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Louisville Football: 5 takeaways from Cardinals’ spring 2018

By Connor Muldowney

LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 25: Dae Williams #25 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats during the game at Commonwealth Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 25: Dae Williams #25 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats during the game at Commonwealth Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Louisville football has a new look heading into the 2018 season, but we got a small taste of the Cardinals this spring. What’d we learn about the Cardinals?

Heading into a new era without Heisman-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson, Louisville faces plenty of questions before the 2018 season.

Spring ball answered some questions, but there are still some concerns as well as obvious strengths heading into 2018. Bobby Petrino may not have a do-it-all quarterback to fall back on, but Jawon Pass may not be far off of what Jackson was.

The Cardinals have the potential to make some noise in the ACC, but only if that defense improves and gets back to its stingy ways.

What’d we learn from the Cardinals this spring?

5. Defense could be an issue in 2018

This defense is a far cry of what it was just a few short years ago when it proved to be one of the stingiest in the country. However, since joining the ACC, the Cardinals have struggled to maintain that defensive prowess.

The 2018 season could see the same issues as the Cardinals are losing plenty of pieces in the secondary, including star cornerback Jaire Alexander, and that could mean passing yards will be handed out to opponents in 2018, seeing a major uptick from 225 per game in 2017.

Jawon Pass isn’t yet at Lamar Jackson’s level and he was able to pass for over 340 yards and three touchdowns without throwing a pick, leading his team to a 42-13 win in the scrimmage. That’s not a recipe for success moving forward and the defense has some re-tooling to do.

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