Louisville camp notes: Saturday's full-squad practice
The re-installation process began again on Saturday, with Louisville learning the same part of the playbook that the Cards worked on over Tuesday's workouts.
Needless to say this practice went a lot crisper. Will Gardner's taken full control of the offense, and the receiving weapons have sped up in the past 48 hours. Michael Dyer once again looked explosive and decisive, and the receiving corps is starting to look like a group that'll live up to the preseason love it received.
This was, of course, the first chance to see the entire squad together, and that was enough to draw some 150-200 fans (I'm really bad at estimating this but I think I'm close here) to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The weather was perfect, with a little overcast to keep it from getting too hot.
According to my friend Howie Lindsey, there will be a full-team scrimmage on Tuesday. Practices this week are closed to the public and, unfortunately, the media. We will check in with players and coaches this week once practices are over and do our best to deliver at least some semblance of information about those sessions.
Fan Day is next Saturday, and there will be an open scrimmage then.
This Saturday, the practice was another tick up in intensity, and another test, especially for the new guys, of how well they could retain the playbook. There were some miscues but the team again looked sharper than the day before.
Probably my favorite drill to watch on Saturday was this:
I find the passing windows in an offense fascinating because I'm cool like that. In the drill they ran today, one quarterback took a pseudo snap while four others pretended to be defensive linemen and walk toward the quarterback during his drop. Two others stood out on either flank. OC Garrick McGee had the quarterback in the drill keep his eyes on him as he dropped back. One of the two flankers would flash his hands, and that's where the throw had to go.
Anyway, here's the rest of what I saw on Saturday.
DAY 3 MORNING STANDOUTS
Once again it's Will Gardner. Has to be. He's looked clear and away like the starting quarterback the past three days after a shaky start to camp. To steal an old TV cliche, Gardner put one ball where only DeVante Parker could get it on a 10-yard out. He repeatedly made all the throws and looked very much in control.
James Quick deserves a note again, this time for running a nice route into a soft spot in the zone and catching a ball for a good 20-yard gain. Gardner found him.
Parker looked really solid again, too. As did TE Gerald Christian and RB Michael Dyer.
Gerod Holliman had his moments at safety. He had a sure-fire pick during 11-on-11s but he dropped it. I'm sure the staff will take him being in position in the first place.
NOTABLE
It's worth noting here that Keith Brown, considered one of the most talented players on Louisville's defense, moved up to the first-team defensive unit on Saturday. He had been working behind Keith Kelsey, who had a strong spring while Brown rehabbed from an ACL tear he suffered last fall.
We saw a little bit of offensive versatility on Saturday. U of L lined up in an offset I-formation at one point, using freshman LJ Scott at fullbuck. Christian and Keith Towbridge stacked the right side of the line, and Gardner ran play-action to free up Christian down the seam for an easy pitch-and-catch touchdown pass.
Side note: I wish this was an on-field competition on game days:
QUOTABLE
"When he first got here and we were going through spring, we weren't on the same page a lot. He would call a play and look at me like, 'You don't realize why I call this play. This guy's going to be wide open.' You really have to be on the same page as him and learn from what he's telling you." -- QB Will Gardner on working with new Louisville coach Bobby Petrino
INJURY UPDATE
I didn't see linebacker Stacy Thomas, who served as a backup to inside backers Keith Kelsey and James Burgess the first four days of practice, at Saturday's full-squad workout. Petrino said Thomas suffered a hand injury at the afternoon practice on Friday and they weren't sure if he was 100 percent.
Also, for the second straight day, I haven't seen defensive tackle Dominique Dishman. Danny Burns and Kyle Shortridge practiced today after ending their Friday morning sessions a little earlier than the rest of the group.
