The Cougars had a surprisingly easy win over the Broncos of Boise State on Friday night. By all measures, BYU dominated the game and it showed up on the scoreboard. Let's review my preview of the game and see how my predictions did (or did not) hold up.
Taysom Hill looks downfield against the Broncos. Courtesy washingtonpost.com.
Prediction: "Hill will complete 25/40 passes for 280 yards and rush 15 times for 75
yards. I think he'll get two touchdowns through the air and one more on
the ground. I predict he will be sacked 3 times and throw an
interception" Reality: Hill finished the day 27/41 with 339 yards passing. He threw 3 touchdowns, had no interceptions, and ran for a touchdown. He had 18 runs for 69 rushing yards. He was sacked twice. Analysis: I don't mean to toot my own horn, but..."toot!!!" I was very close on almost all of these statistics (though Hill had a better game than I even anticipated). Prediction: "The receiver that will have the biggest game is BYU's all time leading receiver, Cody Hoffman." Reality: Hoffman finished with 4 catches for 57 yards and a TD. His touchdown catch was another spectacular grab in which he stole away what probably should have been an interception by the Boise defender. Statistically, Mitch Matthews had a slightly better game (4 catches for 66 yards and a score) but the the whole receiving corps shined with 9 different players making at least one catch and 5 different players having 4 catches. Analysis: Hoffman had a solid game. His touchdown put him in sole possession of all-time TD receptions by a Cougar. Congrats to him on that remarkable achievement. While I was expecting him to go over 100 yards, it was nice to see the whole receiving corps making plays and showing that Hoffman's not the only playmaker on this year's team.
Prediction: "Last week's game was a fluke and the D will come prepared. Craig
Bills was sidelined with a head injury. Many of the big plays that were
given up were due to blown assignments by his replacements. Also, KVN
had an uncharacteristically poor showing. He will make up for it, today,
and bring his A game in front of a national audience." Reality: BYU's D forced 4 turonvers and only gave up 3 points by halftime. The Broncos scored two touchdowns later in the game when it was already in hand. The Cougars gave up 499 total yards of offense. KVN had 2 tackles and a pass break-up. Analysis: The Cougars gave up a lot of yards but many of those can be attributed to the high volume of plays the
Broncos ran (90) and Boise racking up stats after the game was well in hand.
KVN had a solid but quiet game. He had a great play in which he
bullrushed and batted the ball down as soon as it left the QB's hand.
Teams are and will continue to run away from him. Overall, the D played well and there were never any real concerns that the Broncos might sneak out of Provo with a W. Still, nobody had any hits that topped Matt Payne's from 2004...
Prediction: "BYU's offense is finding its groove. They've scored at least 31 points
every game in their 4 game winning streak. The D will bounce back from a
poor game, last week. While I do not think they will dominate Boise, I
think they will come away with a W. BYU 28, BSU 21"
Reality: The Cougars won 37-20 in a game that was not even that close. The Cougars did, in fact, dominate Boise. The D was solid and the Y came away with a W going into a bye week. Analysis: I was wrong about the game being a close one that would be evenly matched. This game was over by halftime. I did not show enough confidence in the O, who again scored over 31 points. I don't mind being wrong when it means the Cougars did better than I expected.
As the Cougars head into a bye week, I will be off this weekend, as well, celebrating Halloween and my baby daughter's 2nd birthday. Hopefully my writing fingers will be well rested and my lungs recovered for the big game in Madison.
After last week's game what do you feel is the general mood of Ute fans and their interest in the rest of the season?
Down from cloud 9 for sure! I know I was very confident that Utah could pull off the W. It was like a hangover of depression for me this whole week looking forward to USC. I don't know what everyone was feeling but I do feel optimistic for this weeks game just disappointed from last week.
Is the year salvageable? What needs to happen for the remainder of the year for it to be considered satisfactory?
Is the year salvageable?! Absolutely! I expected the Utes to be 2-5 or 3-4 at this point when I looked at the schedule before the season started. I could be much happier from where we are, I feel like I have been very wrong and the Utes are far more impressive than I originally assumed but the Utes are still doing far better than I assumed. I'm not worried I feel like they are definitely going to a bowl.
I talked with a BYU fan who talked to me about BYU's record today? To throw it in my face? It was odd. Didn't Utah beat BYU? Hasn't Utah been playing either the same teams or more difficult? I don't know I felt like it was very odd to compare schedules, What's up with that Dylan?
What does the U need to do to beat SC?
The Utes need to run the ball consistently. Last week Utah went away from their run game and I didn't understand it. Utah needs to take advantage of an injured USC defense. The Utes need to wear down USC's defense by running and running consistently. It will open up the pass to the flat and to the outside. It's the same game plan that they need to prepare for against Stanford.
Utah's D will be too much for USC. They will bring pressure and force USC to make quicker decision. The Utes defense is more athletic than USC and will have a very positive day for the Utes D.
Thoughts on your backup QB? Can he be successful this year?
Adam Schulz is a stud! He is a fantastic player and I know everyone is drawing the conclusion that he is another John Hays and I couldn't disagree more. He is a sophomore with a lot of potential. John Hays wasn't all that bad either. He was someone that was consistent and perhaps wasn't the the best of QB's Utah has seen but he did well for the position he was in and I think Adam Schulz will do nothing but exceed that mark when his number is called. He has a cannon for an arm and I think if Travis Wilson goes down I'm not too worried. Adam will be just fine.
Q: After last week's heroic performance, what do you expect out of Taysom Hill this week?
A: Taysom Hill has gotten better each game he has played this season. He seems to have a deeper understanding of the offense and is gaining important chemistry with his teammates. He has the tools to be a very good dual-threat QB and he is starting to tap into his potential more and more. Credit needs to be given to Robert Anae and his offensive staff, as well. They have modified the scheme and let Hill begin to flourish. It was nice, last week, to see Hill get a chance to throw downfield. His overall tremendous effort earned him ESPN's Impact Player of the Week award.
One modification that Anae needs to make, this week, is to keep Hill upright. It is never a good thing when your QB gets hit about 40 times in a game. Taysom was bruised and bloodied everywhere after the Houston game. No matter how tough he is, at some point, these hits will affect his game. BYU needs to protect him much better while he's in the pocket and limit the amount of times he runs (particularly planned runs). I think that Anae will make the necessary adjustments to keep his QB healthy for the difficult stretch of games coming up
With the adjustments, I think Hill's overall numbers will be more human this week. I believe Jamaal Williams will be called upon more to shoulder some of the load for Hill in the run game. Hill should have success when he does run since Boise is only 55th in the nation defending the run. He should also have success airing it out since Boise is only 79th in the nation defending the pass. While Boise gives up a lot of yards, they are doing fairly well at keeping teams out of the end zone (giving up 23 points a game). They have also had success getting to the QB (29th in the nation) and forcing turnovers (31st in the nation). Hill's line will need to hold up and he will need to take good care of the ball.
