Satterfield: Miami defense causes havoc

Louisville football wants to finish the season off strong, and it starts with Miami, Cardinal head coach Scott Satterfield said. Louisville faces Miami in a conference road game Nov. 9 following a bye week.

Louisville has a shot at bowl eligibility in a game between two five-win teams.

After facing two of the conferences best defenses in consecutive weeks in Clemson and Virginia, Louisville plays another one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s (ACC) best defenses. Miami holds opponents to 18.3 points per game.

Miami uses an aggressive defensive scheme, using its secondary in predominantly man-coverage, which allows for one-on-one opportunities on the outside, but adds pressure for opponents.

“They’re right up there with some the best we’ve played this year, how they cause havoc in the backfield so they disrupt the running game with the penetration up front as well obviously as the passing game because you hold the ball, you get sacked,” Satterfield said.

Miami defensive end Greg Rousseau is tied for second nationally in sacks with 12 for a defense that Satterfield thinks flies around the field. The Hurricanes have the 12-ranked rushing defense, allowing 97.8 yards per game.

“That side of the ball is extremely impressive,” Satterfield said. “Starting up with their four d-linemen. The defensive end leads the league in sacks and tackles for a loss, very long, explosive player, but their d-tackles get a lot of push as well.”

Louisville averages 218.1 rushing yards per game, but the Hurricanes have allowed just three teams to rush for over 100 yards this season. Miami goes into the 3:30 p.m. kickoff following a 27-10 victory over Florida State last week and has a two-game winning streak.