After Tough Losses, Brohm Calls for Stronger Communication as Louisville Faces Virginia
October 07, 2024 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Coming off a loss against SMU, University of Louisville football team and head coach Jeff Brohm are set to go back on the road to face Virginia.Â
Following back-to-back losses, Brohm highlighted that clear communication among coaches and players is essential for the rest of the season. He stressed the need to stay focused and avoid falling behind in games. Â
"It's a combination of a lot of things but as a defense, we do need to communicate. 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. The plan needs to be defined, and we need to know exactly what we're going to do. We need to be able to teach that plan and carry it out as efficiently as we can. To win at a high level, everyone has to do their part or you're not going to win. That means our assistant coaches, players, reserves, have to step up and perform at an optimal level in order to win and we got to be better at that."
Brohm outlined the current priorities aimed at getting the team back on track and identified key factors that will drive the Cards to victory in their upcoming ACC conference games against strong opponents.
"On defense we need to shore some things up and allow our players to play and execute and play fast. 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. On offense, we have to continue to find ways to make big plays. When we're in some passing situations we have to find ways to protect better and be firmer so we can give the quarterback some time. We have to be consistent playmakers and find ways to convert in critical situations, third and short, fourth and short, and be smart in how we create a plan and find ways to get it done."
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Turning to the defensive side of the game, Brohm elaborated on the specific improvements he aims to implement.Â
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"The simplest way to define it is that when the balls snapped, we need to be lined up and on the same page about the call. If we get beat, let's get beat because the other team outplayed us. That has not taken place. There needs to be less checks, or in my opinion, zero checks, so when a call is made, we can run it. Everyone needs to understand the play so certain things can't detour us from making the play. I do think that the calls need to get in quicker. We need a plan to make sure that happens. Worst case scenario, if a team goes extremely fast and the calls not getting in, we have a set play where we're lined up to play until we get the call. There are some small things with we're going to make sure gets fixed and we'll work hard this week to fix them, so our guys can execute and play fast."
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Good communication through helmets will enhance our signal system, especially in loud situations, ensuring we don't miss plays.
"Well, we did have a couple of situations late in the game when it got loud. We still need to use the signal system; we need to make sure that we are able to do both. We need to be aware of when it does gets loud, do we change from one to the other, a little bit quicker then maybe we did in the past game. That is all on the table and being discussed and trying to map out, ahead of the game so when that does happen, we don't miss a play here or two there because of communication. So, the communication in all three segments have to be spot on, so that our players can go play and execute, so as coaches we have to be really good at it."Â
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Louisville will kickoff against Virginia on Saturday at 3:30 pm ET the game can be viewed on ACC network.
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Following back-to-back losses, Brohm highlighted that clear communication among coaches and players is essential for the rest of the season. He stressed the need to stay focused and avoid falling behind in games. Â
"It's a combination of a lot of things but as a defense, we do need to communicate. 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. The plan needs to be defined, and we need to know exactly what we're going to do. We need to be able to teach that plan and carry it out as efficiently as we can. To win at a high level, everyone has to do their part or you're not going to win. That means our assistant coaches, players, reserves, have to step up and perform at an optimal level in order to win and we got to be better at that."
Brohm outlined the current priorities aimed at getting the team back on track and identified key factors that will drive the Cards to victory in their upcoming ACC conference games against strong opponents.
"On defense we need to shore some things up and allow our players to play and execute and play fast. 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. On offense, we have to continue to find ways to make big plays. When we're in some passing situations we have to find ways to protect better and be firmer so we can give the quarterback some time. We have to be consistent playmakers and find ways to convert in critical situations, third and short, fourth and short, and be smart in how we create a plan and find ways to get it done."
Â
Turning to the defensive side of the game, Brohm elaborated on the specific improvements he aims to implement.Â
Â
"The simplest way to define it is that when the balls snapped, we need to be lined up and on the same page about the call. If we get beat, let's get beat because the other team outplayed us. That has not taken place. There needs to be less checks, or in my opinion, zero checks, so when a call is made, we can run it. Everyone needs to understand the play so certain things can't detour us from making the play. I do think that the calls need to get in quicker. We need a plan to make sure that happens. Worst case scenario, if a team goes extremely fast and the calls not getting in, we have a set play where we're lined up to play until we get the call. There are some small things with we're going to make sure gets fixed and we'll work hard this week to fix them, so our guys can execute and play fast."
Â
Good communication through helmets will enhance our signal system, especially in loud situations, ensuring we don't miss plays.
"Well, we did have a couple of situations late in the game when it got loud. We still need to use the signal system; we need to make sure that we are able to do both. We need to be aware of when it does gets loud, do we change from one to the other, a little bit quicker then maybe we did in the past game. That is all on the table and being discussed and trying to map out, ahead of the game so when that does happen, we don't miss a play here or two there because of communication. So, the communication in all three segments have to be spot on, so that our players can go play and execute, so as coaches we have to be really good at it."Â
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Louisville will kickoff against Virginia on Saturday at 3:30 pm ET the game can be viewed on ACC network.
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