Louisville's Offensive Line Off to Dominant Start for 2023 Season

The Cardinals are among the national leaders in sacks and tackles for loss allowed through the first three weeks of the season.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - So far this season, the offensive side of the ball for the Louisville football program has gotten off to a hot start. Through three games, the Cardinals currently have the No. 9 offense in FBS football with an average of 528.7 yards per game, and their 38.7 points per game average is good for 32nd nationally.

Having experience at quarterback and explosiveness at the skill positions has certainly helped Louisville get things going offensively early on in their first season under first year head coach Jeff Brohm. However, an incredibly dominant start to the season by the offensive line has played a key role to the Cardinals' success on that side of the line of scrimmage.

"It's been good to have a pretty decent start to the year," offensive tackle Eric Miller said. "(Offensive line) coach (Richard) Owens, (graduate assistant Noah) Fisher and (quality control) coach (Dale) Williams do a great job getting us prepared every week."

Through three games, Louisville's offensive line has allowed just three sacks and eight tackles for loss. The Cardinals are tied for 19th nationally for the fewest sacks given up, and are tied with Air Force for second in all of football for the fewest tackles for loss allowed. Michigan currently has the fewest at seven. Louisville has also paved open some massive holes for the running backs, allowing them to rush for 251.7 yards per game, which is 4th in the nation.

While there have been times where the blocking up front hasn't been perfect, such as in the second half vs. Indiana or second quarter against Georgia Tech, the line has made a ton of progress from where they were earlier this year. Back in spring ball, those who watched the open practices could tell right away that the offensive line was an area of need in the spring transfer portal window.

Fortunately, Brohm also saw this. Following the end of spring ball, Louisville brought in five offensive line transfers, including two - Miller and Willie Tyler, who came over from Purdue and Rutgers, respectively - who are currently starting for the Cardinals. Even with a lot of newcomers infused with not a lot of time until the season began, this unit quickly gelled together in fall camp, and they have parlayed that into the season.

"I think for a group of guys that really just came together in the beginning of June, all of us getting together, we have a lot of a lot of camaraderie," Miller said. "A lot of guys who have played a lot of football, like I've said. A lot of guys who want to see this team have success, and it's not necessarily about individuals. We understand that, and want to keep putting our best foot forward, and continue to improve every single week."

Louisville's starters on the line - consisting of transfers Miller and Tyler, plus returners Bryan Hudson, Michael Gonzalez and Renato Brown - have been particularly dominant. According to Pro Football Focus, out of this group's 874 combined total snaps played and 468 combined pass block snaps played, they have allowed only 24 quarterback pressures, one quarterback hit and zero sacks.

Having a bulldozing line with depth has certainly been a plus, but so far this season, Louisville hasn't really tapped into said depth much. They did play 17 total lineman in the blowout win over Murray State, but in the games against Georgia Tech and Indiana, the starters played every single snap.

Brohm has noted that he wouldn't mind trying get more guys involved, and Miller certainly doesn't mind having to play every snap if that is what he is called to do. But Miller also says that getting other guys snaps to give the starters a break "wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."

"We definitely have the (starting) personnel to do that," he said. "We have a really deep room, a veteran room, a lot of guys who have played a lot of football. That's kind of the way the game went.

"If we can get more guys in there, absolutely. We definitely have the guys to do it who know the system. JP (Flores), Austin (Collins), Josh Black, Tre (Sylvester), guys who are definitely capable. To get more guys in the game would be great. To get a little break wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but I don't mind playing whatever is asked. Whatever the task at hand is, whoever is called upon, everyone's ready at any given time. We'll see how it plays out on Saturday."

Louisville is set to face Boston College next for their first home ACC matchup of the year. Kickoff against the Eagles is set for Saturday, Sept. 23 at 3:30 p.m. EST from L&N Stadium.

(Photo of Jack Plummer, Bryan Hudson: Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

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