Whether you go for red or cheer on the blue; no matter if you rise and shout, or exclaim what kind of man you are; it doesn't even make any difference if you're a real big football fan or not; tomorrow brings the greatest day in the college football schedule for fans in the state of Utah.
The Holy War.
A name which has taken on a higher dose of irony in recent years (remember Max Hall? Stay Classy, My Friends).
This is the last time the Cougars and Utes will meet up as conference foes, as both head for different destinations next season. Utah, the Pac12. BYU, Indepenence. While it's true the schools could someday end up in the same conference again, it's not likely.
What IS likely: There's a 50/50 chance that you'll have a crappy day, depending on which team wins.
So make some nachoes, plop down on the couch, and enjoy the game! If your team loses, skip church on Sunday. If they win, call your neighbor who roots for the other side and offer them a ride TO church.
Whatever the result, whatever you do, however you react, just remember this: Pouring beer on somebody's family doesn't make you cool. It makes you a Utah fan.
And living in 1984 doesn't make you classic. It makes you a BYU fan.
But tomorrow, either of those might also make you a winner.
_____________________________________________________________________
Here are my annual predictions for the game:
BYU:
Rushing-175 yards, 2 TDs
Passing-115 yards, 1 TD
Field Goals-1 of 2
Turnover margin- -2
UTAH:
Rushing- 200 yards, 3 TDs
Passing- 110 yards, 1 TD
Field Goals- 1 of 1
Turnover margin- +2
BOTH:
Total Personal Fouls in the game: 3
Total number of plays that are reviewed or challenged: 4
Number of times Robert Anae calls for a run on 3rd down: 4
Number of trick plays Whittingham's team tries: 2
Final Score:
Utah: 31 BYU: 24
Austin's Sports Blog (the one place where he is ALWAYS right)
Friday, November 26, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
BYU Football: A Drama Even Shakespeare Couldn't Have Written
This season for the BYU football team has more closely followed a mid-day soap opera script rather than one written for a soon-to-be-Independent football program. There’s been controversy at quarterback; drama at wide receiver; players suspended and one kicked off the team.
Losses. BIG losses.
Then there was the firing of Jaime Hill, the team’s defensive coordinator.
This Cougar football squad has had enough drama to last an 8th grade girl through.......well, at least through lunch time.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more “Daniel Day-Lewis”, in rolls the Wyoming Cowboys with a quarterback whose name even sounds like a soap opera actor: Austyn Carta-Samuels.
Yes, TV Guide was on hand in the press box, and the E! channel had a studio set up in the parking lot. I think I even saw Ryan Seacrest complaining at the concession stand about the lack of Apple Martinis on the menu.
And if it hadn’t have been for two key first half turnovers, the Cougars may have escaped LaVell Edwards Stadium without any of the as-advertised theatrics (how many times do you write/read about BYU having to “escape” from their home stadium?).
Alas, this is the Year of the Dramatic in Provo, and October 23rd 2010 proved to be no different.
From my seat in the richly upholstered, plush press box high above the field and out of the cold rain I watched as BYU time and again had an opportunity to put the Cowboys out for good, only to let it slip away from them.
In the first half, the Cougars came out running, and HOW!
The opening play of the game was a deep pass to Cody Hoffman from Jake Heaps which Hoffman got his left hand on but wasn't able to reel it in. After that, I honestly don't remember another pass on the drive. I know there probably was one, but it wasn't pertinent. The Cougars marched down the field with Kariya, Quezada, and Di Luigi taking hand offs, finally sending Di Luigi around the left end and diving into the end zone for the touchdown.
The pass I do remember from the first half was the pick six that Heaps gifted to the Cowboys. BYU had the ball at their own 45 yard line or so, and they ran a bubble screen to their back. And that back probably would have gained a huge amount of yards had the ball made it to him. Heaps rolled left, eyed the open receiver, and promptly threw it right to the linebacker who had gotten between him and the receiver. Had he simply DUMPED the ball OVER the linebacker, it might have gone for a BYU touchdown. Instead, the frozen rope went straight into the white jersey of the defender, who then took it back to the house for a touchdown.
(The one bright spot in the passing game was a beautiful little number tossed into the corner of the end zone for senior WR Luke Ashworth, who corralled the ball for a touchdown, his first of the year)
Luckily for BYU, the Wyoming punting game was embarrassing. The Cowboys opted for a scrum/rigby style punting scheme, which backfired twice. Once for 15 yards, once for 8 yards. The second one actually hit the long snapper in the back of the helmet. Had Wyoming not wet the bed field-position wise, the Cougars might not be celebrating a victory today.
Just like any good play, movie, or soap opera, Saturday's episode had a happy ending for the Cougars. Wyoming drove the ball all the way down the field with only seconds remaining in the game. On 3rd and 10 inside the red zone and BYU leading by 25-20, Wyoming's Carta-Samuels threw a perfect pass to his wide receiver around the 5 yard line. I was standing on the sideline on that part of the field at the time, and had a wonderful view and angle of the play. Cornerback Brandon Bradley promptly reached around the receiver and knocked the ball to the ground. The crowd roared, Bradley celebrated, and Wyoming was livid. Bradley had in fact gotten away with "football murder." Pass interference. Bradley's right arm was wrapped around the Wyoming receiver's waist as he reached in front with his left hand. In fact, his arm wasn't just wrapped around him...Bradley got down right cozy with the guy! He cuddled with him in mid air! How he got away with it is beyond me. But on the very next play, 4th and 10, Carta-Samuels' pass was tipped up in the air and caught by an O-lineman, who tried to lateral it backwards as he was tackled to the ground, but it was no use.
The game was over, and the Cougars had pulled off a harrowing victory by a mere 5 points.
At home.
Against Wyoming.
Yes, THAT Wyoming.....
In all, it was a fun game to watch and study, and it made a rainy Saturday afternoon a lot of fun. BYU showed glimmers of promise and strength for the future, though there is still a lot of problems that need to be worked out.
"The Ghost of Drama Past" has not left their presence just yet. If you don't believe me, let me leave you with this one anecdote from today's game. The Cougars were called for a penalty in the 2nd quarter, the type of which I can't recall. That's not important. What is important was the number of the player who committed the foul. Or, rather, the number that the referee ANNOUNCED as the offender.
It was number 4. O'Neill Chambers. Mr Drama himself. Even though he's been kicked off the team, he still found a way to inject a little of his own drama into the game.
Coincidence? Omen? Either way, the bottom line is that it is evident that this team is still struggling to stay above water. Had they not pulled out that big stop at the end, giving Wyoming the victory....well, then we DEFINITELY would have received our Academy-Awards-level of drama to last us the rest of our lifetimes.
And that's the bottom line.
Losses. BIG losses.
Then there was the firing of Jaime Hill, the team’s defensive coordinator.
This Cougar football squad has had enough drama to last an 8th grade girl through.......well, at least through lunch time.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more “Daniel Day-Lewis”, in rolls the Wyoming Cowboys with a quarterback whose name even sounds like a soap opera actor: Austyn Carta-Samuels.
Yes, TV Guide was on hand in the press box, and the E! channel had a studio set up in the parking lot. I think I even saw Ryan Seacrest complaining at the concession stand about the lack of Apple Martinis on the menu.
And if it hadn’t have been for two key first half turnovers, the Cougars may have escaped LaVell Edwards Stadium without any of the as-advertised theatrics (how many times do you write/read about BYU having to “escape” from their home stadium?).
Alas, this is the Year of the Dramatic in Provo, and October 23rd 2010 proved to be no different.
From my seat in the richly upholstered, plush press box high above the field and out of the cold rain I watched as BYU time and again had an opportunity to put the Cowboys out for good, only to let it slip away from them.
In the first half, the Cougars came out running, and HOW!
The opening play of the game was a deep pass to Cody Hoffman from Jake Heaps which Hoffman got his left hand on but wasn't able to reel it in. After that, I honestly don't remember another pass on the drive. I know there probably was one, but it wasn't pertinent. The Cougars marched down the field with Kariya, Quezada, and Di Luigi taking hand offs, finally sending Di Luigi around the left end and diving into the end zone for the touchdown.
