On September 22nd the Falcons are coming to town with their new-fangled offense and a new coach for the first time since the Declaration of Independence was signed. Will BYU be able to contain this new attack?
Yup.
The new offense will just not work for Air Force. Now, I greatly respect the cadets and Air Force as a team. No team steps it up in the 4th quarter better than them. That being said, their current roster just won't support the type of offense being installed. Carney, while being a pretty good QB, won't see the type of success many are expecting him to have when he is "unleashed" by this new offense.
Last year against BYU Carney had a pass efficiency rating of 22. Air Force was ranked 118 of 119 D-1 teams in passing. Unlike the first games Air Force plays, BYU will have tape on the new scheme and be able to plan for it. Carney benefited last year from a run-offense. If the defense is expecting a run every single play, when you finally do throw it catches them offguard. Last season, Air Force ran the ball 660 times and put it in the air 112 times. Interestingly enough, they only scored 22 TDs on the ground (BYU ran the ball 437 times and put it in the endzone 27 times.) With a 6/1 ratio of run to pass, the defense cheats up so the DB's can help with the run, particularly in defending against the option. This year, however, with operating out of the shotgun, BYU will be able to sit back a little more and keep Carney's rating to sub-100, you heard it hear first.
By Air Force fans' own admission, the offensive line may be a weak point with inexperience. Due to the conditioning required as a cadet, most of the linemen are unable to keep up their weight and they only have a couple over 300 lbs. Essentially the BYU front three will be as big as the guys they go against. BYU returns 3 starters on the defensive line and a much quicker LB corps than last year. BYU should be in the backfield early and often. The running backs won't get the space they need to run and BYU will keep them well under their average again.
As for the 5 reasons Air Force will win:
1. Sean Carney will pass for a ton of yards: Doubt it. Last year he only completed 2 pass attempts and was mostly ineffective against BYU's defense which is looking to only improve on last years performance, this time at home. Air Force only completed 46% of passes against defenses expecting the run. Without that gimmick, Carney really needs to improve his accuracy or he will be in for a long game/season.
2) AF will win the kicking game with an outstanding Punter and Kicker: Whittingham? Is that you? In all seriousness, if you are relying on your special teams to win the game, you should be worried.
3) We tend to play well in September, before a grinding Academic and Military schedule take their toll: I have to agree with this part, AFA does play its best football at the beginning of the year.
4) Defense won't be as passive as in the past: Will it matter? BYU will have played 2 BCS conference teams and Tulsa by now, the offense should be clicking. Of the 4 games, Air Force will have either the worst or second to worst defense of the all.
5) Pregame flyby will rattle BYU players: While it would be great, I don't know if they do that at away games. Either way, Air Force players will be much more rattled by 65,000 screaming fans.
My 3 Cents: BYU cruises. It is always a tough game against Air Force because of their tenacity, but the offense will be too much and the defense will be more stifling than last year. It will be the first game at home since Arizona and, if BYU is undefeated at this point, the first opportunity for a grateful fan base to see their highly ranked team. Id say BYU wins in a similar fashion as last year with a 2+ touchdown advantage.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
On The Road with Cruiser: Cougar Sleds
Most of us have either done it or seen it being done—pushing large steel sleds around a football field with a coach standing on it blowing a whistle. It’s been part of football workouts for generations. But now there’s a new sled in town, one that coaches love and players hate.
The new sled is basically a single length of steel, bent and doubled back on itself like one of those handheld magnetic roller toys kids used to play with in the 60s. It doesn’t weigh much, probably not more than a hundred pounds, but where the old football sleds were built to slide across the grass, this new kind has a plate underneath that hugs Mother Earth like steel velcro. Just what players don't want.
And it was design by Coach Omer. That’s right; our own weight and conditioning coach, Jay Omer, who spent eight seasons as the Player Development Director at Georgia Tech before coming to the Y in 2001, designed this implement of torture and gave the plans to a fabrication company, which now makes them for universities around the country. The sleds are appropriately called "Cougar Sleds." Michigan has ten of them. The University of Utah has half a dozen or so. (But Utah refuses to call them Cougar Sleds and even had the name removed.)
What does Coach Omer get for his invention? Not much really, just the promise that BYU can get all the sleds they want for free. And for somebody who makes a living by inflicting pain and misery on football players, he couldn’t have a better reward.
Generally, you see the linemen pulling or pushing them around the field. (They work backward and forward.) But last week one of the skill players mouthed off, saying the linemen were wimps for complaining about the sleds and that anybody could pull them across the grass.
Wish granted.
Last Wednesday the skill players, including quarterbacks, took turns harnessing themselves into the sleds and pulling them forty yards. Said one player: "Twenty yards is pretty easy, but you’re surprised by how much drag that little sled has. After thirty yards, your quads are burning and you’re gasping for air. After forty yards, you have a near-death experience." Omer had them do it six times each. Ten players threw up. I could name names but will protect the embarrassed. Coach Omer never got on a sled, and although they can hold 400 pounds of free weights, he didn’t put any plates on either, choosing to have "mercy" on the players. Most of them, including some prominent names, practically crawled off the field.
One or two, though, held up pretty well. Brian Kehl looked like he could have pulled the thing a hundred yards and done a 5.0 forty doing it. Markell Staffieri looked strong, as did Joe Semanoff. But then again, I don’t know what they were feeling while doing it. It could have been an act. For all I know they collapsed like common mortals when they got in the locker room.
