Louisville's Dez Fitzpatrick has uttered what will be perhaps the most-repeated phrase in the Alabama locker room the remainder of the 2018 offseason.
The sophomore receiver in a tweet from CBS Louisville reporter Dan Koob was heard saying, "I feel like straight talent-wise, I feel like we have the upper edge against (Alabama's) secondary, 1,000 percent."
Notes from UofL Media Day (a thread): @dezfitz8 on @AlabamaFTBL's secondary: "Every receiver in our receiver core can honestly beat every one of their DB's in 1on1 coverage"...#L1C4 #RollTide @WLKY pic.twitter.com/JAR5V4OmHz
— Dan Koob (@DanKoob_WLKY) August 11, 2018
MORE: Breaking down college football's best Week 1 games
Of course, what Fitzpatrick said isn't simply a throwaway comment. He finished second for the Cardinals last year in receptions (45), receiving yards (699) and finished first in receiving touchdowns (nine). Not only that, he and his fellow receivers will go against an Alabama secondary virtually devoid of last year's starters. Anthony Averett, Levi Wallace and Tony Brown all graduated, while safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison declared early for the NFL. Safety Deionte Thompson, who started both of Alabama's games in the College Football Playoff last year, is the Tide's most experienced defensive back.
Even with Heisman-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson in the NFL, Louisville likely feels confident in its ability to move the ball up and down the field with quarterback Jawon Pass. Of course, receivers like Fitzpatrick, Jaylen Smith and Seth Dawkins will do their best to help him transition into the starting role.
That said, there is a clear precedent that suggests giving Alabama bulletin board material like this is ... inadvisable. Just look to last year, when Vanderbilt linebacker Nifae Lealao called Bama out a week before the teams met in Nashville. The Tide won, 59-0.
It will be interesting to see if Fitzpatrick's comments backfire on him, or if the Cardinals can make headway against the young Tide secondary. We can't wait to find out.
