(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
There is little doubt the strength of the 2009 Louisville Cardinals football team is the running backs.
Featuring the 2008 Big East Rookie of the Year Vic Anderson, the Cardinals have a stable of backs who posses great speed, good pass blocking ability, and fantastic hands which allows them to catch the ball out of the backfield.
The featured back will be Louisville St. Xavier alum Victor Anderson.
In 2008, Anderson rushed for 1,047 yards, the first Louisville running back to do so since some guy named Michael Bush accomplished that in 2005.
Anderson did not just pile up yards, he also found the endzone on eight occasions, including a highlight reel juke of a UCONN defender on a TD reception.
Vic breaking for daylight, which I expect to see many times
Even though Anderson is not the biggest back, only 5-9 190 lbs, he showed his willingness to take on a blitzing linebacker and stop him from sacking the quarterback.
A lot of running backs just try to get in the way of a rushing defender, Anderson attempts to hit the rushing defender and with authority.
The Louisville coaching staff plans on Anderson being the primary ball handler, with the hopes he can carry the ball 20-25 times a game, but if not, the coaching staff has complete confidence in Vic’s counterparts on the roster.
The other running back I’m very excited about is redshirt freshman Darius Ashley.
Ashley, no. 8, could be the big breakout star for the Cardinals
The Cincinnati St. X product was the “big get” of Kragthorpe’s 2008 recruiting class and after sitting out a year, Darius will now get the chance to show what he can do.
The talk out of the football building is Ashley will be one of those special players before he leaves, and there are many things to like about him.
While only 5-8 and in the 185-190 lbs range, Ashley is built like a rock.
The man has around 5% body fat, at worst.
He does not posses blazing speed, but he has good speed and great feet. Like all the Louisville running backs, he is very skilled at catching the ball out of the backfield, which is a necessary option for the quarterback if the receivers fail to get open.
I am very excited about Darius Ashley, but that’s not to say he won’t struggle at times.
As a redshirt freshman, Ashley has not played a single down of Division 1 college football, therefore there will be an adjustment period.
With not having played a singe down yet, we do not know how he will handle live, in game situations involving pass blocking.
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