One thing I do know, though, is that the player who mouthed off to earn this opportunity for himself and his friends was singing a different tune afterwards—something about "having seen the light."
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Fan Breakdown: Air Force
I got behind with all the recruiting news last week and did not post a fan breakdown. The good news, however, is that now when I post the Utah breakdown it will be time for Fall camp.
This game kicks off BYU's conference season and a welcome return home from two consecutive away games. Air Force comes into town for a September 22nd show-down at LES.
Thanks to THUD for this breakdown:
Air Force
1. O line has to be mentally tough and play a physical game. The projected starting tackles didn't get much playing time this Spring after sustaining injuries, but both of them should be back to full strength in the fall. There isn't much depth here in terms of experience and we are going to have to have some younger players step up in the event that one of the starters is out with a serious injury. I don't think there is a lack of talent or experience with the projected starters, but the coaching staff has challenged them all to have a more agrressive style of play and be mentally tough by playing with the pain.
2. The TBs have depth and Jim Ollis is going to have an incredible year. Chad Hall is recovering nicely from his surgery and will be a major weapon running and catching the ball. Ryan Williams is an exceptional athlete at FB and will be a critical element in the one back scheme you will see. He will be coming off a surgery to his shoulder, but I don't think it will slow him down at all for the fall. Look for Scott Peeples to be the Dozer FB in the Power I formation comin at ya.
3. WRs are now a critical factor in the offensive attack of the Falcons, I think we have enough talent here to get the job done, but there is going to have to be one of them who removes himself from the pack to show he is the "Go to guy!"
4. If there is one position on the O that will make you stop and take notice of their direct impact on the success of the TEAM moving the ball and scoring, it will be the TEs. Yes the FALCONS will be using their TEs for more than blocking assignments. I think we have seen dramatic results in these players being coached up and there will be excitement watching them produce.
5. QB, well I think you know enough about Shaun Carney to know that he will be performing in a system that will allow him to exploit all his talents, especially his throwing arm. If the O Line stands strong and gives him the minimum amount of time he needs to fire off his quick strikes, we will be in business. Jim Ollis will remain a factor as a backup, but we had several younger players show they can lead the TEAM and are very capable athletes running and throwing the ball.
6. On D there is a lot of excitement about the line being very strong with talent and experience. With the number of injuries the FALCONS had last year there were a bunch of younger players who had to fill in the gaps and they did a great job doing so. Keep an eye on the development of #55 Ryan Gonzales, if he plays like he looks, he will be an impact player. I wouldn't be surprised to see Noah Garguile moved to NG if his recovery from surgeries continues to progress nicely.
7. I don't think there can be any arguement that Drew Fowler is one of the best ILBs in the MWC and I think he will have several very talented partners to play beside come game day. I see the most dramatic improvement on D at OLB. Julian Madrid brings an aggressive style of play that is coupled with speed. Look for him to be spending his share of time being one of the players in the attack packages thrown at QBs. John Rabold is a big, quick and mobile OLB who is going to cause a great deal of disruption and will be strong on run D.
8. The FALCON secondary is going to rely on the outstanding athletic play of #34 Chris Thomas and the experience and leadership of Bobby Giannini. The FALCON corners are going to be challenged early and often and the players who are fighting for starting positions in the fall are going to have to show they are willing to play an in your face type of ball and deliver teeth rattling hits. Garrett Rybak brings the experience at this position, but I think there has to be someone playing that position who decides he is going to become the "hitman"! We need a CB who has the athletic ability to be in good positon and delivers blows that make a WR worry too much about the hit and not making the catch.
9. Special teams play is going to be improved to the point where they are once again a significant weapon in the ability of the FALCONS to score and prevent the opposition from scoring. Ryan Harrison's leg is a weapon, period end of story. His abilities will be the deciding factor in at least two AF victories this year, one of which will be over a team they aren't supposed to beat.
10. The Coaching staff for the FIGHTIN' FALCONS is untested in its leadership of the FALCONS, but that aren't untested in the leadership skills they learned as players under Coach Deberry and they bring a wealth of coaching experience to the table. I will make the bold prediction that within three years, they will be considered to be the most dynamic staff in the MWC.
For the FALCONS to be an 8-4 or 7-5 team this year and have a huge upset win over a BYU, TCU or ND, the offensive line and the defensive secondary have to find a way to WIN in their respective assignments. I think the offensive line will meet that demand for several different reasons, but I think the biggest factor for their success is that their positon coach is going to draw every ounce of talent they have at of them and demand they play like warriors. My biggest concern is with the defensive secondary. They have to not buy into the hype they aren't good enough to run with the Big Dogs. When they are out matched by pure athletic ability, and yes they will be, they have to become vicious in how they provide punishment for every yard gained. If the FALCON corners play the game with no regard for their own personal well being, they will help their brothers win football games.
5 Reasons AFA will win (thanks to AFAfan)
1) Sean Carney will pass for a ton of yards.
2) AF will win the kicking game with an outstanding Punter and Kicker.
3) We tend to play well in September, before a grinding Academic and Military schedule take their toll.
4) Defense won't be as passive as in the past.
5) Pregame flyby will rattle BYU players.
My 3 Cents: The rebuttal won't come until Thursday because "On the Road with Cruiser" will be appearing tomorrow.
This game kicks off BYU's conference season and a welcome return home from two consecutive away games. Air Force comes into town for a September 22nd show-down at LES.
