2007 Louisville Cardinals College Football Predictions & Season Preview
June 5, 2008
Brian Brohm’s golden arm should deliver his best results as a senior. It could lead the Cardinals to a National Title if they can get by West Virginia undefeated. In three years, Brohm has thrown for 41 touchdowns passes to just 12 interceptions accounting for 6,571 yards. Brohm will be working with Lindy’s top-rated receiving group, led by Harry Douglas and 6-6 Mario Urrutia.
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Douglas capped his season with a 10-catch, 165-yard performance in the Orange Bowl. He posted a career-best 70 catches for a school record 1,250 yards last year. Patrick Carter was slowed by an injury last year, but he is back. He and speedy sophomore Scott Long have the talent to put up numbers like Douglas and Urritia. They won’t this season, but a bright future is ahead for this young combo. Tight end Gary Barnidge is also a pass-catching force. Barnidge posted 31 catches for 511 yards and four TD’s last season. The Cardinals passing attack will be exciting to watch in 2007.
The backfield is also deep. Anthony Allen runs well between the tackles, scoring 13 D’s on the ground. George Stripling is a huge key outside as he usually makes a big play if he can turn the corner. Brock Bolen averaged 6.2 yards on 48 carries last year and is a proficient blocker as well. New coach Steve Kragthorpe will be stressing balance. Louisville’s team speed will stress defenses to the point where a weakness should always be available to exploit. If the skill players aren’t already deadly enough, Louisville has one of the most talented lines in the country. Center Eric Wood and left tackle George Bussey lead the way. Both were first-team All-Big East in 2006.
Louisville’s front four will be built around Deantwan Whitehead and a senior group of linebackers. Lamar Myles, Preston Smith and Malik Jackson fill out the linebacking corps with Jackson being the leading returning tackler. Whitehead is athletic and will be getting many double teams. He had 16 tackles and four sacks in a backup role last year. Junior tackles in Adrian Grady and Earl Heyman will dominate the middle, while senior Brandon Cox will be looking for a breakout year opposite Whitehead.
Malik Jackson took down 16 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Myles had a team-high three forced fumbles and will be the middle man in the linebacking group. Coordinator Mike Cassity wants to see the team’s interception output improve from the 12 they had last season. Only three players picked off passes. Only one of those studs is back in free safety Jon Russell, who had three interceptions.
Bobby Petrino took off for the NFL and left behind possibly the best team he would have ever had as a head coach in college football. But the NFL money was not a bad choice and it’s hard to blame him. New man Steve Kragthrope has to be ecstatic over this Top-10 squad he is taking over. The defense should be fine, but if the Cardinals have to win by shootout, so be it. Just like last season, Louisville should be in the hunt for a national title.
