Louisville's initial Week 6 injury report reveals a key advantage for Florida State on defense

After pulling off a win over Virginia in Week 5 with plenty of injuries, Florida State will need to do it all over again with Louisville looming this weekend. The first Week 6 injury report has already been made available, and even at full strength, the Seminoles will be entering the game with a number of players banged up. Playing through injuries and adapting quickly can be tough, but Louisville will have to do the same thing, and Florida State needs to take advantage.

The injuries have been piling on this season for Florida State, from starters to backups, and even a few reserve players. The team has never truly played at 100% this season, but that has not stopped the Seminoles from finding success. Each team deals with injuries, however, and it is the job of the opponent to find a way to use those situations to their advantage.

Louisville is also set to enter the game with plenty of injuries, including a few key players who could make the night a lot longer for the Seminoles. The defense desperately needs to build upon its best performance top to bottom in Week 5 against Virginia, and taking away the Cardinals' ground game will be important.

Florida State needs to take advantage of Louisville potentially playing without Cason Henry, Keyjuan Brown

The Cardinals have a handful of players who have already been ruled out for the game, and that part of the injury report has mainly stayed the same over the past few weeks. There are a few new additions to the report that could be important, including starting offensive lineman Cason Henry.

Henry, who is listed as questionable for the game, is a starting tackle for Louisville who has been a key part of the run game for the Cardinals. Florida State improved as a unit defensively against Virginia, but the team still struggles in a few areas. The Seminoles allow 119.2 rushing yards per game, and even with a talented passing attack, the Cardinals are going to try to establish the run.

Without Henry and potentially fellow starter Anwar O'neal, a banged-up offensive line could present plenty of opportunities for the Florida State defense to apply pressure. With 10 sacks last week, the Seminoles can disrupt a quarterback and generate stops, and that needs to be the case against a talented quarterback like Lincoln Kienholz.

Louisville might be entering the game without two starters on the offensive line, but another injury situation to monitor involves running back Keyjuan Brown. Last week, during the loss to NC State, Brown carried the football just eight times and fumbled twice, losing both fumbles. Brown is now listed as questionable for the upcoming game, and losing the leading rusher for the Florida State game would be a tough blow.

The Cardinals have a very solid option behind Brown in Isaac Brown, who has 57 carries for 322 yards and two touchdowns this season. Aside from Keyjuan and Isaac, Louisville does not have a ton of experience at the position.

If Louisville enters the game down a running back, Florida State needs to take advantage by applying additional pressure on the ground. Defending against the Cardinals through the air is always going to be a difficult task, but like in the game against Virginia, the offense is not nearly as dangerous without a consistent rushing threat.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow