Alabama Football: Petrino instilling belief in Louisville is out of control

All summer Bobby Petrino has been working to have Louisville believe it can beat Alabama football. Suddenly the results have gone beyond reason.

Last season Louisville limped to an 8-5 record without one true quality win. Facing Alabama football in the season opener, Louisville coach, Bobby Petrino has been focused on getting his players to believe they can win.

Credit to Petrino’s motivational efforts, some of the Cardinals appear to genuinely believe they are better than the Crimson Tide.

In June, Petrino explained his message to the Cardinals,

"The number one thing that we’ve got to be able to do is work hard enough and believe in each other so that we take the field truly believing we’re going to win the game …when you don’t believe it, truly believe it, you drop the pass that you normally caught. You slip and fall. You don’t throw the ball on the exact curl route you practiced every day in practice."

Petrino’s plan has been working. Earlier this month, Louisville receiver, Dez Fitzpatrick said,

"Every receiver in our receiving core can beat every one of their DB’s in one on one coverage. I feel like just straight talent-wise, we have the upper edge"

Louisville has experienced receivers and Alabama football does not have equally experienced defensive backs so Dez has a point. He should not be faulted for feeling confident.

When the Petrino plan began to backfire

On Tuesday, Dan Koob of WLKY tweeted some interview comments from two Louisville offensive linemen. Before discussing the comments, let’s set the stage for considering the Louisville offensive line.

There is a reason for Louisville’s optimism because the Cardinals return four starters. Measuring how their o-line will do against the Tide this year requires a good comparison from last season. There are two good comparables from 2017. Last season, Louisville played Clemson and North Carolina State. That pair had strong defensive fronts. Neither unit proved to be quite as stiff as did the Alabama football front last season, but Clemson and NCSU were very good.

Louisville lost to NC State last season 39-25. Louisville QB, Lamar Jackson was sacked four times and the Wolfpack had five QB hurries. How close was the game? Louisville running backs gained just 43 yards. At the end of three quarters, Louisville had just 13 points. Against a Heisman winning QB, NC State controlled Louisville.

The Louisville – Clemson game was even more one-sided. At the end of three quarters, Clemson led 33-7. The final score was 47-21.

What Louisville is saying about Alabama football

"Lukayus McNeil: “I think we’re capable of starting off fast and dominating their D-line.”Mekhi Becton: “I think we stack up real well…We can show you better than we can tell you.”"

There was no Louisville offensive line domination last season against top defensive fronts. The four returners for this season have no tangible basis to be confident against Alabama football. Bobby P’s motivation class has spun beyond belief.

Alabama football players don’t need bulletin board material for motivation. Still, they are human and someone has passed along these claims to Raekwon Davis, Isaiah Buggs, Quinnen Williams, Anfernee Jennings and LaBryan Ray. All we will say is it could get ugly.

The Louisville plan must be to take two guys to try and hold off Raekwon, then two more to try and slow Quinnen and Isaiah. That leaves one O-lineman and a running back to handle the Tide linebackers. Oh my! Bobby better scrap those four-wide sets.