The pass I do remember from the first half was the pick six that Heaps gifted to the Cowboys. BYU had the ball at their own 45 yard line or so, and they ran a bubble screen to their back. And that back probably would have gained a huge amount of yards had the ball made it to him. Heaps rolled left, eyed the open receiver, and promptly threw it right to the linebacker who had gotten between him and the receiver. Had he simply DUMPED the ball OVER the linebacker, it might have gone for a BYU touchdown. Instead, the frozen rope went straight into the white jersey of the defender, who then took it back to the house for a touchdown.
(The one bright spot in the passing game was a beautiful little number tossed into the corner of the end zone for senior WR Luke Ashworth, who corralled the ball for a touchdown, his first of the year)
Luckily for BYU, the Wyoming punting game was embarrassing. The Cowboys opted for a scrum/rigby style punting scheme, which backfired twice. Once for 15 yards, once for 8 yards. The second one actually hit the long snapper in the back of the helmet. Had Wyoming not wet the bed field-position wise, the Cougars might not be celebrating a victory today.
Just like any good play, movie, or soap opera, Saturday's episode had a happy ending for the Cougars. Wyoming drove the ball all the way down the field with only seconds remaining in the game. On 3rd and 10 inside the red zone and BYU leading by 25-20, Wyoming's Carta-Samuels threw a perfect pass to his wide receiver around the 5 yard line. I was standing on the sideline on that part of the field at the time, and had a wonderful view and angle of the play. Cornerback Brandon Bradley promptly reached around the receiver and knocked the ball to the ground. The crowd roared, Bradley celebrated, and Wyoming was livid. Bradley had in fact gotten away with "football murder." Pass interference. Bradley's right arm was wrapped around the Wyoming receiver's waist as he reached in front with his left hand. In fact, his arm wasn't just wrapped around him...Bradley got down right cozy with the guy! He cuddled with him in mid air! How he got away with it is beyond me. But on the very next play, 4th and 10, Carta-Samuels' pass was tipped up in the air and caught by an O-lineman, who tried to lateral it backwards as he was tackled to the ground, but it was no use.
The game was over, and the Cougars had pulled off a harrowing victory by a mere 5 points.
At home.
Against Wyoming.
Yes, THAT Wyoming.....
In all, it was a fun game to watch and study, and it made a rainy Saturday afternoon a lot of fun. BYU showed glimmers of promise and strength for the future, though there is still a lot of problems that need to be worked out.
"The Ghost of Drama Past" has not left their presence just yet. If you don't believe me, let me leave you with this one anecdote from today's game. The Cougars were called for a penalty in the 2nd quarter, the type of which I can't recall. That's not important. What is important was the number of the player who committed the foul. Or, rather, the number that the referee ANNOUNCED as the offender.
It was number 4. O'Neill Chambers. Mr Drama himself. Even though he's been kicked off the team, he still found a way to inject a little of his own drama into the game.
Coincidence? Omen? Either way, the bottom line is that it is evident that this team is still struggling to stay above water. Had they not pulled out that big stop at the end, giving Wyoming the victory....well, then we DEFINITELY would have received our Academy-Awards-level of drama to last us the rest of our lifetimes.
And that's the bottom line.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
THE BOTTOM LINE: Aggies Defeat Cougars; Pigs Learn to Fly
The BYU football team lost to the Utah State Aggies this past Friday night for the first time since 1993. 17 years. I was 8 years old in 1993. In fact this was only the 2nd time Utah State has defeated the Cougars while I've been alive. It hasn't even been close. From 1985 to 2009, BYU outscored Utah State 402-261. The idea of BYU losing to Utah State in football seemed as likely to me as the Pittsburgh Pirates winning a World Series. But not only did the Aggies beat BYU, they creamed them.
Start planning the parade route, Pittsburgh! It's your turn.
The loss in Logan dropped BYU's record to 1-4. While many in Cougar Nation are displeased with the offense's inability to score points like the fans are used to seeing, the team's defense has also been less than stellar. In fact, going into Friday night's match-up, the Cougars ranked 94th (out of 119)in rushing defense, and 87th in points allowed. True, the offense's ranking is just as bad, but they lost 3 starters at key positions from last year to the NFL, including their QB. They were expected to struggle. The defense was supposed to be better than this.
Following yet another dismal performance on the defensive side of the ball at Utah State, BYU announced Saturday that defensive coordinator Jaime Hill would be relieved of his duties for the remainder of this season, and would not return to the staff next year. For anyone that isn't following, that's a nice way of saying, "You're fired, now get out and don't ever come back."
After hearing of the announcement, I first felt bad for Hill. Having witnessed him with the players on the roster at practice and during training camp earlier this Fall, I know the team really likes him, and that he works really hard at what he does. I was also among those who believed that the offensive play calling may have been more to blame than the defense's shortcomings. So I decided to go back through the Utah State game and try to see what made Bronco Mendenhall come to the decision to fire Hill. Here is what I found.
I decided to break down the 3rd down attempts on both sides of the ball for BYU. Offense: did they convert or not, and what plays were called. Defense: did they stop Utah State or not, and what plays were called against them.
(full break down posted at bottom of text)
-OFFENSE:
Out of 19 3rd downs, BYU was successful on only 8 tries. They chose to rush the ball 4 times, passing it the remaining 15 times. It was my personal belief that BYU was running the ball on 3rd down when they should have been throwing it, and that THAT was the reason for the low success rate. However, this was not the case Friday night. In fact, BYU ran the ball only once on 3rd down when they had 4 or more yards to go. The other 3 rushing attempts were with 3 or 2 yards to go, respectively. What really killed the success rate was incomplete passes. The Cougars were 7 for 15 passing on 3rd down. Out of these 15 passing attempts, the play ended on an incompletion 6 times (Heaps was sacked once, and JJ Di Luigi ran a route 1 yard short of the first). If those 6 passes would have been caught, BYU's 3rd down success rate would have jumped from 42% to 74%.
So I blame the players on this one. The play calls seem to be the right choice in the situation provided. One disclaimer, though, is that BYU should probably be avoiding 3rd downs on offense more often if they want to turn this thing around. That is to say, the play calls on 2nd down might need some tweaking.
-DEFENSE:
Out of Utah State's offense's 18 3rd downs, they were successful 11 times. That is to say, BYU's defense only had 7 3rd down stops in the whole game, an embarrassing 39% success rate. I wanted to see what was giving the Cougars more trouble: the passing or the running game. The Aggies only passed 4 times on 3rd down, running it the other 14 times. While BYU only stopped the pass once on 3rd down, they gave up first downs on the ground an amazing 8 times on 3rd down (you can see how many yards the Aggies had to go to get the first down on each of the tries). While the players are responsible for executing the plays that are called, the coach is in charge of choosing the best play to set his guys up for success. Out of the 14 times Utah State ran it on 3rd down, they had less than 4 yards to go 9 times. To me, that means the Cougars should have expected the run at LEAST 9 times on 3rd down. Yet they still gave up a first down 8 times out of 14. This lies specifically with Coach Hill's play calling.
While Hill did well to get the Cougars to hold Utah State through 1st and 2nd downs, the ones that count most are 3rd downs. And here is where he failed miserably.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
I don't feel that the Cougars' defensive problems are over, and I wouldn't even expect very much from their YOUNG offense for the rest of the season, either. But I do know that while Bronco Mendenhall was acting as defensive coordinator, the BYU defense was a powerhouse. And since the time Hill took that responsibility over to the present day, the BYU defense has slipped to the point that they are now ranked among the worst defenses in the country. Was firing Hill the right move? I believe it was ONE of the right moves. The only question that remains: What move will BYU make next?
I'm glad I'm just a reporter, not a coach. I like having a job that depends SOLELY on MY actions, and not others'.
And that's the bottom line.
Here's the break down text:
3rd down tries, Offense: 42%, 8/19
4 times rushing:1/4
-Yards to go: 3, 3, 5, 2
15 times passing, 7/15
-sacks: 1
-incompletions: 6
-would've been 13/19 if completed
3rd down stops, Defense: 39%, 7/18
-14 times rushing, 6/14 stops
Yards to go: 1, 3, 6, 1, 1, 3, 13, 1, 1, 2, 5, 14, 9, 2
-4 times passing, 1/4 stops
Yards to go: 6, 7, 7, 8
-stop came on the 6 to go play
-incomplete pass
Game Chart: 3rd Down Plays
KEY:
-rushing plays are in italics
-passing plays are in normal font
-offensive successful results are bolded
1st QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 3 at USU 38 JJ Di Luigi rush for no gain to the UthSt 38.
