The Rushing Huskies

Friday night Louisville fans will see a battle of early season heavyweights. Connecticut can boast that they have the sixth best rushing offense with 279.0 ypg and the nation’s leading rusher. Then on the other side of the ball you have the Cardinal defense who is the nation’s second ranked rushing defense. Through 3 games Louisville has only allowed 42.0 yards rypg and 1.88 ypr.

The Huskies have made off a living rushing the ball this season. Connecticut’s Donald Brown is the nation’s leading rusher with 719 rushing yards, and the nation’s second leading scorer with 10 touchdowns. What Louisville has to watch for is Huskies’ QB Tyler Lorenzen running the ball out of the pocket. Lorenzen has rushed for 222 yards on the season and 2 touchdowns.

On the other hand, Connecticut’s passing game is nothing to be afraid of. The Huskies have the 107th passing offense with 142.0 ypg, and they are 103 in interceptions thrown with 6. Louisville doesn’t have the greatest passing defense in the world, but they have only allowed 201.0 ypg passing. After four games UConn has yet to have a receiver total 100 yards receiving on the season. The leading receiver so far is Ellis Gaulden has caught 8 passes for 91 yards. There is not really a true #1 receiver the Cards have to worry about and that should benefit Ron English’s secondary.

Connecticut is 4-0 so far, but they are not a standout team Louisville has to fear. Connecticut has failed to put together a consistent passing attack against their previous three foes. Those foes haven’t been the greatest defensive teams either which includes Hofstra, Temple, Virginia, and Baylor. The Cards have 13th ranked defense in nation after 3 games. Louisville has to work to limit UConn’s big plays after giving up two scoring plays of 50 yards or more in the fourth quarter against Kansas St. If Louisville can limit UConn’s rushing attack Louisville has a very good chance of taming the Huskies.