Given all of these factors, I predict Hill will complete 25/40 passes for 280 yards and rush 15 times for 75 yards. I think he'll get two touchdowns through the air and one more on the ground. I predict he will be sacked 3 times and throw an interception.
Can the O-line keep Hill on his feet? Courtesy Desert News.
Q: Which BYU receiver do you think will have the biggest performance this week?
A: Ross Apo (finally) had a strong game against Houston in which he caught 2 TD passes. He was slowed down in the second half and did not have as much of a factor in the final two quarters (1 catch for 5 yards). Mitch Matthews had a solid game with 4 catches for 68 yards. However, he was passive on a few balls and did not have as much of an impact as he could have. Skyler Ridley and JD Falslev gave the Cougars some good shorter routes and possession receptions.
Still, I think the receiver that will have the biggest game is BYU's all time leading receiver, Cody Hoffman. In the last two games, Hoffman has regained his 2012 form. Against Georgia Tech and Houston, he had 12 catches for 255 yards and 2 TDs. After a slow start to the season due to a nagging hamstring injury, a suspension and Hill's early season inaccuracy, Hoffman appears poised to have a big second half of the season. This game will be his last opportunity to win a meaningful game at LES and will be an opportunity to raise his draft stock as the BYU-Boise game is the only matchup on ESPN tonight.
Hoffman with another circus catch against Houston. Courtesy heraldextra.com.
Q: Will the defense bounce back after its poor showing against Houston?
A: Houston is the first team since Oregon State (13 games previous) to score over 21 points against BYU's defense. They scored 38 in the first half in a sloppy defensive performance by the Y. In the second half, however, Houston's O only accounted for 6 points even though they had almost identical amounts of yard gained. In the first half, BYU tackled poorly and were burned by big plays. In the second half, the D was more sure in their tackling (though still poor by their standards) and played more of a bend but don't break scheme. Bronco was more prudent in the use of blitzes in the second half and it allowed the D to do just enough to keep the game within reach.
Houston's offense spread BYU out and they appeared to have a distinct speed advantage over the Cougars. Bronco was smart in his adjustments and he was very successful in slowing down the red Cougars' offensive attack. It is important to note that the week after giving up 42 points to Oregon State last year, BYU's D responded by only giving up 17 to Notre Dame and 20 or less in the rest of their games. It is also important to note that 16 of Houston's points were scored by their defense or special teams.
I am inclined to think that last week's game was a fluke and that the D will come prepared. Craig Bills was sidelined with a head injury. Many of the big plays that were given up were due to blown assignments by his replacements. Also, KVN had an uncharacteristically poor showing. He will make up for it, today, and bring his A game in front of a national audience.
Look for KVN to bounce back after last week's game. Courtesy byucougars.com.
Q: Final prediction?
A: BYU's offense is finding its groove. They've scored at least 31 points every game in their 4 game winning streak. The D will bounce back from a poor game, last week. While I do not think they will dominate Boise, I think they will come away with a W.
After all is said and done, I think the loss to Virginia will be the most painful loss of 2013. While there were definitely extenuating circumstances (rain delay, horrendous playing conditions, first game with new offense, etc.) this is a really bad Virginia team. The only D-1 school they have beaten thus far is the Y. And it doesn't get any easier--three of their last five opponents are currently ranked in the top 15.
Final Record Prediction: 3-9 (which would make it by far Bronco's worst loss as a Head Coach)
Texas (4-2 overall, 3-0 Big 12)
The Longhorn team that stuck it to Oklahoma two weeks ago and the team that BYU walloped could not be more different. Against the Cougars, Texas looked very soft as BYU's struggling offensive line was far from physical than UT's front 7. It is hard to gauge how good (or mediocre) this Texas team is. Either way, they currently control their own destiny in the Big 12. They have three straight games they will be favored to win (Kansas, TCU and West Virginia) before they host #19 Oklahoma State and #10 Texas Tech and then head up north to face #8 Baylor. Those three games will decide whether this is a good Texas team or not.
Final Record Prediction (Before Bowl): 8-4
Utah (4-3 overall, 1-3 PAC-12)
Utah's up and down season has been well-documented by my colleague Brad Findeis. After coming off a major upset over then #5 Stanford, the Utes dropped an egg and lost to a middle of the pack Arizona team on the road. The Utes have three strong wins to their credit (USU, BYU and Stanford) and have been within striking distance in all 3 of their losses. It will be interesting to see how they finish but they should make it to a bowl game because they have 2 remaining games against the dregs of the PAC-12 (Wazzou and Colorado).
Final Record Prediction (Before Bowl): 7-5
Middle Tennessee State (4-4 overall, 2-2 C-USA)
This is a very mediocre team. Perhaps the biggest evidence of this fact is that BYU turned the ball over 5 times against them and still won by four touchdowns. The Blue Raiders face a patsy C-USA schedule that might allow them to get to 6 wins and a lower-tier bowl game.
Final Record Prediction (Before Bowl): 6-6
Utah State (4-4 overall, 3-1 MWC)
It's been a turbulent season for the Aggies. After having their best season in over half a century, hopes were high for this year's team (even with a new Head Coach). The Aggies started out hot against the Utes but couldn't hold on to finish with a win. They then crushed D-II Weber State and a bad Air Force team before losing a heartbreaker at the Coliseum against USC. The bottom fell out when their most invaluable player, Chuckie Keeton, suffered a season ending knee injury against the Cougs. BYU thumped them and then Boise did the same the next week. The Aggies destroyed a bad New Mexico team last Saturday and should be favored to win the remainder of its games and go to a bowl. If they win out, Utah State will be a solid, but underwhelming, 8-4 before the bowl.
Final Record Prediction (Before Bowl): 8-4
Georgia Tech (4-3 overall, 3-2 ACC)
The Yellow Jackets are a hard team to figure out. They are very inconsistent. They lost 3 games in a row and then beat Syracuse 56-0. Their success is predicated on how well their opponents know how to defend the option. BYU and Virginia Tech were very successful against the Jackets defensively and GT just didn't have enough firepower to stay with Miami late. GT plays Virginia, Pitt, #9 Clemson, Alabama A&M and then their rival Georgia. After last week's performances by Clemson and Georgia, I would say that all of these games are winnable for GT but I doubt they will win out.