3rd and 4 at BYU 12 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 3 yards to the BYU 15.
3rd and 8 at BYU 24 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 8 yards to the BYU 32 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 5 at USU 47 Jake Heaps pass intercepted by Chris Randle at the UthSt 43, returned for 4 yards to the UthSt 47.
1/4 3rd down conversions
Defense:
3rd and 1 at USU 12 Diondre Borel rush for 39 yards to the BYU 49 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 6 at BYU 45 Diondre Borel pass incomplete to Kellen Bartlett.
3rd and 3 at BYU 46 Travis Reynolds rush for 6 yards to the BYU 40 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 7 at BYU 37 Diondre Borel pass complete to Derrvin Speight for 19 yards to the BYU 18 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 6 at BYU 14 Kerwynn Williams rush for a loss of 3 yards to the BYU 17.
2/5 3rd down stops
2nd QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 3 at BYU 33 Joshua Quezada rush for 6 yards to the BYU 39 for a 1ST down
3rd and 5 at BYU 44 Jake Heaps pass complete to McKay Jacobson for 10 yards to the UthSt 46 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 5 at USU 41 JJ Di Luigi rush for 4 yards to the UthSt 37.
3rd and 8 at USU 20 Jake Heaps pass complete to Cody Hoffman for 9 yards to the UthSt 11 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 5 at USU 6 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to Marcus Mathews, broken up by Walter McClenton.
3rd and 1 at BYU 41 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to JJ Di Luigi.
3/6 3rd down conversions
Defense:
3rd and 7 at USU 40 Diondre Borel pass complete to Kellen Bartlett for 14 yards to the BYU 46 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 1 at BYU 37 Derrvin Speight rush for 3 yards to the BYU 34 for a 1ST down.
3rd and Goal at BYU 1 Diondre Borel rush for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.
3rd and 3 at BYU 6 Joey DeMartino rush for 4 yards to the BYU 2 for a 1ST down.
0/4 3rd down stops
3rd QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 3 at USU 36 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 5 yards to the UthSt 31 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 10 at USU 31 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to JJ Di Luigi.
3rd and Goal at USU 2 JJ Di Luigi rush for a loss of 2 yards to the UthSt 4.
3rd and 7 at BYU 47 Jake Heaps pass complete to Cody Hoffman for 10 yards to the UthSt 43 for a 1ST down.
2/4 3rd down conversions
Defense:
3rd and 13 at USU 7 Diondre Borel rush for 6 yards to the UthSt 13.
3rd and 8 at USU 33 Diondre Borel pass complete to Kellen Bartlett for 12 yards to the UthSt 45 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 1 at BYU 46 Kerwynn Williams rush for 16 yards to the BYU 30 for a 1ST down.
3rd and Goal at BYU 1 Derrvin Speight rush for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.
3rd and 2 at USU 33 Kerwynn Williams rush for 1 yard to the UthSt 34.
2/5 3rd down stops
4th QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 22 at BYU 45 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to Luke Ashworth, UTAH ST penalty 15 yard Personal Foul on Rajric Coleman accepted.
3rd and 7 at USU 40 Jake Heaps pass incomplete.
3rd and 10 at BYU 18 Jake Heaps sacked by Devin Johnson for a loss of 3 yards to the BYU 15.
3rd and 4 at BYU 31 Jake Heaps pass complete to McKay Jacobson for 16 yards to the BYU 47 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 20 at USU 36 BYU penalty 5 yard Delay of Game accepted.
3rd and 25 at USU 41 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to Cody Hoffman.
3rd and 4 at BYU 40 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 15 yards to the UthSt 45 for a 1ST down.
2/5 3rd down conversions
Defense:
3rd and 5 at BYU 39 Robert Marshall rush for 2 yards to the BYU 37..
3rd and 14 at BYU 35 Joey DeMartino rush for 10 yards to the BYU 25.
3rd and 9 at USU 42 Diondre Borel rush for 11 yards to the BYU 47 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 2 at BYU 39 Diondre Borel rush for 5 yards, fumbled at the BYU 34.
3/4 3rd down stops
Start planning the parade route, Pittsburgh! It's your turn.
The loss in Logan dropped BYU's record to 1-4. While many in Cougar Nation are displeased with the offense's inability to score points like the fans are used to seeing, the team's defense has also been less than stellar. In fact, going into Friday night's match-up, the Cougars ranked 94th (out of 119)in rushing defense, and 87th in points allowed. True, the offense's ranking is just as bad, but they lost 3 starters at key positions from last year to the NFL, including their QB. They were expected to struggle. The defense was supposed to be better than this.
Following yet another dismal performance on the defensive side of the ball at Utah State, BYU announced Saturday that defensive coordinator Jaime Hill would be relieved of his duties for the remainder of this season, and would not return to the staff next year. For anyone that isn't following, that's a nice way of saying, "You're fired, now get out and don't ever come back."
After hearing of the announcement, I first felt bad for Hill. Having witnessed him with the players on the roster at practice and during training camp earlier this Fall, I know the team really likes him, and that he works really hard at what he does. I was also among those who believed that the offensive play calling may have been more to blame than the defense's shortcomings. So I decided to go back through the Utah State game and try to see what made Bronco Mendenhall come to the decision to fire Hill. Here is what I found.
I decided to break down the 3rd down attempts on both sides of the ball for BYU. Offense: did they convert or not, and what plays were called. Defense: did they stop Utah State or not, and what plays were called against them.
(full break down posted at bottom of text)
-OFFENSE:
Out of 19 3rd downs, BYU was successful on only 8 tries. They chose to rush the ball 4 times, passing it the remaining 15 times. It was my personal belief that BYU was running the ball on 3rd down when they should have been throwing it, and that THAT was the reason for the low success rate. However, this was not the case Friday night. In fact, BYU ran the ball only once on 3rd down when they had 4 or more yards to go. The other 3 rushing attempts were with 3 or 2 yards to go, respectively. What really killed the success rate was incomplete passes. The Cougars were 7 for 15 passing on 3rd down. Out of these 15 passing attempts, the play ended on an incompletion 6 times (Heaps was sacked once, and JJ Di Luigi ran a route 1 yard short of the first). If those 6 passes would have been caught, BYU's 3rd down success rate would have jumped from 42% to 74%.
So I blame the players on this one. The play calls seem to be the right choice in the situation provided. One disclaimer, though, is that BYU should probably be avoiding 3rd downs on offense more often if they want to turn this thing around. That is to say, the play calls on 2nd down might need some tweaking.
-DEFENSE:
Out of Utah State's offense's 18 3rd downs, they were successful 11 times. That is to say, BYU's defense only had 7 3rd down stops in the whole game, an embarrassing 39% success rate. I wanted to see what was giving the Cougars more trouble: the passing or the running game. The Aggies only passed 4 times on 3rd down, running it the other 14 times. While BYU only stopped the pass once on 3rd down, they gave up first downs on the ground an amazing 8 times on 3rd down (you can see how many yards the Aggies had to go to get the first down on each of the tries). While the players are responsible for executing the plays that are called, the coach is in charge of choosing the best play to set his guys up for success. Out of the 14 times Utah State ran it on 3rd down, they had less than 4 yards to go 9 times. To me, that means the Cougars should have expected the run at LEAST 9 times on 3rd down. Yet they still gave up a first down 8 times out of 14. This lies specifically with Coach Hill's play calling.
While Hill did well to get the Cougars to hold Utah State through 1st and 2nd downs, the ones that count most are 3rd downs. And here is where he failed miserably.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
I don't feel that the Cougars' defensive problems are over, and I wouldn't even expect very much from their YOUNG offense for the rest of the season, either. But I do know that while Bronco Mendenhall was acting as defensive coordinator, the BYU defense was a powerhouse. And since the time Hill took that responsibility over to the present day, the BYU defense has slipped to the point that they are now ranked among the worst defenses in the country. Was firing Hill the right move? I believe it was ONE of the right moves. The only question that remains: What move will BYU make next?
I'm glad I'm just a reporter, not a coach. I like having a job that depends SOLELY on MY actions, and not others'.
And that's the bottom line.
