The Louisville spring game didn't look too much like a game.

The event was held without a game clock and included only 12 series between the offense and defense, with the latter unit lining up in nickel formation even during some running situations.

That's because head coach Steve Kragthorpe didn't have enough depth to field two full squads for a normal scrimmage. Graduation and injuries hit the Cards hard, especially at many key defensive positions.

This spring the focus was building depth while working in several new players. Both sides of the ball also had to learn new systems, with Jeff Brohm taking over as offensive coordinator and Ron English coming from Michigan to lead the defensive unit.

Despite the inexperience, Kragthorpe said he likes the general direction the team is heading after last year's disastrous 6-6 campaign in his first year at the school.

"The pieces are there, we've just got to execute a little better," he said. "We're a long ways away on both sides of the ball but I think we've made a significant amount of progress."

The Cardinals are at least set at quarterback, with senior Hunter Cantwell looking poised for a big year, and the running game should be a lot stronger and more explosive with the emergence of Bilal Powell and Victor Anderson. The offensive line is anchored by senior all-American candidates Eric Wood at center and George Bussey at left tackle. The defensive line is solid, especially on the interior.

But huge questions remain at linebacker and in the secondary, while the team needs to find some reliable receivers out of a large pack of contenders for the job. Kragthorpe brought in eight junior college players in December for a quick fix, but none distinguished himself during the spring.

With eight home games on the schedule, Louisville should put itself in position to return to a bowl game this season. How much higher the Cardinals can fly depends on the answers to their pressing personnel questions.

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