By Matt Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

Follow us at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin.  Become a fan at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page

The return of Devante Parker certainly wont fix all of Louisvilles offensive woes, but it will provide the offense with a proven playmaker on the perimeter, as well as a veteran leader on the sideline.

The perception around the Louisville program right now is that the Cardinals have struggled in their first year in the ACC.

Such a perception is certainly misleading, though, as the Cardinals currently sit with a record of 5-1 at halfway mark of the campaign. Louisville is also already 3-1 in conference games heading into this weekends important Atlantic Division showdown against Clemson.

So why has there been a somewhat surprising negative vibe surrounding the Louisville program up to this point?

Many of the negative feelings can undoubtedly be attributed to an offense which has struggled for the vast majority of the season. Once again being led by noted offensive guru Bobby Petrino, the natural assumption was that the Cardinals would be, at worst, an above-average offensive team in 2014.

That has not held true to form through six contests, however. The Cardinals are currently 13th in the ACC in total offense, ahead of only an inexperienced Wake Forest team. Particularly puzzling have been the struggles in the passing game, as Louisville flipped between inconsistent quarterbacks Will Gardner and Reggie Bonnafon under center before ultimately settling on the true freshman Bonnafon prior to the Syracuse contest.

The good news for a sputtering Louisville offense has been the emergence of a Cardinals defense that currently is the best in the nation statistically, allowing a mere 231 yards per contest. The Cardinals strong defensive performances have afforded the program the luxury of continuing to win games while the offense continues to attempt to work out its kinks.

And the Cardinals were very likely get one of those major kinks worked out this Saturday when star wide receiver DeVante Parker returns to the lineup for his first game action of the season. Projected as a preseason first-team All-ACC selection prior to the start of the year, Parker was the Cardinals most explosive receiver as a junior in 2013, hauling in 55 catches for 885 yards and 12 touchdowns.

But due to a fracture of his fifth metatarsal in his left foot suffered on August 22, Parker was forced to miss the first half of Louisvilles campaign. In his absence, the Cardinals production out wide has suffered, in spite of courageous efforts from Eli Rogers and James Quick.

The return of Parker certainly wont fix all of Louisvilles offensive woes, but it will provide Petrinos offense with a proven playmaker on the perimeter, as well as a veteran leader on the sideline.

The timing of Parkers return couldnt be better either.

Florida State is still considered to be the overwhelming favorite in the Atlantic Division, but the Cardinals will still control their own destiny in making it to Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game if they defeat a surging Clemson team this weekend.

In order for that to happen, though, Louisville will need a much improved performance out of its offensive unit.

The hope, just four days out from its pivotal contest, is that Parker will provide the spark for which the Louisville offense has been looking.

If he is able to do so, the Cardinals will find themselves still very much in the race to win an ACC championship in their first season in the conference.