Here's the break down text:
3rd down tries, Offense: 42%, 8/19
4 times rushing:1/4
-Yards to go: 3, 3, 5, 2
15 times passing, 7/15
-sacks: 1
-incompletions: 6
-would've been 13/19 if completed
3rd down stops, Defense: 39%, 7/18
-14 times rushing, 6/14 stops
Yards to go: 1, 3, 6, 1, 1, 3, 13, 1, 1, 2, 5, 14, 9, 2
-4 times passing, 1/4 stops
Yards to go: 6, 7, 7, 8
-stop came on the 6 to go play
-incomplete pass
Game Chart: 3rd Down Plays
KEY:
-rushing plays are in italics
-passing plays are in normal font
-offensive successful results are bolded
1st QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 3 at USU 38 JJ Di Luigi rush for no gain to the UthSt 38.
3rd and 4 at BYU 12 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 3 yards to the BYU 15.
3rd and 8 at BYU 24 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 8 yards to the BYU 32 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 5 at USU 47 Jake Heaps pass intercepted by Chris Randle at the UthSt 43, returned for 4 yards to the UthSt 47.
1/4 3rd down conversions
Defense:
3rd and 1 at USU 12 Diondre Borel rush for 39 yards to the BYU 49 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 6 at BYU 45 Diondre Borel pass incomplete to Kellen Bartlett.
3rd and 3 at BYU 46 Travis Reynolds rush for 6 yards to the BYU 40 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 7 at BYU 37 Diondre Borel pass complete to Derrvin Speight for 19 yards to the BYU 18 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 6 at BYU 14 Kerwynn Williams rush for a loss of 3 yards to the BYU 17.
2/5 3rd down stops
2nd QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 3 at BYU 33 Joshua Quezada rush for 6 yards to the BYU 39 for a 1ST down
3rd and 5 at BYU 44 Jake Heaps pass complete to McKay Jacobson for 10 yards to the UthSt 46 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 5 at USU 41 JJ Di Luigi rush for 4 yards to the UthSt 37.
3rd and 8 at USU 20 Jake Heaps pass complete to Cody Hoffman for 9 yards to the UthSt 11 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 5 at USU 6 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to Marcus Mathews, broken up by Walter McClenton.
3rd and 1 at BYU 41 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to JJ Di Luigi.
3/6 3rd down conversions
Defense:
3rd and 7 at USU 40 Diondre Borel pass complete to Kellen Bartlett for 14 yards to the BYU 46 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 1 at BYU 37 Derrvin Speight rush for 3 yards to the BYU 34 for a 1ST down.
3rd and Goal at BYU 1 Diondre Borel rush for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.
3rd and 3 at BYU 6 Joey DeMartino rush for 4 yards to the BYU 2 for a 1ST down.
0/4 3rd down stops
3rd QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 3 at USU 36 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 5 yards to the UthSt 31 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 10 at USU 31 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to JJ Di Luigi.
3rd and Goal at USU 2 JJ Di Luigi rush for a loss of 2 yards to the UthSt 4.
3rd and 7 at BYU 47 Jake Heaps pass complete to Cody Hoffman for 10 yards to the UthSt 43 for a 1ST down.
2/4 3rd down conversions
Defense:
3rd and 13 at USU 7 Diondre Borel rush for 6 yards to the UthSt 13.
3rd and 8 at USU 33 Diondre Borel pass complete to Kellen Bartlett for 12 yards to the UthSt 45 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 1 at BYU 46 Kerwynn Williams rush for 16 yards to the BYU 30 for a 1ST down.
3rd and Goal at BYU 1 Derrvin Speight rush for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.
3rd and 2 at USU 33 Kerwynn Williams rush for 1 yard to the UthSt 34.
2/5 3rd down stops
4th QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 22 at BYU 45 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to Luke Ashworth, UTAH ST penalty 15 yard Personal Foul on Rajric Coleman accepted.
3rd and 7 at USU 40 Jake Heaps pass incomplete.
3rd and 10 at BYU 18 Jake Heaps sacked by Devin Johnson for a loss of 3 yards to the BYU 15.
3rd and 4 at BYU 31 Jake Heaps pass complete to McKay Jacobson for 16 yards to the BYU 47 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 20 at USU 36 BYU penalty 5 yard Delay of Game accepted.
3rd and 25 at USU 41 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to Cody Hoffman.
3rd and 4 at BYU 40 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 15 yards to the UthSt 45 for a 1ST down.
2/5 3rd down conversions
Defense:
3rd and 5 at BYU 39 Robert Marshall rush for 2 yards to the BYU 37..
3rd and 14 at BYU 35 Joey DeMartino rush for 10 yards to the BYU 25.
3rd and 9 at USU 42 Diondre Borel rush for 11 yards to the BYU 47 for a 1ST down.
3rd and 2 at BYU 39 Diondre Borel rush for 5 yards, fumbled at the BYU 34.
3/4 3rd down stops
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
THE BOTTOM LINE: BYU to MWC- "It's Not You, It's M...Actually, no...It's YOU!"
"Now I ain’t sayin’ it’s right or it’s wrong, but maybe it’s the only way...Talk about your 'Revolution'. It’s Independence Day!" -Martina McBride
If you haven't heard the news, then you are probably the type of person who doesn't care about sports at all, and therefore wouldn't even be reading this blog entry in the first place. On Wednesday September 1st, 2010 BYU officially announced their plans to ditch the Mountain West Conference following the 2010-11 season, declare Independence in football, and join the West Coast Conference in all but three of their other sports.
Let Freedom Ring!
According to BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe and President Cecil Samuelson, BYU has been exploring the Independent option for a significant amount of time now. The fact that the choice was made NOW, only after the University of Utah had recently been invited into the Pacific 10 conference, leaves room for some skepticism as to how much BYU would have preferred to be in another conference rather than go Independent, but no one came calling to the Cougars, and so here we stand.
And personally, I love it!
I'll go ahead and break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all and tell you why, in the long run, I believe BYU will be much better off as a result of this move:
-Have No Fear, ESPN Is Here
Corvette Stingrays (feel free to substitute your dream car in place of mine) are beautiful, sexy, appealing and desirable vehicles. But without a working engine, all you can do is watch the car sit and gather dust. You can't take it around the block and show it off, causing the gutters to fill with your neighbors' drool. All you can do is hope that they will stop by your place for a visit, and then try and coax them into the garage for a peek at your baby.
But if you put the biggest, greatest, most reliable engine under the hood...well, that changes everything. All you have to do is rev it ever so slightly and watch necks break as they snap all of their attention in your direction.
That engine in this whole ordeal is ESPN.
The #1 perk of going Independent, and really, what made it even possible, is the contract agreement ESPN and BYU signed with each other. Here are the particulars:
-Over the next eight years, at least 3 BYU home football games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3, etc.)
-BYUtv can choose to broadcast any games ESPN does not, and will also have the rights to rebroadcast any game (originally on ESPN or not) immediately following the end of said game.
-ALL of BYU's football games will now be available on national television.
Why is ESPN the saving grace? Holmoe admitted in Wednesday's press conference that once the WAC deal (original plan was for BYU to join the WAC in all other sports before the Mountain West invited Fresno State and Nevada to join THAT conference) fell through, "we thought maybe we should wait a year or two and decide [on Independence] later." And then David Brown, ESPN Vice President of Programming, came calling, and persuaded BYU not to stand pat but to move forward, convincing Holmoe and Company that scheduling teams to play would not be a problem with ESPN's influence on board.
And so ESPN became BYU's wing man. You know, that buddy of yours that talks you into asking the cute girl at the party for her phone number rather than just staring at her all night and going home empty handed, wishing you were one of the "cool" guys (read: Utah and their Pac10 invite)who actually had the guts to talk to her.
-Bread and Water
At least for the next couple of years, BYU will indeed experience some growing pains as this decision begins to take root. The WCC is a very good fit for most of the school's other sports, particularly men's basketball as they will face St. Mary's and Gonzaga every year. But there are still three sports that will be lost if they cannot find homes elsewhere: Softball, Track and Field, and Swimming and Diving. While none of these are a cash cow by any means to BYU, they are sports that have storied success in their histories, and LDS athletes who would enroll at BYU to participate in them will now likely choose a different school to attend.
