With Louisville football set to face James Madison, what we learned from Eastern Kentucky

Quarterback Miller Moss threw for 223 yards and one landing in his Louisville debut.Caullin Lacy had a 93-yard punt return for a landing, the second longest in program historical past.Louisville’s protection held Jap Kentucky to 150 complete yards and compelled 9 punts.

Nick Saban had a 292-71-1 report after 28 seasons as a school soccer head coach. His teaching tree extends far and extensive however, a lot to his dismay, doesn’t embody Jeff Brohm. 

Throughout Saturday’s “ESPN School GameDay” broadcast, Saban was reminded of his a number of failed makes an attempt at getting Louisville’s head coach to hitch his Alabama teaching employees. Throughout some of the notable makes an attempt in 2007, Brohm was a part of the Cardinals’ teaching employees and opted to stick with this system. Twenty years later, the respect between the coaches stays. 

“Coach Saban’s one of many biggest to ever do it and gained a ton of championships, coaches soccer the precise method,” Brohm mentioned. “We all know one another from method again on a few events however nice respect for him.” 

Saban has excessive hopes for the Cardinals and believes they’ve a shot at profitable the ACC. Louisville soccer has 4 extra weeks earlier than opening league play at Pitt and a six-day turnaround earlier than internet hosting James Madison. However Saturday’s 51-17 season opener towards Jap Kentucky was a great begin. 

Listed below are three takeaways from the Cardinals’ 2025 season opener: 

C.L. Brown provides one take after Louisville soccer’s win over EKU

Louisville receiver Caullin Lacy rolled up 204 complete yards within the Cardinals 51-17 win over EKU.

Quarterback Miller Moss tallied 223 yards and a landing, finishing 68% of his passes (17 of 25) in his first recreation as a Cardinal. The USC switch began with a 9-yard cross to TreyShun Hurry and accomplished 5 straight passes. Caullin Lacy dropped cross No. 6 however made up for it with a 23-yard snag on the following play. 

Moss performed solely the primary half and was comparatively clear aside from being intercepted twice within the ultimate minute of the second quarter. Sportsmanship and a 41-7 halftime rating saved Moss out of the second half. Brohm had seen what he wanted from his new quarterback. 

“He made good choices,” Brohm mentioned. “There have been a few occasions when he scrambled then made a throw though it bought referred to as again with a penalty. One other time he scrambled when there was protection down within the low purple and scored over the run. These are the issues it’s important to do as a quarterback. We’re going to design the play and make it work and hopefully be in rhythm and on time, but when it’s not and issues are lined, you’ve bought to have the ability to adapt and modify and make good choices and purchase time and discover a approach to run if it’s not there.” 

Moss is aware of what he wants to wash up however doesn’t really feel pointless strain to do an excessive amount of for Louisville. Though he had an 8-yard landing run on a scramble, being cell isn’t required. Moss has a bunch of proficient, skilled operating backs in Isaac Brown, Duke Watson and Keyjuan “Bama” Brown to assist stability the offense.  

“I used to be speaking with (operating backs coach Chris) Barclay about this on the sideline, simply by way of the state of affairs that I used to be in final 12 months and what was placed on the quarterback in that offense,” mentioned Moss, who had 21 carries for minus-18 yards and two touchdowns final 12 months as a Trojan. “Coming over to educate Brohm’s system and having a very, actually good operating recreation –– I feel Duke and Isaac and Bama actually are essentially the most proficient operating backs I’ve ever been round, so it makes the quarterback job lots simpler.” 

Lacy’s guidelines for the season opener included a punt return for a landing, a kick return for a landing and a landing reception. He did just one, scoring on a 93-yard punt return on the 7:49 mark of the primary quarter. It’s the second longest in program historical past and longest for this system since 1970. 

Attaining the trifecta through the season is properly inside Lacy’s wheelhouse — he scored on a 100-yard kickoff return landing final 12 months towards Miami and recorded a 9-yard landing catch towards Washington within the Solar Bowl regardless of solely enjoying in 4 regular-season video games. And he’ll be given an opportunity to take action because the Cardinals’ beginning return specialist and receiver. Brohm referred to Lacy as “dynamic” with “a variety of particular abilities” and can get the ball in his fingers as a lot as potential this 12 months.  

“I really feel prefer it’s extra to return,” Lacy mentioned. “I am simply gonna keep aggressive again there and preserve making performs. … I gotta get extra conditioned; it is lots. However I am keen to do it and do no matter I gotta do to assist us win.” 

With Louisville’s receiving room deep and proficient, Lacy’s abilities will probably be key in particular groups. Final 12 months, the Cardinals completed fifteenth within the ACC in punt returns, averaging 6.1 yards. Lacy had 125 yards on 4 punt returns, a 23-yard kickoff return and 62 yards on 4 catches. 

Louisville soccer: Jeff Brohm talks protection strengths in season opener

Louisville soccer coach Jeff Brohm discusses enhancements his protection made in a 51-17 season-opening win versus Jap Kentucky at L&N Stadium.

Defensive lineman Jordan Guerad, who began the final six video games of the 2024 season and led U of L with six tackles towards EKU, mentioned the protection’s bond is “nice” and persevering with to enhance. That a lot was obvious towards the Colonels, who have been restricted to 150 yards of complete offense and just one red-zone look (Louisville’s red-zone protection ranked tenth within the convention a 12 months in the past). EKU punted on 9 of 12 possessions and went three-and-out on six of them. 

“Truthfully, it feels just like the coaches are doing a greater job making us be extra constructed collectively,” Guerad mentioned. 

Jap Kentucky might not have the athletes and ability units that Louisville will face all through the remainder of the season, however Saturday’s small pattern dimension revealed a extra cohesive protection than a 12 months in the past. 

Clev Lubin crammed one of many Cardinals’ open beginning spots on the road and had two sacks, each of which have been on third down. AJ Inexperienced had a sack amongst his three tackles and appears to tackle a much bigger function throughout his redshirt sophomore marketing campaign. Inexperienced performed 189 snaps over 13 video games final 12 months and noticed important time on the sphere Saturday after the Cardinals constructed a large lead within the first half. 

“I assumed we did a great job. We did what we wanted to do,” Brohm mentioned. “We all know the video games are going to get harder beginning subsequent Friday. We should be able to face tempo and extra athletic guys and velocity on the perimeter and extra physicality up entrance. These issues are coming, and we’ve to proceed to step as much as the plate and be sound in what we have been doing.   

“Additionally, we have to make as many performs as we will, however I do suppose it was a great begin for our protection.” 

Attain Louisville soccer, girls’s basketball and baseball beat author Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and observe her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.