Everything You Need To Know: Louisville

By: Kris Wright |
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Mike Moore and the Hoos are searching for a road win. ~ Ashley Thornton/aft phtography

So it’s come to this. The Virginia football team, stuck at 3-6 on the season, must win out to avoid a losing record for the fifth time in six years. In order to do that, the Hoos will have to break two dubious streaks: 14 straight losses on the road and 11 straight losses to Virginia Tech.

Despite those uphill odds, the Cavaliers are trying to stay focused on the next game.

“The most important game is this game here. It is an away game and we want to get back and have the opportunity to win ACC games on the road,” UVA coach Mike London said. “Obviously the most important game is this one. I’m not counting up how many wins – this is the biggest one, the biggest game for us. Then after that game you look to the next game. Right now, it is another ACC game. Our seniors and everybody are very much into the preparation it takes to get ready for a very good team and to go on the road. Take these close games, and we’ve had a couple at home, take these close games on the road and come out and win these close games.”

With that, here’s Everything You Need To Know about the Louisville game.

Essentials

Game Nuggets

  • This is the fourth meeting between Virginia and Louisville. The Hoos lead the series 2-1.
  • This is UVA’s final road game of the 2015 season. The Cavaliers have lost 14 straight on the road.
  • Virginia played for the first time in Kentucky in 1898 against Vanderbilt. UVA won 18-0.
  • Louisville has won 5 of its last 6 games this season and needs one win to reach bowl eligibility.
  • Louisville’s senior class owns a record of 37-11 during its career.

Spotlight On Louisville Cornerback Trumaine Washington

Louisville has won 5 of its last 6 games with the only loss coming 41-21 at Florida State. In that game, the Cardinals surrendered 510 yards to the Seminoles. Over the past three games, however, Louisville’s defense has been stingy, allowing a paltry 210.3 yards per game. Part of that success can be attributed to sophomore corner Trumaine Washington.

Washington shined in last week’s 41-17 win against Syracuse. He posted a career-high 12 tackles, including 4 tackles for loss. Washington also posted a pick-6 interception when he took a pass to the house in the second quarter. That pick is part of a trend in Louisville. The Cardinals have 41 interceptions over the last two seasons, the most interceptions in the nation over the last two seasons.

Considering that Matt Johns has thrown 14 interceptions this season, including a pair of the pick-6 variety against Boise State, it will be important for him to protect the ball against Washington and the Card secondary.

“Trumaine is a tremendous competitor and very, very coachable,” Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. “It’s been fun to watch him grow and get more confident, you know, each year and each game. I remember last year when he was out there as a true freshman and was playing extremely hard, but wasn’t sure of himself. Just to watch his confidence grow and the fact that he’s a very knowledgeable football player now.”

Match-ups To Watch

Virginia running backs Taquan Mizzell and Daniel Hamm vs. Louisville linebacker James Burgess. In recent weeks, UVA has seen its running game improve and consistently create some yards on the ground. Mizzell and Hamm have been the focal point of that attack along with Olamide Zaccheaus on sweeps as a receiver. The backs may find it hard to find openings and get yardage at the second level against a stingy Louisville defense led by Burgess. Burgess is second on the team with 70 tackles, while Fields has 42 stops. Burgess has started 38 games in his career. The Cardinals have allowed just 42.7 yards rushing per game over the last three games.

Louisville receiver James Quick vs. Virginia corner back Wilfred Wahee. Quick missed some games early in the season, but has returned to be the most dangerous receiving threat for the Cardinals. He’s caught 25 passes for 409 yards and 4 touchdowns with a team-high 16.4 yards per reception in the six games since his return. All 4 scoring receptions have covered at least 18 yards, including a pair of 30-yarders. That could be bad news for the Hoos, who have given up 13 touchdowns of at least 24 yards this season. Last week, Miami receiver Stacy Coley beat Wahee on a slant pattern that turned into a 67-yard touchdown so Louisville may try to isolate Wahee again this week in search of a similar play.

Virginia tight end Evan Butts vs. Louisville linebacker Devonte’ Fields. The Cavaliers have included the tight ends in the game plan more in recent weeks and that could be a good strategy against Louisville. The Cardinals play a 3-4 defense most of the time so it’s possible to create a tight end match-up with a linebacker on the back side by showing play action and moving the pocket. That’s where Butts could get free against Fields and company. Butts has averaged 11.7 yards per catch.

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UVA needs more big scoring plays on the road. ~ Mike Ingalls

Kris’ Keys

1. Turnovers. Virginia remains one of the nation’s worst teams in turnover margin. The Hoos are 116th nationally. Louisville, meanwhile, isn’t much better at 71st. If either team can create an advantage here, it could be a factor in the outcome.

2. Explosive plays. You read this every week for Virginia’s defense, but UVA’s offense hasn’t come up with a home run touchdown on the road this season other than a late 32-yard touchdown catch by Canaan Severin late in the game at Pittsburgh. In the three home wins, the offense has touchdowns of 39, 26, 80, 36, 30, and 24 yards. The Hoos need more points to win a road game and big scoring plays are a way to do that.

3. Don’t be conservative. Bring out all the stops. With Mike London’s tenure seemingly in its final days, don’t save any tricks.

The Pick

Virginia can win if … it scores touchdowns not field goals. That’s a broken record thing with this offense, though. UVA is tied for 112th nationally in red zone touchdown percentage (48%). Of note, Louisville isn’t much better at 97th (53.7%).

Virginia can lose if … it can’t cover in the secondary. Louisville quarterback Kyle Bolin went bananas against Syracuse in his third career start. In a 41-17 win over Syracuse, he completed 24 of 35 passes for 362 yards and tied his career-high with 3 touchdown passes. The Hoos have shown some vulnerability with pass defense so if Bolin gets rolling again, look out.

And the winner is … Louisville. On the road again, will the Hoos ever win again? Not this week. Cardinals 35, Hoos 24. 2015 record to date: 7-2.

2 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. Like the idea of using the Tight Ends but I think there was only 1 ONE throw to the Tight Ends.

    Considering how the Cardinals used their Tight Ends, I just have no idea why we ignore opportunities that are obvious even when watching the game on a TV set.

  2. I think there were 2 more attempts (1st and goal after the fumble was the same play for Evan Butts that he scored a touchdown on early) and one somewhere that Matt Johns threw the ball away because Louisville stayed home. Still, your point stands in general.

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