Watch: Jeff Brohm, Richard Owens and Louisville Players Preview Virginia Tech

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In what was their first home game in three weeks, the Louisville football program was able to outlast Boston College just long enough, using three forced turnovers and a 300-yard day on the ground to escape with a 38-24 win this past Saturday.

Next up, Louisville heads back on the road to take on Virginia Tech. Kickoff against the Hokies is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1 at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Prior to their upcoming matchup, head coach Jeff Brohm, offensive line coach Richard Owens, defensive end Wesley Bailey and offensive tackle Rasheed Miller took time to meet with the media. They discussed the previous game vs. Boston College, previewed the upcoming game at Virginia Tech, and more.

Below is the partial transcript from Brohm's press conference, as well as the videos from Owens, Bailey and Miller's press conference:

Head Coach Jeff Brohm

"Well, we’ve got another great opportunity this week to go on the road to Virginia Tech, a place we have not played. So, it will be a great environment for our guys to play in. I know the stadium gets loud and is a good atmosphere so hopefully that will be a great experience for us. Virginia Tech is playing well. They have been very competitive since the change they made - they are 3-2. They are going to give us some problems; they play aggressive on defense and have some good players. And on offense, have a big strong quarterback who can run - very effective running the football and two solid running backs as well to go along with him. So, we will have to be able to defend that and defend it well. We’ve got to practice well this week, got to get better on some of the things that have shown up last couple games, and work hard at doing that, get guys as healthy as we can, and get ready to go down there and play as hard as we can and figure out a way to win."

(On preparing for the environment at Virginia Tech)

“I think this stadium will be loud. We worked it all week before the Miami game, during the game we didn't use the silent cadence the whole game, but we used it some, definitely in critical situations - and I thought we executed it pretty well. So really, during the course of the week we bring in noise, we practice the silent type of cadence we are going to use that week, which sometimes we will carry a couple different ways and you just keep practicing them. Sometimes we stay after practice and go over it as well. Everybody’s got to be locked in and on the same page and it definitely challenges you. It limits some of the thing you are able to communicate and do on offense. So, that package has to be tied up a little bit sharper. It’s definitely a home-field advantage."

Injury Update on Duke Watson and Stanquan Clark

"Duke Watson; we will try to get back in practice this week. It is too early to tell, I'm always hopeful but it is too early to tell. Stanquan has rehabbed very well and we actually will try to see how much he can do this week. But, it will be his first week of practice and if we can pull that off, so I am not going to rule that off the table. But we will see how this week goes. He has progressed extremely well up to this point and there is a slight chance."

On the defense versus Boston College)

“I think the first two drives were not our best drive on defense. We were a little more vanilla than we had been. We didn’t get off the field on third down. We let him convert a third and long the first time around on a completion that we should not have. And then we kind of busted a couple things that cost us. From there, I thought we ramped up the intensity on the quarterback. We got a little more creative in what we were doing and got a little bit more on the same page and that helped us. Would we like to play more efficient early on with some of those calls? Yes, we would, so we got to work on being able to play some regular defense more soundly and crisply and get off the field on third down. After those first two drives, the ability to get off the field on third down increased. I thought we improved as the game went on, but yes, we need to start better.”

(On how Virginia Tech has changed since the coaching change)

“I think that preseason they were touted as a really talented football team with a chance to win the conference, so I think they have talent and without question you see that on game film. On offense, they have a quarterback who has a ton of experience. He’s big and strong and can run. If you allow him to run and get yards, then they’re going to control the ball, and have third and short manageable situations that he can run the ball and get the first down, and they can take it and score. They’ve got two strong running backs, and they’ve done a good job with the talent they have on defense. They play hard and aggressive, and I don’t think the defense has been the issue over the last couple of years. I think they fly around to the ball. They have a good package, and it’s a good football team.

