Jawon Pass Takes Step Forward in Second Spring Scrimmage

Mark BlankenbakerApril 7, 2018

The University of Louisville football team concluded its second major scrimmage of the spring on Friday afternoon, with the annual Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Spring Game eight days away.

Moved up one day, the Cardinals ran about 150 plays in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in the final tune-up before next Saturday’s 1 p.m. contest.

“We did some good things today,” quarterbacks coach Nick Petrino said following the scrimmage. “I was pleased with the progress Jawon Pass made today. He was on time with his throws and made good decisions.”

Pass, who takes over as the starter this year, had a solid scrimmage in his second major test of the fall. The Carver High product threw for three scores and ran for another, leading a 13-play drive on the scrimmage’s first possession.

“I was trying to put the offense in the best play possible to be successful,” Pass said. “I have a long way to go. I’m doing pretty well, but I still have a lot of work to do. I’m just trying to be the best player that I can be and win games.”

As a redshirt freshman a year ago, Pass saw little game action and is getting a high volume of repetitions this spring, but the quarterback realizes that there is still much to learn.

“I’m just trying to be consistent with my technique and footwork,” Pass said. “I have work to making the right checks, putting us in the right play and recognizing the defense.”

Co-offensive coordinator Mike Summers was pleased with the scrimmage, especially under the game-like conditions.

“We used the game clock and the 40-second clock today,” Summers said. “I thought we handled that well for the first time out. There are things to be fixed and adjusted. However, I was pleased with the way we ran the ball and how the quarterbacks stood in the pocket.”

It’s tough to judge a winner in this type of scrimmage, but Summers likes where the team is at this point in the spring.

“There is a healthy competition between the offense and defense right now that’s pushing each other to be better,” Summers said. “I thought as we got into the scrimmage that it showed up a lot in how the players approached the game.”

While most of the focus is on the offense with the loss of Lamar Jackson, cornerback P.J. Mbanasor liked the direction of the defense.

“I thought we had a lot of pass break-ups, and we had a turnover for a touchdown,” Mbanasor said. “I think we are headed in the right direction. We have been consistent this spring and haven’t overanalyzed things. We are just going out and playing.”

The Cardinals begin the final week of spring practice on Tuesday at 3:50 p.m.