Thoughts from Jeff Brohm

[FiveStarBBN]

Hello everyone I just wanted to introduce myself and give you guys a little bit of information about myself and something interesting that occurred today. I have been reading the Lair threads for a while now and just decided to make an account here because I feel that I can contribute some things to the site. I would like to say that I do have a very close friend that currently plays on the defensive line at UK and I played ball with him in high school so I do have some insight as to what goes on inside the UK Football program a little bit. I have always been a Kentucky fan and I bleed blue as much as anyone. Also, I do help coach my former high school football team so I do have a good bit of football knowledge.

Now for the piece of info, I am in the Sports Management department at WKU and I'm constantly around the WKU football players and coaches a lot. Today I had an encounter with Head Football Coach Jeff Brohm at WKU and I asked him an important question that I think can stir up a good thread to discuss football that I thought I should share with you guys.

I asked Coach Brohm what would he do to move the ball if he had an Offensive Line that is struggling to run block and pass block opposing defenses (2015 UK line) and here is the answer he gave me:

Brohm: As a coach that coaches a team with less talent than some of the programs we play, we must at WKU (much like UK in the SEC) find creative ways to move the ball down the field. We understand that our O Line isnt as big and strong as some teams we play like LSU so we take our guys that are maybe not as big and strong and pull them a lot as well as use a bunch of misdirection in the run game. Also, we will use a lot of quick hitting passing plays to nullify opposing pass rushes. We also make an effort to use creative trick plays when the other teams present an opportunity for us to use them. We want to find non-traditional ways to score the football because we cant always line up traditionally and go drive the ball down the field.

Thought I should share this with you guys and again, I am a HUGE UK fan I just happen to be in the Sports Department at WKU. Took the chance to pick his mind about offensive football that I thought could pertain to UK's struggles this season.

 

[canebreak]

Not sure there is anything but obvious here. But in my opinion that is exactly why Patrick may not be the best fit at QB this year. He does not seem to do anything quickly, especially deciding when to release the ball.

 

[FiveStarBBN]

The most interesting part that I felt he told me was the misdirection in the run game. Dawson rarely uses misdirection when trying to run the ball and rarely pulls any offensive linemen. I understand he may feel that our line isnt athletic enough to pull but I find it odd that he hasnt even tried it. I feel like Dawson isnt being as creative as he could be. He's calling the same plays expecting different results.

 

[ukalumni00]

Thanks for the info. I think a lot of folks see this as well and that is a reason why Dawson supposably wants QB's who have quick releases and are very accurate. I have my reservations about the guys he is recruiting at QB now, but if they can be that type of QB in this system and most assuredly will have a much better Oline with the guys the staff are getting in this class and hopefully in 2017 then that could be the solution.

Patrick has an NFL arm, but he is not deadly accurate and does not have a quick reaction time. Its not something you develop. Its just something you are born with. Most QB's do not have it which is why most do not excel at this level or in the NFL.

I am in the camp that thinks the offense needs to open up a great deal right now to have any shot to do something. They are trying to play a style that they do not have the personnel for (mainly Oline) and the bigger issue is Patrick is more of a Pro Style QB and he is struggling bad right now. Stoops preaches being balanced and I agree with him. However, you have to adjust to your personnel and I do not think they have done a good job of that this year.

 

[FiveStarBBN]

I agree UKalumni. I don't think Dawson has done a good job at putting his offensive line in position to mitigate the talent gap between them and SEC defensive lines. I find it puzzling that he hasn't used any trick plays either. Brown used a couple while at UK and was fairly successful with them. I just wish they were more creative because they haven't figured out how to move the ball consistently yet. Lots of things they could explore that aren't being done right now.

 

[WhiteCityCat1]

Thank you Mr. Brohm.

 

[gamecockcat]

Seems pretty obvious, right? Even posters on here who haven't played a down of organized football like me (but who've watched thousands) understand that quick passes to nullify the rush, misdirection running plays, moving the pocket - that's what teams do to compensate for an OL that is physically overmatched. Other than the Missouri game, not sure we've any of these three things out of UK this year. Admittedly, PT probably isn't accurate enough to throw the quick darts needed but no traps, no reverses, no jet sweeps, no fake one way and hand/pitch to the other? Head scratchers, I'll grant you.

 

[buckkiller]

Well when you have Stoops micro managing Dawson what do you expect?

 

[Blouman]

Explains why Brohm has a successful offense.

 

[FiveStarBBN]

Another thing I notice is that Patrick doesn't ever use his check downs (backs on bubble screens) or even look their way. Not sure if Dawson coaches this or what but it is inexcusable. It's a vital part of every offense and doesn't get utilized at all. I love Patrick by the way I just feel their is a lot of yards being left on the field due to coaching. It's Dawson's job to make these adjustments on a weekly basis.

 

[cathouse]

Another thing I notice is that Patrick doesn't ever use his check downs (backs on bubble screens) or even look their way. Not sure if Dawson coaches this or what but it is inexcusable. It's a vital part of every offense and doesn't get utilized at all. I love Patrick by the way I just feel their is a lot of yards being left on the field due to coaching. It's Dawson's job to make these adjustments on a weekly basis.

Just ask Jeff if he would ever consider coaching at UK? That should get an interesting response from Mr. Brohm.

 

[CloverforkCat]

I know Jeff no longer calls the plays, as Mr. Helton is the OC, but I am sure he has a lot of input on the Offensive game plan. Does he micro manage the OC, or is the OC up in the press box during the games ?