Thanks to THUD for this breakdown:
Air Force
1. O line has to be mentally tough and play a physical game. The projected starting tackles didn't get much playing time this Spring after sustaining injuries, but both of them should be back to full strength in the fall. There isn't much depth here in terms of experience and we are going to have to have some younger players step up in the event that one of the starters is out with a serious injury. I don't think there is a lack of talent or experience with the projected starters, but the coaching staff has challenged them all to have a more agrressive style of play and be mentally tough by playing with the pain.
2. The TBs have depth and Jim Ollis is going to have an incredible year. Chad Hall is recovering nicely from his surgery and will be a major weapon running and catching the ball. Ryan Williams is an exceptional athlete at FB and will be a critical element in the one back scheme you will see. He will be coming off a surgery to his shoulder, but I don't think it will slow him down at all for the fall. Look for Scott Peeples to be the Dozer FB in the Power I formation comin at ya.
3. WRs are now a critical factor in the offensive attack of the Falcons, I think we have enough talent here to get the job done, but there is going to have to be one of them who removes himself from the pack to show he is the "Go to guy!"
4. If there is one position on the O that will make you stop and take notice of their direct impact on the success of the TEAM moving the ball and scoring, it will be the TEs. Yes the FALCONS will be using their TEs for more than blocking assignments. I think we have seen dramatic results in these players being coached up and there will be excitement watching them produce.
5. QB, well I think you know enough about Shaun Carney to know that he will be performing in a system that will allow him to exploit all his talents, especially his throwing arm. If the O Line stands strong and gives him the minimum amount of time he needs to fire off his quick strikes, we will be in business. Jim Ollis will remain a factor as a backup, but we had several younger players show they can lead the TEAM and are very capable athletes running and throwing the ball.
6. On D there is a lot of excitement about the line being very strong with talent and experience. With the number of injuries the FALCONS had last year there were a bunch of younger players who had to fill in the gaps and they did a great job doing so. Keep an eye on the development of #55 Ryan Gonzales, if he plays like he looks, he will be an impact player. I wouldn't be surprised to see Noah Garguile moved to NG if his recovery from surgeries continues to progress nicely.
7. I don't think there can be any arguement that Drew Fowler is one of the best ILBs in the MWC and I think he will have several very talented partners to play beside come game day. I see the most dramatic improvement on D at OLB. Julian Madrid brings an aggressive style of play that is coupled with speed. Look for him to be spending his share of time being one of the players in the attack packages thrown at QBs. John Rabold is a big, quick and mobile OLB who is going to cause a great deal of disruption and will be strong on run D.
8. The FALCON secondary is going to rely on the outstanding athletic play of #34 Chris Thomas and the experience and leadership of Bobby Giannini. The FALCON corners are going to be challenged early and often and the players who are fighting for starting positions in the fall are going to have to show they are willing to play an in your face type of ball and deliver teeth rattling hits. Garrett Rybak brings the experience at this position, but I think there has to be someone playing that position who decides he is going to become the "hitman"! We need a CB who has the athletic ability to be in good positon and delivers blows that make a WR worry too much about the hit and not making the catch.
9. Special teams play is going to be improved to the point where they are once again a significant weapon in the ability of the FALCONS to score and prevent the opposition from scoring. Ryan Harrison's leg is a weapon, period end of story. His abilities will be the deciding factor in at least two AF victories this year, one of which will be over a team they aren't supposed to beat.
10. The Coaching staff for the FIGHTIN' FALCONS is untested in its leadership of the FALCONS, but that aren't untested in the leadership skills they learned as players under Coach Deberry and they bring a wealth of coaching experience to the table. I will make the bold prediction that within three years, they will be considered to be the most dynamic staff in the MWC.
For the FALCONS to be an 8-4 or 7-5 team this year and have a huge upset win over a BYU, TCU or ND, the offensive line and the defensive secondary have to find a way to WIN in their respective assignments. I think the offensive line will meet that demand for several different reasons, but I think the biggest factor for their success is that their positon coach is going to draw every ounce of talent they have at of them and demand they play like warriors. My biggest concern is with the defensive secondary. They have to not buy into the hype they aren't good enough to run with the Big Dogs. When they are out matched by pure athletic ability, and yes they will be, they have to become vicious in how they provide punishment for every yard gained. If the FALCON corners play the game with no regard for their own personal well being, they will help their brothers win football games.
5 Reasons AFA will win (thanks to AFAfan)
1) Sean Carney will pass for a ton of yards.
2) AF will win the kicking game with an outstanding Punter and Kicker.
3) We tend to play well in September, before a grinding Academic and Military schedule take their toll.
4) Defense won't be as passive as in the past.
5) Pregame flyby will rattle BYU players.
My 3 Cents: The rebuttal won't come until Thursday because "On the Road with Cruiser" will be appearing tomorrow.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Still 9...
A strange thing occured over the weekend. BYU received yet another verbal commitment, but remains at 9 commits for 2008 signing. Before you go off wondering whose verbal waivered, keep reading.
Adam Timo, a sophmore out of Snow Canyon High school in Utah just gave a verbal commitment for 2009! Timo did not even play varsity for the full year. He started for junior varsity as their quarterback and only moved up to varsity running back later in the season. Timo is already a man among boys at 6'1 170 pounds an likely to only get bigger in the coming years. He is also the two-time defending state champion for the high jump (over 7 feet) and also won the long-jump (his personal best was a 22-4 at the BYU invitational.)
Wonder what it would look like to see him jump over a line?
A lot like this.