Final Record Prediction (Before Bowl): 7-5
Houston (5-1 overall, 2-0 AAC)
Houston is a tricky team to predict from here on out. The only decent team (BYU) they have played thus far, they lost to. However, that loss was only by a point and Houston had every chance to win the game. The Cougars in red still have some statement games left. Their remaining 3 tough games are all on the road (Rutgers, #23 UCF, #20 Louisville) and their other 3 games they should win. I'm going to say that Houston wins all the games it should and gets a victory in one of the three statement games.
This week for the Kansas Jayhawks, Jake Heaps completed 5 of 13 passes for an astronomical 16 yards and a 1 yard touchdown. Just think about what could have been, Cougar fans!!! Really too bad that he transferred.
Wow. That's the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about this game. This was one of the craziest and weirdest games I've ever watched. It was a throwback to the Detmer days where BYU scored 52 points in a game...and so did the other team. Here is my recap of the game.
Offense: The Good
For the first time in what seems like years, BYU won BECAUSE of its offense rather than DESPITE it. John Clyde of KSL.com asserts that BYU would not have won this game last year. I completely agree. Our offense in 2012 would have found a way (late turnover, three and out, etc.) to lose this game when it was called upon to come through. Getting a win in a comeback fashion late in the game will hopefully help the Cougars' confidence that they can win close games.
Bronco continues to insist that Hill is a gritty, gutsy player. BYU fans do not like to hear those words after the Dark Ages that were the Riley years. However, Hill has loads of talent and ability to go with that grit. He single-handedly kept BYU in the game and put up very impressive numbers (417 passing yards, 4 TDs passing, 128 total rushing yards) even while being knocked around time and time again.
The receivers stepped up and made plays. After I said that it was "highly doubtful" Ross Apo would ever score another touchdown, he went ahead and scored two this game. Cody Hoffman had another monster game and made another circus catch in the end zone with a player draped all over him. Perhaps the most surprising player was Skylar Ridley, who had a terrific game overall and scored the winning touchdown.
Along the same lines as the previous comment, the ball distribution was really good in this game. Hill completed at least one pass to seven different receivers. This ability to spread the ball has not been seen consistently from a BYU quarterback since John Beck. It was encouraging to see more playmakers rise up and keep the defense honest instead of just dialing in on Hoffman.
The o-line provided good pass protection for Hill in the first and fourth quarters. This allowed him the time he needed to look downfield and throw some great passes. When he had time and space to set his feet, Hill looked like some of the great QBs of the past.
Jamaal Williams found the end zone twice. It was nice to see him get on the board multiple times as he has been perhaps BYU's most consistent offensive contributor this season.
Ridley after making the game winning catch. Courtesy KSL.com.
Offense: The Bad
There were a lot of negatives on the offensive side of the ball in a game in which they scored 47 points. The most glaring one, in my opinion, is the (at times) atrocious play of the offensive line. Taysom Hill ran for 194 positive yards but only finished with a net of 128 because of 8 sacks. These sacks were mostly the line's fault. In fact, if not for his speed, the number of sacks would have been even more inflated. The o-line got absolutely dominated in the second and third quarters. They also did not block well in the run game. Williams had to fight for every yard he got and it should come as no surprise that he went down with an injury after all the hits he took.
Turnovers on offense almost lost the game for BYU. Hill threw an interception in the end zone and a pick six. That's a 14 point swing right there. The third interception was not as much his fault. Mitch Matthews needs to be more aggressive and decide the ball is his. He waited for a throw in which Hill threw 50 yards across the field. If Matthews had been more aggressive, that may have been a big play.
The offense again left points on the board. I know it is not realistic to expect to score a touchdown every time BYU gets into the red zone. But, an interception when at the Houston four yard line and an inability to get into the end zone right before the half made this game a lot closer than it needed to be. However, the team did score 7 out of 8 times it got into the red zone. Numbers like that will keep BYU in any game.
Offense: Final Grade
B. The offense made a lot of mistakes and the offensive line play continues to be subpar. Still, they made enough plays in the first half to keep BYU in the game and had a few good drives in the second half that were just enough to help the Cougars in blue get the win.
Defense: The Good
The defense made big plays. They caused three interceptions, including the game sealing one with just 1:08 left on the clock. Particularly in the Utah game, it seemed like the defense did not take advantage of opportunities to create a turnover. To see the team create big plays rather than merely preventing them (which they did not do) was encouraging.
BYU got to QB John O'Korn three times. While this number should have been higher, the sacks came at great times. The cornerback blitz where Hague got to O'Korn when Houston was deep in BYU territory was a game changer.
Like BYU teams of old, the D did enough to keep the Cougars in the game and made some stops when absolutely necessary. When BYU elected to punt in Houston territory late in the 4th quarter down 6, I had flashbacks of last year and the games we tried that and could not finish (the Notre Dame game especially still stings). However, the D forced a quick three and out and gave the offense plenty of time to score the winning touchdown.
Alani Fua again made a play that put the game out of reach. He is making a habit of coming up with big plays in crucial situations. His play backed up my prediction that he is our next KVN.
Bronco Mendenhall again showed his ability to make quick and hugely significant adjustments mid-game. At half time, BYU had given up a whopping 38 points (24 of which were scored by Houston's offense). In the second half, the defense played more of a bend but don't break scheme and only gave up 6 points. Bronco was very prudent in the second half about when to be aggressive and when to drop guys back in coverage.
Defense: The Bad
The secondary really missed Craig Bills. Not only is Bills an enforcer as a hitter, he also has provided great over the top passing support. Blake Morgan looked lost throughout much of the game trying to fill in for Bills. A couple of big plays for Houston were his fault. PoVey also struggled mightily. Perhaps most surprising to me, though, was the substandard play by KVN. I had an eye on him on almost every play of the game. I could not tell if he was injured, frustrated or something else, but whatever the cause, he just did not play very well. He missed some golden opportunities for sacks, which is highly uncharacteristic of him.
John O'Korn looked like a seasoned Senior quarterback rather than an 18 year old kid. He made big plays all day against the Y. Kudos to him on his moxie, but BYU's defense should have never allowed him to have such a big game.
BYU gave up some huge plays. Bronco's defenses have not always been great but they have generally been very good at keeping things in front of them and not getting burned deep. Houston had passes go for 40, 41, 42, 69, and 76 yards. 5 plays over 40 yards is simply unacceptable and BYU was lucky to still be in the game at the end.
Defense: Final Grade
C-. This was the worst overall defensive performance in quite some time for the Y. Houston had huge plays that made the game a shootout in the first half. To their credit, though, the D clamped down in the second half and made enough big plays of their own to allow the offense to win the game.
