Making the Grade
Compiled by Carlos Alvarado

Quarterback: A+
Brandon Hassell ran the offense with the poise and confidence of a potential All-American. This former backup quarterback made solid decisions on passing plays, ran the option better than it could have been drawn up and made multiple plays through sheer will. He threw for a touchdown and ran for one as well. Most importantly, Hassell finished the night with no turnovers.

Running Backs: A
This unit put in a solid all around performance. Running and receiving, they were able to make plays which allowed the team to convert third downs and score touchdowns. The duo of Robert Merrill and Lonta Hobbs pounded out yards up the middle and broke solid runs on the outside.

Wide Receivers: B
The wide receiving corps had a solid night. Reggie Harrell was the standout performer with eight catches for 128 yards. The entire unit contributed with clutch third down receptions and solid blocking on outside running plays.

Offensive Line: C
The Frogs were unable to have a consistent inside running game, and no play was more indicative of this than the crucial failure to convert a late 4th and short. The outside running and draw plays allowed the Frogs to continue to dominate foes on the ground. The pass protection had its breakdowns, but managed to give Brandon Hassell plenty of time to find an open receiver or scramble for yardage.

Defensive Line: D
Fundamentals proved once again to be a problem for the front four. The D-Line fell prey to trap plays, and draws designed to take advantage of the aggressive nature of the Frog line. Poor containment once again allowed Louisville to maintain drives with big third down conversions. The pass rush, which had once been so dominant, was held in check for most of the night.

Linebackers: D
For the third straight game, the linebackers seem to be poorly utilized and out of position to make the plays the fans expect them to make. Inside running was hard to come by once again, but it was the swing passes, open tight ends and missed tackles that hurt this unit.

Secondary: D
The group worked hard and did their best despite the time LeFors had to complete passes. Their best was not good enough as LeFors passed for 459 yards. Poor tackling led to big gains and could have prevented many Louisville drives from leading to touchdowns. The breakdown in coverage that allowed Louisville to get in field goal range was inexcusable and almost left the Frogs in danger of losing the game.

Special Teams: D+
This unit managed to lose the field position battle and made many mental mistakes. No mistake was larger than the fake field goal which allowed Louisville to narrow TCU’s lead to 3 midway through the 4th quarter. Nick Browne’s 44-yard field goal was the saving grace of this unit and the difference in the game.

Overall: B
While the Frog defense is mired in inconsistency, the Frog offense continues to play solid offensive football. The defensive play can no longer be linked to breakdowns. More serious problems should concern the coaching staff: poor tackling, lack of a pass rush and loss of aggressiveness are areas that need to be addressed if the Frogs are to continue the winning streak. Despite all the defensive troubles, the Frogs managed to extend their streak and are inching closer and closer to a BCS invitation.