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The Cardinal Countdown: 58 Days Until Kickoff

By CardinalStrong
The Crunch Zone

Hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable 4th of July holiday. I took yesterday off because I wanted to grill some amazing meats and those whistlin' bungholes, spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, lady fingers, hoosker doos, hoosker don'ts, cherry bombs, fuzz buttles, and nipsy daisers don’t light themselves.

(Also, no one wears jersey #59 on the roster)

Back at it!

#58 Jonathon Greenard

Class: RS Freshman

Ht/Wt: 6-4/226

Position: Linebacker

Hometown: Hiram, GA

Twitter: @_ayejon_

Thoughts: I’m very excited about Jonathan Greenard (Gree-NARD) and what he can bring to the team in the next few years. I was glad to see them put a redshirt on Jonathan last year as I thought he was slightly undersized (listed at 250lb in HS but measured 226lb at UL) and even though he was very athletic, still somewhat raw at the outside linebacker position, especially in Grantham’s 3-4 scheme. This season I expect Greenard to crack the rotation (he was the starter in Spring ball with Fields and Young injured) and will make his presence known on occasion throughout the year. While I have no idea what Petrino/Grantham’s plans are I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get some reps on special teams if the PT just isn’t available on the outside with a healthy Fields, James Hearns, newcomer Gary McCrae and Young (when he returns) getting the majority of the reps. What people have to remember, Greenard included, is that the Louisville defense is big boy football, and has been for some time (with the offense fast approaching). Finishing with a Top 25 defense the last 6 seasons means that very talented and very athletic players may not only be second or third string as freshman but may [gasp] redshirt. It wasn’t always that way at Louisville, but it is now, and that should make you excited as a fan.

I think of Amonte Caban and Greenard (both RS Frosh) as ‘Tier 2’ of the defense, and I don’t mean that in terms of the depth chart, but in terms of the next group to come in and dominate. Since Strong was roaming the sidelines we have fielded some damn good defenses, and those were all anchored by great linebackers (Dexter Heyman, Preston Brown, George Durant, Mauldin, Burgess, Fields, Kelsey) and I think both Caban and Greenard can be a big part of that tradition in the next couple years.

Sweet Tweet:

No idea why a simple post like this gets me fired up…but it does. Love seeing young men like Greenard understand the process and come ready to play when his number is called. (If you missed it, Greenard played well in the Spring Game and even had a nice interception) Think he’ll be a special player for the Cards.

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