Louisville football: 3 things we learned from their win over Purdue

2. The Louisville secondary will improve as the year goes on

The Louisville Cardinals defense did well in the game, at least on the defensive line. The defensive line allowed just 28 rushing yards in the game and limited the Boilermakers looks in the running game.

The Louisville secondary made the Purdue quarterbacks look pretty impressive, at least for a moment. David Blough and Elijah Sindelar handled the Cardinals defense and their pressure pretty well. Blough was 18-for-26 with 175 passing yards and two touchdowns. When Sindelar did return to the game, he finished up 13-for-27 with 111 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.

The Boilermakers finished with 156 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns on the day. It didn’t help the defense that the offense turned the ball over three times, either. Field position also played a role in the Boilermakers ability to hold the lead in the game. Over time, the Louisville Cardinals defense figured things out. In the second half, the defense set a new tone getting pressure on quarterback David Blough and it worked.

They forced three interceptions in the second half, including a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Stacy Thomas. It didn’t help they lose cornerback Jaire Alexander to a leg injury, but injuries are a part of the game.

They have youth they can rotate in and in Week One, it’s worth the risk to use it now so players like safety C.J. Avery can gain experience too. The Cardinals are looking to be a top-ranked team. Top-ranked teams aren’t one-dimensional on defense, they dominate on both the run and the pass.