Special Teams: The Good
Justin Sorenson was dependable, again. He kicked a chip shot field goal of 20 yards right before the half and made a 41 yarder. It was nice to see him show a little bit of range and hopefully that will build his and his coaches' confidence in his ability to kick longer range field goals.
Scott Arellano pinned Houston deep in their own territory with about 3 and a half minutes to go. His punt enabled the D to force a quick three and out that ultimately gave the offense time for one last drive.
Adam Hine had another impressive kick return of 47 yards. As I keep saying, it's just a matter of time before he busts out at least one TD return.
JD Falslev caught every punt. This should not have to be listed under "the good" but he has been erratic in the punt return game this year.
Demarcus Ayers returns a kickoff 95 yards for at TD. Courtesy timesunion.com.
Special Teams: The Bad
The most obvious negative from the special teams is that they allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown. BYU was cruising on both offense and defense until this return gave Houston a major spark and changed the whole climate of the game.
Scott Arellano had four punts that he did not get a good foot on. These shanked punts were all opportunities where he could have pinned the red Cougars deep in their own territory and taken some pressure off of the defense.
Justin Sorenson left a few kickoffs short which gave Houston's returners with excellent starting position to have big returns. The kickoff returned for a touchdown was a good 5 yards short of the goal line.
Special Teams: Final Grade
C+. The kickoff return for a TD by Houston was a huge momentum changer. BYU's punting and kickoffs were also subpar until the 4th quarter. Sorenson made two field goals, though, in a game that was decided by 1 point. Hine continues to be explosive on kick returns and Falslev didn't make any major mistakes in the punt return game.
Final Thoughts
While this game was ugly, it was nice to finally pull out a close one--particularly in come-from-behind fashion. I hope that it will be a confidence booster for the offense to know that they have the ability and leadership to pull off a win like this.
If looked at from a certain perspective, it can be a confidence booster for the D, as well. They can feel more confidence that their offense can pick up the slack and they don't need to shut teams out to win. Also, they can look at the big plays they made at crucial moments. It will be interesting to see if this game was an aberration for the defense or if Houston has tapped into a formula for success against it. After last year's worst performance (Oregon State), the defense did not allow another team to score over 20 points.
Although I thought the Cougars of BYU should have blown out the Cougars of Houston, it still feels good to be at 5-2 with a big game coming up against Boise.
I can't say the Utes didn't have chances. They did. There were things they did really well tonight. Adam Schultz came in and played a good game coming in fresh off the bench never really seeing any action. He put the money on some balls and threw some that he probably shouldn't have. If Travis is out the rest of the year I'm really not too worried. This Schultz kid is good and will continue to get better and better.
What a disappointing loss for the Utes. Coming off of a huge win last week against a powerhouse like Stanford I thought we might take that momentum and really stick it to Arizona and Ka'Deem Carey this year but as the old saying goes, "You can't beat Arizona and Ka'Deem Carey." Ok, so that's not really a saying but it certainly is true for the Utes tonight.
The Utes fought hard, played tough and put themselves into position to win the ball game but a las couldn't convert with a patchwork of players on the field replacing injured starters. The Utes fall to Arizona in Tucson tonight 35 - 24. Let's go over my previous post and see what the Utes did and didn't do to lose.
1. Can't score 30 Points
Welp, this one is pretty obvious I would say. Clearly the Utes only scored 24. They had 2 missed field goals in an uncharacteristic game by Andy Phillips who was 11 for 11. I kept yelling at the announcers to stop talking about how he is "perfect on the year". I believe they might have cursed him... or he just missed them. I guess that's where that saying comes from, "I guess you can't make them all." That actually might be a saying. Anywho, that 6 points would have put the Utes at 27 point mark and could have helped lead them find a way to win. Instead missed opportunities turn into another chapter in the story for this 2013 Utah football team.
2. Carey has 160+ yards
This one was disappointing too. Last year he had 203...ish yards. This year... 40 "Carey's" for 236 yards. That is a shocking stat for me. Carey ran all over the Utes in the first half but the second half it really looked like they dialed in on the line and stopped this fast Arizona offense. But, in the 4th quarter Carey kicked it into high gear. Rich Rodriguez was absolutely and utterly frustrated at his offensive line and perhaps that's what helped them get the motivation to start opening holes for Carey in the 4th quarter.
3. Utes fall back to 2 - 13 on 3rd down
5-18. The Utes can't expect to win games when they go 5-18 on 3rd downs. They keep putting themselves in rough 3rd and long situations and can't convert. If the Utes expect to get better on 3rd down they need to be better on 2nd down.
So the Utes failed on all the things I said they would need to do/not do to lose this game. Let's take a look on how they did on the things I said they needed to do to win:
1. Get pressure in the backfield consistently
The Utes did that for 1 quarter and at times during others. Utah had 1 sack on the game and had a hard time containing Denker consistently throughout the game. Some positives for the Utes was forcing some bad passes and forcing Denker out of the pocket but it just wasn't enough. Denker was an accurate passer on the run and he lead his offense very well. I was more than impressed with his poise and delivery. Hats off to Denker for playing a good ball game tonight.
2. Score more than 30 points
*See "1. Can't score 30 Points" above
3. Utes are +2 in turnover battle
Utah forced two fumbles and recovered a muffed punt. Wilson threw 2 interceptions before leaving the game with a hand injury to his throwing hand. Late in the 4th quarter only down by 7 LT Tuipolotu forced a fumble and Trevor Reiley recovered it in Wildcat territory. Unfortunately Utah couldn't capitalize with touchdown to tie the game. Instead they settled for a field goal to put them down by 1 with just under 4 minutes to play. Phillips pulled it wide left.
What killed the Utes:
Why did they win last week against the 5th best team in nation and lose to Arizona this week?
Pace. Stanford played a slow paced, run up the middle game. They usually snapped the ball with 10 seconds or less on the play clock. Arizona on the other hand was fast. Snapping the ball with well over 20 seconds on the clock. Utah couldn't substitute and it threw the defense off and it was obvious by the end of the game everyone was gassed.
The offensive plays were very inconsistent. It's almost like the Utes can't decide if they are going to commit to the run or be a passing team. I'm all for mixing it up but Utah was decently effective when they ran the ball consistently and pounded that Wildcat front 7. It wasn't until Utah started throwing the ball more that that rhythm got out of whack and the Utes just couldn't recover.
Arizona did a great job tonight. They played harder and better than the Utes. Sure, it would have been great to sneak out of Tucson with a win but oh well. Not much more needs to be said about that. Now it's on to a struggling USC team. If the Utes won tonight I might be more confident for next weeks game but now I am hesitant with Heimuli, Denham, Wilson all receiving injuries this game. It's time for some of the back ups to step it up and make a name for themselves against one of the biggest names in college football, USC.