Another hitch in the new plan is the fact that in the 2011-12, 2012-13 football seasons, BYU has made deals with 5 WAC schools to help fill the Cougars' schedule those years. This means that, at least for now, BYU is trading laughable opponents such as Wyoming and New Mexico for the less than stellar likes of Louisana Tech, New Mexico State and Idaho to name a few. There will be trips to sunny Hawai'i to play the Warriors, but other than that there is no draw for Alma Mater's to travel and see the football team play on the road, nor will the turnstiles at LaVell Edwards Stadium be in need of replacing every year due to overuse.
However, while none of that is very attractive, BYU does have the end result of this project to look forward to, and that's when it will get REALLY good.
-Milk and Honey
The decision to go Independent, while not as good as, say, an invite to the Big12 would have been, is the best option currently available for BYU.
-ESPN and ESPN2 are available in 99.5 million homes, while ESPNU is available in 73 million homes nationwide itself. Add BYUtv's 55 million homes in JUST the United States, and that's A LOT of exposure you weren't getting with The Mountain TV channel. BYU has just gone from the "Roadshow" to "THE Show".
Also, BYU's biggest goal has always been to use their sports as a way to get the LDS church into homes that may have otherwise rejected their message. Obviously, when you add ESPN's audiences to the mix, you are opening yourself up to opportunities that would have otherwise not been available. Not to mention the major deals you'll see happen with Notre Dame, Texas, Clemson, Texas Tech, etc. When BYU rolls into town regularly against those teams, people will take note and become curious about BYU, thus becoming more familiar with the school and consequently the LDS church.
-The West Coast Conference offers a wonderful spot for BYU to place their other sports, especially men's basketball. With the likes of Gonzaga, St. Mary's and San Diego, Dave Rose's team should be able to gain as much, if not more, respect and competition as they've had in the MWC.
The WCC also offers 8 other private institutions who are backed by Christian churches, just like BYU. The schedules will be redone so that BYU won't have to play on Sunday, and they will be able to accomplish the school's mission of being a missionary tool in the LDS church's hands in both exposure and recruitment. (Not to mention, Holmoe noted that 58% of BYU's alumni lives in the West Coast Conference's cities) And as far as traveling to road games is concerned, who doesn't want to go to the west coast during the dead of winter in Provo? I am thinking these two factors will lead to a lot of blue and white being in the crowds at ALL games BYU plays in, both home AND away.
-And finally, with greater risk comes the chance of greater reward. While Holmoe denied that this decision had much to do with monetary gain, logic begs to differ. By jumping the MWC ship and getting their own broadcasting system in place, partnered with juggernaut ESPN, BYU undoubtedly is in control of their own destiny money-wise. The risk: Football Independence could fail, and leave BYU worse off than they were with the MWC. The reward (and most likely outcome): More money, more exposure, more missionary opportunities.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
As you enter the gates at BYU, there is a large sign that reads: "The World Is Our Campus."
Ironic (or convenient), then, that ESPN's motto is: "The World Wide Leader In Sports."
World domination seems to be a common goal for both entities; and as long as this blue marble in the sky has enough room for both of them, I believe "Independence Day" will be a much celebrated day in Cougar Nation for years and years yet to come.
And that's the bottom line.
If you haven't heard the news, then you are probably the type of person who doesn't care about sports at all, and therefore wouldn't even be reading this blog entry in the first place. On Wednesday September 1st, 2010 BYU officially announced their plans to ditch the Mountain West Conference following the 2010-11 season, declare Independence in football, and join the West Coast Conference in all but three of their other sports.
Let Freedom Ring!
According to BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe and President Cecil Samuelson, BYU has been exploring the Independent option for a significant amount of time now. The fact that the choice was made NOW, only after the University of Utah had recently been invited into the Pacific 10 conference, leaves room for some skepticism as to how much BYU would have preferred to be in another conference rather than go Independent, but no one came calling to the Cougars, and so here we stand.
And personally, I love it!
I'll go ahead and break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all and tell you why, in the long run, I believe BYU will be much better off as a result of this move:
-Have No Fear, ESPN Is Here
Corvette Stingrays (feel free to substitute your dream car in place of mine) are beautiful, sexy, appealing and desirable vehicles. But without a working engine, all you can do is watch the car sit and gather dust. You can't take it around the block and show it off, causing the gutters to fill with your neighbors' drool. All you can do is hope that they will stop by your place for a visit, and then try and coax them into the garage for a peek at your baby.
But if you put the biggest, greatest, most reliable engine under the hood...well, that changes everything. All you have to do is rev it ever so slightly and watch necks break as they snap all of their attention in your direction.
That engine in this whole ordeal is ESPN.
The #1 perk of going Independent, and really, what made it even possible, is the contract agreement ESPN and BYU signed with each other. Here are the particulars:
-Over the next eight years, at least 3 BYU home football games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3, etc.)
-BYUtv can choose to broadcast any games ESPN does not, and will also have the rights to rebroadcast any game (originally on ESPN or not) immediately following the end of said game.
-ALL of BYU's football games will now be available on national television.
Why is ESPN the saving grace? Holmoe admitted in Wednesday's press conference that once the WAC deal (original plan was for BYU to join the WAC in all other sports before the Mountain West invited Fresno State and Nevada to join THAT conference) fell through, "we thought maybe we should wait a year or two and decide [on Independence] later." And then David Brown, ESPN Vice President of Programming, came calling, and persuaded BYU not to stand pat but to move forward, convincing Holmoe and Company that scheduling teams to play would not be a problem with ESPN's influence on board.
And so ESPN became BYU's wing man. You know, that buddy of yours that talks you into asking the cute girl at the party for her phone number rather than just staring at her all night and going home empty handed, wishing you were one of the "cool" guys (read: Utah and their Pac10 invite)who actually had the guts to talk to her.
-Bread and Water
At least for the next couple of years, BYU will indeed experience some growing pains as this decision begins to take root. The WCC is a very good fit for most of the school's other sports, particularly men's basketball as they will face St. Mary's and Gonzaga every year. But there are still three sports that will be lost if they cannot find homes elsewhere: Softball, Track and Field, and Swimming and Diving. While none of these are a cash cow by any means to BYU, they are sports that have storied success in their histories, and LDS athletes who would enroll at BYU to participate in them will now likely choose a different school to attend.
Another hitch in the new plan is the fact that in the 2011-12, 2012-13 football seasons, BYU has made deals with 5 WAC schools to help fill the Cougars' schedule those years. This means that, at least for now, BYU is trading laughable opponents such as Wyoming and New Mexico for the less than stellar likes of Louisana Tech, New Mexico State and Idaho to name a few. There will be trips to sunny Hawai'i to play the Warriors, but other than that there is no draw for Alma Mater's to travel and see the football team play on the road, nor will the turnstiles at LaVell Edwards Stadium be in need of replacing every year due to overuse.
However, while none of that is very attractive, BYU does have the end result of this project to look forward to, and that's when it will get REALLY good.
-Milk and Honey
The decision to go Independent, while not as good as, say, an invite to the Big12 would have been, is the best option currently available for BYU.
-ESPN and ESPN2 are available in 99.5 million homes, while ESPNU is available in 73 million homes nationwide itself. Add BYUtv's 55 million homes in JUST the United States, and that's A LOT of exposure you weren't getting with The Mountain TV channel. BYU has just gone from the "Roadshow" to "THE Show".
Also, BYU's biggest goal has always been to use their sports as a way to get the LDS church into homes that may have otherwise rejected their message. Obviously, when you add ESPN's audiences to the mix, you are opening yourself up to opportunities that would have otherwise not been available. Not to mention the major deals you'll see happen with Notre Dame, Texas, Clemson, Texas Tech, etc. When BYU rolls into town regularly against those teams, people will take note and become curious about BYU, thus becoming more familiar with the school and consequently the LDS church.
-The West Coast Conference offers a wonderful spot for BYU to place their other sports, especially men's basketball. With the likes of Gonzaga, St. Mary's and San Diego, Dave Rose's team should be able to gain as much, if not more, respect and competition as they've had in the MWC.
The WCC also offers 8 other private institutions who are backed by Christian churches, just like BYU. The schedules will be redone so that BYU won't have to play on Sunday, and they will be able to accomplish the school's mission of being a missionary tool in the LDS church's hands in both exposure and recruitment. (Not to mention, Holmoe noted that 58% of BYU's alumni lives in the West Coast Conference's cities) And as far as traveling to road games is concerned, who doesn't want to go to the west coast during the dead of winter in Provo? I am thinking these two factors will lead to a lot of blue and white being in the crowds at ALL games BYU plays in, both home AND away.
