Louisville's season went off the rails a year ago after a Week 3 loss to Kentucky. After winning the first two games of the season by the combined total of 131-52, a team many expected to contend for a BCS berth finished the year at 6-6 and missed the postseason entirely.

For the Cardinals to rebound, the new-look coaching staff will have to show it's addressed the problems that plagued the team last season, particularly on defense.

New defensive coordinator Ron English takes ownership of a unit that allowed more than 31 points a game in 2007 and was near the bottom of every statistical category. Seven opponents scored more than 30 points against Louisville a year ago, so the eight starters returning weren't exactly ready to rest on their laurels.

English will be counting on the veterans like defensive tackle Earl Heyman and safety Bobby Buchanan to step up their games as seniors.

The offense, meanwhile, will be counting on new faces to lead the way.

Bilal Powell and Brock Bolen return in the backfield, and both looked good in 2007. But new offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm will have to replace brother Brian with senior Hunter Cantwell. He's started four games in his college career and is 3-1, but won't have receiver Scott Long to throw to. Long got hurt in August and will miss at least the start of the season.

It's not an easy start of the season for coach Steve Kragthorpe, as Louisville will go on to play Kansas State and Connecticut in September. He's hoping that this year, when the Kentucky game ends, his team's momentum is heading the right direction.

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.