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Week 5 Preview – Utah State @ BYU

September 26, 2011

BYU was able to rebound after their home loss to Utah, overcoming the Knights of UCF last week 24-17. They won through superb special teams play, great defense, and just enough offense to get the job done. But the game was a step in the right direction! It felt much like the SDSU game last year, when we rebounded after the loss at Utah State, and won a close, scrappy game. This week, the Cougars are looking to avenge last year’s loss to the Aggies, and continue on the path of improvement. Comparing this team to the team that played up in Logan last year would be a mistake, as so many significant changes have taken place. Utah State got up early in the game last year, leading 24-3 at halftime. That won’t be the case this year.

What we know about Utah State (1-2, 0-0 WAC)

Utah State ended the season 4-8 last year, with wins over BYU, New Mexico State, San Jose State, and FCS Idaho State. Which of those doesn’t belong? Yeah. Not hard to miss. Lately though, this Utah State team has been in games they had no business being in, and they have lost games they had no business losing. Last season they lost at Oklahoma 31-24. They opened this season in a heartbreaking loss to Auburn (yes, that Auburn) 42-38. Last week though, they lost in overtime against Colorado State. Their lone win came in week two against Weber State, who they thumped 54-17. The Aggies have the 5th best rushing average in the nation, with 316 yards per game (high of 440 against Weber St.), and they are 14th overall in points scored, at 42 per game. This team is a dangerous one, and they already have an offense that’s clicking. On the flip-side, their defense is only ranked 97th, giving up an average of 31 points per game. Players to watch: freshman QB Chuckie Keeton, and junior RB’s Robert Turbin and Kerwynn Williams. The success of these players will determine the success of the Aggies.

What we know about BYU (2-2)

A win last week helped, but BYU is still eager to ease some of the pain associated with the Utah game, and hopefully give ESPN’s national audience some better memories of BYU’s offense. BYU also comes into this game looking to avenge their 31-16 loss at Utah State last season. It had been ten years since the Aggies previous win in the series, and you have to go back another ten years to find the one before that. The Cougars have more than enough motivation to put the hurt on their “little brother” this Friday night in Provo.

Keys to the game

Doman. As much as he may not like it, I think Doman may be back up in the box again this week, and I think that’s where he belongs. While his sideline presence is missed, I think his ability to see the whole field is invaluable.

Heaps. Utah State has the weakest defense that BYU has seen this year. This should be a great game for Jake to break out of his accuracy slump (which has been aided by dropped passes), which last week was well below 50%.

The Rush Attack. BYU’s rushing crew had a good game last week against UCF, with Kariya, DiLuigi, and Quezada each contributing effectively. Again, lining up against the Utah State defense should be a welcome treat for these guys, after having faced the likes of Ole Miss and Texas already this season.

Special Teams. Cougar special teams had an amazing game last week. Hoffman’s kickoff return for a TD, a muffed punt recovery, a handful of touchbacks, and a great punting average all combined to make the night truly “special” for this unit. You can’t really improve on that, but I do hope that last week inspired some confidence in this group and that they will be able to sustain the high level of play that they exhibited against UCF.

Bronco D. The defense really had a great game against UCF, who came in averaging more than 200 yards per game on the ground, and were held to just 81 yards. The defense will again be focused on stopping the run, and in this case, the run is everything to Utah State. As they average more than 300 rushing yards per game, take that away, and they’re left with the nation’s 104th best passing attack to beat BYU. Knowing this, the Aggies will have come up with some sort of passing attack, likely aimed at weaknesses in BYU’s secondary. I think the D may give up a big play or two, but will keep Utah State with fewer than 100 rushing yards.

Prediction

This game provides another Friday night on ESPN – with no other college football games on – so they eyes of the nation will be upon the Cougars once again. The home crowd, the special teams, defense, and yes, even the BYU offense will prove too much for the Aggies, and BYU will win in dominating fashion: 38-13.