Timo, whose parents are African American and Haitian, is LDS and plans on serving a mission straight out of high school. He won't don the Cougar Blue until 2011.
You can check out more highlights here.
My 3 Cents: Looks like a great catch for BYU. He says he wants to play QB for varsity next year, which could be interesting. I'm not exactly sure how a dual-threat QB would work into Anae's offense, but it would be fun to see. This kid has some growing to do still and could be quite the recruit when the time comes (in almost 2 years) for him to sign his letter of intent.
Adam Timo, a sophmore out of Snow Canyon High school in Utah just gave a verbal commitment for 2009! Timo did not even play varsity for the full year. He started for junior varsity as their quarterback and only moved up to varsity running back later in the season. Timo is already a man among boys at 6'1 170 pounds an likely to only get bigger in the coming years. He is also the two-time defending state champion for the high jump (over 7 feet) and also won the long-jump (his personal best was a 22-4 at the BYU invitational.)
Wonder what it would look like to see him jump over a line?
A lot like this.
Timo, whose parents are African American and Haitian, is LDS and plans on serving a mission straight out of high school. He won't don the Cougar Blue until 2011.
You can check out more highlights here.
My 3 Cents: Looks like a great catch for BYU. He says he wants to play QB for varsity next year, which could be interesting. I'm not exactly sure how a dual-threat QB would work into Anae's offense, but it would be fun to see. This kid has some growing to do still and could be quite the recruit when the time comes (in almost 2 years) for him to sign his letter of intent.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
BYU's newest addition
A little over a month ago I wrote a post about the quandy at both punt and kick returner positions. With the loss of Meikle and Brown, both positions need a new face (or not so new if Mahuika "returns" to his old duties.)
BYU has recently added a new face (and some nice hair: #3 kneeling) in Cortny Barton (5'9 200), a walk-on from LA Harbor Junior College. At LA Harbor he played running back, wide receiver (H-back), defensive back and returned kicks and punts.
Barton reportedly runs at 4.5 and should be a welcome addition to the 2007 special teams squad.
Check out his highlights here.
My 3 Cents: Another non-traditional recruit. Barton is wrapping up his JC schooling and will be at BYU for fall camp. In watching his video, I noticed a couple things things:
1. Pretty bad blocking by his team. He was forced to dance around a lot because noone on defense is being slowed down. With the solid special teams play BYU had last year, he should get the blocks to break a couple open.
2. He likes to reverse field. I'm not sure if this skill will translate to D1 with faster players. He seemed to get caught from behind a lot, but this could be the fact he played 4 different positions (tired?) and had terrible blocking.
3. He runs bigger than he is. The kid is only 5'9 and often is knocking defenders backwards when he hits them. Not shying away from a hit and explosiveness are the signs of a good returner.
BYU has recently added a new face (and some nice hair: #3 kneeling) in Cortny Barton (5'9 200), a walk-on from LA Harbor Junior College. At LA Harbor he played running back, wide receiver (H-back), defensive back and returned kicks and punts.
Barton reportedly runs at 4.5 and should be a welcome addition to the 2007 special teams squad.
Check out his highlights here.
My 3 Cents: Another non-traditional recruit. Barton is wrapping up his JC schooling and will be at BYU for fall camp. In watching his video, I noticed a couple things things:
1. Pretty bad blocking by his team. He was forced to dance around a lot because noone on defense is being slowed down. With the solid special teams play BYU had last year, he should get the blocks to break a couple open.
2. He likes to reverse field. I'm not sure if this skill will translate to D1 with faster players. He seemed to get caught from behind a lot, but this could be the fact he played 4 different positions (tired?) and had terrible blocking.
3. He runs bigger than he is. The kid is only 5'9 and often is knocking defenders backwards when he hits them. Not shying away from a hit and explosiveness are the signs of a good returner.
9 and counting...
Three commits in less than a week: you know the Bronco Mendenhall recruiting machine is moving into full swing. This one is a bit of a mystery and could prove to be quite a catch.
Atem Bol (6'2, 195) is from L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas. Bol played in the same division as 2007 recruit Manaaki Vatai (Trinity won the game.)
Bol, originally from Sudan, also runs track and says he is pretty quick (no official times yet since he flew so far under the scouting services radar.) Bol will attend BYU after graduating for a single season then leave on his mission.
My 3 Cents: There are no videos, no stats, or anything about this kid. However, a lot about him reminds me of Michael Reed. He is coming out of the highest level of football in the state of Texas and BYU has had success with those players thus far (Reed, McKay Jacobson.)
Atem Bol (6'2, 195) is from L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas. Bol played in the same division as 2007 recruit Manaaki Vatai (Trinity won the game.)
Bol, originally from Sudan, also runs track and says he is pretty quick (no official times yet since he flew so far under the scouting services radar.) Bol will attend BYU after graduating for a single season then leave on his mission.
My 3 Cents: There are no videos, no stats, or anything about this kid. However, a lot about him reminds me of Michael Reed. He is coming out of the highest level of football in the state of Texas and BYU has had success with those players thus far (Reed, McKay Jacobson.)
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
On the Road with Cruiser: Very Dangerous People
My 3 Cents preface: Someone asked if Cruiser is a person or a group of people. Cruiser is just one individual, not a conglomerate of insiders. Now, on to the good stuff:
I believe the single greatest factor in our improved performance last year was our hitting. On both sides of the ball, BYU began hitting people like top-10 teams usually do, with intimidating intensity and ferocity. And I believe the improved hitting was a direct result of the weight and conditioning programs Coaches Mendenhall and Omer instituted last year. By the second quarters of most games, other teams were already beginning to shy away from our hits. By the fourth quarter, most were defeated and we were still going strong. This year, the intensity will be turned up notch. Bronco is raising the bar. If teams thought we were intense last year, if they thought we hit like battering rams last year, they'll get their eyes opened this year.
