Louisville's Running Backs 'Critical' to Early Offensive Success

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Heading into Jeff Brohm's first season as the head coach of the Louisville football program, many anticipated the Cardinals to feature a high-flying passing offense in year one of his tenure. Given his track record of prolific pass-heavy offenses during his time at Western Kentucky and Purdue, and with Louisville overhauling their wide receiver room, this was a fair assumption to make.

While the passing game has had its fair share of explosive moments over the first two games of the 2023 season, the Cardinals' running game has been the biggest offensive catalyst behind Louisville's 2-0 start to the year. In fact, Brohm has called their rushing attack a "critical" component of their offense, and gives them so many more options as a play caller.

"It’s nothing more as a play caller than asking who are our best playmakers, and let’s make sure they get their touches," Brohm said. "Whether that’s running backs, tight ends, receivers, they have to get their touches. If we’re any good coaches at all, that is the simplistic way of doing it. It’s just making sure the ball hits their hands. ... Getting them in the game is critical and making sure that we’re aware who is in there and what they do well. When the game is over, their hands need to be on the ball so many times. Otherwise, I’ve not done a good job as a coach."

Two games is undoubtedly a small sample size, but there's no denying the level of early success Louisville has had when opting to run the ball. Through the first two weeks of the season, the Cardinals are averaging 285.5 yards per game and 7.32 yards per carry, both of which are third in the FBS and second in the Power Five to UCF. Their seven rushing touchdowns on the young season is also tied for fifth nationally.

The success when running the ball has been partially assisted by a gameplan that has been much different than expected to start the season. Historically, Brohm has been a coach that has thrown the ball many more times than he has ran it. Just last season at Purdue, the Boilermakers averaged 41.6 passing attempts per game to 33.3 rushing attempts.

However, it has been the complete opposite approach to start the season. In two games and 143 offense plays, Louisville has ran the ball 78 times and attempted 65 passes. Brohm noted that, while the passing game will still play a heavy role in this offense, he has learned over the year the important of the ground game.

"I've learned over the years in order to win at a high level, you need to be able to do both," he said. "Now, some games will dictate what you have to do more of and what you don't have to use more of, but you have to at some point be able to do both. ... You have to be able to run the ball. There are certain times in third and short, goal line, when you have a lead, you have to be able to run the ball. So I just think you have to be able to do both, and that's what the great teams can do."

Of course, it also helped to have a plethora of talent at running back. Louisville's efforts when running the ball primarily focus around three running backs, but it's spearheaded by Jawhar Jordan. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound all-purpose back has had a white-hot start the season, collecting 231 yards and three touchdowns on just 14 rushing attempts. The speedster is the current FBS leader in yards per carry by a wide margin at 16.5, and is the only player in the FBS to have multiple 70-plus yard runs.

"At this size just, you just got to play fast, play hard and be relentless," Jordan said. "That's basically what I do, and I don't take the game for granted. Each and every play, I just play as hard as I can."

Jordan isn't the only running back for Louisville that has impressed early. Coming over from Wisconsin this offseason, Isaac Guerendo has made an impact on the offense as well. As the biggest running back on the roster at 6-foot-1, 225-pounds, Guerendo has been a good change-of-pace back for Louisville with his hard running early in the season. He's second on the team in rushing yards with 90 on 17 attempts, but also has the most receiving yards at the position with 60 on five catches.

Then there is Maurice Turner, who has a mix of traits from both Jordan and Guerendo. He ran for just 30 yards and seven carries against Georgia Tech in the opener, then had to miss the home opener against Murray State, but he has already proven to be a capable commodity after having a strong finish to his true freshman campaign last season.

While the three backs on the roster are openly competing against each other for snaps, it's a very tight knit group. Instead of viewing it as a situation where they could lose valuable playing time, the backs try and lift one another and trust the game plan that Brohm and his staff put together.

"We just elevate each other's game," Jordan said. "We let each other know if we're doing something wrong on the field, just keeping each other accountable each and every day. We just try to make each other better."

Running backs coach Chris Barclay said that he is "tickled to death" by the early success that his position group has had. On top of that, he commends his group for not only the approach they have when it comes to sharing the load with others, but their win-first mindset regardless of what the game plan is.

"As a running back, every time they make plays, it's like I make plays with them," he said. "My spirit is out on the field with them. It's just fun to see them embrace the games, and be able to step up in big moments for the team. We just want to win games.

"Ultimately, whatever it takes to win, we're about that. I think it's one of the more unselfish units I've been a part of. They just care about doing whatever's best for the football team. If that requires that we need to pass the ball 40 times to win, then we're going to be great in pass protection. If that requires us to be a little bit more reliant on the run, then we're certainly ready for that challenge as well."

As well as Jordan and Co. have performed over the first two weeks of the season, they have a stout test awaiting them in week three when they take on Indiana. Through two games, the Hoosiers have allowed just 107.5 rushing yards per game, including holding No. 3 Ohio State to only 143 yards on the ground.

While Brohm has had success against IU in the past, going 4-1 against them during his time at Purdue, Barclay knows that the Hoosiers will be a tough test for the running backs.

"There's a few plays that we feel good about and we've had success on them, but they're always well coached. Disciplined," he said. (Indiana head coach) Tom Allen is a defensive guy, so they take pride in the side of football and we understand that. We understand we need to be even more sharp and attentive to detail this week.”

Kickoff against the Hoosiers from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind is set for Saturday, Sept. 16 at 12:00 p.m. EST.

(Photo of Jawhar Jordan: Jeff Faughender - Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK)

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