Player of the game Arizona:
Ka'Deem Carey
40 "Carey's" for 236 yards. He did have one fumble but he also had a late touchdown that sealed the victory for the Wildcats.
Player of the game Utah:
I'm partial so I get two right?
Offense: Adam Schultz
13-24 for 145 yards and a score. He maybe wasn't the most consistent or didn't make the best reads but for what he was given I thought he absolutely made the best out of it. He had pressure coming at him from all sides (especially from the left, what's up Jeremiah side?) and came out poised and made some big plays. The announcers kept saying he didn't have any threat on the ground but one thing I love about this kid is how hard he runs. He may not be lightning fast but he runs hard.
Defense: Trevor Reiley
14 total tackles 11 of which were solo. He had a huge sack on Denker on a 4th and 2 that turned the ball over to Utah. He recovered a fumble and was flying all over the field. This kid is a stud and plays with more heart than I think I have ever seen anyone play with at Utah. He wants to win and he grinds hard to win.
Do you worry that UU may become overconfident after last week's win?
Utah had the second biggest upset in school history last week. This is good and bad news for the Utes. The good news is, they are one step closer to becoming bowl eligible and have already met the amount of wins I expected for the year (I'm glad to be wrong on that one). The bad news is, with big wins comes big heads. I'm sure it has been a challenge for Whittingham to keep ego's at bay this week. Although, I do think that this Utes squad know's that there isn't one or two guys that are all stars (with the exception to the arrogance of Drez Anderson whom I love) but it was a combined team effort that won last weeks game against Stanford. Utah could come in to Tucson more confident but I don't think it will be a hinderance in this weeks game in fact, I think it will help them more than it will hurt them. It is very possible for them to be too confident but I think coach Whitt has done a great job over the past 8 years keeping everyone's ego's in check and preparing the Utes for the task at hand.
How do you think UU will handle an away crowd as they have only been on the road once (at BYU)?
This is a tough one. I wish I had a real answer for it. I don't know. The Utes have had a "home game" every game this year thus far. Last weeks win against Stanford the Utes greatly benefited from the home crowd. We were loud and definitely helped the defense out with I believe 4 false starts (two of which came late in the game). It surely will be a test to see how the Utes play when there will be very minimal support up in the stands. Although, I do think the Utes will be just fine with this crowd. Autzen on the other hand, that game I am worried about.
What do you think was so different during the Stanford game? What do they need to do to maintain these changes?
The Utes finished. That's something Utah haven't done against a good PAC-12 opponent since the they joined. Sure they have played teams closer than maybe they might have thought it would be but the Stanford game was different because they played all 60 minUTES (get it?). I also think that Stanford was not ready for the screen passes and swing passes. That helped to spread out the defense and made the running game successful. So I guess if I were to make a list it would be these 3 things:
Consistent good play calling (on offense and defense)
Took advantage of turnovers (only 6 points but that was the difference in the game)
Made plays all 60 minUTES.
UU loses if... UU wins if....
The Utes have to contain Arizona's running attack. Little known fact, Arizona (3-2) with losses the past two weeks to USC (38-31) and #16 Washington (31-13) has the 14th most rushing yards per game average in the nation with 262 yards. Ka'Deem Carey Arizona's star running back is averaging 113 yards per game this season and last year when the Utes played the Wildcats in Salt Lake, Cary ran all over Utah's defense racking up 204 yards! The Utes defense this year is on average giving up only 133 yards on the ground and nearly 270 through the air! Arizona's offense is averaging 160 yards through the air and 262 yards on the ground. This means that Cary (who accounts for less than half of their rushing yards) is a great back but the credit should probably go to the offensive line. They are making it possible to rush for 260 yards a game. So What do I think the Utes need to do to win this game? Beat the offensive line. Blitz. Blitz often and blitz hard. The Utes have had decent success bringing heat this year. Honeycutt has had a great season bringing pressure to the quarterback. If the Utes can bring pressure and stop the run on the line, they win. If not... it will be another long night for the Utes (who have yet to have a long night I might add).
Utes Win If:
Get pressure in the backfield consistently
Utes score more than 30+ points
Utes are +2 in turnover battle
Utes Lose If:
Can't score 30 points
Carey has more than 160 yards
Utes fall back to 2-13 on 3rd downs
As much as I know a lot of BYU fans would love to see the Utes fall after slaying a "giant" so to speak. I just don't think it's going to happen. I think the Utes are the underdogs and are fine with being the underdogs. It should be a fun game with quite a bit of offense but I do think the Utes sneak out of Tucson with a win. Their offense has been consistent and their defense has been really stepping it up. I think they have shown they can stop a potent running attack even with big hogs up front pushing the line and creating holes. Utah has shown some resiliency this season and last week it finally paid off. Watch out for the Utes tonight to build off of that momentum and show that it wasn't just a fluke.
Who are we? The Cougars! Who are we going to beat? The Cougars! (In the original Simpsons episode, the teams were both named the Wildcats; still, the joke works.) Here are Brad's questions and my answers regarding this week's game.
Q: BYU is 29th in the nation in yards per game which is great but only 70th in points per game. Why? What does BYU need to do differently to score?
A: The most telling stat for this discrepancy is BYU's red zone offense. In 26 trips to the red zone, BYU has only scored 12 touchdowns. On the other 14 drives that made it to the red zone, the Cougars have kicked 9 chip shot field goals and turned the ball over 5 times. They are leaving a lot of points on the board. Even against Texas, which has been their most explosive offensive performance thus far, BYU's offense had to settle for four field goals after cracking Texas' 20 yard line. While field goals are obviously better than turnovers, they often represent missed opportunities.
In terms of what needs to be different, it again all comes down to the offensive line and Taysom Hill's accuracy. The closer you get to the goal line, the more teams are going to focus on stacking the box and tightening up the field. If BYU decides to pass, Hill needs to be decisive and on the money with his throws. He has been getting better and better at this but is still a work in progress. In order for Hill to make good throws, he needs a good pocket to throw from. This year's o-line has had a hard time providing him with any room and windows to throw through. If BYU decides to run, they need the line to get a better push up front. Otherwise, BYU will continue to struggle in the red zone.
I'm not sure who this 'Spirit' guy is but maybe he laid down a good block for Hoffman? Courtesy Deseret News.
Q: How is BYU going to slow down an offense that doesn't rely on their run game to win?
A: On the season, Houston is averaging almost 78 offensive plays per game. So far, they run the ball just over 50% of the time. This number is a little skewed because they have run the ball often late in blowouts against weak competition. Still, the numbers suggest that this is a balanced offensive attack. But, as is the norm at Houston, they like to throw the ball, a lot. Houston is averaging 288 yards a game through the air (good for 27th in the nation). BYU's opponents have only thrown for over 200 yards in 3 of 6 games in 2013. The two teams with the most success against BYU's secondary have been Texas and Utah (313 yards and 273 yards respectively). Both teams scored only 20 against the Cougars.