The team has been working harder in conditioning and in the weight room than ever before. Almost every player is stronger than they were this time last year. Most of them are heavier, and with Coach Omer's new speed training and conditioning, they are getting faster and in better shape too. The team is running stairs at the stadium until they throw up. They are running up mountains and holding motivational meetings at the Y. They are running sprints until they collapse. And in the weight room, Coach Omer says this is perhaps the strongest team he has ever had.
The pre-season prognosticators have no idea how good BYU will be next year---just like they were way off last year. They have no idea how sound we'll be, how strong we'll be, how much faster we'll be, or how much harder we'll hit. We are going to open a lot of eyes around the country next year---especially in the PAC-10. If Arizona thinks their close call against us last year was a fluke, they’ll be sorely surprised this year. If UCLA dismisses what we did to Oregon in the LV bowl, they'll get their bells rung like there’s no tomorrow. We're going to hit them in the mouth on the opening series and leave their heads spinning. They may have superior talent, but we have greater heart, training, conditioning, and desire. We'll be on the field hunting for bear (Bruins), while they'll be trying to figure out what happened to the mild-mannered returned missionaries we used to throw at them. Our guys are getting strong, fast, and angry. They are becoming very dangerous people. And every team we play next year had better take us extremely seriously, or they too will be wondering what hit them.
Championships are won in the off-season, in the weight room and in conditioning programs, and that's where we excel. Nobody in the country has worked harder than we have since January, and nobody will deny us the rewards we are earning now.
I take my hat off to every player who is suffering and sacrificing every day under Coach Omer. I acknowledge that they are paying a price most of us would cringe at. It’s taking them to their limits, making many of them too tired to do homework at night, too much in pain to fall asleep, too sore to walk up the steps to class the next day. Some of our players are wondering what hit them right now. Next fall, as I said, every team we play will be asking that same question.
Strength, speed, and desire. Those are three areas where we are improving. If the prognosticators were wrong last year, just wait till this year. If teams were surprised by us last year, just wait till this year. If we were the 15th best team in the country last year, just wait till this year. Every player on the team is paying the price necessary to become a champion at some time in their career. If not next year, then soon. Very soon.
I believe the single greatest factor in our improved performance last year was our hitting. On both sides of the ball, BYU began hitting people like top-10 teams usually do, with intimidating intensity and ferocity. And I believe the improved hitting was a direct result of the weight and conditioning programs Coaches Mendenhall and Omer instituted last year. By the second quarters of most games, other teams were already beginning to shy away from our hits. By the fourth quarter, most were defeated and we were still going strong. This year, the intensity will be turned up notch. Bronco is raising the bar. If teams thought we were intense last year, if they thought we hit like battering rams last year, they'll get their eyes opened this year.
The team has been working harder in conditioning and in the weight room than ever before. Almost every player is stronger than they were this time last year. Most of them are heavier, and with Coach Omer's new speed training and conditioning, they are getting faster and in better shape too. The team is running stairs at the stadium until they throw up. They are running up mountains and holding motivational meetings at the Y. They are running sprints until they collapse. And in the weight room, Coach Omer says this is perhaps the strongest team he has ever had.
The pre-season prognosticators have no idea how good BYU will be next year---just like they were way off last year. They have no idea how sound we'll be, how strong we'll be, how much faster we'll be, or how much harder we'll hit. We are going to open a lot of eyes around the country next year---especially in the PAC-10. If Arizona thinks their close call against us last year was a fluke, they’ll be sorely surprised this year. If UCLA dismisses what we did to Oregon in the LV bowl, they'll get their bells rung like there’s no tomorrow. We're going to hit them in the mouth on the opening series and leave their heads spinning. They may have superior talent, but we have greater heart, training, conditioning, and desire. We'll be on the field hunting for bear (Bruins), while they'll be trying to figure out what happened to the mild-mannered returned missionaries we used to throw at them. Our guys are getting strong, fast, and angry. They are becoming very dangerous people. And every team we play next year had better take us extremely seriously, or they too will be wondering what hit them.
Championships are won in the off-season, in the weight room and in conditioning programs, and that's where we excel. Nobody in the country has worked harder than we have since January, and nobody will deny us the rewards we are earning now.
I take my hat off to every player who is suffering and sacrificing every day under Coach Omer. I acknowledge that they are paying a price most of us would cringe at. It’s taking them to their limits, making many of them too tired to do homework at night, too much in pain to fall asleep, too sore to walk up the steps to class the next day. Some of our players are wondering what hit them right now. Next fall, as I said, every team we play will be asking that same question.
Strength, speed, and desire. Those are three areas where we are improving. If the prognosticators were wrong last year, just wait till this year. If teams were surprised by us last year, just wait till this year. If we were the 15th best team in the country last year, just wait till this year. Every player on the team is paying the price necessary to become a champion at some time in their career. If not next year, then soon. Very soon.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Why BYU will win Part III: Tulsa
With a busy weekend in recruiting, it's time to catch up with our weekly edition of fan breakdowns and my response. Thanks to the BYU, and opponents, fans who have also been responding. Hopefully this site is facilitating at least some constructive debate during the long off-season. This time I will turn my attention first to reasons that Rippin said Tulsa would win:
-At Tulsa:
I'm going to argue little to no factor. BYU will have played at home (65k) and at the Rose Bowl (65k.) I can understand Tulsa may be excited about football this year, but they only averaged around 21k last year, only a couple thousand more than showed up to BYU's spring game.
