All Entries Tagged With: "Ron English"
Lack of Creativity Succumbs 28-20
If there is doubt about what Bobby Petrino left in terms of talent and problems, there is little doubt that he left a good nucleus of football fanatics. That contribution alone outweighs much of the negativity surrounding his legacy. Somewhere between 35,000 and 38,000 UofL fans on hand, looking for something positive during the rebuilding phase. Nice showing considering the circumstances.
– Card fans saw a living, breathing bandwagon in the visitors’ section where there were actually 2,000 - 3,000 Bearcat fans. More than have traveled to Louisville combined in all the years this observer has been following UofL football, and that’s a lot of years. More Bearcat fans at Papa John’s last night than have been at Nippert Stadium for many UofL-UC games in the past.
– Ron English is the UofL coach who inspires confidence in fans that he knows what he is doing. Can’t say too often how much the defense has improved since last season and since the beginning of this season. Most impressive.
– For almost four quarters, a University of Louisville football team teased its fans with the prospect of a win over a top 25 team. Probably would have accomplished it with with less predictable play calling. Calling a draw play for Brock Bolen on third down and 23 early in the fourth quarter is not going to get it done. How many times has Bolen been stopped with with only a yard to go?
– Cincinnati knew exactly what the UofL offense was going to do on their last fourth-and-one in the fourth quarter, lining up two deep right over the center for the inevitable quarterback sneak. No surprise, no gain. Insulting to the Bearcat defense. Insulting to Card fans. Embarrassing for Eric Woods and Hunter Cantwell.
– When the typical fan knows exactly what plays the coaches are going to run in crucial situations, you know a well-coached opponent is going to take advantage. The lack of any consistency in the running and passing games has allowed defenses to focus on a below average quarterback, pinch the ends, and force Cantwell into desperation hell.
– Special teams are not special. When Trent Guy lines up for a kickoff return, you have reason to be excited. But he’s not lining up. Got injured again somewhere on a mysterious play in which nobody saw him get injured. The Brock Bolen phenomenon, mysteriously disappearing in the Pittsburgh game. Wouldn’t be near as frustrating if you saw the actual injury. Where’s Brock. Oh, he’s injured again. Where’s Trent? He must have an injury. Where’s Victor? Never mind.
– UofL fans have been blessed with good passing teams over the last couple of decades. Always a bright spot even when the Cards were considered fodder for good or mediocre opposition. That tradition has been relegated to the scrap heap this season. The odds of restoring any semblance of that aspect of the game are not good.
– With their post-game comments, the UofL coaches and players have indicated that they are experts on why they are not winning football games. Real credibility, however, comes in showing that you actually know what it takes to win.
Gloom, Despair and Pittsburgh 41-7
An embarrassing afternoon of football for the University of Louisville, reminiscent of the bad old days when Card fans harbored no illusions about ever becoming a nationally respected football program. This one is felt most by the pre-bandwagon jumpers who saw a program rise from the junk heap of the old Fairgrounds Stadium to the top 10 at Papa John’s. Was that even real?
You really have to feel sorry for all the fans who made the trip for the game, the most optimistic and faithful of all Card fans. They didn’t deserve what they got, undeniable confirmation that Louisville football has reached bottom, all over agan.
– Coach Steve Kragthorpe’s expression after Hunter Cantwell’s Christmas-gift lateral to Pittsburgh was one of total despair. Sorry, nowhere to hide, Coach. Life has bitch-slapped you in the face, and your ears are ringing. That dull roar you hear is the sound of the told-you-so’s warming up, ready to lambaste you and anyone who says anything positive about UofL football.
– Special teams play went south of the Equator: Automatic 10-yard penalties for UofL on every kickoff reception for those blocks in the back. Cliffhangers on every punt reception. Fair catch? How about just catching the ball. Who coaches those special teams anyway?
– As for Hunter Cantwell, he should be history. The stats indicate that he had only one pass intercepted but at least six others were in serious jeopardy. Hunter is one of those guys who would never lose an intramural game, making you wonder why he never did well in college. He showed why today. If there’s a bad decision to be made, he makes it. Even when he does throw a good pass, the would-be receiver drops it half the time. Wasn’t meant to be. Time to move over, Hunter, hand the ball (don’t lateral it, please) to Matt Sims.
Sorry to disrupt the flow here but have to end on a positive note about Ron English’s unit, which had perhaps one of the most impressive displays by a UofL defense in years. Holding LeSean McCoy, a back averaging 126 yards per game, to only 39 yards rushing was an impressive feat. That was one good thing to build on for the future, whatever that holds.
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Don’t Get Carried Away Just Yet
All too easy, it is, for diehard University of Louisville football fans to embrace all of the enthusiastic talk from team members during the pre-season. You know, new attitude, new team chemistry, new talent, all that rah-rah talk. Things are going to be different this year, for sure.
One certainly wants to believe it, to write off last season’s 6-6 won-lost record as an aberration. One welcomes the fact that the players will have accepted Steve Kragthorpe’s system, that Kragthorpe has managed to weed out the malcontents. The players certainly seem to respect him and believe in the system, wanting to make it work, turn things around. That’s a big part of the battle, and having the talent to go with the attitude is essential.
There is talent, considerable talent, on this year’s team, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The sobering fact is, however, that only seven total starters return from the offense and defense last season. The difference between raw talent and proven talent is immense.
And don’t look now but the fact is that a coaching transition continues this year, with new coaches being added in key positions on offense and defense. Jeff Brohm, as offensive coordinator, and Ron English, as the defensive coordinator, may be great coaches but with so many new players, some significant challenges (i.e., problems and opportunities) are inevitable.
Give it time to work.
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A New Pitino Book –Rick Pitino is out with another book, this one entitled, Rebound Rules, The Art Of Success 2.0, co-authored by Pat Forde. We think that means Pitino did all the talking and Forde did the writing. If there’s nothing in the book about Forde’s rebound from his suspension for his malfeasance in reporting U of L to the NCAA, that’s definitely the case. Pitino will be signing the new book this weekend at Carmichael’s Book Store, 1295 Bardtown Road, from Noon till 4 p.m. It’s a customer appreciation cookout, which probably means free food as well.
Football Coaching Carousel
Louisville football coach Steve Kragthorpe appears to have corralled an impressive group of assistants, with Jeff Brohm, Ron English, Ted Roof, and Ken Delgado, all with impressive career track records. Somebody once said that if you want to be a successful boss, you should hire people smarter than you. Whether that applies here is up for debate, but these coaches will sure make the boss look smarter next season.
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Anthony Allen is still looking around for a new football team today after U of L denied the request to be released from his letter of intent so he could consider Arkansas. Good. Apparently the Allen family thought U of L would seriously consider an action that would give former coach Bobby Petrino access to former recruits. Petrino must have thought so because he was undoubtedly communicating with the family. Not sneaking around, not our Bobby.
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Southern Mississippi receives this observer’s vote as a candidate for filling out U of L’s 12-game schedule next season. U of L and Southern Miss had a good rivalry going before the Cards joined the Big East. Indiana needs a game, too, but the IU administration doesn’t want a game in Bloomington where the opposition attracts more fans than the home team. Other teams needing a game include Oklahoma, Illinois, Virginia Tech and Brigham Young.
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The Lady Cards’ basketball team has lost two games in a row but the fun may just be beginning. They entertain the No. 1-ranked UConn women with a 14-0 won-loss record Saturday afternoon at 4 at Freedom Hall. It’s pack the house night for U of L. Coupons for free tickets are available at all Kroger stores in Louisville Metro. The adrenaline will be flowing, be there.