 

[sluggercatfan]

The most interesting part that I felt he told me was the misdirection in the run game. Dawson rarely uses misdirection when trying to run the ball and rarely pulls any offensive linemen. I understand he may feel that our line isnt athletic enough to pull but I find it odd that he hasnt even tried it. I feel like Dawson isnt being as creative as he could be. He's calling the same plays expecting different results.

This OL is big ...the problem is they have horrible foot work, lack any quickness or speed...goes without saying they are poorly coached

 

[sluggercatfan]

Well when you have Stoops micro managing Dawson what do you expect?

This^^^^

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Brohm at UK would def be a stick to the eye for UL.

Which Brohm is he? The ex QB for them?

 

[UKWINS]

Im sure Stoops doesnt tell Dawson to run 32 draws a game out of the same formation

 

[sluggercatfan]

Just ask Jeff if he would ever consider coaching at UK? That should get an interesting response from Mr. Brohm.

No it wouldnt...I posted earlier this week that I have gotten to know a guy who says that he is one of JB best friends...is a HUGE Otis fan , but goes to all of WKU games...he told me this summer when we were talking that Brohm would love to have the job, but it would take 7-8 years to do the job , but he did say that Jeff said could never be elite because of being in the sec...he also said that BP wanted the job bad, but that it was common knowledge that he was BB from the sec and most of the country by the best programs...

 

[bigblueinsanity]

The main thing Id like to see us do, is go under center more so we can use a snap count. This gives the OL an advantage. Right now, they need all the help they can get.

Even posters on here who haven't played a down of organized football like me (but who've watched thousands) understand that quick passes to nullify the rush, misdirection running plays, moving the pocket

We call quick passes, the ball just doesnt come out like it should. We've tried a few misdirection plays, like draws; and theyve been successful for the most part.

Another thing I notice is that Patrick doesn't ever use his check downs

He cant go through progressions, for whatever reason.

 

[Onomatopoeia]

Hello everyone I just wanted to introduce myself and give you guys a little bit of information about myself and something interesting that occurred today. I have been reading the Lair threads for a while now and just decided to make an account here because I feel that I can contribute some things to the site. I would like to say that I do have a very close friend that currently plays on the defensive line at UK and I played ball with him in high school so I do have some insight as to what goes on inside the UK Football program a little bit. I have always been a Kentucky fan and I bleed blue as much as anyone. Also, I do help coach my former high school football team so I do have a good bit of football knowledge.

Now for the piece of info, I am in the Sports Management department at WKU and I'm constantly around the WKU football players and coaches a lot. Today I had an encounter with Head Football Coach Jeff Brohm at WKU and I asked him an important question that I think can stir up a good thread to discuss football that I thought I should share with you guys.

I asked Coach Brohm what would he do to move the ball if he had an Offensive Line that is struggling to run block and pass block opposing defenses (2015 UK line) and here is the answer he gave me:

Brohm: As a coach that coaches a team with less talent than some of the programs we play, we must at WKU (much like UK in the SEC) find creative ways to move the ball down the field. We understand that our O Line isnt as big and strong as some teams we play like LSU so we take our guys that are maybe not as big and strong and pull them a lot as well as use a bunch of misdirection in the run game. Also, we will use a lot of quick hitting passing plays to nullify opposing pass rushes. We also make an effort to use creative trick plays when the other teams present an opportunity for us to use them. We want to find non-traditional ways to score the football because we cant always line up traditionally and go drive the ball down the field.

Thought I should share this with you guys and again, I am a HUGE UK fan I just happen to be in the Sports Department at WKU. Took the chance to pick his mind about offensive football that I thought could pertain to UK's struggles this season.

Welcome to the Lair
#1 - Please refrain from knowing anything about football.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[FiveStarBBN]

Every QB at this level should understand to dump it off to the RB in the flats whenever you come off your reads.

 

[HedleyLamarr]

Jeff was a QB for the Cards in the 80's, and his brother Brian was a QB for the Cards in the 90's.

 

[southindycat]

Jeff was a QB for the Cards in the 80's, and his brother Brian was a QB for the Cards in the 90's.

Let's do the time warp... that's 89-93 for Jeff, 04-07 for Brian.

 

[FiveStarBBN]

I thought I should share his thoughts because he is widely regarded as one of the best offensive minds in the country and a D1 football coach of a successful program and he reiterates what most on the board have said Dawson should have been doing all year and hasn't. What does that say about the staff or players?

 

[Deeeefense]

The most interesting part that I felt he told me was the misdirection in the run game. Dawson rarely uses misdirection when trying to run the ball and rarely pulls any offensive linemen. I understand he may feel that our line isnt athletic enough to pull but I find it odd that he hasnt even tried it. I feel like Dawson isnt being as creative as he could be. He's calling the same plays expecting different results.

Another thing you can do is more zone blocking schemes. When Brooks was here and Sanders/Joker were running the offense we had undersized linemen but they had pretty good feet. We had speedy backs like Derrick Locke and Fonzo Smith that could really accelerate behind a zone stretch play and get very good yardage against some big fast defensive fronts. Occasionally the back finds a crease he can burst through for chunk yardage.

I agree with the general idea of not just running directly at a big athletic front, you have to be a little bit creative in your scheme. Dawson is new to the SEC and he may have fully appreciated what he was going up against until he found out the hard way.

 

[FickusDuckus]

Let's do the time warp... that's 89-93 for Jeff, 04-07 for Brian.

Their dad (Oscar) and Jeff's brother (Greg) also played for Louisville. I spent a great deal of time in Okolona during Jeff and Greg's days. They came into my place of business more than a few times and were always great kids. Should Stoops not pan out down the line I would take Jeff at head coach in a NY minute.