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BYU 24, UCF 17

September 25, 2011

After the blowout loss to Utah last week, the Cougars were hoping to use this game as a turning point – something to build on – to define the rest of the season. BYU was able to accomplish that goal by pulling out a win against a tough UCF team – reigning C-USA champs who went 11-3 last season. While the Knights outgained the Cougars by nearly 140 yards, BYU won the game as I called it: on strong plays by the defense and by winning the turnover battle. Here’s a look at what went right and what didn’t, as we review our keys to the game.

Hoffman takes it to the house!

Doman. The BYU OC moved up to the box for this game. I won’t say that was why they won, but it certainly can’t hurt to be able to see the whole field of play, and thus be better able to identify the strengths and weaknesses that the opposing defense is showing you. Credit Doman for not losing the second half battle – as was the case the previous two weeks. The Cougars overcame deficits of 10-3 and 17-10 to eventually win the game.

Heaps. Jake continues to be a work in progress. His accuracy was below 50% this week, at 16/34 for a mere 133 yards and an INT. He was competent enough to win the game. One really encouraging piece, the leading receiver in the game was TE Marcus Mathews, who caught 4 passes for 35 yards.

The Rush Attack. BYU’s rushing crew had a much better night this week, combining (less the Heaps sack) for 137 yards. Kariya rushed for 52, DiLuigi for 38, and Quezada for 26 yards. Kariya and DiLuigi each scored a touchdown on the ground as well. After the game, Bronco said that they had simplified some of the running game. Whatever they did, I hope they do it again, and that it continues to be effective.

Special Teams. Special teams! From an abysmal game last week to saving the game this week! I cannot fully express how big an impact special teams had on this game. In the second half, BYU was finally able to put together a touchdown drive, only to have that be followed by a UCF touchdown drive, which put the game right back where it was. On the ensuing kickoff, Cody Hoffman accomplished what no other Cougar had done in 13 years: he returned that ball for a touchdown. 93 yards, and all he needed was one monster block as he ran the ball all the way back, untouched. It was an amazing moment for the team and for the fans. It also demoralized the UCF team who had just scored what would be their last points of the night.

Again, in the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 17, UCF’s JJ Worton muffed a Riley Stephenson punt, which was recovered by BYU’s Michael Alisa. Michael ran it into the endzone and the entire team gathered around him to celebrate. It was something these guys needed to help ease the pain of the week before, when nothing went the Cougars’ way. They got flagged for a celebration penalty, and the touchdown didn’t count because you can’t advance a muff, but 3 Bryan Kariya rushes later, BYU had that touchdown and the winning score 24-17. Further, 4/5 Sorenson kickoffs were for touchbacks, and Riley Stephenson averaged 45 yards per punt on 6 punts, with a long of 67. It was really an amazing night for Cougar special teams.

Bronco D. The defense really had a great game. UCF came in averaging more than 200 yards per game on the ground, and the BYU defense was able to hold them to just 81. They were also held to just about half of their usual points per game, at just 17. The defense, like the offense this week, did not fall behind due to poor halftime adjustments, as they allowed only one scoring drive in the second half. Standout performances by Joe Sampson (impressive Sack early on, and an INT to seal the game), Uona Kaveinga (who continues to force fumbles and just be plain nasty), and Kyle Van Noy (who showed off a wicked vertical leap to tip the ball that Sampson intercepted).

The biggest weakness for the defense continues to be Corby Eason. He dropped a potential INT that hit him in the numbers, and the UCF quarterbacks were targeting (and having success against) his side of the field all game long.

What we know about UCF (2-2, 0-0 C-USA)

UCF expected to come in and win against BYU this week. Their players were frustrated by the loss, especially when they were able to dominate the offensive statistics. UCF has a bye this week, so they will have plenty of time to dwell on the loss, and prepare to open C-USA play on October 8th against 1-3 Marshall. The following week will be a rematch of last year’s C-USA championship game at SMU.

What we know about BYU (2-2)

This game felt much like last year’s game against San Diego State. It was a close, hard-fought game, which I felt helped to define the season. I applaud the fact that the players were able to come together to win a tough, close game, just one week after having so much go wrong against Utah. Hopefully the Cougars can build on what they did in this game as they take on Utah State next week.

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Week 2 Preview – BYU @ Texas

September 8, 2011

It’s week 2 of college football! This weekend’s matchup will pit the Cougars against the Texas Longhorns. The Cougars are 2-0 against Texas, from a two game deal that was played in 1987 and 1988.

