Story by
The Birds Eye View – S2F8
- Story by
- The Birds Eye View – S2F8
Season Two of the Weekly Newsletter covering the Cards most recent contest. Double clicking on the newsletter will allow for full screen viewing and zoom functionality on mobile device.
Mobile Friendly Version
We have a problem. It's not necessarily a new problem or a previously undisclosed problem, but it is a problem, nonetheless. This Louisville Cardinals football team has an offense that is more explosive than any other team in the country, this is not hyperbole, but a statistical fact, and they also have a defense that can make (insert name here) look like an NFL caliber quarterback on any given week. It's not fixed, and likely will not get fixed in 2026. Now, while some of you may have been panicking late in the second quarter Saturday, I never went full clench, because I saw the offense was moving the ball at will, and frankly the Stanford offense was not going to keep ripping off 50 yarders every drive (I hoped). The game was not in question for me, but the results of mid-season adjustments, communication, coaching shifts, and so on for the defensive unit proved to make minimal impact in the grand scheme of things, and this offense is likely going to go to waste a great season with little to celebrate a month from now. I'm a glutton for punishment, which means I'm still spending nights and weekends tracking games and playing out all 752 scenarios to see which offers the best path for the Cards to sneak into the ACC Championship, but my friends, the math and the odds are not in our favor. The staff, the players, they can all keep a one game mindset, but I'm scratching and clawing looking for any way to backdoor into a shot to walk out of 2026 with something other than disappointment and frustration…again. The life of a fan.
Advertisement
OFFENSE While I don't think my eleven year old son fully appreciates the Billy Madison reference, after nearly every single Isaac Brown house call I whip out the line 'Man, I am glad we called that guy'. The return of Isaac got off to a bit of a slow start in 2026, but many didn't know he lost a close family member right before the season, and openly admitted his mind was not where it should be and he struggled to focus on anything else. Sometimes things like football can seem pretty meaningless in the grand scheme, but other times it can be the one thing to get your mind off of some heavy topics. Isaac is currently 10thnationally in average yards per carry (7.68), and Top 5 nationally in runs going for 50+, 60+, 70+, 80+, and 90+. The homerun hitter can strike at any time, and the balance of him and Keyjuan have opened up the passing game for Lincoln and his speedy partners in Richardson, McCoy, and Hurry. Louisville is averaging more yards per play (7.81) than any team in the nation right now and are Top 5 nationally in points per game (40.4) and touchdowns (43). It may not be smooth sailing all the time, but this offense can compete with anyone, and has grown into quite the machine as the season has worn on. I understand competition has taken a dip since the first four games, but I'd love to see the staff do everything they can right now to start to secure a lot of these guys for 2027.
DEFENSE I always wait a couple days before typing this because I want to digest the game, rewatch the whole thing if possible, and not write on pure emotion or just spew elation or frustration five minutes after the final whistle. I've tried for a few weeks to buy into the hype that the wristbands, and the press box posse' and the addition of Jeff into the mix would create new wrinkles, but I'm just swimming upstream daily. Yes, I'm not blind to the second half adjustments, I see the renewed sense of energy, but folks saying "take away those long plays and it's a whole different game" is quite frankly on the silliest things I've heard. Don't you think other teams are thinking the same thing about Louisville, the most explosive team in the country? The problem is those big plays count the same as a 15 play 85 yard drive, and we continue to give them up every single week. At some point the staff has to get tired of seeing the same mistakes and make a large scale adjustment. If that means new blood in key positions so be it, but I can't watch another season of unbalanced football. Last year the offense couldn't carry their weight, and now the defense finds themselves in the same position. Unfortunately, I think the culprit is similar. Key positions not meeting expectations, and poor scouting of talent as it relates to depth. There is lots of money on this side of the ball, and the results are embarrassing.
SPECIAL TEAMS Every week. Blame the players if you want, but the players change, and we look foolish year after year in this phase of the game. Not universal, but plenty to critique.
-
Continue to run the ball out on kickoffs, continue to start behind 25.
-
Opponent FG, 93% (133rdnationally) no press.
-
Opp punt, 43yd/p, (73rdnationally), no press.
-
Punting, 40yd/p (125thnationally), no field flip.
-
Field Goals, 66.7% (103rdnationally)
-
PAT success, 92.9% (125thnationally)
-
Penalties in all phases, keeping their drives alive, and forcing our offense to start inside 20
-
Shout out Keller for touchbacks
-
Shout out Hazzard for another punt block.
It's almost like cleaning this up could help win some of these one score games