-And finally, with greater risk comes the chance of greater reward. While Holmoe denied that this decision had much to do with monetary gain, logic begs to differ. By jumping the MWC ship and getting their own broadcasting system in place, partnered with juggernaut ESPN, BYU undoubtedly is in control of their own destiny money-wise. The risk: Football Independence could fail, and leave BYU worse off than they were with the MWC. The reward (and most likely outcome): More money, more exposure, more missionary opportunities.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
As you enter the gates at BYU, there is a large sign that reads: "The World Is Our Campus."
Ironic (or convenient), then, that ESPN's motto is: "The World Wide Leader In Sports."
World domination seems to be a common goal for both entities; and as long as this blue marble in the sky has enough room for both of them, I believe "Independence Day" will be a much celebrated day in Cougar Nation for years and years yet to come.
And that's the bottom line.
Monday, August 16, 2010
BOTTOM LINE: BYU Camp - 5 Topics That Need to be Addressed This Week
For my sports radio job, I've been attending every BYU practice since the beginning of training camp eight days ago. Based on what I've seen during this time,I've narrowed the immediate challenges facing this team so far down to 5 topics:
1-The Quarterback Race
The "four man race" has clearly been whittled down to a two man competition (though Coach Mendenhall is trying his best to sell James Lark as still having a shot at the starting role). The true freshman phenom Jake Heaps, and the seasoned leader Riley Nelson. They both have their pros and cons, but I personally feel that Heaps is the guy. His pin point precision on the long ball, the natural ability to check through his progressions efficiently, and his confidence in the offense tell me that BYU would be best served having him be their starter NOW. Nelson is a great athlete, don't get me wrong. And he's no slouch as a quarterback, either. But his talents and abilities do not outweigh Heaps', and so I don't see why BYU would keep Heaps from progressing early this year, with Nelson ready to come in when needed.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Heaps needs to be named the starter, and soon, so that the team can get used to him being their leader on the field.
2. Wide Receivers Dropping Passes
The receiving corps at BYU this year are an incredible sight to behold. Tall, athletic, physical and FAST are attributes that could be used to describe each and every one of them. From veterans O'Neill Chambers and McKay Jacobson (not to mention back ups Spencer Hafoka, Luke Ashworth, BJ Peterson and Matt Marshall) to young up-and-comers Ross Apo and Cody Hoffman, whoever ends up being QB will not lack open targets on every play. HOWEVER, there have been WAY too many dropped passes in practice. It's not something that can't be fixed, but it needs to be fixed immediately. If you have a young QB like Heaps making great throws on the numbers to guys 60+ yards down the field, but the ball is being dropped time and again, that ruins a passer's mentality and poisons his confidence.
THE BOTTOM LINE: If this issue can be addressed and nipped quickly, look for a big year from the wideouts this season.
3. Place Kicking
The Cougars have two kickers on the squad this season: Mitch Payne (place kicker), and Riley Stephenson (punter). However, Payne went down with a sprained ankle late last week, and his prognosis is not yet known (originally thought to be a 7-10 days deal, but Mendenhall has said he can't be too sure as of yet). Even before he was injured, Payne missed a PAT and two semi-long field goal tries. Stephenson, coming off a somewhat roller coaster freshman year last season, has now been thrown into the place kicking position, and has not been able to produce a consistency you need from your field goal kicker. Actually, field goals between 35-40 yards don't seem to be as big a problem for him as PAT's. He missed all but one PAT's during today's practice, and afterward Mendenhall said he will probably open the issue up to the rest of the team to see if anyone kicked in high school and can step in to the place kicking role until Payne heals.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Every game is vital in college football, and place kicking is the LAST position you want to have to worry about. Close games are always dependent on field position, and a missed field goal attempt can leave your defense in tough spots with the odds stacked against them. Plus, PAT's should be automatic. If they're not, you might as well go for two everytime. Losing by one is still losing....
4. Running Backs
Each running back on this team has his own talents and abilities that make him unique from the other backs around him. Brian Kariya is more of a power back who will run through a defender. JJ DiLuigi is the fast, shifty, finesse runner who can leave defenders in the dust. Then there's freshman Josh Quezada (Juice, as the team calls him), Mike Hague, Zed Mendenhall, and David Foote. Quezada will need some time to learn and flourish, but his future is bright. Hague is powerful, but short and slow. Mendenhall is a fullback playing tailback, and Foote, while always hustling and giving max effort, would not be successful on a different team with less experienced offensive linemen in front of him.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Harvey Unga had it ALL. Speed, power, finesse, and swagger. While you cannot replace a special player like Unga, it is important to make the transition period as smooth as possible. Running back by committee may be the answer for now, but eventually you're going to want that every-down-back you can rely on to move the ball down field and open up the passing game for your offense. Combined: These backs=Harvey Unga. Individually: they have chinks in their armor.
5. "Blue Zone" Defense
This year's secondary and defensive backs are stacked with experience and talent, and I expect a big season from them. Cornerback Corby Eason told me last week that the DB's are the cornerstone of the Cougar defense, and judging by their game between the twenties, I like what I see. However, once the offense gets inside the twenty (red zone, or "blue" zone at BYU), the needed stops don't seem to happen as often for the defense. It's not a HUGE issue, just a little something that could use some tweaking.
THE BOTTOM LINE: For the most part the defense is able to hold their own against the offense, but their confidence seems to be shaky inside the Blue Zone. While it's great that the Cougars are able to keep teams at bay in the middle of the field, they need to find a way to spread that success from the twenties and in, when big stops are most critically needed.
*Stay tuned for an update on these topics following this week of practices*
1-The Quarterback Race
The "four man race" has clearly been whittled down to a two man competition (though Coach Mendenhall is trying his best to sell James Lark as still having a shot at the starting role). The true freshman phenom Jake Heaps, and the seasoned leader Riley Nelson. They both have their pros and cons, but I personally feel that Heaps is the guy. His pin point precision on the long ball, the natural ability to check through his progressions efficiently, and his confidence in the offense tell me that BYU would be best served having him be their starter NOW. Nelson is a great athlete, don't get me wrong. And he's no slouch as a quarterback, either. But his talents and abilities do not outweigh Heaps', and so I don't see why BYU would keep Heaps from progressing early this year, with Nelson ready to come in when needed.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Heaps needs to be named the starter, and soon, so that the team can get used to him being their leader on the field.
2. Wide Receivers Dropping Passes
The receiving corps at BYU this year are an incredible sight to behold. Tall, athletic, physical and FAST are attributes that could be used to describe each and every one of them. From veterans O'Neill Chambers and McKay Jacobson (not to mention back ups Spencer Hafoka, Luke Ashworth, BJ Peterson and Matt Marshall) to young up-and-comers Ross Apo and Cody Hoffman, whoever ends up being QB will not lack open targets on every play. HOWEVER, there have been WAY too many dropped passes in practice. It's not something that can't be fixed, but it needs to be fixed immediately. If you have a young QB like Heaps making great throws on the numbers to guys 60+ yards down the field, but the ball is being dropped time and again, that ruins a passer's mentality and poisons his confidence.
THE BOTTOM LINE: If this issue can be addressed and nipped quickly, look for a big year from the wideouts this season.
3. Place Kicking
The Cougars have two kickers on the squad this season: Mitch Payne (place kicker), and Riley Stephenson (punter). However, Payne went down with a sprained ankle late last week, and his prognosis is not yet known (originally thought to be a 7-10 days deal, but Mendenhall has said he can't be too sure as of yet). Even before he was injured, Payne missed a PAT and two semi-long field goal tries. Stephenson, coming off a somewhat roller coaster freshman year last season, has now been thrown into the place kicking position, and has not been able to produce a consistency you need from your field goal kicker. Actually, field goals between 35-40 yards don't seem to be as big a problem for him as PAT's. He missed all but one PAT's during today's practice, and afterward Mendenhall said he will probably open the issue up to the rest of the team to see if anyone kicked in high school and can step in to the place kicking role until Payne heals.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Every game is vital in college football, and place kicking is the LAST position you want to have to worry about. Close games are always dependent on field position, and a missed field goal attempt can leave your defense in tough spots with the odds stacked against them. Plus, PAT's should be automatic. If they're not, you might as well go for two everytime. Losing by one is still losing....
