One of the biggest talking points in college football this season involves technology. For the first time, designated players will be able to use helmet communication where coaches can communicate directly to a speaker inside a player’s helmet.
On offense, the player will be almost always be the quarterback. Defensively, coaches generally select a linebacker, although that could vary from team to team.
Kentucky was able to experiment with the technology during spring practice and the Cats continue to acclimate themselves to this new part of the game.
The Cats held their first fall scrimmage on Saturday with the helmet communication in place. Head coach Mark Stoops spoke about the helmet communication following Saturday’s action inside Kroger Field.
“I felt very good about the operation with the communication with the quarterbacks and on defense and being able to communicate with those guys,” Stoops said.
Quarterback Brock Vandagriff is still getting used to the new technology but he likes what he has experienced from it so far.
“The helmet communication, basically I can get the whole play and I don’t even have to look to the sideline. So, I’m getting it, telling the (offensive) line the play and I can go ahead and do my little pre-snap routine,” Vandagriff said. “Being able to see that, I don’t even have to get my eyes to the sideline, that’s basically just for the skill guys. So I hear it, tell them the play and it gives me a lot more extra time at the line while guys are getting lined up. If we have any checks, I think (communication) cuts out at 15 or 16 seconds, but if we get on the ball before that, having some extra sets of eyes on top helping with the checks is really good.”
There has been a lot of talk about offensive tempo with new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan this fall and Vandagriff believes the helmet communication will assist in that.
“I think the helmet communication will help tempo across college football,” Vandagriff said. “When you think about it, even the quarterback doesn’t have to look to the sideline now. So basically, he’s being able to get on the ball. The checks, those are things we’ll be able to see with the extra sets of eyes up top being able to help with that. It happens so much faster if you have an extra set of eyes. They can see leverage a little better. Being able to check really fast if it’s an unfavorable look for a certain play. Check, get in and out of stuff really fast, is something we’ve been working on. We executed pretty well today.”
Getting used to the helmet technology and using it can be a big advantage. The Cats continue to work through it in fall camp, but the reviews so far are very positive.
