Game Day Preview - Louisville

Tweets of the Day

InsideCarolina InsideCarolina 

Britt Offered: North Carolina extended a scholarship offer to junior point guard Nate Britt on Wednesday. bit.ly/pgGZJd

Tyler_Naron21 Tyler Naron 

And Nate Britt is coming to LNWR, with Warren, any other big time recruits wanna come down? Mitch?

Game Day Preview - 

Louisville

Louisville Head Coach Charlie Strong

Is there a better surname for a defensive coach than Strong?  I think not.  Head coach Charlie Strong and Louisville will come into Chapel Hill this weekend with the 20th ranked scoring defense allowing only 16.8 points per game,  the 14th ranked rushing defense allowing only eighty-five yards per game, ranked 20th nationally for sacks per game at 2.75, 1st in the nation in tackles for loss per game with nine, and 24th nationally in total defense.  Needless to say, Charlie Strong has the Cardinals playing some defense.  Or does he?

In football, the saying goes, "stats are for losers."  I like numbers, so I look at them.  Looking at the numbers and national rankings of Louisville's defense, it is impressive, especially the rushing defense . . . until you look at their opponents - Murray State, Florida International, Kentucky and Marshall.  I will ignore Murray State since they are an FCS team.  A look at the points per game average for the remaining three makes the defensive numbers that Louisville has posted very suspect: Florida International - 22.1; Kentucky - 15; and Marshal - 11.2.  Those are some pretty anemic offenses.  In contrast, UNC averages 31.4 points per game.

UL's QB Teddy Bridewater

Additional anemic numbers.  Kentucky is 96th nationally with 116.2 yards per game on the ground or  ranked 103rd with 3.28 yards per carry.  Florida International is more proficient, but still not in the top half nationally at 63rd with 146 rushing yards per game or 4.03 yards per carry (still 63rd in the nation).  Worst is Marshall.  The Herd are ranked 110th with 94 yards per game or 112th national in yards per carry with 2.88 per attempt.  Unlike the rest of Louisville's schedule to date, North Carolina averages 5.19 yards per carry for 22nd best in the country.

The scary part, Louisville's offense numbers.  They have a true freshman under center in Teddy Birdgewater.  While he was a highly touted prospect coming into Louisville, the Cardinals are replacing several offensive starters, so you can expect some inefficiency and inconsistency.   However, Louisville is 105th (out of 120) in the country in offensive scoring with 18.8 points per game.  Based on the schdule so far, I think it is fair to say that they haven't faced a defense as talented as the one they will see on Saturday either. 

Bottom line, this is a game that UNC should win comfortably as long as we come in prepared and play better than we did against Rutgers.  Louisville is a program that is rebuilding, but they have playmakers.  Therefore, they can beat you.  I think we come in ready to play and our defense takes out some frustration after two weeks of GT and ECU on an undermanned Louisville offensive line.

What I Will Be Watching

Tre Boston forcing a strip turnover against ECU

1 - The Secondary.  Does Tre Boston move back to safety with the return of Jabari Price?  Boston added the weight in the off season and committed himself to the transition in the film room and summer camp.  I would like to see that hard work pay off on the field in the position he prepared himself to play.  With the remainder of the teams on our schedule being efficient, pass-heavy offenses, we need to get the secondary playing better football.  I think putting the expected pieces back into place will go a long way toward doing that.

2 - The Defensive Line.  Louisville should be a stat day, but it will only be a stat day for the front seven if they come in ready to play.  Will we be looking ahead to Miami or will we be focused on the task at hand?

3 - The Death Rattle.  Will we come out attacking and put Louisville away quickly or will we allow them to hang around and make it interesting in the second half?  We have learned how to win.  Now, we need to learn how to kill.  Forgive the hyperbole, but you know what I am saying.