Spring practice is where foundations are built and first impressions are forged, and the Louisville Cardinals had one final open session this past Friday for fans and media. While the day was marked by some sloppy execution that even escalated into a minor on-field scuffle, these intense, grinding practices are a crucial part of the team's development as they prepare for the fall.
The offensive rhythm was hard to find, with the quarterback room experiencing a collective off-day. Lincoln Kienholz, who had been sharp in prior open practices, struggled with his accuracy on deep sideline throws and made a risky decision into triple coverage. However, his composure never wavered, and he rebounded to finish strong in red-zone drills, showing the short memory every good QB needs.
Davin Wydner also had a tough outing, battling inconsistency and holding onto the ball a bit too long. While he clearly grasps the offense, that hesitation has led to scrambles where he's been forced to either throw into tight windows or tuck and run. His development in making quicker decisions will be a key storyline to watch in the upcoming spring game.
Amidst the struggles, a bright spot emerged in true freshman Briggs Cherry. Showing poise beyond his years, Cherry has avoided typical rookie mistakes like botched snaps or mental errors. His arm talent has been evident on intermediate and deep throws, and while he's thrown some picks, they've often been the result of aggressive, confident play rather than poor judgment. He appears to be acclimating to Jeff Brohm's system at an impressive early pace.