Louisville's career game shines on Scott Satterfield's debut despite the loss to Notre Dame

The talent along the defensive line of Notre Dame stood out for Scott Satterfield while watching the movie before Monday's game.
Led by leading extremes Julian Okwara and Khalid Kareem, the Irish are considered to have one of the best defensive lines in the country.

Satterfield wasn't sure how his first offensive against that front line would do. Despite the 35-17 loss to No. 9 Notre Dame, the Cardinals were very successful on the ground.

Louisville ran for 249 yards, a total that the Cardinals eclipsed only once last season.

Quarterback Jawon Pass, who ran only 76 times for 93 yards last season, totaled 67 yards on 16 carries on Monday. But it was the pair of runners who stole the show for Louisville.

Hassan Hall recorded 69 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry. Starting to run, Javian Hawkins ran 122 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry.

Hawkins, who got the first start of his career, became Louisville's first freshman to eclipse the 100-yard mark since Darius Ashley in 2009.

"I know that Hawkins and Hall are very capable runners. They run hard," said Satterfield. "We are encouraged by the way they ran football tonight."

It was no secret that Satterfield's offensive plan was going out and running the ball. However, it was a surprise that Louisville was so successful against Notre Dame.

Well, for all those who are not Pass.

"They (Hall and Hawkins) did it very hard and did everything they had to do," Pass said.
In the Appalachian state, Satterfield's offensive was based on the race of the inner and outer zone. He brought all that to the field on Monday. Louisville succeeded in taking Hawkins and Hall to the limit and space.

Considered two of the fastest players in the team, Hall and Hawkins, each showed their speed. Hawkins had a 44-yard run that established Louisville's second touchdown in the first quarter. Hall had a 16-yard run, but showed his explosiveness reaching the limit multiple times.

Louisville's success with the game plan can be attributed to several things. Notre Dame linebackers trying to close Hall and Hawkins, on the second level, could not match the speed of the ball carriers.

The Irish were also carrying the box to prevent the Cardinals from running.

“The stretching game is stable in our offense. That is what we will do all year, ”said Satterfield. “Outside of that you have to be able to complete passes. That's where we have to improve a lot. We also have to keep the sticks under control. "

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However, another important key to success was the offensive line. Outside the left tackle Mekhi Becton, Louisville's offensive line was a question that entered Monday's game.

They opened holes that facilitated the work of Hawkins and Hall, Hawkins said.

"I mean that all I did was hit the holes," Hawkins said. "Everyone showed up tonight. Notre Dame has one of the 3 best D lines in the country. So for us to go out and do what we did is good and good to wait." 

Louisville, who lacks depth in the place of the offensive line, played only six in front during the entire game. The rotation included Becton, left guard Caleb Chandler, TJ McCoy and Cole Bentley centers, right guard Robbie Bell and right tackle Tyler Haycraft.

That group also yielded only three catches in the game, all of which arrived in the last quarter with the Cardinals forced to throw the ball to return.

"That is one of the best D lines in the country and I thought our offensive line did a great job handling those guys in the running game," said Satterfield.

Upon entering the game, Louisville was expected to run a crowd of runners to the field. Maurice Burkley and Dae Williams were expected to get some carries, but Satterfield decided to keep Hall and Hawkins.

"If they are fresh, it is who we will play with." I feel good with the other boys, ”said Satterfield. "I feel good about it, we have four or five guys that I feel good with that could go out and play." Those guys felt good, they were in a rhythm, why change?

U of L is not taking Monday's game as a moral victory. But there are many good things to remove from the game and develop, but also things to improve.

Louisville lost the ball five times on Monday, three of Pass, one with a failed hand of Hawkins and another of a bad blow from Bentley.

But the good surpassed the bad Monday and at the top of the good list was the game running.

"That's winning football right there, 250 yards running per game. If we do, we'll be fine," said Satterfield.

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