-Malzhan's offense:
The one that ran all year long at Arkansas and drove Mustain and some other recruits to other schools? Another team implementing a new offense that underestimates the difficulty of doing it. Paul Smith, while pretty good, needs his receivers to be up to the task.
-TU's Defense:
Unless the team learned how to tackle in the off season, this point is moot. With a #62 run defense and a #43 scoring defense, this is hard to call a strength. Vakapuna and Tonga two big bruising backs and will romp all over the field again. Also, who knows the weaknesses of the 3-3-5 better than Bronco?
-The Ground Game
Another shaky point. No running back on Tulsa gained more than 25 yards total against BYU or better than 2.9 yards per carry. Curtis Brown alone carried for 29 yards more and BYU had 3 running backs with better than 6 yards per carry (including Vakapuna's phenomenal 8.9 ypc.)
-Revenge
Probably the best point. If BYU loses to UCLA they may suffer a down game while Tulsa will most likely be at their peak. They start off with a gimme game and have two weeks to prepare.
Now....
Why BYU will repeat last year's manhandling
Truth be told, BYU should be able to dominate Tulsa again. If Fui Vakapuna and Manase Tonga are both at full strength they will pull, drag, stiff-arm and make Tulsa's defense look silly. This will be the first non-BCS defense they face (Arizona and UCLA's defense are their strength's) and BYU will pull away quickly. Hall will have 2 games under his belt and be close to full-swing by the time he arrives in Tulsa. If BYU can keep its one-game-at-a-time focus from last season, BYU should win by several touchdowns. Expect to see the debut of Gaskins in the 4th quarter.
My 3 Cents: A reader asked a question in a comment as to what My 3 Cents offers different from other sites. We would like to think that the mix of breaking news, daily content, good research and the new addition of insider information is enough to keep readers coming back for more. Thank you to all who have made My 3 Cents their summer Cougar Football oasis. We look forward to providing great content to true Cougar fans.
-At Tulsa:
I'm going to argue little to no factor. BYU will have played at home (65k) and at the Rose Bowl (65k.) I can understand Tulsa may be excited about football this year, but they only averaged around 21k last year, only a couple thousand more than showed up to BYU's spring game.
-Malzhan's offense:
The one that ran all year long at Arkansas and drove Mustain and some other recruits to other schools? Another team implementing a new offense that underestimates the difficulty of doing it. Paul Smith, while pretty good, needs his receivers to be up to the task.
-TU's Defense:
Unless the team learned how to tackle in the off season, this point is moot. With a #62 run defense and a #43 scoring defense, this is hard to call a strength. Vakapuna and Tonga two big bruising backs and will romp all over the field again. Also, who knows the weaknesses of the 3-3-5 better than Bronco?
-The Ground Game
Another shaky point. No running back on Tulsa gained more than 25 yards total against BYU or better than 2.9 yards per carry. Curtis Brown alone carried for 29 yards more and BYU had 3 running backs with better than 6 yards per carry (including Vakapuna's phenomenal 8.9 ypc.)
-Revenge
Probably the best point. If BYU loses to UCLA they may suffer a down game while Tulsa will most likely be at their peak. They start off with a gimme game and have two weeks to prepare.
Now....
Why BYU will repeat last year's manhandling
Truth be told, BYU should be able to dominate Tulsa again. If Fui Vakapuna and Manase Tonga are both at full strength they will pull, drag, stiff-arm and make Tulsa's defense look silly. This will be the first non-BCS defense they face (Arizona and UCLA's defense are their strength's) and BYU will pull away quickly. Hall will have 2 games under his belt and be close to full-swing by the time he arrives in Tulsa. If BYU can keep its one-game-at-a-time focus from last season, BYU should win by several touchdowns. Expect to see the debut of Gaskins in the 4th quarter.
My 3 Cents: A reader asked a question in a comment as to what My 3 Cents offers different from other sites. We would like to think that the mix of breaking news, daily content, good research and the new addition of insider information is enough to keep readers coming back for more. Thank you to all who have made My 3 Cents their summer Cougar Football oasis. We look forward to providing great content to true Cougar fans.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Oh my Yeck! That is one big kid...
After several weeks of quiet along the recruiting front, BYU picked up its 7th and 8th recruits for the 2008 signing day.
Michael Yeck is the latest to verbally commit to BYU over the weekend. Yeck is a big prospect. Literally. Anyone who is 6'8 and a little over 260 in High School is a big prospect. His experience in basketball helps him with his agility and long arms are great to keeping the defensive lineman far from him and, more importantly, far from the QB or running back.
Yeck also had offers from Utah, Kansas State, Houston, Kansas and Missouri. He will likely serve a mission before coming to BYU and have 5 years to play 4 on his return.
Welcome to the fold!
My 3 Cents: We are getting ready to launch a full-blown website for BYU football and we are looking for sponsors. If you are interested in advertising to BYU football fans, please send me an email at morethantwocents@gmail.com and we can work something out!
Michael Yeck is the latest to verbally commit to BYU over the weekend. Yeck is a big prospect. Literally. Anyone who is 6'8 and a little over 260 in High School is a big prospect. His experience in basketball helps him with his agility and long arms are great to keeping the defensive lineman far from him and, more importantly, far from the QB or running back.
