The Cardinals are 1-1 with a loss to Kentucky and a win over Tennessee Tech. The Cardinals were projected to win 6 or 7 games in 2008.
QB Hunter Cantwell has thrown for 355 yards and 2 TD's along with 3 INT's so far in 2008. He had 203 yards and 2 TD passes vs. Tennessee Tech and threw his 3 INT's in the loss to Kentucky.
RB's Victor Anderson and Bilal Powell have accounted for 220 of the Cardinals rushing yards and 1 touchdown. Anderson had 114 yards on 12 carries (9.5 yards/carry) including a 3 yard touchdown run in the 2nd quarter of the Tennessee Tech game. Powell had 59 yards on 12 carries (4.9 yards/carry) vs. Tennessee Tech.
Anderson and Powell will run behind an offensive line that starts two sophomores, a junior and two seniors. It's an offensive that that has allowed Cantwell to be sacked 4 times in the Cardinals two games.
WR Doug Beaumont is the team's leading receiver. Beaumont had 5 catches for 83 yards (16.6 yards/catch) vs. Tennessee Tech. He also had 9 catches and one rush in the Kentucky game. WR Josh Chichester had 45 yards on 3 catches (15.0 yards/catch) in the Kentucky game. He also had 25 yards on 3 catches (8.3 yards/catch) vs. Tennessee Tech.
On defense the Cardinals line is anchored by DT Earl Heyman. The other DT, Adrian Grady, has returned from a torn pectoral muscle. The Cardinals lost all three starting LB's. SLB Dexter Heyman, Earl's brother, has alot of promise but the other two (MLB Antwon Canady and WLB Jon Dempsey) are new. The secondary is also a work in progress with FS Bobby Buchanan being the only experienced returner. CB Woodny Turenee gave up a ton of deep balls last season. The Cardinals hope to have help in the other corner Johnny Patrick and also Travis Norton.
The Cardinals entered this season with alot of the same expectations as our Cats did. They signed a bunch of JUCO players that they hope can step in and help right away. They don't have any real deep threats at WR and they're unsure of how the OL will allow them to run the ball. This looks like the perfect opportunity to look good on the road and get a big "W" on national TV. Remember.....This game is the only game in town that night so it's important that the Cats make it count.