Houston's John O'Korn. Courtesy Deseret News.
I think the reason BYU has had success against the pass is mostly due to their front 7. The cornerbacks have not been superb and have been burned a few times for big plays. If Houston's QB O'Korn has time to throw downfield, it could be trouble for the Cougars in blue. However, he is a Freshman and if BYU's front 7 can continually put pressure on him and hit him I think he might start to get happy feet as other quarterbacks have when the big boys have laid the wood on them. O'Korn has been very successful thus far but I guarantee he has not taken a hit like the ones Kyle Van Noy has been delivering all year. I think Bronco will dial up blitzes early and often in an attempt to rattle the young QB.
Q: 3 things BYU needs to do to win (other than score more points)?
A: 1- BYU needs to get to the QB. Against a quality passing team, BYU needs to get to the QB early and often. Thus far, the Cougars are 90th in the nation in sacks. That number needs to go up and even if we don't register sacks, we still need to hit the QB and make him pay for standing in the pocket. Again, this will help the secondary tremendously.
2- Ball security. Through six games, BYU has 11 turnovers on offense. This leaves them at -3 turnover margin for the season. Houston is leading the nation in turnover margin and has caused the 3rd most turnovers overall. Against an opportunistic defense, the Y needs to hold onto the ball and not put the defense against the wall.
3- Win in the trenches. On defense, BYU's line has won almost all (if not all) battles against opponents' offensive line. However, the opposite is true for the Cougars' offensive line. Other than the Texas game, BYU's o-line has failed to protect Hill in the passing game or gotten any real push for the running backs. For BYU to beat quality opponents, this needs to change.
Q: Who wins and why?
A: BYU wins. The reason is pretty simple: they are the better, more physical team. Houston has yet to play an even decent team (unless you count Rice...which I don't). I think they will be caught off guard by the sheer physicality of the Y's defense and the speed of the game. While Houston's defense is only giving up 19 points a game, they have been essentially playing high school teams.
BYU wins pretty easily 31-14.
As a side note, this will be the first BYU game I will have seen in person since the 2010 season. According to John Foggerty, "if you're ever in Houston! You'd better do right. You'd better not gamble! Ya'd better not fight! Ah, the sheriff will grab ya! And his boys will bring ya down! The next thing you know, boy, you're prison bound!"
BYU recently just passed the halfway mark of their season with a win over Georgia Tech. They currently stand at 4-2 with four blowout wins and two narrow defeats. If you had told me before the season that BYU would be 4-2 through its first 6 games, I would have said that's about where I would assume they would be. If you told me that one of those losses would be to Utah, I would be disappointed but not shocked. If you told me that the Virginia game would be played during a torrential downpour in Charlottesville, I wouldn't be too surprised (seeing how I had been living on the East Coast for the last two years). If you told me we would absolutely blow out Utah State and Texas, I would be surprised. If you told me the game against Texas would be delayed a couple of hours due to torrential rain in Provo, I would have been shocked. While I would have easily accepted that BYU would be 4-2 through 6 games, the way they have gotten there has been surprising. Here is my recap and a few grades regarding the season, thus far.
Offense
Quarterback
What to say about Taysom Hill's first six games? The good: at one point, he was near the top of the NCAA in rushing yards per game. The bad: until a few recent strong showings, he was near the bottom of the NCAA in passing efficiency and completion percentage. Through the first three games of the year, Hill was as likely to break a 50+ yard touchdown run as he was to bounce a ten yard button hook to his receiver. You would have to go back to the early 1980s (a young Steve Young) to find a BYU quarterback so athletically gifted but so erratic as a passer. Not surprisingly, BYU started the season 1-2 as Hill completed just 35% of his passes with only 1 passing touchdown. During the last three games, he has completed 65% of his passes with 4 passing touchdowns. His improvement as a passer has been impressive and his feet will always make him dangerous.
QB Grade Thus Far B-. He gets props for his improvement in the passing game and he has had some dazzling plays with his legs. Still, he played lousy in two pathetic offensive performances against the Utes and Virginia.
Prognosis
I think Hill will continue to get better as he becomes more knowledgeable about the offense. It was obvious from the beginning that he had a strong arm and the last few games he seems to be finding a rhythm and showing good accuracy and touch on his ball. He has 6 games left and a probable bowl game. I think he'll finish with 15 TDs passing and 13 rushing (currently at 5 passing and 7 rushing). That will be a solid first year as a starter and hopefully he can carry that momentum into next year.
Running Back
Jamaal Williams was an absolute workhorse for BYU through the first 2 and a half games of the season. Against Virginia, he carried the ball a whopping 33 times. Against Texas, he had 30 carries. He performed very well in both of these games though he was kept out of the end zone. When he had to be carted off in the third quarter against the Utes, everything changed. BYU no longer had a running back that had potential to break loose for a big run and the Utes knew it. Hill was forced to throw the ball 48 times and we all know the rest of the story. Robert Anae has done a good job of slowly integrating Williams back after his frightening injury. It will be interesting to see if Williams is used as frequently as he was before the injury.
Jamaal Williams being carted off the field in front of a stunned LES crowd.
Paul Lasike had a big game against Texas but has been quiet since and did not carry the ball at all against Georgia Tech. Algernon Brown has been solid during mostly mop-up duty. It is hard to gauge his ability as he has primarily faced tired defenses. The player that I really would like to see more of is Adam Hine. He only has 8 carries for a grand total of 10 yards, thus far. It looks like he is still learning the offense (he seems to be out of position, etc. the few times he has been in) but I've got to think that he can be another potential playmaker with the way he has been returning kickoffs.
RB Grade Thus Far B+. BYU is 13th in the nation in rushing yards per game. Much of this yardage has been picked up by Hill. Hill also has more rushing TDs (7) than all of the running backs put together (6). Still, Williams has been a stud and it seems like an abberation that he has only scored once. The other players have been solid but nothing special.