What we know about Texas

Texas, not unlike Ole Miss, was down last year. They only managed a record of 5-7, despite starting out 3-0. It was also strange to note which games the Longhorns did win – as they beat up on cupcakes like Rice and FAU, and even took down then #5 Nebraska, but failed to beat the likes of Kansas State and UCLA. Texas will never be down for long though, and they are hoping to be back on track this year. They started out the year with a more impressive win over Rice than they had last year. While the score was similar, Texas’ offense managed to roll up about 200 yards more than last year, while the Texas D held rice to one less touchdown. Still, the Texas QB, Garrett Gilbert, didn’t look very sharp, only going 13/23 passing.

What we know about BYU

BYU of course, opened the season with a win against Ole Miss. It was a come-from-behind win; in fact, the greatest come from behind win since Bronco Mendenhall became the head coach in 2005. BYU’s defense was dominant throughout the game, and especially in the fourth quarter, as the Ole Miss offense grew tired, the BYU defense was still sharp and had the ability to make the plays necessary to win the game. Not only did the defense score a touchdown, but they held the Ole Miss offense to a pair of field goals. The Cougar offense was shaky. Many plays were broken or hurried because of bad snaps, and Heaps threw many passes that were not on target, including a pick-6 that was a half a second away from being a BYU touchdown. Hopefully having the first game done with will have worked out some of the quirks for the new offense – they should look much better this Saturday.

Keys to the game

Domanation. The offense appeared to lack energy, and much of that had to do with the tempo of the play calling. BYU averaged more than 30 seconds between plays against Ole Miss. Brandon Doman admitted that he needs to step it up – and he does. Look for the Cougars to have quicker play calling, which should translate to keeping Heaps in rhythm, and keeping the defense more on its heels.

Jake Heaps. Texas is a better team than Ole Miss, and while the Texas offense may be somewhat of a question mark, the defense is not. Heaps will have to make more accurate throws than he did last week, and he may have less time to do it. Hoffman and Apo will need to do better at getting open – wherever they happen to be on the field.

The Rush Attack. JJ DiLuigi and Bryan Kariya made up most of the yards last week, because Josh Quezada had a migraine. I do hope the “Juice” is back this week, because he is a dynamic runner that could really break out some big plays. Having three guys capable of carrying the ball each play also helps keep each of them more fresh for later in the game.

Special Teams. Last week, Jacobsen and Hague averaged 26 yards per kick return, and Falslev returned one punt for 27 yards. It’s amazing to watch, and I will be excited to see if these guys can pull off some more big plays against Texas. A concern on special teams is the short to mid range kicking game. Justin Sorensen has the ability to boot the ball 60+ yards accurately, but he is very inconsistent in the short range. Last week he missed a 31 yarder. Honestly, if the game were on the line and we were in range for a short kick, I’d rather have Heaps in there throwing the ball to win the game. If Sorensen can’t improve quickly, BYU will have to look elsewhere for their short range field goals.

Bronco D. This is the area I am not worried about at all. The defense has been truly amazing since Bronco fired Jaime Hill after the Utah State game last year. Even the top rushing teams in the country struggle to reach 100 yards rushing against this defense. BYU will shut down the Texas run game and force the Longhorns to beat them through the air. There will be plenty of pressure on Garrett Gilbert though, and how he deals with that pressure will make or break the game for Texas.

Prediction

This game is a toss-up. I did choose it as one of two BYU losses on my season preview, but I do feel that it could go either way. I think it will be a close game, with a big play being the deciding factor. I think Texas will be surprised at how difficult this game is for them, but I think Texas will win the game 23-17.

