LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
2013 College Football Early Preview
OFFENSE - 7
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 10
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Scott Radcliff-WR, Andrell Smith-WR, Nate Nord-TE, Alex Kupper-OT, Mario Benavides-C
DEFENSE: Daniel Brown-LB, Adrian Bushell-CB
QB Teddy Bridgewater
Quarterback / Defensive Backfield

Teddy Bridgewater is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in all of college football. He is a legit Heisman Candidate. If Louisville lands in the ACC for 2013, he is good enough to make his team a preseason favorite to win the conference. A secondary ranked 19th nationally in pass defense continues to be anchored by two All-Conference safeties.

Offensive Line / Running Back

The blockers up front have found difficulty opening holes and protecting the quarterback. If Louisville wishes to compete against better competition this unit needs to improve by leaps and bounds. The running backs have not proven to be game breakers. They at least need to keep defenses from pinning their ears back to get to Bridgewater. They will be better here next year with every ball carrier returning.

DB Calvin Pryor
* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2013 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
LOUISVILLE 2013 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Teddy Bridgewater-Jr ..
RB Jeremy Wright-Sr Senorise Perry-Sr (inj.) / Corvin Lamb-So
WR Eli Rogers-Jr ..
WR DeVante Parker-Jr Charles Gaines-So
WR Damian Copeland-Sr Jarrett Davis-Sr
TE Ryan Hubbell-Jr Chris White-Sr
OT .. ..
OG John Miller-Jr ..
C .. ..
OG Jake Smith-Jr ..
OT Jamon Brown-Jr Ryan Mack-So
K John Wallace-So Matthew Nakatani-Jr
 
LOUISVILLE 2013 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Marcus Smith-Sr B.J. Butler-Sr
DT Roy Philon-Sr Jamaine Brooks-Jr
NT Brandon Dunn-Sr ..
DE Lorenzo Mauldin-Jr Deiontrez Mount-Jr / B.J. Dubose-Jr
SLB George Durant-Sr Champ Lee-Sr
MLB Preston Brown-Sr ..
WLB Keith Brown-So James Burgess-So
CB Terell Floyd-Jr Stephan Robinson-Jr
CB Andrew Johnson-Jr Jordon Paschal-Jr
SS Hakeem Smith-Sr Jermaine Reve-So
FS Calvin Pryor-Jr ..
P Ryan Johnson-Jr ..
QUICK TAKES

    12/18/12

  • Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is a legit Heisman Candidate that continually gets overlooked playing in the Big East. He is performing at peak levels manipulating defenses, shaking off broken wrists and sprained ankles, working against little pass protection at times while posting 3,452 yards passing with a 25:7 touchdown to interception ratio. He also spreads the ball around looking for the open man. Eleven receivers have at least 10 catches.
  • The running game needs a ton of work. Louisville still lacks a big play running back capable of going the distance and the offensive line gets pushed around rarely opening workable holes. Jeremy Wright and a potentially healed Senorise Perry are likely the same answers for toting the rock. For Louisville to take a step forward the front wall has to get better while losing two full-time starters.
  • The line of scrimmage has been a sore spot on both sides of the ball. Defensively there are issues stopping the run and the Cardinals rank at the bottom of the Big East in sacks and tackles for loss.
  • A huge bright spot will continue to be in the defensive backfield where All-Conference safeties Hakeem Smith and Calvin Pryor reside. Despite the lack of ability to generate a pass rush this group has remained more than formidable.
  • Despite some of the negatives, Louisville has a ton of experience coming back from a Sugar Bowl team and Charlie Strong can obviously flat out coach. The reason Louisville can rise this high in the preseason has much to do with those two things and Teddy Bridgewater behind center. And the fact the schedule is light regardless of whether they play another year in the Big East or land in the ACC for 2013.
  • A bold prediction, but if Louisville begins play in the ACC for 2013, they will likely be the team favored to win the whole ACC enchilada. Bridgewater won't take a back seat in this league to anyone, including Tajh Boyd.

 

LOUISVILLE 2013 SCHEDULE

Aug. 31 - Ohio
Sept. 7 - Eastern Kentucky
Sept. 14 - at Kentucky
Sept. 21 - Florida International
TBA - Memphis
TBA - Rutgers
TBA - San Diego State
TBA - UCF
TBA - at Boise State
TBA - at Cincinnati
TBA - at Connecticut
TBA - at South Florida