Louisville Looks To Regain Winning Ways at Virginia
October 11, 2024 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm and the Cardinals look to get back in the win column this weekend when they travel to Charlottesville, Va., to face Virginia Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on the ACC Network.
The Cardinals dropped their second-straight game last weekend, falling 34-27 at home to SMU despite 329 passing yards and two touchdown throws by quarterback Tyler Shough.
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"We're facing a good team in Virginia whose 4-1 and 2-0 in the conference.," Brohm said.:"They have good quarterback play and they're solid on defense and balanced on offense. Last year at home we had to score two late touchdowns to pull out a victory. They controlled the game for the most part. We must get better as a team and improve on a lot of things that haven't gone our way. We need to go out there and get it done especially on the road, which will be a good test for us."
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While the offense hasn't been totally consistent, the defense has proved to have some lapses in the last two losses, giving up a number of big plays causing the Cards to have to battle back from behind in the last two defeats. SMU drove right down the field on the first drive of the game and were a difficult team to control for most of the game.
"On defense we need to shore some things up and allow our players to play and execute and play fast," Brohm said. "There are some things that we've discussed, and we're making corrections and make a better plan to make sure those things happen. We have to make sure everyone is getting the call so we can play fast."
The Cards are facing a much-improved UVA team that is 4-1 and 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference race after a 24-14 win over Boston College l;ast week.
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"We were able to finish on them last year, despite them playing a really good game," Brohm said of last seasons's 31-24 come-from-behind win over the Cavaliers. "This year they're an experienced team whose quarterback is playing well, they settled on him and he's done a really good job. He can run and pass which gives them options and uses his ability to escape the pocket, giving them opportunities to score. Their defense is solid and at times they've played tremendously well. I think they're a solid football team that's gone through a couple seasons where they've had some tough losses but have learned from them. They have improved because of it and that's how it works. They're very competitive, they play hard and are well coached. The quarterback play as well as their defense is their strength."
Brohm knows his team must start fast on the road if they are able to stop its two-game losing streak.
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"It's a combination of a lot of things but as a defense, we do need to communicate," Brohm said. "Just like when you're playing defense in basketball, you have to talk. It's going to be loud, so we have to be better at communicating. I do think it's a hodgepodge of things that happen here and there, that need to be cleaned up to make sure we don't put ourselves in those situations. We all need to play better. We all need to coach better. It starts with me and goes all the way down."Â
Brohm will look this weekend to get true freshman running back Isaac Brown more involved this weekend at Virginia. The rookie picked up his second 100-yard rushing game last weekend, running for 117 yards in the loss to SMU. Despite the 100-yard game, his touches were limited, and Brohm hopes to correct that this weekend.
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"We are very conscious of that as well," Brohm said. "I think Issac is a true freshman, so we have tried not to throw to much at him at first, he has shown the capabilities, he plays hard, he doesn't miss practice, he has no fear. He makes catches, he make hard catches, he makes plays that normal freshmen wouldn't at time. So yes, he has been very productive for us, we need to make sure he gets plenty of touches, we still need all the other running backs to perform well and do their job. The more playmakers you have the better your team will be, but yes we are conscious that he is a guy that need to get his touches."
The Cards at 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the ACC face a must-win game with four of the next six games coming on the road. The turnaround ,mist begin this Saturday against a Virginia team that is off to it's best start in head coach Tony Elliot's tenure.
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The Cardinals dropped their second-straight game last weekend, falling 34-27 at home to SMU despite 329 passing yards and two touchdown throws by quarterback Tyler Shough.
Â
"We're facing a good team in Virginia whose 4-1 and 2-0 in the conference.," Brohm said.:"They have good quarterback play and they're solid on defense and balanced on offense. Last year at home we had to score two late touchdowns to pull out a victory. They controlled the game for the most part. We must get better as a team and improve on a lot of things that haven't gone our way. We need to go out there and get it done especially on the road, which will be a good test for us."
Â
While the offense hasn't been totally consistent, the defense has proved to have some lapses in the last two losses, giving up a number of big plays causing the Cards to have to battle back from behind in the last two defeats. SMU drove right down the field on the first drive of the game and were a difficult team to control for most of the game.
"On defense we need to shore some things up and allow our players to play and execute and play fast," Brohm said. "There are some things that we've discussed, and we're making corrections and make a better plan to make sure those things happen. We have to make sure everyone is getting the call so we can play fast."
The Cards are facing a much-improved UVA team that is 4-1 and 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference race after a 24-14 win over Boston College l;ast week.
Â
"We were able to finish on them last year, despite them playing a really good game," Brohm said of last seasons's 31-24 come-from-behind win over the Cavaliers. "This year they're an experienced team whose quarterback is playing well, they settled on him and he's done a really good job. He can run and pass which gives them options and uses his ability to escape the pocket, giving them opportunities to score. Their defense is solid and at times they've played tremendously well. I think they're a solid football team that's gone through a couple seasons where they've had some tough losses but have learned from them. They have improved because of it and that's how it works. They're very competitive, they play hard and are well coached. The quarterback play as well as their defense is their strength."
Brohm knows his team must start fast on the road if they are able to stop its two-game losing streak.
Â
"It's a combination of a lot of things but as a defense, we do need to communicate," Brohm said. "Just like when you're playing defense in basketball, you have to talk. It's going to be loud, so we have to be better at communicating. I do think it's a hodgepodge of things that happen here and there, that need to be cleaned up to make sure we don't put ourselves in those situations. We all need to play better. We all need to coach better. It starts with me and goes all the way down."Â
Brohm will look this weekend to get true freshman running back Isaac Brown more involved this weekend at Virginia. The rookie picked up his second 100-yard rushing game last weekend, running for 117 yards in the loss to SMU. Despite the 100-yard game, his touches were limited, and Brohm hopes to correct that this weekend.
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"We are very conscious of that as well," Brohm said. "I think Issac is a true freshman, so we have tried not to throw to much at him at first, he has shown the capabilities, he plays hard, he doesn't miss practice, he has no fear. He makes catches, he make hard catches, he makes plays that normal freshmen wouldn't at time. So yes, he has been very productive for us, we need to make sure he gets plenty of touches, we still need all the other running backs to perform well and do their job. The more playmakers you have the better your team will be, but yes we are conscious that he is a guy that need to get his touches."
The Cards at 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the ACC face a must-win game with four of the next six games coming on the road. The turnaround ,mist begin this Saturday against a Virginia team that is off to it's best start in head coach Tony Elliot's tenure.
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