Previewing Louisville’s Defense

We continue to examine this week’s matchup with Louisville with an in depth examination of the Cardinals impact defensive players.  In case you missed it, be sure to check our Louisville skill position preview.

Defensive Line

• Defensive End Sheldon Rankins 6’2″/303 lbs (28 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 Sacks)
• Nose Tackle DeAngelo Brown 6’1″/308 lbs (17 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 Sack)
• Defensive End Pio Vatuvei 6’2″/296 lbs (11 tackles)

To run a 3-4 defense effectively, the defensive line has to be able to occupy a lot of space, and create a significant push.  This unit does just that.  Rankins is the unquestioned headliner of the group.  Pro Football Focus listed him as the 8th best returning prospect in all of college football.  Rankins will start the game lined up at end, but will routinely shift to the interior throughout the game.  Vatuvei and Brown are talented players in their own right, but do not present the type of challenge that Rankins does.

Keys to Containment

Every snap, Sheldon Rankins is going to have to be accounted for.  The line will need to adjust to him on a play-by-play basis.  Rankins has more of an interior lineman skill set, which is a good match up for NCState Left Tackle Joe Thuney.  The Pack’s offensive line will need to generate an early push for the run game and set the tone early.  Also due to the nature of Louisville’s defense I would not be surprised to see Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada run some interesting plays with unbalanced lines.

Linebackers

• Outside Linebacker Keith Brown 6’1″/237 lbs (20 tackles, 1 TFL)
• Inside Linebacker Keith Kelsey 6’1″/236 lbs (40 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 Sacks)
• Inside Linebacker James Burgess 6’0″/229 lbs (34 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT)
• Outside Linebacker DeVonte Fields 6’4″/245 lbs (20 tackles, 4 TFL)

This is a versatile set of linebackers.  They all do a lot of things well.  It’s an athletic group, with pretty much all of them having the speed to get sideline-to-sideline.  This a bit of concern, as NC State likes to run sweeps and counters outside.  Kelsey is a future NFL player who flies to the ball and always makes plays.  You will hear his name called a lot on Saturday.  Burgess is a Senior who is dependable.  Fields may actually be the cream of the crop.  He is a tenacious pass rusher, and has elite size for the position.  Fields was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as a Freshman at TCU in 2012.

Keys to containment

Expect the unexpected.  All four linebackers are interchangeable, and they will all be blitzing at some point.  Tight Ends and Fullbacks are going to have to block well.  Whether it is Running Back Matt Dayes picking up a free rusher in pass pro, or Tight End Cole Cook sealing the edge, they are going to have to be on point.  I would expect them to continue to utilize misdirection plays in this match-up.  The Linebackers are aggressive, so if NC State can get them to commit one way and run the other, BIG lanes will open up.

The Secondary

• Cornerback Trumaine Washington 5’10″/183 lbs (18 tackles, 2 INT, 1 FF)
• Cornerback Shaq Wiggins  5’10″/171 lbs (11 tackles, 1 INT)
• Safety Josh Harvey-Clemons 6’5/ 230 lbs (38 tackles, 2 INT)
• Safety Chucky Williams 6’2″/204 lbs (16 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INT)

This secondary has some of the best ball skills in the nation.  They are also aggressive, and can sometimes sell out for the big play.  Washington and Wiggins lack ideal size, but are good athletes.  The safeties are what stick out to me about this group.  Both have good size, and are extremely versatile.  Chucky Williams is no slouch, but Harvey-Williams is a stud.  He is huge for a Safety, but still moves well.  He was a five-star kid coming out of high school, and has lived up to the hype.

Keys to containment

Aggressive is the key word for this defense, and it continues in the secondary.  The Pack’s wideouts will have to make some plays.  Wide Receiver Jumichael Ramos could have a big game if he gets man coverage against one of their CBs.  If NC State’s Wide Receivers get separation it is imperative that they are sure handed.  Easy plays will not happen to often against this unit.