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BYU 14, Ole Miss 13

September 5, 2011

The Cougars went down to Oxford and came from behind to beat the Rebels of Ole Miss by one point. My call was 35-13 in favor of BYU, and while the final score was 14-13, I did at least predict the winner, and the score of the loser. So what went right and what went wrong down south? Let’s revisit my keys to the game:

Enter the Doman O. The offense has taken a lot of heat for not producing points. After reviewing the game, the offense looked out of sync, made mental mistakes, and lacked energy. That’s not to say it was all bad. The Cougars were able to move the ball quite well, and the halftime adjustments made by Doman had great impact. According to @CougarStats, BYU had 102 yards on 36 plays in the first half, but in the second half they were able to gain 214 yards on 33 plays. I am happy to see that halftime adjustments were made, and that they were effective. That’s a far cry from what would have happened with an Anae-led offense. Oh yeah, and the Cougars came from behind to win. The biggest come-from-behind victory in Bronco’s tenure.

Jake Heaps and the Receivers. Jake Heaps had a mediocre first half, going 11/22 for 74 yards, but again, the second half adjustments were favorable to the BYU quarterback – he came out and threw 13/16 for 151 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. It is worthwhile to note that many of the broken plays were the result of poor snaps or missed blocking assignments. So, even though Heaps will take most of the heat (as QB’s do- though they also get the accolades when the team does well…) it is important to remember that his supporting cast has much to do with his success. Ross Apo was the Cougars’ leading receiver, with four catches for 46 yards and one touchdown, with a long of 25 yards.

The Rush Attack. DiLuigi and Kariya led the Cougar rushing attack with 56 and 35 yards apiece. The team was only able to gain 91 yards on the ground, which made this one of the few BYU victories in recent memory that BYU did not rush for at least 100 yards. Quezada left the game with a migraine after the second quarter, so he would have had a greater impact had he been able to stay in.

Special Teams. Special teams were up and down. McKay Jacobson and Mike Hague combined for an average 26 yards on kick returns. Justin Sorensen missed his only field goal attempt, and Riley Stephenson punted five times, with the kicks ranging from 11 to 53 yards. On the other side, BYU held Ole Miss kick returner Jeff Scott to a 13.5 average, though he was able to return a punt for 44 yards.

Bronco D. The defense won this game. They were energetic, excited, and rarely looked surprised by Ole Miss. The players were flying around the field like heat-seeking torpedoes towards whichever unfortunate Ole Miss player happened to be carrying the ball at the time. Each of Ole Miss’ top three RBs were taken off the field with an injury at some point. Last year, Ole Miss had the nation’s 18th best rushing attack, averaging 207 rushing yards per game, but they were only able to manage 64 yards on the ground, despite having the nation’s biggest offensive line. Uona Kaveinga and Preston Hadley combined to cause a fumble, which was recovered by Daniel Sorenson. This was a huge play, as it off-set the short punt by Stephenson. And of course, there was the game-winning play by Kyle Van Noy. Ole Miss was looking at a 3rd and 27, on their own 21 yard line. Van Noy released from the edge and reached Ole Miss QB Zack Stoudt, stripped the ball, and scooped it up as he tumbled into the endzone for a Cougar touchdown. The ensuing extra point put BYU ahead at 14-13. Not only did Bronco’s defense hold Ole Miss to just two field goals, they also scored a touchdown.

KVN in for the touchdown!

What we know about Ole Miss

If you were listening the the ESPN commentary, you know that Ole Miss is from the SEC. Over and over and over throughout the game, all we heard was SEC size, SEC speed, SEC…crap. You don’t win games because of a patch on your jersey. Ole miss had an opportunity to win this game, but they were dominated by the “less talented, non-SEC team” of BYU. Ole Miss has a nice, easy game against Southern Illinois next week, but that’s followed by a jump into their SEC schedule, which will not favor the Rebels, who went 1-7 in conference play last year.

What we know about BYU

The Defense is solid. I do not believe any team will rush for 100 yards against BYU this year. The Offense has some kinks to work out, but the unit has the correct scheme and the talent to be successful. Special teams have got to become more consistent – especially in the short to mid range field goals. If Sorenson can’t kick them, we need to find someone who can. BYU heads down to Austin next week, where they will face-off against the Longhorns of Texas; the second of four brutal weeks to start the season, with Utah and UCF to follow.

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Week 1 Preview – BYU @ Ole Miss

August 28, 2011

It’s time for football! For the second summer in a row we’ve been inundated with conference realignment talk. While it is all very exciting to speculate who may end up where in the next few years…I am relieved to offer you my first weekly preview of the season, and to welcome everyone back to football. Saturday can’t come soon enough.