Yeck also had offers from Utah, Kansas State, Houston, Kansas and Missouri. He will likely serve a mission before coming to BYU and have 5 years to play 4 on his return.
Welcome to the fold!
My 3 Cents: We are getting ready to launch a full-blown website for BYU football and we are looking for sponsors. If you are interested in advertising to BYU football fans, please send me an email at morethantwocents@gmail.com and we can work something out!
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Numero 7
In case you hadn't heard yet, BYU just received another oral commitment bringing the grand total to seven. This commit snuck up on Cougar fans everywhere, and truth be told, I haven't even gotten a chance to check out his highlights yet.
You can check them out here.
Tolu Moala (LB, 6'1, 230) committed in person to Bronco in the last couple days and is the teammate of the highly regarded Simi Kuli. He is currently a 1 star recruit (which indicates he has not yet been evaluated.)
My 3 Cents: I think we can all hope he goes home and convinces Kuli to come to BYU.
You can check them out here.
Tolu Moala (LB, 6'1, 230) committed in person to Bronco in the last couple days and is the teammate of the highly regarded Simi Kuli. He is currently a 1 star recruit (which indicates he has not yet been evaluated.)
My 3 Cents: I think we can all hope he goes home and convinces Kuli to come to BYU.
Friday, May 18, 2007
I'll trade you a Ryan Leaf rookie card for your...
As thousands of BYU fans have suddenly become, to borrow a Bronco Mendenhall term, invested in the Miami Dolphins and the NFL, I thought these two articles might be of interest:
Beck photo shoot
Now, before you think you are about to see Beck styling the latest Prada, Reebok and EA sports bring the top draft picks to LA and they get their photos taken for trading cards (companies like Upper Deck, Topps, etc.) The event started yesterday and runs through Sunday. However, if you are absolutely dying for a John Beck trading card, your wait is over:
You can buy his card on eBay right now!
You gotta love the old uniform, they didn't even use a Senior picture. Now that, my friends, is quality you cannot pass up.
My 3 Cents: I was walking on campus today up the same hill I mentioned in an earlier post and saw 3 guys running sprints up the hill. This was a group of defensive backs, no coaches in sight. They were correcting each other's form, giving tips, and offering encouragement. I stopped and talked to them for a minute, really nice guys. They were talking to everyone who walked by, obviously with no sense of entitlement from being D1 football players. That is why this team can be special. They are working hard, building unity and getting ready to prove to the fans, to the country and to themselves that the bar has indeed been raised.
I am proud to be Cougar fan.
Beck photo shoot
Now, before you think you are about to see Beck styling the latest Prada, Reebok and EA sports bring the top draft picks to LA and they get their photos taken for trading cards (companies like Upper Deck, Topps, etc.) The event started yesterday and runs through Sunday. However, if you are absolutely dying for a John Beck trading card, your wait is over:
You can buy his card on eBay right now!
You gotta love the old uniform, they didn't even use a Senior picture. Now that, my friends, is quality you cannot pass up.
My 3 Cents: I was walking on campus today up the same hill I mentioned in an earlier post and saw 3 guys running sprints up the hill. This was a group of defensive backs, no coaches in sight. They were correcting each other's form, giving tips, and offering encouragement. I stopped and talked to them for a minute, really nice guys. They were talking to everyone who walked by, obviously with no sense of entitlement from being D1 football players. That is why this team can be special. They are working hard, building unity and getting ready to prove to the fans, to the country and to themselves that the bar has indeed been raised.
I am proud to be Cougar fan.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Fan Breakdown of Tulsa
Today we will let Tulsa fans, not myself, defend the Golden Hurricanes for their date with BYU on September 15th in Tulsa.
A special thanks to Rippin for the great article:
Tulsa Football 2007 Preseason Team Analysis
Tulsa Offense:
QB:
The Golden Hurricane return two experienced QB’s in Paul Smith and David Johnson. Paul Smith will get the nod to start, but David Johnson may be the best backup in the country. Smith is very savvy in the pocket and is great at managing the game from the QB position. Johnson is a gamer. While Smith may be one of the best QB’s in school history, many fans believe Johnson’s height and tremendous arm strength make him a better NFL prospect. Redshirt freshman Clark Harrell is 6’2” 190 and chose TU over Wisconsin. He has a strong arm but is unlikely to take a snap behind Smith and Johnson.
Strengths: Smith is a two year starter and is approaching every school passing record. Depth is an obvious strength with Smith being a 5th year senior and Johnson a 4th year Junior. Both quarterbacks have accurate arms and can throw extremely well on the run.
Weaknesses: Smith proved to be durable last season, starting every game for the Golden Hurricane. However, at 6’2” 195 there is constant concern that a season ending injury could be a snap a way. While both Smith and Johnson are elusive and creative on the run, neither have exceptional speed at the quarterback spot. Third and finally, the Golden Hurricane is implementing a new offensive scheme under Gus Malzahn. This complex scheme will take some getting used to, so both quarterbacks could be affected by this early in the season.
RB:
TU returns senior Courtney Tennial and junior Tarrion Adams at tailback. Both started games last season at tailback and are proven playmakers. Two other players, both freshmen, are likely to see time in the backfield as well. Jamad Williams is a redshirt freshman who made a name for himself in Spring practice after switching from cornerback to running back. Charles Opeseyitan arrives in August and is expected to compete for playing time immediately.
