SPORTS

Himmelsbach | U of L defense holding the Cards

Adam Himmelsbach
ahimmelsbach@courier-journal.com

Syracuse, N.Y - Before we get started, we should point out that the last three games have taken place against Florida International, Wake Forest and Syracuse, and the next three will take place against Clemson, North Carolina State and Florida State.

But at this point, all we have to go on is what we have seen. And over the past three weeks, we have seen an impressive defense. We have seen a defense that did not allow a touchdown in any of those three games. That stands out no matter the opponent.

And here at the hardly-full-yet-still-quite-loud Carrier Dome on Friday night, we saw a defense that swarmed, swatted and smothered, just as it has so often in this strange year. The final result was Louisville 28, Syracuse 6. It ended with another frustrated opposing offense and another Cardinals win.

"We just came in with the game-plan to lock them down and stuff," UofL safety James Sample said. "And we pretty much accomplished that."

Pretty much.

Yes, when Bobby Petrino was hired as head coach, many expected offensive totals that looked like pinball scores. But the team's star wide receiver has yet to play a snap this year, the starting quarterback is injured and the offensive line is a work in progress. And so maybe life hasn't quite gone according to plan with that unit.

But when opponents can't score touchdowns, it's easier to overcome flaws. It's easier to linger.

"The first couple of games," Sample said, "we started seeing that we've got to play good on defense to get our offense going."

In this game, the Cardinals' defining moments were two interceptions, two safeties and two defensive stands inside their five-yard line.

Sample provided the first interception in the second quarter, and Gerrod Holliman added the second in the third. It was still a 13-point game then, and one play earlier UofL had coughed up a fumble, and the Orange had finally established some momentum at the Cards' 43. Then Orange quarterback Terrel Hunt fired a pass downfield, and Holliman essentially ripped it away from the Syracuse receiver.

That was his seventh interception of the season, the most in the nation. The sophomore must be considered a candidate for Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year at this point.

B.J. DuBose got credit for one of the safeties when he popped Syracuse's Adonis Ameen-Moore in the end zone after the 234-pound back took an awkward pitch. And the second safety came when backup quarterback Austin Wilson was drilled as he fired a backward pass, which skidded into the end zone, giving the defense its third and fourth points of the night.

But the stops inside the 5-yard line might have been the most revealing of all. On Syracuse's second drive, with the game still scoreless, the Orange had first-and-goal from the 5. That drive unfolded like this: stuffed run, incomplete pass, incomplete pass, field goal.

And then on the first drive of the second half, the Orange trailed 12-3 and had a first-and-goal at the 1. That should be a touchdown 99 times out of 100. But Deiontrez Mount punished Prince Tyson-Gulley for a three-yard loss on first down. And then Syracuse ran two trick plays—two halfback passes. In fairness, one actually resulted in a touchdown that was called back because of a penalty. But when a team is in your red zone and resorting to multiple trick plays, it sort of smells of desperation.

As linebacker Keith Kelsey put it: "Usually, when a team does that, they're trying to find a way, any way they can to score."

And that's where this Louisville defense stands with defensive stands right now. Will Clemson, North Carolina State and Florida State look this confused? Probably not. But they would be wise to take this group very seriously.

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at 502-582-4372 by email ahimmelsbach@courier-journal.com and on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach