1. Can the offensive line show any sort of improvement?
Louisville’s biggest weakness by far in 2016 was the offensive line, which will need to improve this season for the Cardinals to take the ACC over Clemson and Florida State.
The Cardinals allowed sacks on 9.73 percent of their offensive snaps, a number that could have been even worse if it weren’t for Jackson’s superior athleticism. Ed Oliver and Houston dominated Louisville to the tune of 11 sacks in a blowout loss that ended any playoff hopes for the Cardinals late in the season.
Starting guards Kiola Mahoni and Khali Hunter are gone from last year’s team, along with center Tobijah Hughley. Petrino decided to shake things up in the coaching ranks as well by bringing in Florida assistant Mike Summers to serve as offensive line coach.
Summers has already made some important changes by moving Lukayus McNeil to right guard alongside Geron Christian, as he’s stated he wants Louisville’s two most experienced linemen to play on the same side. There is some talent and versatility to work with elsewhere on the roster, as top backup Kenny Smith, imposing sophomore Chandler Jones and JUCO transfer Linwood Foy are all in the mix for the left tackle and left guard jobs.
Center is a total question mark, as redshirt freshman Robbie Bell has been splitting reps with a pair of walk-ons in Nathan Scheler and Tyler Haycraft. Summers is likely going to try a number of different combinations on Saturday in the hopes one sticks, as the offensive line is once again the most glaring weakness for a talented Cardinals roster.