SPORTS

U of L-Miami: 5 things to watch

Jeff Greer
@jeffgreer_cj
Louisville running back Michael Dyer gains yardage during a scrimmage game on Saturday at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. (By David Lee Hartlage, Special to the C-J) Aug. 16, 2014.

The Sept. 1 season opener between Louisville and Miami is now just a couple days away, and the teams have started their full game preparations for Monday night.

Predictions are starting to come out, and we'll have our preseason ACC power rankings up on Friday, so why not start our pre-game guide now?

Here are 5 things to watch in Monday night's showdown at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium:

1. Is Michael Dyer healthy? This isn't No. 1 by coincidence. Having an explosive, shifty, strong running back in the fold for Louisville would be huge. Having a healthy explosive, shifty, strong running back in the fold could be a difference maker. Dyer, the 2011 BCS championship MVP, has been fantastic in spring and preseason practices, and his playmaking added an element to U of L's running game that it needed. He's considered questionable by Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, so keep an eye out for him on Monday night.

2. Brad Kaaya and Will Gardner's debuts. They're both making their first college football starts, but the situation feels different for Miami's Kaaya and Louisville's Gardner. Kaaya is a true freshman, playing on the road. Gardner's been in PJCS and studied behind Teddy Bridgewater for two years. I expect both to start shaky. But how they respond to those butterflies is pivotal.

3. U of L's front seven vs. Duke Johnson and his O-line. Look, I picked Louisville to win for a bunch of reasons, but the main one is that I think Miami will struggle passing the ball. That puts a lot of pressure on 'Canes running back Duke Johnson and his talented and big offensive line to churn out some yards. They'll get theirs, I'd say, but how much they get is a different question. Johnson is a game-changing talent.

4. Dividing DeVante's duties. Louisville's receiving corps, tight ends and running backs all have to pitch in to make up for the Cards' losing a first-round NFL talent in DeVante Parker. He is irreplaceable, and even Beyonce knows that. But U of L can make up for him with speedy playmaker James Quick and a 6-3, 244-pound Gerald Christian at tight end. Those two guys are now the focal points of the passing game. And see No. 1 for the whole playmaking thing.

5. What can Louisville's safeties focus on? If the defensive front doesn't occupy double teams and the linebackers are forced into one-on-one situations with Miami's O-line, that opens up huge running lanes for a guy like Johnson. If he's running wild, that means the safeties (Terell Floyd, Gerod Holliman and James Sample) have to come downhill and help. And once that starts, the deep routes and soft zone spots behind the corners and near the sidelines become awfully spacious. Louisville doesn't want that.