Prognosis
I think Williams workload will increase as BYU starts to play some tough road games. This increase in carries will coincide with an increase in touchdowns. I think he'll finish the year with 10 touchdowns on the ground and over 1,000 yards rushing. My hope is that Hine and Brown will get comfortable enough to be viable options to sub in for Williams for a few plays here and there. I think running backs not named Williams will add 4 more scores.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
It is hard to evaluate this group, thus far. Coming into the year, I thought this would be our strongest group on the offensive side of the ball. Through six games, we only have 90 completions and 5 TDs through the air. Cody Hoffman only has one of those TDs. He has been having a rough year with his injury and suspension but has still accumulated 18 grabs and 311 yards in 4 games. Skyler Ridley and JD Falslev have been their usual solid, but unexceptional selves. Mitch Matthews could potentially be a match-up nightmare for opposing teams. He and Hill have had some heated exchanges on the sidelines but they have looked great when on the same page. Ross Apo has been an absolute disappointment. It's almost time to consider his career at BYU a bust.
The tight ends have been almost non-existent this season. Through six games, they have 11 catches total and no scores. It is hard to say if this lack of production has been due to schematic changes by Anae or if there has been no pressing need to include the current crop of tight ends.
WR/TE Grade Thus Far C+. With Hill's erratic throwing, it is hard to say how much of the passing struggles have been due to to the wide receivers and tight ends. The last three games, though, the receiving corps has been stepping up and making plays when given a chance.
Prognosis
It will be interesting to see how much Anae opens up the offense and trusts Hill to throw down the field for the remainder of the year. I predicted that he will finish with 15 TDs, so I will say that Hoffman will finish with 6, Matthews with 5, Falslev with 2 and the others will make up the last two (though, again, it is highly doubtful to me that Apo will ever cross the goal line again. Maybe against Idaho State?)
Offensive Line
This has been the most offensive unit of the team. When did the offensive line become BYU's worst unit? The hogs up front have been manhandled in most games, thus far. The only real strong effort was against a soft Texas team. Hill has been scrambling for his life whenever there is any pressure and it seems like Williams has to fight for every yard out of the backfield. Anae has been openly critical of them and for good reason.
O-Line Grade Thus Far D. The offense has the skill players it needs but the linemen are not doing their part. I am not sure if Doman is responsible for the current crop of linemen we have seeming to be soft and ineffective. While BYU fans like to gripe about Anae's playcalling, there is no doubt that he brings an attitude of toughness and meanness that the line will need to adopt to be successful.
Prognosis
I think this unit will get better with coaching and frankly, because
they cannot get much worse. The line will become a major priority in
recruiting in the off-season and I think will eventually become a strong link in our scheme, again. Hopefully they can keep Hill and Williams upright enough to win some of our tough remaining games.
Offense Overall
The offense has been inconsistent, at best. They moved incredibly fast but nowhere against Virginia and Utah. They ran all over a Texas team that just thrashed Oklahoma but still left many points on the board in that game and only had 9 completions. They managed to score 28 points against Middle Tennessee despite five turnovers (including a few in the red zone). They looked great in the first half of the Georgia Tech game and had two great drives in the third quarter against Utah State. Potentially the best news is that they didn't turn the ball over at all against Georgia Tech. Ball security is something that the 2012 BYU defense salivated for.
Offense Grade Thus Far C+. At the end of the day, the most important thing an offense can do is put up points and not turn the ball over. BYU is 70th in the nation in points per game (and that includes a few touchdowns scored by the D and special teams). We're also -3 in total turnovers. However, the team seems to be improving in the passing game and taking care of the ball. These improvements bumps the overall grade up to a C+.
Prognosis
The Cougars still have three very tough games left, including two on the road. Hopefully BYU's offense is playing their best football by the Notre Dame game. I think that Hill will continue to improve as a passer if the line can be even decent. If the line does not improve, we're going to have some long (and cold) games in Madison and South Bend.
Defense
Defensive Line
Bronson Kaufusi has stepped in very well for Ziggy. He is massive and he is fast, just like Ziggy. While I don't know if his potential is as unlimited as Ziggy's was, I think Kaufusi has a good chance of being a NFL starter some day. Remington Peck has been solid, as well. For those who have watched BYU play this year, it is surprising to find out that they only have the 55th best defense against the run in terms of yards given up per game (150). However, BYU has only given up 3 rushing TDs total and teams are averaging only 3.7 yards a carry against them. The big boys on the line are doing their job. One knock on them is that they have not created a lot of sacks. The Cougars are 89th in the nation in sacks.
Even if Kaufusi becomes a star, Ziggy will always be more of a legend seeing how he didn't know what football was until in his 20s.
D-Line Grade Thus Far B+. It is hard to be upset about only giving up 3 rushing touchdowns through 6 games. The line has been stout and solid against the run game. Kaufusi has broken up 4 passes and Peck has an interception. However, the linemen need to get to the QB more consistently.
Prognosis
The d-line passed their first real test by only allowing Georgia Tech to score one rushing touchdown. We will see what they can do against the 5th best rushing team in the nation when they face Wisconsin. I feel that they will respond well to the challenge through the rest of the season and be in the Top 25 against the run.
Linebackers
This is probably the best unit on this year's team. KVN is an absolute beast. Even while facing constant double teams and chop blocks, he has 39 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss (including a safety), 3 sacks, an interception return for a touchdown, 4 pass break-ups and 10 QB hurries. As always, he has been all over the field this year. Uani 'Unga has 17 more tackles than the next leading tackler. He has been very active and disruptive in the running game in particular. Alani Fua just might take over the playmaker role with KVN's departure after the season. He has been great in coverage, with 7 pass break-ups and an interception return for a touchdown.
Spencer Hadley has been very solid when on the field and his quest for redemption is a potential rallying point for the team. He looked very hungry to perform well against Georgia Tech and did so. His fumble recovery late in the game all but sealed the game for the Cougars.
LBs Grade Thus Far A-. This group has been great. They have been solid against both the run and the pass. They have made some big plays (particularly KVN) that have been major momentum swingers. Just like the defensive line, the one area that could be improved is their ability to get to the QB. KVN has been close a lot of times and has inflicted a lot of pain on opposing QBs but we need to get sacks more consistently.
Prognosis
The linebackers should continue to be the best unit on this team. Van Noy has been so close to getting sacks that I think he will eventually start rolling them up. He and the rest of his colleagues will continue to make big plays, limit the run and play lock down defense against the opponents' passing game. I believe that KVN has at least another TD in him and I will go out on a limb and say he finishes with 10 sacks this year.
Secondary
Before the season even began, the secondary was ravaged by injuries. It got to the point where Bronco joked that he would have open tryouts for anybody with any eligibility left to play the position. Skyler Povey has been adequate as a corner. He is a sure tackler but he has gotten burned downfield on numerous occasions. Mike Hague has not been anything special and hasn't had much to write home about other than getting blown up by the U of U's running back when Hague came in late and high. Robertson Daniel has been an excellent tackler. He has 25 unassisted tackles, meaning he has been very reliable in the open field. He has also forced two fumbles. He has been burned a few times but has played well overall.
