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by
Joel Welser
#18 Louisville
Cardinals
Big East
2006 Record: (12-1, 6-1)
Coach: Steve Kragthorpe (1st year
at Louisville, 29-22 overall)
Starters Returning: 14 (8 offense, 4 defense,
2 specialists)
Offensive Starters Lost: RB Kolby Smith, OL
Renardo Foster, OL Kurt Quarterman
Offensive Starters Returning: QB Brian Brohm,
FB Brock Bolen, WR Harry Douglas, WR Mario Urrutia, TE Gary Barnidge, OL Daniel
Barlowe, OL George Bussey, OL Eric Wood
Defensive Starters Lost: DT Amobi Okoye, DE
Zach Anderson, LB Nate Harris, LB Abe Brown, CB William Gay, CB Gavin Smart, S
Brandon Sharp
Defensive Starters Returning: DT Earl Heyman,
DE Peanut Whitehead, LB Malik Jackson, S Latarrius Thomas
Starting Specialists Lost: none
Starting Specialists Returning: K Art Carmody,
P Corey Goettsche
New Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe inherited a talented
team from Bobby Petrino, who is now trying his luck in the NFL. While the
transition between coaching staffs is a concern, the players on the field are
not. And, fortunately for Louisville fans, the schedule works out pretty nicely
for the team to spend some time working under their new coach.
Offense:
Heisman hopeful Brian Brohm will once again lead the
attack. Brohm threw for over 3,000 yards in just 11 games last year and rarely
makes mistakes. As a senior, Brohm is expected to surpass his 16 touchdowns and
five interceptions. With a receiving corps that is not just among the best in
the Big East, but the best in the nation, the passing game will be tough to
stop. Harry Douglas and Mario Urrutia will be known commodities by the end of
the year and the Cardinals have plenty of depth with Patrick Carter, Chris
Vaughn and Scott Long.
After Michael Bush went down with an injury,
Louisville was forced into a running back by committee approach and it generally
worked. However, Kolby Smith handled most of the carries and is now gone. George
Stripling rushed for 459 yards and Anthony Allen added 406 during his freshman
campaign. While both can be effective, thanks in large part to the passing game
keeping the opposing defense off balance, neither are Bush at this point in
their careers. Allen has a knack for finding the endzone and had 13 rushing
touchdowns last year and it is hoped that he, along with Stripling, will step up
and become prolific rushers.
Defense:
Even without Amobi Okoye and Zach Anderson, the
defensive line will be decent. Earl Heyman and Peanut Whitehead return, but the
unit will have to find some help from Adrian Grady, Michael Adams and Maurice
Mitchell. Senior Malik Jackson highlights the linebacker group coming off a
second team All-Big East campaign. While the other starters are gone, Lamar
Myles and Preston Smith are experienced replacements and junior college transfer
Willie Williams has the potential to be a star.
The secondary got beat deep way too often in 2006
and now they will have to replace three starters. Cornerbacks Gavin Smart and
William Gay have run out of eligibility and juniors Rod Council and Bobby
Buchanan are the expected replacements. Junior college transfer Woodny Turenne
will also be in the mix. The safeties have some quality depth and will be led by
Jonathan Russell and Latarrius Thomas. Overall the defense is not that bad, but
they will have to improve if the team wants to live up to their lofty
expectations.
The Bottom Line:
Brohm can carry this team a long way, but he will
need some help. Stripling and Allen have to be productive runners, Grady has to
be a decent replacement for Okoye at defensive tackle and punter Corey Goettsche
needs to be much more effective now that he has a year of experience under his
belt. Where Brohm will get his help is from kicker Art Carmody. The Lou Groza
Award winner last year made 21-of-25 field goals and knocked through all 60 of
his extra point attempts.
Also: Check Out Our Preseason
Interview with WR Harry Douglas |
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