Even after sleeping on it — on a new Thuma with a new Avocado mattress (no sag, good support, boffo sleep) — I remain in a state of confusement.
Against the nation’s #2 Miami in a rockin’ Hard Rock, a unit
that hadn’t given up a first quarter TD all year, normally by the basics Jeff Brohm had his Cardinals trickerate down the gridiron to score on the game’s opening drive.
Wildcat sets. Three QB sets. Double QB sets. Sleight of hand. Quick drops. Quick hitters. Fake FG.
The names also did their thing. Miller Moss 4/5, 27 yards. Isaac Brown 2 carries, 39 yards.
The maligned Offensive Line — I’m as guilty as piling on that crew as any — looked right.
The Ron English’s Game Ball-winning D proved it wasn’t to be messed with.
Three and out.
Upon which switch of possession, U of L did it again on a short field, thanks to Caullin Lacy’s 17 yard punt return.
After a quick three yard bullet which Chris Bell gathered, he dashed 35 more to the endzone.
At 5:09 of the 1st Q, Louisville 14, Miami 0.
Take that, Booger McFarland, who told Tony and Mike on PTI that Louisville had no chance. (Mea culpa: I frankly agreed.)
The Cards never trailed.
U of L 24, The U 21.
* * * * *
My confusion isn’t how the Cards won.
Before last night in South Beach, they’d wheezed and wobbled and swerved and swayed. And lost a game they should have won.
Even with the injuries and portal adjustments and finding themselves space, the Cardinals essentially had provided little realistic evidence that they had Friday Night Light’s performance in ’em.
No, my bamboozlement is Where Has This Team Been?
* * * * * *
How last night’s game was won, dominated even, is less difficult to understand.
D. Fence.
The Canes were held to 63 yards on the ground on 24 carries. 2.6 y/p/c. Longest: 12 yards.
Louisville’s oft disparaged D Secondary had it’s best game in . . . a long time.
That Heisman frontrunner Carson Beck was picked FIVE times. (That’s right, but only four counted. One was nullified by a roughing the passer call.)
JoJo Evans.
Jabari Mack.
Antonio Watts.
And the game sealing, gold plated Game Ball nail in the coffin pick by T.J. Capers.
Which was a diving, twisting, vice gripping act of beauteous legerdemain.
I guess that was Carson Beck seen sobbing in his Lamborghini after the L.
* * * * *
Offensively, Jeff Brohm was innovative. That early on play set mystification had Miami backtracking all night.
Plus Brohm astutely set aside his propensity for long down field routes and throws that would have put Miller Moss in peril. Quick hitters.
Credit goes to whoever devised the scheme that turned putative Mel Kiper DL first rounder Rueben Bain into a literal non-factor.
As in the guy had ONE tackle, no sacks, no breakups, no QBHs, no TFLs.
The Offensive Line obviously gets credit for effectuating that scheme. As well as finally opening enough holes for the run game to be an important cog in the victory.
Isaac Brown had 113 yards on 15 carries.
Chris Bell had 9 catches for 136 yards and two tallies.
Miller Moss was steady.
So was Louisville.
— c d kaplan
