Brohm's offenses versatile, balanced, high-scoring
If Saturday’s Conference-USA championship game was any indication, Jeff Brohm will bring a versatile, diverse offense to Purdue.
At Western Kentucky over four seasons — three as head coach, another as coordinator and all as play-caller — Brohm’s units used balanced production from the ground game and passing game to establish record-breaking numbers.
In three consecutive seasons as head coach, WKU’s offense had a 1,000-yard rusher, 4,000-yard passer and multiple 1,000-yard receivers.
That accounts for a lot of yards, naturally.
Four times this season, WKU had at least 600 yards of offense, including 656 in its 58-44 victory over La. Tech in the title game.
Brohm, a former Louisville and pro quarterback, may be best-regarded as someone able to mold quarterbacks who’ve tallied eye-popping numbers. This season, it was transfer Mike White, who enters WKU’s bowl game with 4,027 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and only six interceptions. The previous two years, it was Brandon Doughty, who threw for 9,885 yards and 97 touchdowns in two seasons in Brohm’s offense.
But, again, Brohm’s offenses haven’t just been about slinging the ball around.
One could argue they’re all based off the run, which sets up a particularly effective play-action.
WKU rushed for 235 yards in the C-USA title game, the sixth consecutive game it passed 200 yards rushing in a game and the eighth time in the last 10 games. And that aided an impressive passing effort in an offense that showed a lot of formations, motions and movements.
Brohm's offense this season at WKU probably would be described as a spread and pro style mix.
Against Louisiana Tech Saturday, Western Kentucky ran a no-huddle offense that didn’t run much tempo, though Brohm has a history of cranking it up and going super-fast, with a variety of formations.
It stuck mostly to “11” personnel with one back and one tight end and three receivers, but in specific situations, it put two tight ends on the field and it also had two backs on the goal line. Brohm had White roll out on occasion, got the ball out of the QBs hands quickly on occasion and allowed him to sit in the pocket to thrown down the field on occasion.
All but a handful of snaps were in shotgun, and White typically lined up about five yards off the line with the back either right next to him or in a pistol set (directly behind).
WKU usually was in a 2x1 formation Saturday but also showed 3x1 looks, including tight bunches. It also lined up in a split back look with the tight end on a couple snaps and ran multiple motion plays that faked a jet sweep, similar to what Purdue's offense has shown the last couple years. Counted only one wide receiver screen on the day against a La. Tech defense that mostly gave WKU's receivers a cushion off the line.
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