Behind Enemy Lines: Q&A with Jeff Greer, Louisville beat writer
By Drew Laing
Published:
Georgia and Louisville will conclude their respective seasons with a Belk Bowl matchup on Dec. 29, in one of the more intriguing games of the bowl season.
With several story lines from the departure of UGA offensive coordinator Mike Bobo to Todd Grantham facing his old team, there’s a lot of intrigue leading up to this SEC vs. ACC clash.
SDS spoke with Jeff Greer of The Courier-Journal to give fans the Louisville perspective prior to the upcoming Belk Bowl between the Bulldogs and the Cardinals.
Drew Laing: Any added edge for Todd Grantham in this game? Or do you think that’s mostly just the media drubbing up the drama?
Jeff Greer: He’s told us a few times that the whole Grantham vs. UGA thing will be blown out of proportion, but I’m not sure I buy that entirely. I think it’s a little bit of both. Grantham knows Georgia inside and out, though I’m sure UGA has added and subtracted a few things this season, and the familiarity goes both ways. UGA knows Grantham’s tendencies, too. Ultimately both teams have to execute and that has very little do with coaches.
Laing: Gerod Holliman is having a record-breaking, All-American season. Was this kind of production expected out of him this season?
Greer: Not even close. The Louisville coaching staff spent the entire offseason, from spring ball to August, openly fretting about their safeties. They even moved longtime starting cornerback Terell Floyd to safety in training camp because they weren’t confident with their other options. But Grantham has said a few times this season that Holliman made significant strides from January to September, and his game prep and film study paid off. He’s been everywhere.
Laing: Grantham’s defense is among the best in the country, but I’d be willing to bet it hasn’t faced a running back like Nick Chubb. How do you foresee the Cardinals handling the true freshman?
Greer: Chubb’s certainly among the best running backs that Louisville’s seen this season, though there have been quite a few other talented runners on the schedule, too. U of L held Miami’s Duke Johnson, who had 1,500-plus yards this year, to 90 hard-earned yards from 20 carries. They set the edges and got off their blocks in that game, and really only allowed two big runs from Johnson. Those simple things are how Louisville got to be the No. 3 rushing defense in the country. But I’m sure UGA will look at FSU film to figure out how the Seminoles got 5.8 yards a carry. They were the only team to average more than 4.1 yards per run against Louisville this season.
Laing: DeVante Parker has only played in five games this season due to injury. Is he fully healthy for this game and how important is he to Louisville’s success against UGA?
Greer: He’s healthy now and absolutely critical for Louisville’s success against anyone. He had 214 receiving yards against FSU and 130 yards or more in three of the other four games. Notre Dame had some success with zoning him, but he still got loose for a 21-yard touchdown. The biggest talent Parker has — and he looks like a sure-fire first-round NFL draft pick — is his running after the catch. He’s 6-foot-3 and strong, plus he runs a 4.4 40-yard dash. That really helped him on slants and other over-the-middle routes when defenses tried to take away his deep-ball potential. So Louisville’s QB, whoever it is at the bowl game, will look for him a lot. Their offense with him back looks completely different.
Laing: What’s your Belk Bowl prediction?
Greer: I’m struggling with my pick. Georgia is the more talented team and is the favorite. I just wonder about their motivation for this and Louisville won’t have that same issue. I can’t really explain this beyond the huge chip-on-the-shoulder mentality that Louisville has about everything, but they just seem to really get up for bowl games, especially with a brand-name opponent. I’ll take Georgia in a close game, but I don’t feel terribly confident picking either team.
Drew Laing will be providing analysis and insight on Florida, Georgia, Missouri and South Carolina.
