U of L's defense also excels in spring game

Though Lamar Jackson's eight-touchdown performance stole the show at the University of Louisville spring football game on Saturday, the Cardinals' first-string defense also had an encouraging day.

With contributions from veteran and emerging starters alike, the Red (starting) defense allowed only 181 yards by the White (reserve) offense in the 73-7 victory. The Red recorded three interceptions and 12 tackles for loss and denied the White team on 13 of 14 third-down tries.

"Our defensive line kind of dominated the No. 2 offensive line, making it hard to move the ball," said coach Bobby Petrino, who sometimes let the White team keep possession after a three-and-out or a turnover just so the Red defense could get more reps. "There wasn't much room out there to do a whole lot, which is what you want. You want the No. 1 defense to go three-and-out most of the time."

The White team, which had former starting quarterback Kyle Bolin behind center in the first half and walk-on Ethan Horton in the second half, mounted only 78 passing yards on 30 attempts. The Red's only lapses were on a 65-yard touchdown run on the first play of the third quarter by Malin Jones, who broke multiple tackles, and a 56-yard carry in the first half by Jeremy Smith, who was sprung by a big block downfield.

Excluding those long plays, the Red allowed only 70 total yards on 55 White plays, an average of 1.3 yards per play.

Louisville Football Spring Game Highlights (2016) | ACC Videos

Petrino said 6-foot-5 senior Josh Harvey-Clemons, who plays both strong safety and U of L's slot DB/outside linebacker "star" position, made things hard on him as a play-caller for the White offense because he presents a matchup problem in pass coverage and can stop the run. Harvey-Clemons had two tackles for loss, including a sack.

Three players who are positioned to be starters for the first time next fall – inside linebacker Stacy Thomas, outside linebacker/rush end James Hearns and end Drew Bailey – were among the statistical leaders for the Red defense, which played without injured outside linebackers DeVonte Fields and Trevon Young.

Thomas, a former four-star recruit who has replaced James Burgess apparently without a hitch this spring, tied for the team lead in tackles (seven) and tackles for loss (2.5) and was singled out by Petrino for his "really fast, really physical" play and pass coverage.

Thomas would be a new starter, but he's a veteran already, having seen extensive playing time when Burgess was injured last spring, when Keith Kelsey was injured against Florida State and Kentucky last season and when Burgess was ejected on the first play against Texas A&M.

"His ability to replace James Burgess is something that's really important to us, and he showed all the skills that he'll be able to do that," Petrino said.

Hearns, another former four-star recruit, had a team-high two sacks and tied Thomas with 2.5 tackles for loss, looking poised for a bigger role. He could take over the starting end position vacated by Pio Vatuvei or join the outside linebacker rotation with Fields and Young (if Young can return from major hip surgery).

Bailey, a former junior-college transfer who's replacing Sheldon Rankins, had two tackles for loss and was praised by Petrino for controlling the line of the scrimmage.

The Red nickel defense to start the game was mostly the same as it had been during recent public practices – Bailey at end, DeAngelo Brown at tackle, Hearns and Jonathan Greenard at end/outside linebacker, Thomas and Keith Kelsey at inside linebacker, Chucky Williams and Dee Smith at safety, Harvey-Clemons at the star and Trumaine Washington and Jaire Alexander at cornerback.

Tackle/end Chris Williams, a midyear junior-college transfer, was regularly part of the Red rotation up front. Johnny Richardson, Kyle Shortridge and G.G. Robinson, who played on the White defensive line, also figure to be in the main rotation next season.

The only surprising change in the Red starting lineup was sophomore Alexander at corner instead of junior Shaq Wiggins, who played on the White team.

U of L's Petrino: 'I like high expectations'

Wiggins, a starter all last season who may be the team's best pure cover corner, had not participated much in Louisville's recent scrimmages, Petrino said, so he needed to play with the No. 2s on Saturday.

Even if the move was only temporary, it was probably a sign that the staff views Alexander as ready for more playing time. A part-time player as a true freshman last year, he also has worked some this spring at the hybrid star position that Harvey-Clemons usually occupies.

Smith, who was Louisville's highest-ranked signee in the 2015 class, according to Scout.com, has been playing as the first-team free safety for the past couple weeks, allowing junior returning starter Chucky Williams, who had seven tackles Saturday and is considerable a reliable cover man and tackler, to move to the more physical strong safety position.

"I think (Smith and Alexander) are ready, and they've come along," Harvey-Clemons said. "Dee had a great spring, a lot of interceptions. So did Jaire, and he's playing two positions. They're learning and improving, and they're only going to help us going forward."

As for Alexander specifically, "he brings speed," Harvey-Clemons said. "In the slot, there's a lot of fast receivers, a lot of quick-twitch receivers, and that's what he brings. He can cover a lot better in the slot and give us better matches."