(On the offense, improving its efficiency)

“I think as you look at college football and football in general, defenses can do a good job; they have good talent. Teams are being more creative and aggressive in their approach, so you’re going to get stopped a few times. When you do, you’ve got to reserve the right to punt and let your defense play, and you can’t turn the ball over. I think we had three turnovers in the game, but we still found a way to win. Being efficient means taking what they give you. Defenses have thrown a lot at us. I think some pressure packages, we've got to figure out a way to get a little better answer and try to get some positive yards, but at the same time, when our defense uses their pressure package, it normally has success as well, because it challenges the offense. It’s hard to run against it. In the passing game, you've got to get open quickly because the rush is coming. So, I just think we’ve got to continue to put together the best strategy in order to defeat certain things. And while that’s going on, we can’t get too frustrated and force things and make rash decisions. Let’s protect the ball, let’s try to score points. When we are not, let’s not beat ourselves. I think versus Miami, we were able to do that. We scored early twice, but after that, they stopped us some, but we didn’t turn the ball over until late in the game, which caused us to force the other team to make costly mistakes. So, I just think all those small things are important, and managing the game while we’re trying to, of course, score every time you touch it, you've got to be smart with your approach.”

(On special teams)

“Well, we have gained an advantage on special teams, and it’s been beneficial. For the most part, kicking the ball out of the endzone is great. We had a couple of times last game (Boston College) where we didn’t, which didn’t crush us, but we didn’t get as good of field position. In the return game we still have to continue to find ways to just create some space for Caullin (Lacy). Punting the ball, no, we have not been as good punting the ball. We just have got to punt the ball better - in practice, we do, it’s got to carry over to the game. I think we’ve protected well. We’ve got to punt the ball out there. I know we missed a field goal, but we’ve been pretty efficient kicking the ball on extra points and field goals - that’s got to continue because that’s been big. I thought when we went out and lined up for a field goal and shifted and punted the ball, it was huge, it was a huge play for us. It was a huge play for us, because that did not allow them to get a punt returner in the back, and we pinned them back down and that’s really kind of when we took over the game. So, I thought that was a critical and great call by Karl (Maslowski), that we had worked for a while, that was really beneficial. Could we have possibly made that distance of a field goal? Yes. At the time, if you miss it, you’re really putting your team in a bad situation. So, we went ahead and went with the change up there and shifted it to a punt formation, because our holder is the punter. That really was a beneficial call that I thought really helped us win the game.”

(On the mentality shift of being an underdog, to being favored to win)

“Well, those things are going to happen. Whether you’re hot, whether you’re not. You’ve got to be able to play when the pressure is on the other team and you’re relaxed, and you’ve got to be able to play when the pressure is on you. I just think for us, as boring as it sounds, a one game season is what we always preach. We talk about it, we work it. I think our guys fully understand whether you win or lose one week, you’ve got to go win the next game. So, you can’t get too high when we win and you can’t get too frustrated when you lose. Otherwise, you’re not going to win the next game and you just kind of have to teach that mentality. It’s not easy. You’ve got to block out what other people are saying, which is common, it’s going to happen, and you’ve got to go to work. I just think if we go to work every week and we put the work in and we continue to work on correcting some of the mistakes we made and go out there and cut loose on game day and not make critical mistakes, we’ll have a chance. I just think you’ve got to continue to stress that and the importance of everything is a one game season. The next game is the most important thing ever and let’s just work our tail off and then be able to look ourselves in the mirror when the day is over and say, ‘Alright, I put in the work. Now I can go to sleep, get up and do it again tomorrow and then go cut loose gameday.’ Even when you’re losing, you’ve got to still have that same mentality. Otherwise, you’re going to get frustrated, you’re going to get down a little bit, and you won’t be as hungry. I think both of those things have come into play.”

Watch: Jeff Brohm, Richard Owens and Louisville Players Preview Virginia Tech

Head Coach Jeff Brohm

Offensive Line Coach Richard Owens

Defensive End Wesley Bailey and Offensive Tackle Rasheed Miller

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