Craig Bills brings the boom.
Craig Bills and Daniel Sorenson may be two of the best safeties we have had in a long time. Sorenson does a little bit of everything. He provides great coverage over the top and has broken up 7 passes and hauled in an interception in the end zone. Craig Bills is one of the nastiest hitters I've seen in a long time at BYU. He reminds me a lot of Aaron Fransisco--he doesn't just settle for simply tackling the opponent. Rather, he lays the wood on those unfortunate enough to come across him.
Secondary Grade Thus Far B+. This unit has exceeded most people's expectations. They are 23rd in the nation in passing yards allowed a game. They tackle well and have not had too many long passes against them. One concern I have is that they are not breaking up a lot of passes or intercepting them.
Prognosis
BYU faces two top 25 caliber passing teams in a row with Houston and then Boise. These will be opportunities to show how good they really are. I think the unit will rise to the occasions and put in good games against these two teams. It would also be nice to see them force more turnovers.
Special Teams
Justin Sorenson is having a very good comeback season. He is currently 9 for 11 on field goal attempts. This is a massive improvement from the plague of poor kicking we've had over the past few years. While the FG% is good, it is important to note that his season long is 36 yards. He is knocking down the chip shot field goals (which is good) but it would be nice for the offense to punch the ball in the endzone on more of these drives that finish with short field goals. It would also be nice to know that we can consistently make decent length field goals. Still, Bronco seems to trust him a lot more than last year (remember when we punted from Notre Dame's 35 when down 3 with only a few minutes to go, last year?).
Scott Arrellano has been solid overall as a punter. He has had 12 punts where he pinned opponents within their 20. He has had three kicks blocked, but those have had more to do with bad blocking and poor snaps.
Adam Hine is absolutely electric every time he returns kickoffs. He is always a threat to take one all the way back to the house. Falslev has a punt return for a TD and had another really good one against Utah (which we of course, did not score a TD after). But, he's also developed a case of the dropsies. It's nice to have big play potential but I would personally prefer a returner who just catches the punt every time.
Special Teams Grade Thus Far B+. The returners (both punt and kick) have had some electric moments. However, these are offset by Falslev's muffs and penalties by blockers that have caused some of Hine's returns to be called back. Sorenson has been solid but still has shown no real threat of making a long field goal.
Prognosis
I predict that Hine will take at least one kick back for a touchdown before the year is over. He will continue to give the offense good starting field position. I think Falslev will also return another one for a TD. Finally, I predict that one game will come down to Justin Sorenson at the end of the game. I dare not make any predictions of whether or not he will make it.
Team Overall Grade B-. The defense has looked very good this year and I believe will at least give us a good chance to win against Wisconsin and Notre Dame. This week's game against Houston will be a good test for our secondary. The offense has been very inconsistent. While it's been disappointing, I guess it should be realistically expected--they are learning a new system with a QB who had only two career starts and he is behind a shaky offensive line.
Final Prognosis
I believe this team will finish 9-3 in the regular season heading into a bowl win. Again, though, it will all depend on whether or not the offensive line can be decent enough to let us win.
Robert Anae has been criticized for what some has been deemed too conservative (is that possible in Provo?) of playcalling--particularly noting the lack of passing attempts on first down. In the first half, BYU threw on first down 8 times, with mostly success. This ability to keep Georgia Tech off-balanced help the run game and enabled BYU to score 24 first half points against a solid defense.
Hill's passes in the first half were beautiful. Not only did he complete a very high percentage (16 of 20), they were right on the money. Riley Nelson completed a decent 59% of his passes, last year, but many of these completions were low or behind his receivers. Hill was hitting his receivers in the chest and in stride which allowed them to actually do something with the ball. His touchdown pass to Hoffman was a great play by both players.
(Courtesy ESPN)
The defense dominated, again. While the game was technically fairly close throughout much of it, it never really appeared that the outcome was in doubt because of the defensive effort. They also caused two turnovers--one of which they scored a touchdown on. BYU's defense and special teams has almost as many touchdowns as the offense does through the air.
Adam Hine is the most explosive returner I've seen at BYU since James Dye. Every time he returned a kick was exciting. He's had some hard luck with great runs being called back (including a 100 yarder against the U) but it's just a matter of time before he breaks one for a touchdown.
(Courtesy KSL Sports Beat)
The Bad
As good as BYU's offense was in the first half, it was that mediocre in the second. They only scored one offensive touchdown in the second half and had four 3 and outs. I attribute most of this to the offensive line. They were playing well when Georgia Tech was dropping guys into coverage and playing a bend but don't break (even though it did) defense. In the second half, they were much more aggressive and dominated BYU's line. Hill only attempted 7 passes in the second half and was sacked three times.
Another game, another field goal under 30 yards. While I am glad Sorenson has been making them this year (a major step up from last year), the Cougars' performance in the blue zone has been pathetic. BYU is 88th in the nation in percentage of time (78%) they score when in the red zone. While that number is bad, perhaps as equally troublesome to me is that many of those scores of been chip shot field goals. Of 26 drives to make it to the red zone, BYU has turned the ball over 5 times and has made 12 short field goals. If half of those are turned into touchdowns, BYU is averaging a touchdown more a game (which is not insignificant when your two losses have both come by 7 points or less).
Ross Apo. Will this guy ever become anything at the Y? He might as well have joined Jake Heaps at Kansas. He has basically been non-existent this year. The only pass I even saw where he was targeted was a fade route in which he drew a questionable pass interference on the defender. Jake Welch gives a good analysis of why Apo has not been successful in his article.
Third down conversions continue to be elusive to BYU. Against Georgia Tech, they were a paltry 3 for 10. This lowered their average on the season to 34% ("good" for 95th in the nation). A major part of the problem was not getting any yards on first and second down; BYU's average 3rd down yardage to go was 9. While Hill is improving as a passer, he is not to the point where you can ask him to get that many yards through the air when the opponent knows the pass is coming.
The Petty
For the second straight week, BYU gave up a pointless touchdown in the last minute and a half of the game. While it does not matter, it is slightly annoying that Georgia Tech and Utah State both ended up making the defensive effort look mildly less dominant. Again, this is petty, but I do not like giving up points no matter when they come. Still, BYU continued its impressive streak of holding teams under 21 points or under to 12 straight games.
Overall Impressions
Frankly, there were not a lot of surprises in this game. I expected BYU to win going away, and they did. The game was never in too much doubt. The defense dominated and the offense had moments of brilliance and then looked completely befuddled for most of the second half. I still feel that BYU has enough firepower at its skill positions on offense (with a staunch defense) to beat every team left on our schedule. However, it will all come down to whether or not the offensive line shows up.