4. Running Backs
Each running back on this team has his own talents and abilities that make him unique from the other backs around him. Brian Kariya is more of a power back who will run through a defender. JJ DiLuigi is the fast, shifty, finesse runner who can leave defenders in the dust. Then there's freshman Josh Quezada (Juice, as the team calls him), Mike Hague, Zed Mendenhall, and David Foote. Quezada will need some time to learn and flourish, but his future is bright. Hague is powerful, but short and slow. Mendenhall is a fullback playing tailback, and Foote, while always hustling and giving max effort, would not be successful on a different team with less experienced offensive linemen in front of him.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Harvey Unga had it ALL. Speed, power, finesse, and swagger. While you cannot replace a special player like Unga, it is important to make the transition period as smooth as possible. Running back by committee may be the answer for now, but eventually you're going to want that every-down-back you can rely on to move the ball down field and open up the passing game for your offense. Combined: These backs=Harvey Unga. Individually: they have chinks in their armor.
5. "Blue Zone" Defense
This year's secondary and defensive backs are stacked with experience and talent, and I expect a big season from them. Cornerback Corby Eason told me last week that the DB's are the cornerstone of the Cougar defense, and judging by their game between the twenties, I like what I see. However, once the offense gets inside the twenty (red zone, or "blue" zone at BYU), the needed stops don't seem to happen as often for the defense. It's not a HUGE issue, just a little something that could use some tweaking.
THE BOTTOM LINE: For the most part the defense is able to hold their own against the offense, but their confidence seems to be shaky inside the Blue Zone. While it's great that the Cougars are able to keep teams at bay in the middle of the field, they need to find a way to spread that success from the twenties and in, when big stops are most critically needed.
*Stay tuned for an update on these topics following this week of practices*
Monday, August 9, 2010
BOTTOM LINE: BYU Training Camp Days 1 and 2
I recently was given the opportunity through my sports radio job to attend BYU practices and gather notes/interviews for use at the station and on the website. After attending two days (Saturday Aug 7, Monday Aug 9) of training camp, I just wanted to share a few observations I've made:
Day#1 (Aug 7th)
The biggest question in camp this year is Who will be the starting QB? Here's my depth chart after day 1:
1a.Jake Heaps
Shared seemingly equal amount of snaps on first team offense with Riley Nelson. Seemed to be very confident with the offense and was able to make a few pin point perfect passes for big yards, including the last play of practice - an on the money, down the sideline 60+ yard pass to double-covered McKay Jacobson.
1b.Riley Nelson
Has strong ability to scramble and create on the run when the pocket disappears. Not as accurate as Heaps, but has a stronger line drive throw across the middle. Very familiar with offense plays and schemes, and has the division 1 experience Heaps lacks.
3. James Lark
Doesn't possess the natural talents that Heaps or Nelson do, but has the work ethic to be a terrific back up plan if needed. I wouldn't want him starting, but I'd feel fairly comfortable having him under center should the other two QB's get injured.
4. Jason Munns
His size is unreal, but he doesn't seem to be very comfortable at the QB spot. Makes mistakes, has little accuracy, and isn't able to read where a player is going to end up. We'll see what happens later on, but right now I don't see him being a big part of this race.
Other notes:
-Offense:
-Loaded at running back, with Kariya and DiLuigi splitting time. Hague, Foote, and Quezada all will see playing time.
-Tight end is full of possibility, though the spot may be filled by committee for the first part of the season until someone emerges as the better player.
-Receivers are looking very good this year. Young, strong and extremely athletic. If the QB can get the ball to them, look for the receiving corp to have a big season, led by McKay Jacobson and O'Neill Chambers.
-Defense:
-The defense, as a whole, was dominant today. Very enthusiastic, hyped up, and ready to hit somebody. They had all the momentum in the team segment.
-CB Carter Mees and DL Thomas Bryson both had exceptional practices. Bryson had two sacks and Mees 3 breakups.
Day #2 (Aug 9th)
QB Depth Chart:
1.Jake Heaps
It wasn't clear until team segment (scrimmage), but Heaps should definitely be the #1 QB on this team. He is confident, accurate, and powerful, and to watch him connect with Jacobson down the field is a thing of beauty. He has his flaws, such as his mechanical looking play fake, but he is head and shoulders above the other 3 QB's vying for the starting spot.
2.Riley Nelson
Has everything Jake Heaps doesn't, but they're attributes that don't really matter ALL that much. Ability to scramble, amazing magician-like skills on the play action fake, and division 1 experience. However, he isn't as tall/athletic/powerful as Heaps, and therefore will make a perfect back up for when Heaps makes his freshman mistakes.
3.James Lark
Nothing different from Saturday's practice.
4.Jason Munns
Reminds me of Brett Engemann. Tall and stocky, could take a hit and get back up, but really isn't a quarterback. Would have been better served to play linebacker or even tight end.
Other notes:
-Offense:
McKay Jacobson remains the favorite target, and is unbelievable at shaking off the defender on his first move. O'Neill Chambers had an off day, running wrong routes and dropping two money ball passes. Spencer Hafoka and Luke Ashworth are always reliable second looks, and newcomer Cody Hoffman is 6'4", 205 lbs. and runs like a gazelle. He will be THE guy for the next 3 years at the Y.
-Defense:
Thomas Bryson once again shined at defensive end. He had 3 hurries, a sack, and a fumble recovery in the scrimmage. The defensive backs really shut down the passing game, and the linebackers were able to contain the running game (other than two scampers by Riley Nelson for double digit gains).
THE BOTTOM LINE, it's only been 2 days of Fall practice, so not a lot can be determined yet. Jordan Pendleton, the star studded linebacker, hasn't participated in team segment scrimmage as of yet because of hampering injuries, and there are still a few players who haven't been cleared by the NCAA. Besides that, only time will uncover all the flaws/talents that haven't been shown as of yet. But it IS exciting that college football is back!!! Here we go.....
***Curtis Brown, Jan Jorgensen, and Nate Meickle were among the former BYU players I spotted at practice Tuesday. Brown sells pharmaceuticals in the Utah Valley area, Jorgensen was there as a representative of his new employer 1280 THE ZONE, and Meickle (formerly employed on KSL's broadcasts of the games as a sideline reporter) was there as a spectator. Rumors were he's going to Stanford Law School in the near future***
Day#1 (Aug 7th)
The biggest question in camp this year is Who will be the starting QB? Here's my depth chart after day 1:
1a.Jake Heaps
Shared seemingly equal amount of snaps on first team offense with Riley Nelson. Seemed to be very confident with the offense and was able to make a few pin point perfect passes for big yards, including the last play of practice - an on the money, down the sideline 60+ yard pass to double-covered McKay Jacobson.
1b.Riley Nelson
Has strong ability to scramble and create on the run when the pocket disappears. Not as accurate as Heaps, but has a stronger line drive throw across the middle. Very familiar with offense plays and schemes, and has the division 1 experience Heaps lacks.
3. James Lark
Doesn't possess the natural talents that Heaps or Nelson do, but has the work ethic to be a terrific back up plan if needed. I wouldn't want him starting, but I'd feel fairly comfortable having him under center should the other two QB's get injured.
4. Jason Munns
His size is unreal, but he doesn't seem to be very comfortable at the QB spot. Makes mistakes, has little accuracy, and isn't able to read where a player is going to end up. We'll see what happens later on, but right now I don't see him being a big part of this race.
Other notes:
-Offense:
-Loaded at running back, with Kariya and DiLuigi splitting time. Hague, Foote, and Quezada all will see playing time.
-Tight end is full of possibility, though the spot may be filled by committee for the first part of the season until someone emerges as the better player.
-Receivers are looking very good this year. Young, strong and extremely athletic. If the QB can get the ball to them, look for the receiving corp to have a big season, led by McKay Jacobson and O'Neill Chambers.
-Defense:
-The defense, as a whole, was dominant today. Very enthusiastic, hyped up, and ready to hit somebody. They had all the momentum in the team segment.
-CB Carter Mees and DL Thomas Bryson both had exceptional practices. Bryson had two sacks and Mees 3 breakups.
