I played but a single year of organized football, as a JV DL at Atherton HS.
More than a half century ago, when players wore hip and knee pads and helmets that were a concussion waiting to happen, in the
age of the Straight T-Formation, when they still gave us salt tablets in the August heat to prevent sweating.
I claim no expertise.
But I watch a lot of football. And have attempted to get some sense of the game beyond my abject fandom of the sport.
During the Louisville Cardinals games, I monitor the stats as they accumulate, attempting in my feeble way to detect trends. To discern what may work or not in any given situation of consequence.
So, at 10:46 pm Saturday night, in overtime with winter afoot both meteorologically and pigskin-wise, when the singular play will present itself that shall define the entire campaign, here’s what I am thinking:
The Golden Bears essentially have three ballers who have been the main perps of this upset about to come.
Do everything possible to see they are not the guys to beat you.
Jason-Keawe Sagapolutele confirmed his burgeoning rep as a frosh phenom. The QB flamethrower from Hawaii had to that moment completed 29 pass in 46 attempts for 320 yards and a TD. His throws were darts, on target, and in most every case where U of L’s defenders couldn’t stop them.
Louisville’s D had 3 sacks only and hurried him just three other times in the night’s creeping chill.
I’m thinking, there’s only thirteen yards for receivers to run routes, for U of L’s secondary to cover, so pressure the hell out of the rookie. (Whether that’s the correct critical thinking for the situation or not I frankly do not know.)
Of those completions, 15 had been to Jacob DeJesus for 155 yards. About such a performance it is oft writ, the other team had no answer. One big catch after another.
I’m thinking, double cover the guy, from the moment of the snap, make somebody else beat you.
Also put a spy on Kendrick Raphael, just to make sure. The Cal RB, their third threat, had 83 yards in 19 carries.
I needn’t reiterate to Louisville fans what happened.
U of L did not bring the house. Though J-KS took a short drop on a quick hitting play, and it might have been of no consequence.
U of L did not double team DeJesus. Who was wide to the left, and feigned a crossing route after the snap. His sole defender bit. The receiver cut outside, and undraped upon grabbed Sagapolutele’s missle just across the goal line, just inside the out of bounds line.
Ballgame. 26-29.
U of L’s second league loss, putting it behind Georgia Tech, Virginia, Pittsburgh, SMU and Duke, all of whom have but one blemish.
Season for all intents and purposes.
Goodbye legit shot at the league title.
Hello Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.
After the game, Jeff Brohm:
One receiver got open whenever he wanted to and that was not a good plan to cover him.
The disappointment is when they throw to one guy that much and you don’t have a plan to cover him better, and you don’t cover him better, even at the end to allow their best player to be one-on-one for an easy throw in the corner.
Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.
— c d kaplan
