanned Murray State squad, but the main points of focus in this lid-lifter to the 2011 season will be the Cardinals’ quarterback and offensive line.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer