 #40 Louisville Cardinals Preview Peter Stein checks in with his views on the personnel and how the Louisville Cardinals may fare this coming season after going .500 in 2007. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS HEAD COACH - Steve Kragthorpe 2007 Record - 6-6 (3-4 Conference) 2007 REVIEW It was not the happiest of seasons for new coach Steve Kragthorpe, who replaced the departed Bobby Petrino. The Cardinals fell to mediocrity after contending for a national title and winning the Orange Bowl a season earlier. Louisville's nine-year streak of Bowl invites ended, as did its 20-game home win streak. And the Cardinals lost to state rival Kentucky for the first time since 2002. Perhaps the worst number for Louisville in '07 was the team’s national defensive ranking of 84. TEAM MVP Though defensive improvement is imperative, the Cardinals' success or lack of it will probably result from the play of starting quarterback Hunter Cantwell. Brian Brohm is now property of the NFL, so Cantwell finally gets his chance, after he spent three seasons caddying for Brohm. Cantwell has already made four starts for the Cardinals, and has 10 touchdown passes on his Louisville resume. Now a fifth-year senior, Cantwell brings a Howitzer of a right arm to the starting lineup. He has the smarts and work ethic to be a great player. OFFENSE Quarterback Expect to see quite a few Sports Center highlights of Cantwell's arm on display. Who those passes are going to, and who Cantwell hands off to, are other matters altogether. Running backs Kragthorpe might look at this position on his depth chart and write a big question mark next to it. The Cards have yet to replace Michael Bush and Kolby Smith, two dependable runners from the Petrino era. Anthony Allen looked like a strong contender early last season when he rang up a 275-yard game, but he is no longer with the program. Sophomore Bilal Powell could emerge as a star this fall after finishing strong last year. Senior Brock Bolen is the most experienced runner, but he specializes in bread and butter. The flash may well have to come from Powell or redshirt freshman Victor Anderson. Wide Receivers/Tight Ends Yikes. Louisville's top three pass catchers - Harry Douglas, Gary Barnidge and Mario Urrutia - have moved on after combining for 159 receptions, 2,315 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Two juniors, Trent Guy and JaJuan Spillman, were supposed to provide speed, but that changed in one July 4th weekend. Spillman was arrested for DUI, marijuana possession and carrying a concealed deadly weapon, resulting in his dismissal from the team. Guy was shot in the back near a downtown Louisville nightclub, and though he is expected to fully recover, his playing status is uncertain. Kragthorpe’s remaining options at the position include 6-3 senior Chris Vaughn and 6-2 junior Scott Long (27 receptions in '07), who provide height that Guy (5-9) and Spillman (5-10) did not. On that subject, freshman Josh Chichester is an imposing 6-8, 224. Sophomore Doug Beaumont might be given Kordell Stewart's old nickname "Slash". Beaumont can contribute as a receiver, runner, punt returner, even on defense. But receiving may now be a priority because of the team’s current situation. Defensive lineman Johnnie Burns has been converted to the tight end position and will start there in '08. OFFENSIVE LINE This should be a fairly solid unit. Senior center Eric Wood (6-4, 309) should help Cantwell sleep better on Friday nights, as should senior tackle George Bussey (6-4, 306). Protecting the left side makes Bussey one of the team’s most crucial links to success because Cantwell throws right-handed. C.J. Millenbah (6-4, 295) and Byron Stingily (6-5, 300) were two of nine juco transfers signed by the Cards this past offseason, and it’s likely they will help fill out the line. Keep an eye on sophomore Jeff Adams, a beast at 6-8, 318. DEFENSE This was the team’s cornerstone in 2006, when Amobi Okoye terrorized Big East offenses. Last year’s crew surrendered 31.4 points a game, allowing 96 more yards per contest than the previous year. So the fact that seven defensive starters - including all three linebackers - are gone, may actually be a good thing. Ron English, formerly Michigan’s defensive backfield coach, takes over as Louisville’s defensive coordinator. English may need to be a hearty soul if the Cardinals’ defense can’t improve substantially this year. DEFENSIVE LINE English will have at least one quality player up front in senior tackle Earl Heyman, a returning starter who brings size (6-3, 285) along with experience. Junior L.D. Scott (6-2, 268) and senior Maurice Mitchell (6-3, 272) will line up at the end positions. Senior tackle Adrian Grady rounds out the starters, and should pester offensive linemen with his 6-2, 305-pound frame. James McKinney (6-2, 274), a transfer from Michigan, may get some consideration due to English’s familiarity with him. LINEBACKERS No one from last year’s linebacking unit could be described as the second coming of Tom Jackson, and now, that ’07 trio has moved on, leaving Kragthorpe and English with a serious reconstruction job. Like the o-line, the linebacker position has received an infusion of juco talent, led by Chris Campa (6-2, 220) from national champion Butler County Community College of Kansas. The other two starting roles will likely be filled by a pair of seniors – James Bryant (6-3, 257) and Mozell Axson (6-1, 243), who provide the bulk Campa lacks. SECONDARY Senior free safety Bobby Buchanon is the stud of this group, but he needs support, because the Cards gave up more than 250 passing yards per game last season. If Latarrius Thomas can return to his ’06 form after injuring his knee last year, he could be a great complement to Buchanon. If not, senior Richard Raglin or juco transfers Justin Matthews and Josh Riley should get looks at the strong safety position. Cornerback Woodny Turenne, considered the country’s best juco transfer in 2007, needs to play up to his potential. Senior Travis Norton or sophomore Johnny Patrick will man the other corner spot. SPECIAL TEAMS Punter Cory Goettsche returns for his junior season, but if he can’t best the 38.9-yard average he posted in ’07, Kragthorpe may have to start looking for help elsewhere. Ultra-reliable kicker Art Carmody won’t be back, leaving sophomore Tim Dougherty as the team’s most experienced option. All the other potential candidates are freshmen. Guy was slated to return punts and kickoffs. Beaumont now seems a likely choice to handle those duties. 2008 OUTLOOK The Big East earned national attention in ’06 when Louisville, West Virginia and Rutgers harbored national title hopes until late autumn. And though the conference wasn’t quite as significant last year, it remains one of the nation’s toughest. For Louisville to have any chance at contending this season, Cantwell needs to have a big year, the receiving corps needs to stabilize, a running game must emerge, and English must instill fire in the defense. Considering all that’s unsettled with Louisville, the team would do well to match last year’s .500 mark.
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