Louisville Defense Presents FSU with Unique Challenge

Taking a look at the Louisville Defense, an elite group that FSU must solve in Thursday’s game.

Following a bye week, the No. 2 Florida State Seminoles take to the road for a new challenge on Thursday, as they’ll play Louisville for the first time as an ACC foe. This is also the Seminoles’ first Thursday night game since 2012, and their first trip back to Louisville since suffering a 2002 overtime loss. Storylines abound, and perhaps the most important battle will take place when the efficient ‘Nole offense lines up against a Cardinal defense that has been incredibly strong this season.

To begin, it’s incredibly difficult to move the ball against UL. Actually it’s the country’s toughest defense to gain yardage against: Louisville allows just 245.8 yards of offense per game, the best mark in the country. The Cards are also effective where it really matters, keeping opponents off the scoreboard, as they surrender 14.6 points per contest, the fourth-best national average. They’ve held Clemson to 23, NC State to 18, and Miami to 13. The key here is Louisville’s red zone defense– opponents score just 70% of the time (the No. 9 red zone defensive percentage in the country). More impressively is the Cardinals’ red zone touchdown-allowed percentage, which, at a stingy 30%, is the nation’s best.

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FSU has struggled to establish its rushing attack this year, of course, as it’s 106th nationally running the ball. Rushing yardage could be tough to come by against UL as well. Jimbo Fisher today revealed that Mario Pender was still questionable for Thursday, and Louisville, meanwhile, has the country’s No. 3 run defense, as opponents register just 68.75 yards per game on the ground against the Cardinals. And the Cards are tough to beat for the big play: they’re tied for tenth, nationally, by only surrendering 23 rushes of 10+ yards through eight games.

Things may not be much easier for the ‘Noles through the air. UL leads the country in interceptions, with 15, and 6-2, 213 lb. Miami-native Gerod Holliman has more picks than any other player in the land with eight. The Cards’ pass defense is No. 12 nationally, allowing 177 YPG, which has helped them to the second-best opponents’ third-down conversion rate (23.97%) in the country. Louisville defenders have broken up 35 passes this season, the fifth-highest national total.

Strong defensive line play has been the backbone of the UL’s impressive defensive showing. The Cardinals have the second-most sacks in the nation, with 28, and they’re fifth in the country with 60 tackles for loss. Leading the way is defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin, who has six sacks and 11.5 TFL.

It goes without saying that there don’t appear to be any major weaknesses in the Louisville defense. In front of what will certainly be a raucous Devil’s Night crowd, it will behoove FSU to stay on schedule, play a clean game, and hope Jameis Winston picks up where he left off against Notre Dame.

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