4. A shakeup at defensive coordinator
Beyond some key departures on the field, Louisville’s coaching staff underwent major changes during the offseason.
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, known for his ultra-aggressive style, departed Louisville for Mississippi State after three seasons. The Cardinals simply decided to swap defensive coordinators with Mississippi State and hired Peter Sirmon after he was dismissed by the Bulldogs.
Sirmon was a linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Tennessee, Washington and USC before getting his first coordinator job at Mississippi State a year ago. While the Bulldogs were not particularly effective on the defensive end a year ago with 31.8 points per game allowed, Sirmon will have more talent to work with at Louisville this season.
As it’s not yet clear what exactly Sirmon’s style will look like, Saturday will provide a sneak peek at the new-look Louisville defense. Sirmon has said the Cardinals will play multiple fronts while retaining Grantham’s aggressive style, and Louisville has also simplified the terminology in order to get calls in faster to counteract hurry-up offenses.
Replacing Grantham is a tall order, as Louisville owns one of the best run defenses in the nation over the past few years. Sirmon’s defense will look to inspire some early confidence with a strong effort on Saturday.