“You have to be good at the kicking game” – Someone
I have no idea which TV commentator is responsible for this, but it’s such a fitting phrase that almost all football fans know. It’s a true point that University of Louisville fans know all too well. A few years ago, the Cards missed out on a couple of wins because they couldn’t make field goals. Going even further back, the problem of not being able to punt with accuracy cost them a key win over Miami.
The Cards have also learned the other side of the importance of a strong special teams unit. Kick and punt returns have littered the highlight reels over the past decade, with a few big returns being a key factor in the final score. UofL has some continuity this season, but there are still some questions about consistency, which is the most important part of special teams.
Kicking seems to be Brock Travelstead’s job to lose. The veteran kicker made 71% of his field goals last year. However, he was lucky because only one of his seven missed shots resulted in a loss. The same goes for the two extra points he missed. Travelstead also made important kicks against Georgia Tech and NC State. His leg strength has never been a problem, but it remains to be seen whether he can be consistently accurate.
Brady Hodges had a solid year in his first season as starting punter. He took over the job mid-season and would have ranked 42nd in the country in punting average with enough attempts. He will compete with Carter Schwartz for the job, but I expect him to be the first to punt this year if UofL has to punt. We may have to wait a week to see him, though.
With Caullin Lacy out with an injury, I guess we’ll have to wait and see who will be the best kick returner for Louisville. A lot of guys have been participating in practice, but I think we could see Isaac Brown as the kick returner this season. He seems like a likely candidate to play as a true freshman, and with depth issues at running back and wide receiver, it makes sense that he gets a chance.
I think we could see Cataurus Hicks as the primary punt returner. He’s very quick and quick to react, but he’s also a guy that you can trust to just catch the football. Brown could get a chance here as well, but that’s a position that’s really hard to pin down since Lacy has been first in every practice.
OUTBREAKOUT CANDIDATES
It would be great to see someone return with an impact like Jawhar Jordan, but I don’t think that will happen. I’m betting on Brady Hodges to have a big year. He’s been playing well for a player who only got his start halfway through the season. I’m not so convinced that the UofL offense can create big plays that could lead to some delaying offenses. If Hodges can drive teams deep, he could have a big impact on the game.
