Scheme helps offensive line become consistent
The offensive line has been consistent for Louisville football this season. The same can’t be said for years past.
Louisville coach Scott Satterfield credits the offensive scheme for allowing the front-five to gain some traction. The Cardinals are averaging 218.1 rushing yards per game.
“We’re not a team that’s going to spread out and throw it 50 times a game, when you do that, you expose a lot of things,” Satterfield said. “We want to run the football and try to protect them.”
The Cardinal use two schemes in the running game, an inside and outside zone. Satterfield and the coaching staff wanted to get the offensive linemen confident with the zone rushing attack since they arrived.
“They’ve done a really good job of that,” Satterfield said. “That was probably the biggest question mark, in my mind coming into the season, was the offensive line and how were they going to play. They’ve really exceeded expectations up front and we will need them to continue to play well.”
Louisville has continued to develop players along an offensive line that uses rotations to keep players fresh.
Mekhi Becton and Caleb Chandler have started every game on the left side of the line. T.J. McCoy has started six games at center, but Cole Bentley, who started against Virginia at center, has rotated time with McCoy.
Bentley’s versatility has aided Louisville’s offensive line plenty this year as he moves from center to guard spots. Satterfield said Bentley has practiced better in recent weeks, so he was reward with a start against Virginia.
“He is a great story on being resilient and continuing to work,” Satterfield said. “It shows our guys, that when things don’t go your way you can get bitter or you can get better. Cole obviously chose to get better and he started working harder in practice.”
Robbie Bell and Tyler Haycraft have started along the right side.
Adonis Boone has played in the past two games, adding depth to the rotation. He is comfortable playing guard or tackle.
“He is that guy who is kind of a swing for us,” Satterfield said. “He is a young sophomore player, who has a bright future ahead and we are excited about that.”
Renato Brown appeared in three of the first four games, but has the potential to redshirt as a freshman with one potential appearance in a game remaining before he would be ineligible to redshirt.
