One big thing: Louisville's quick game can give Pittsburgh fits

When adversity hits, stick to what you know. 

With so many injury questions for both Louisville and Pittsburgh ahead of tomorrow’s game, the only thing that may seem like a sure thing is the Cards’ quick pass game. U of L running backs Isaac Brown and Duke Watson are both questionable, and the Cardinals will look to their receivers on the perimeter in an effort to get the ball out quickly and make things easier for Miller Moss.

There’s a lot of angst ahead of Louisville’s first road and ACC test of the 2025 season, with plenty of questions after an up-and-down first month of the season. Some of them will be answered tomorrow afternoon, but a point of emphasis on the quick game and using playmakers in space has been evident through three games, and is an avenue towards victory against the Panthers.

Both Louisville and Pittsburgh have an elite pass rush, with each being in the top four in the ACC in sacks through three games apiece. Pitt’s has been the backbone of its defense this fall, leading the league in sacks with 12. As a whole, the front seven has done a good job against the run, holding opponents to 83.7 yards on the ground a game, third-best in the ACC. 

The U of L offensive line has been a bit underwhelming through three games, particularly struggling against JMU. Moss has already been sacked six times, a number that was 15 at the end of last season with Tyler Shough under center. The o-line has taken a step back this fall, but still has room to figure things out with a shortened rotation and plenty of versatility amongst the room to move guys around. At Pitt, the line will have to play well if the Cards are going to win, but again, Louisville will have to do some things offensively to make it easier on the front five. 

The speed at Louisville’s skill positions could give Pittsburgh’s secondary problems in open space. In the Panthers’ lone power-four game of the season, a loss at West Virginia, they really struggled to contain and bring down players in the flats and perimeter through the pass game. 

Pat Narduzzi has always run an aggressive defensive style with athletic corners, who excel in press coverage and are physical. But this year’s Pitt secondary is young and has allowed 7.1 yards a reception. Against the Pittsburgh defense, quarterbacks are completing 68.9 percent of their passes. That’s second-highest in the ACC. Narduzzi’s defensive back room isn’t as deep as it has been in recent years. Senior transfer Rashan Murray, who is questionable, has really struggled off the bench and has been picked on. Shawn Lee Jr. and Josh Guerrier are both freshmen backups who could also be exploited. 

After James Madison’s blitz-heavy scheme, Louisville adjusted against Bowling Green by getting the ball out of Moss’s hands early and making reads simple for the senior quarterback. There’s been discussion this week about using Caullin Lacy at running back with all the injuries, and while, yes, we’ve seen it for certain packages, using Lacy in the perimeter passing game and getting him in open space is paramount.

“I thought Miller Moss executed well, threw the ball accurately, and did a good job there,” Jeff Brohm told the media Monday on the BGSU win. “There were a couple of things here and there that he could do better, but we’ve recognized that.”

“Like, get the ball out of his hands versus the blitz and doing things like that, maybe we could do that a little bit better. We got better on the offensive line, recognizing and playing overall. There’s still some elements we have to clean up without question.”

Moss is at his best when he’s commanding drives down the field and is decisive under pressure. He’s not strictly bound to one read, but it makes decisions easy for him, where he doesn’t have to make erratic plays. When the 6-foot-2 signal caller plays opportunistic, not reckless, football and is working the quick game, this offense can get into a really good rhythm. His ball is almost always on time and accurate if he has a clean pocket and a good read.  

Not that Louisville shouldn’t take chances down the field, but if the quick game is working, it should open things up for Bell and other players deep. 

Lacy has been electric to start the season and is coming off a 280 all-purpose yards game last week. He and the running backs will have to make a difference in the passing game if Louisville is to beat Pitt.