Day #2 (Aug 9th)
QB Depth Chart:
1.Jake Heaps
It wasn't clear until team segment (scrimmage), but Heaps should definitely be the #1 QB on this team. He is confident, accurate, and powerful, and to watch him connect with Jacobson down the field is a thing of beauty. He has his flaws, such as his mechanical looking play fake, but he is head and shoulders above the other 3 QB's vying for the starting spot.
2.Riley Nelson
Has everything Jake Heaps doesn't, but they're attributes that don't really matter ALL that much. Ability to scramble, amazing magician-like skills on the play action fake, and division 1 experience. However, he isn't as tall/athletic/powerful as Heaps, and therefore will make a perfect back up for when Heaps makes his freshman mistakes.
3.James Lark
Nothing different from Saturday's practice.
4.Jason Munns
Reminds me of Brett Engemann. Tall and stocky, could take a hit and get back up, but really isn't a quarterback. Would have been better served to play linebacker or even tight end.
Other notes:
-Offense:
McKay Jacobson remains the favorite target, and is unbelievable at shaking off the defender on his first move. O'Neill Chambers had an off day, running wrong routes and dropping two money ball passes. Spencer Hafoka and Luke Ashworth are always reliable second looks, and newcomer Cody Hoffman is 6'4", 205 lbs. and runs like a gazelle. He will be THE guy for the next 3 years at the Y.
-Defense:
Thomas Bryson once again shined at defensive end. He had 3 hurries, a sack, and a fumble recovery in the scrimmage. The defensive backs really shut down the passing game, and the linebackers were able to contain the running game (other than two scampers by Riley Nelson for double digit gains).
THE BOTTOM LINE, it's only been 2 days of Fall practice, so not a lot can be determined yet. Jordan Pendleton, the star studded linebacker, hasn't participated in team segment scrimmage as of yet because of hampering injuries, and there are still a few players who haven't been cleared by the NCAA. Besides that, only time will uncover all the flaws/talents that haven't been shown as of yet. But it IS exciting that college football is back!!! Here we go.....
***Curtis Brown, Jan Jorgensen, and Nate Meickle were among the former BYU players I spotted at practice Tuesday. Brown sells pharmaceuticals in the Utah Valley area, Jorgensen was there as a representative of his new employer 1280 THE ZONE, and Meickle (formerly employed on KSL's broadcasts of the games as a sideline reporter) was there as a spectator. Rumors were he's going to Stanford Law School in the near future***
Saturday, July 17, 2010
THE BOTTOM LINE: Something's Missing....
“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.” -Tom Stoppard
What do you miss from sports these days? Here are the things I find myself yearning for:
Ken Griffey, Jr. and his backwards hat. His smoother-than-an-insurance-salesman swing. His willingness to sacrifice life itself to run down ANY ball hit in his direction. And that trademarked self-admiring stare as he strutted towards first, watching his latest jack sail over the fence.
John Stockton setting and taking picks on/from power forwards. His ability to see a play happen in his mind before it actually took place. The bounce pass down into the post. The speed of hands both on defense and offense. Seeing him take the ball coast to coast for a layup before the defense could even turn around. His signature quirky over-the-shoulder shot.
Payne Stewart. His clothes, yes. But not JUST his clothes. His game, his smile, his fist pumps, his rugged swing and follow through, and his celebration after winning the US Open.
Cal Ripken, Jr. and Steve Young.
Fast, lean, tall, quick and athletic offensive/defensive linemen.
Golden Goals
Larry H. Miller: one of the best people to ever walk this earth. He was a role model, and not just because of the good things he did. When he made mistakes, he fessed up to them, apologized, made it right, and became a better person because of it all.
Patrick Ewing dripping reservoir-sized drops of sweat in the key, thus employing a TEAM of towel-boys/towel-girls underneath each basket, charged with being the fastest acting human wet-vacs imaginable before he returned the next time down the floor.
Old school uniforms: such as high socks in baseball, Kareem/Rambis-like goggles in basketball, and Dan Mariono-esque face masks in football.
Lil Penney commercials.
For that matter, Penney Hardaway's swagger, Tim Hardaway's no-rotation shot, and Muggsy Bogues.
Monday Night Football without Mike Tirico, or Tony Kornheiser, or Jon Gruden. Never should've lost Al Michaels.
Two-hand touch at recess. Tackle when the "duty" wasn't lurking...
Homerun derbys in the backyard with a t-ball stand, foam bat, and plastic wiffle balls.
Raspberries from sliding into home ahead of the tag.
Hot Rod Hundley. Ernie Harwell. Jack Buck.
Roller/street hockey after school.
Karl Malone turn-arounds. Karl Malone defense. Karl Malone power. Karl Malone taking thirty days to shoot a free throw.
The Seattle Supersonics. The Sonics-Jazz rivalry circa Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schrempf and Gary Payton.
The CALIFORNIA Angels. None of this Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim via Denver near Boise sans New York neighboring Mars business....
Marathon games of "hot-box", or "pickle," in the backyard with my brothers, dad, cousins, uncles, friends, etc.
Long summer days spent in my basement, in my pajamas, usually til about 3 or 4 PM, playing game after game, making trade after trade, hitting homerun after homerun, and WINNING game after game on N64's "Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr."
And finally, THE BOTTOM LINE of what I'm missing most from sports these days: Every single Saturday having either a soccer game, a basketball game, or a baseball game to play in. Sometimes a combination of those. *Sigh*.....Mine was a blessed childhood, indeed.
“The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day” -John Milton
What do you miss from sports these days? Here are the things I find myself yearning for:
Ken Griffey, Jr. and his backwards hat. His smoother-than-an-insurance-salesman swing. His willingness to sacrifice life itself to run down ANY ball hit in his direction. And that trademarked self-admiring stare as he strutted towards first, watching his latest jack sail over the fence.
John Stockton setting and taking picks on/from power forwards. His ability to see a play happen in his mind before it actually took place. The bounce pass down into the post. The speed of hands both on defense and offense. Seeing him take the ball coast to coast for a layup before the defense could even turn around. His signature quirky over-the-shoulder shot.
Payne Stewart. His clothes, yes. But not JUST his clothes. His game, his smile, his fist pumps, his rugged swing and follow through, and his celebration after winning the US Open.
Cal Ripken, Jr. and Steve Young.
Fast, lean, tall, quick and athletic offensive/defensive linemen.
Golden Goals
Larry H. Miller: one of the best people to ever walk this earth. He was a role model, and not just because of the good things he did. When he made mistakes, he fessed up to them, apologized, made it right, and became a better person because of it all.
Patrick Ewing dripping reservoir-sized drops of sweat in the key, thus employing a TEAM of towel-boys/towel-girls underneath each basket, charged with being the fastest acting human wet-vacs imaginable before he returned the next time down the floor.
Old school uniforms: such as high socks in baseball, Kareem/Rambis-like goggles in basketball, and Dan Mariono-esque face masks in football.
Lil Penney commercials.
For that matter, Penney Hardaway's swagger, Tim Hardaway's no-rotation shot, and Muggsy Bogues.
Monday Night Football without Mike Tirico, or Tony Kornheiser, or Jon Gruden. Never should've lost Al Michaels.
Two-hand touch at recess. Tackle when the "duty" wasn't lurking...
Homerun derbys in the backyard with a t-ball stand, foam bat, and plastic wiffle balls.
Raspberries from sliding into home ahead of the tag.
Hot Rod Hundley. Ernie Harwell. Jack Buck.
Roller/street hockey after school.
Karl Malone turn-arounds. Karl Malone defense. Karl Malone power. Karl Malone taking thirty days to shoot a free throw.
The Seattle Supersonics. The Sonics-Jazz rivalry circa Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schrempf and Gary Payton.
The CALIFORNIA Angels. None of this Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim via Denver near Boise sans New York neighboring Mars business....
Marathon games of "hot-box", or "pickle," in the backyard with my brothers, dad, cousins, uncles, friends, etc.
Long summer days spent in my basement, in my pajamas, usually til about 3 or 4 PM, playing game after game, making trade after trade, hitting homerun after homerun, and WINNING game after game on N64's "Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr."
And finally, THE BOTTOM LINE of what I'm missing most from sports these days: Every single Saturday having either a soccer game, a basketball game, or a baseball game to play in. Sometimes a combination of those. *Sigh*.....Mine was a blessed childhood, indeed.
“The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day” -John Milton
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