What we know about Ole Miss

Ole Miss is coming off an abysmal year that started with a home loss to FCS Jacksonville State. In that game, Ole Miss started quickly and had jumped out to a 31-10 lead at halftime. Jacksonville State rallied in the second half to tie the game at 34 apiece, and two overtimes and one two point conversion later, the game was over. The Rebels ended up with a 4-8 record, with wins over Tulane, Fresno State, Kentucky, and UL Lafayette. The 2010 Rebels would frequently start strong, but allow opponents to score major points in the second half. The defense is only returning three starters, so it is difficult to say if they will have a similar tendency this year. The rebel defense gave up nearly 400 yards and more than 35 points per game. The offense did manage 30 points per game relying on the nation’s 18th best rushing attack, at 207 yards per game, while only coming up with 190 passing yards per game. Many analysts have chosen Ole Miss to finish last in the SEC West this year, and there is no real indication that this year will be any better for the Rebels than last year.

What we know about BYU

BYU is entering their first year of football independence, and will have the opportunity to make a splash with an early schedule that includes Ole Miss, Texas, Utah, and UCF. Last year the Cougars started 1-4 and ended up 7-6, finishing the season in dominating fashion with a blowout bowl win over UTEP. The season turned around when Jaime Hill was fired as defensive coordinator and Bronco stepped back into his dual role as head coach and DC. The Cougars of 2011 will look different than the Cougars of 2010. Anae and Hill are out, Doman and Bronco are in. Add in Dupaix for the running backs and Cahoon for the receivers, and you’ve got yourself an exciting group of coaches that are energetic and talented. Plenty of returning starters, and some amazing new talent should allow BYU to dominate many teams on both sides of the ball.

Keys to the game

Enter the Doman O. Offensive coordinator/quarterback’s coach Brandon Doman has installed a Pro-Style offense this year. It’s an offense that is meant to rely on the run to play-action pass combination, and with multiple plays run from the same formation, defenses will be kept guessing all game long. Doman isn’t afraid to have Heaps throw the deep ball, and BYU has the receivers to run out and get them. This is a huge change from the offense run by Robert Anae, which was usually as predictable as the sun coming up in the East.

Jake Heaps and the Receivers. Jake Heaps had an amazing season as a freshman, and he peaked at the end of the season, throwing four touchdown passes in the New Mexico Bowl. Heaps will have amazing targets in Cody Hoffman (who caught three of the touchdowns in the bowl game), McKay Jacobson, and Ross Apo. Apo was one of the other guys to commit to BYU in the same press conference as Heaps, and he was expected to play last year, but had a nasty broken finger. Add to these three the other capable receivers, tight ends, and running backs that will join in the passing game, and Jake Heaps will have an amazing array of targets to choose from.

The Rush Attack. JJ DiLuigi, Bryan Kariya, and Josh Quezada were a three-headed beast of running backs last year, and they are all back again this season. DiLuigi had more than 900 rushing yards, and Kariya and Quezada each added 500 yards. Their important role will continue this year in the pro-style offense, which will depend on these experienced rushers to make the play-action believable.

Special Teams. Special teams were given special attention in fall camp, and the Cougars will be wearing black shoes and socks all season to remind them of the emphasis. Justin Sorensen returns from his mission with a booming kick – he’s been hitting field goals of up to 57 yards in camp, despite struggling somewhat with shorter kicks. It will be exciting to see what kind of impact the extra dedication to special teams will have on the gameplay.

Bronco D. Let’s be honest.  Since Bronco took over as coordinator, the Defense has been amazing. Bronco’s D returns an experienced line, but is especially stacked at linebacker. The Cougar front seven will be deadly against the run this year, forcing teams to be one-dimensional, having to rely on the pass. This will be difficult for teams like Ole Miss, who rely on the strength of their run game. Player to watch: USC transfer Uona Kaveinga.

Prediction

Ole Miss is an SEC team, but they are not a good one. This game will be close near the beginning (0-0, right?) but the Cougars will pull away from the Rebels and win the game handily, 35-13.

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