5 thoughts from U of L football scrimmage

Saturday's full-squad scrimmage gave us more insight into where Louisville football stands just 16 days before its season opener against Miami on Sept. 1.

U of L coach Bobby Petrino seemed optimistic after the workout, saying that while there's obviously still work to do, Louisville "got a lot accomplished."

Here are five quick takeaways from this morning's scrimmage. We'll also have a full report of the exhibition and a positives/negatives comparison. But first, some thoughts:

1. The offense can move the ball -- fast. There was, once again, a major emphasis on pace. Not quite the no-huddle, rush-to-the-line type stuff, but still a heavy importance placed on quick communication, quick line up, quick snap, quick release. That speed made the defense look porous early on before a few late plays salvaged the rough defensive start. The offense never appeared rushed, and the running game fit right in with the vertical passing game. What I mean by that is the speed with which handoffs and bursts came, the backs got into their full pace after one move and ate up big chunks of yardage in flashes.

2. Communication's a work in progress. I'll touch on this more in the positives/negatives look, but there were still some kinks. There were a few either wrong routes or wrong throws that resulted in what should have been two interceptions but resulted in one. There were a few pre-snap penalties as well.

3. Floyd gives Louisville options.

Put Terell Floyd at safety and that position of need is stronger. Put him in the slot in the nickel formation and that allows impressive junior-college transfer James Sample, a former four-star high school prospect, to get on the field. And although Floyd himself got banged up a bit at practice today, if there are injuries at corner, he can go back there and help.

4. Chucky Williams may have earned some playing time. He spent some time in the spring with the first-teamers on defense, but the redshirt freshman from south Florida was mostly a backup in the first week of open practices. On Saturday, he was ever-present in the secondary, both in man or zone. He dropped an interception early on in the scrimmage, but it's hard to argue with his decision to look back at the right time and stop chasing his man on a poorly underthrown ball. He then snapped up a pick off a deflection later on and laid down the lumber on Eli Rogers on a red-zone pass. At 6-2, 200, he can either be a big, physical corner or fit in at safety.

5. Reggie Bonnafon has the potential to be a star. With freshman back LJ Scott and sophomore receiver James Quick as his main target, the Louisville native Bonnafon has been nothing short of exceptional for a freshman in his first college camp. Sure, he made a few mistakes today, but the guy who some thought should switch to receiver or another position seems very much like the next QB at Louisville after Will Gardner.