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A football team which boasts two Heisman Trophy candidates, a solid group of freshmen and transfers, and 17 returning starters from last year’s 9-3 program, shouldn’t have too much to worry about. University of Louisville Head Coach Bobby Petrino and his team have the potential to become the best football team in school history, and the Cardinals are primed to make some serious noise at the national level.
OffenseQuarterback Brian Brohm returns to lead one of the nation’s top offenses after missing the final two games of last year with severe ligament damage and the subsequent surgery. Despite the absence, Brohm still pulled in a variety of honors as he was named to the Big East All First Team and took home the title of Big East Offensive Player of the Year. The Heisman candidate has since been cleared to play and there does not seem to be a lot of concern about his knee.”He’s healthy,” Petrino said. “He’s been doing all the throw all summer, changing direction on it. Physically, he’s in better shape than he was at this time a year ago as far as his flexibility and strength.”One of the biggest question marks for the Cards will be the guys up front protecting Brohm. Louisville lost three starters on the offensive line but returns Freshman All American Eric Wood at center and two-year starting guard Kurt Quarterman. The Cards also welcome back Renardo Foster at right tackle. Foster started every game his freshman year but was plagued by injuries the past two seasons.Marcel Benson and converted tight end Breno Giacomini will fill the void for the departed Travis Leffew at left tackle.The opportunity to take over the left guard spot has sparked a battle between junior Danny Barlowe and sophomore George Bussey. At media day festivities, Petrino was thrilled with what he has seen out of Bussey. “He’s very strong and he can really run, found out he can get out and pull in both directions.”There is also considerable depth in the O-Line as Marcus Gordon, Brian Roche and Michael Donoghue all may see playing time.Mario Urrutia and Louisville’s other Heisman hopeful, Michael Bush, will serve as Brohm’s most dangerous weapons this year. After red shirting, Urrutia burst onto the scene last year as the Cards’ biggest downfield threat. He was named to second team All Big East and averaged over 20 yards per reception.Bush enters the year with Heisman hopes, as well as the chance to shatter several school rushing records. After setting the single season school mark for touchdowns in a season with 23, Bush is just 819 yards away from breaking Walter Peacock’s career rushing record at U of L. He also needs only eight more rushing scores to break Lenny Lyles’ career touchdown record for the Cards.Kolby Smith and George Stripling combine for over 1,100 yards on the ground while backing up Bush. They may be considered the most dangerous backfield in the land.Starting opposite Urrutia is the 5′ 11” junior Harry Douglas, who is considered by many as the fastest player on the team and should be a nice complement to the lankier Urrutia. Transfers Chris Vaughn (Notre Dame) and Corey Thompson (Duke) add some depth to the receiving core while Gary Barnidge found his niche last year as the team’s top receiving tight end.The wildcard among the receiving core is Georgia Tech transfer Patrick Carter. The junior is listed fourth on the Cards’ quarterback depth chart, but will also see time at receiver, giving the offense yet another weapon for trick plays. Redshirt freshman, Scott Long, and senior special team member, Jimmy Riley, will also figure into the mix for the Cards’ wide out.As if Petrino and company needed another weapon, sophomore full back Brock Bolen could see some significant time in the backfield. The 6-foot, 237-pound Ohio native transferred in from Illinois and is considered a tough runner with good hands, which will be a nice complement to the bruising senior fullback, Deriontae Taylor, who takes on the blocking role.
DefenseDespite the loss of Montavious Stanley and Elvis Dumervil, two key players from last year’s squad, Louisville’s front four will be the anchor for the Cards’ defense.”The biggest thing for us this year is how we develop and use the depth,” said U of L defensive line coach Kevin Wolthausen.Zach Anderson, Amobi Okoye, Adrian Grady and Brandon Cox will make up the starting line, but will no doubt have to give way to the newcomers. Sophomore Earl Heyman saw considerable time last year as a backup tackle and will do the same this year.Several freshmen will also see the field. High profile recruits Peanut Whitehead, and local Manual product, Aundre Henderson, are considered by many to be too talented to sit on the bench. Both will back up the defensive end spot, while JUCO transfer Willie Williams will push Grady in the middle. At linebacker, Nate Harris is considered the top playmaker on the team. After a slow start last year, the senior turned it on toward the end and finished the year with a solid game against Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl. He will be the leader of the defense as the middle linebacker and could be one of the top players at his position in the country.On the weak side, Abe Brown returns after an impressive junior year. Despite missing three games, he totaled over 50 tackles and had an impressive Gator Bowl performance with 10 tackles and a sack.The strong side linebacker position is up for grabs with a number of different players vying for the spot. Terrance Butler has excelled on special teams in the past and may get his chance as a starter with fellow back-up, Malik Jackson, pushing him. Lamar Myles, Preston Smith and Chase Floyd are a few other names that will factor into the linebackers coach Reggie Johnson’s rotation.Seniors William Gay and Brandon Sharp head up the secondary. Gay begins this season as a two-year starter and is considered the stabilizer among a young group of corners. Sharp has been a fixture in the free safety position since his freshman year and teams up with Jon Russell at the strong safety spot. Rod Council starts opposite Gay and comes in after starting every game but one last year. Gavin Smart is the nickel man in his final year, while several more players will vie for time in the secondary, including Brandon Heath, the much heralded recruit from West Palm Beach, Florida.
Special TeamsPlace kicker Art Carmody enters his junior year on pace to break virtually every place kicking record in the books at U of L. Todd Flannery has proven to be a solid punter, averaging almost 41 yards per punt last year. Patrick Carter will take over for the departed Montrell Jones at punt return, while Harry Douglas, Sergio Spencer and PRP product JaJuan Spillman will rotate at kick return.
Shuffling the Cards Louisville has had 10 players drafted to the NFL over the past two years and it could see several more next year. Michael Bush is a lock, barring something unforeseen. Nate Harris, William Gay and Amobi Okoye have the chance to vault themselves into the draft with a solid year, while Renardo Foster may even be on a team’s radar with his tremendous size (6-foot-7, 325 pounds). Hopefully we will not be adding Brian Brohm to this mix. The Cards have several impressive streaks going into the year. They have been to a bowl game eight consecutive years and also hold the nation’s third longest home winning streak at 12 games in a row. In fact, under Bobby Petrino’s regime, the Cards are 16-1 at home, their only loss being a 37-7 thrashing by Memphis in 2004. Only Texas with 15 and USC with 27 have longer home winning streaks.Much like last year, the Cards could be favored in every game they play this year. Questionable games are the home Miami game on September 16 and the highly-anticipated November 1 home match-up against the West Virginia Mountaineers. However, with Louisville’s explosive offense and impressive home record, coming in as the favorite in every game is not that far-fetched.
