The Cardinals, who have raced out to a 4-0 start following a 72-0 victory over FIU on Sept. 21, travel to Temple for the team's American Athletic Conference opener on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Lincoln Financial Field. The game marks the first of a three-game stretch over 14 days.
"Well, you like the way the schedule is because you went all non-conference, then you take a break," head coach Charlie Strong said at Monday's press conference. "Now, you go another four conference games and take another break. If you get a guy injured, it does give you a chance to get him back because now you have that week off. Even if you get him hurt a week prior, if you do not think the injury is serious enough that he can't bounce back into the flow of the game."
Louisville, as has been typical under Strong, used the week to get better and focus on all aspects of the team.
"We've been working on fundamentals, which gets back to one thing, tackling. Tackling and getting to the football," defensive coordinator Vance Bedford said Wednesday. "That's been the biggest thing we've accomplished this season so far is our tackling has improved from last season and we got guys running to the football. Because of that, some good things have happened for us."
Strong added that during his press conference that, in addition to fundamentals, the team also worked on game-type situations, such as red zone offense and defense as well as third-down plays. He also mentioned getting the opportunity to practice running play action drills and a pressure package on defense.
The Cardinals will open up their new league against a Temple team that is winless, but has lost three games by a combined 12 points. But the task for Strong and his staff is to get the players down from their high off blowing out FIU two weeks ago.
"You have to tell them that it is all about us and all about our preparation," Strong said. "It is all about going to be the best. If you are going to be the best team, you are going to have to play like it. The leadership of the team has to take over the team now. What is critical is that guys have to understand that we might be the best team, but we have to play the best on game day."
The Owls are experiencing the growing pains of meshing a young team with a new staff. First-year head coach Matt Rhule, a long-time Temple assistant and former Penn State linebacker, is attempting to change the culture and get the Owls to play winning football.
"Any time there is a coaching change, you have to find your niche," Strong said. "You look at them offensively. The quarterback they had last year, they moved him to wide receiver. They try to run the zone read with the quarterback and they throw the ball a lot. They are throwing more this year than last year. Last year, they were more of a running team.
"Defensively, they have one of the leading tacklers in their middle linebacker in the conference. It is a team who is still trying to find their niche and find out who they are."
Opening up conference play on the road for the third-straight season, the Cardinals have to get off on the right foot in conference play because they return home to face Rutgers and UCF, which are a combined 6-2 overall.
"What we had a chance to do last week, since we were open, is look at Rutgers," Strong said. "Since we play a game Saturday and have a short week, the preparation has to be next week when we come back on Sunday. It's got to be treated like a Sunday. A Monday has got to be treated like a Tuesday, and Tuesday has got to be treated like a Wednesday, because it's such a short week."
After Saturday's game at Temple, the Cardinals will be back on the practice field Sunday to get ready for Rutgers, which Louisville defeated last year 20-17 to win the BIG EAST title. But first thing is first, the Cardinals must face a young and hungry Temple team, which would love to derail Louisville's quest for another league title. It's now Louisville's job to be ready and display the off week came at the proper time.