Strengths: Tennial and Adams both have big-play ability. Adams is a great north-south runner and is more likely to break runs of 40+ yards. Tennial doesn’t have the speed as Adams but is better between the tackles. Tennial is a thicker back and has great feet. His shifty moves complement Adams’ speed in the backfield.
Weaknesses: Hands. Adams is yet to fumble in his career, but Tennial made bad habit of putting the ball on the turf last season. Many of Tennials fumbles came on key drives in the red zone. If TU wants to improve this year and have a better team, the fumbling issue with Tennial is going to have to be resolved, or it is possible Tennial’s spot will be taken over by Williams or Charlie O.
Injuries: Adams missed 4-5 games last season with a minor knee injury, and freshman Charlie O is coming off a torn ACL that caused him to miss his senior season.
TE:
Once known for having one of the best TE tandems in the country in Garrett Mills and Caleb Blankenship, TU has experienced a drop off in depth and talent at TE. Senior Ted Curtis and Sophomore Jacob Collums saw the most time in Spring practice. Collums has the prototype physique at 6’4” 250, while Curtis is a smaller, thicker TE at 6’1” 250.
Strengths: Blocking. Collums has the size and strength to be converted to offensive tackle if needed, and Curtis has been used in his career as a blocking back and H-back.
Weaknesses: Catching. Two or three interceptions last season were the result of tipped balls by Curtis. All were costly, one coming in a loss at BYU. Also, depth could prove to be an issue late in the season.
OL:
The rebuilding position for this season is the entire offensive line. TU lost 4 out of 5 starters on the O-line to graduation last year. The tackles appear to be solidified with senior Walter Boyd and junior Rodrick Thomas. Boyd switched from the DL during Spring practice. Thomas is 6’4” 350 and Boyd 6’2” 305. The guard spots will probably be manned by a combination of sophomores Jody Whaley and Curt Puckett and junior Justin Morsey. Of those three, whoever does not start at guard is likely to start at center.
Strengths: Size. The line averages over 300lbs. Boyd has great feet having played his entire career at DE or DT.
Weaknesses: Endurance. The hurry up-no huddle offense that Malzahn is implementing requires the entire line to be in superior athletic condition. The line will have to race to the line of scrimmage before every play.
WR:
The receiving corps is characterized as a stable of weapons. Many names such as Jesse Meyer, Dion Toliver, Nick Henderson, Corey Kizer, Kyle Grooms and Stephen Polk have proven they have the ability to make big plays. However, none have emerged to be the clear possession receivers that will be relied upon next season. Right now, the leader appears to be Toliver, a 5’10” JUCO transfer. The rest of the names mentioned have shown flashes of greatness but have yet to show up with the consistency that Toliver has. There will be new faces arriving in August that could see time at WR, including freshmen A.J. Whitmore, CJ Chaten and Phillip Dokes.
Strengths: Speed, depth. Toliver, Kizer, Henderson and Polk have shown the ability to stretch the field vertically. Redshirt freshman Daniel Morell deserves to be mentioned here, even though he’s probably a year away from seeing meaningful minutes. Depth is a strength here as well, as the coaches have stated they have six to eight receivers they plan to rely on next season.
Weaknesses: Catching, height. The main knock throughout Spring practice was that the WR’s were dropping way too many passes. This could have a bit to do with the implementation of the new offense. Furthermore, many of TU’s talented receivers have the physical attributes ideal for the slot receiver. Only Kizer and Meyer have the height and play-making ability to play split end/flanker. Grooms and Polk have the height but need to show more consistency before being relied upon.
Defense
D-line:
This may be the strongest position on the team. TU runs a 3-3-5 odd man stack defense. This requires the D-line to alternate full rotations every few snaps. Moton Hopkins and Anthony Egbuniwe will start at the DE spots. Hopkins is a 6’3” 255 junior and Egbuniwe is a 6’4” 225 sophomore. The depth at DE is strong with redshirt freshmen Popsie Floyd (6’1” 230) and Cedric Godfrey (6’1” 245). At DT, TU has 2 players likely to be playing on Sundays. Junior Terrel Nemons is a beast at 6’4” 330 and started most games last season. Senior Brandon Jones (6’2” 300) has been a contributor since he stepped on campus.
Strengths: Depth, experience. TU has two talented D-line rotations that will spell each other nicely throughout the upcoming season. That will be a key factor in keeping fatigue down in the 3-3-5 stack. Nemons, Jones, Hopkins and Egbuniwe have proven themselves on the field and will do a great job clogging up the middle, allowing the LB’s and DB’s to make plays.
Weaknesses: Size. While the DT’s and starting DE’s have great size, Floyd and Godfrey lack the ideal DE size. Because the defense only plays three down linemen, it is vital that the D-line have the ability to hold its own up front, otherwise teams will be allowed to run all day.
LB’s:
This may be the other strongest position on the team. TU returns three starters in seniors Chris Chamberlain, Nelson Coleman, and Alain Karatepeyan (AK). AK started three games last season in place of an injured Chris Chamberlain, but saw significant action throughout the season and became known for his pass rushing and reckless-abandon on the field. They are backed up by a solid trio of sophomores, Tanner Antle and Mike Bryan and junior George Clinkscale. Clinkscale will see the most minutes of these three, spelling both AK and Chamberlain. Clinkscale actually pushed for a starting spot in Spring practice. Bryan will be seen sparingly to spell Coleman at MLB. Redshirt-freshman Donald Gobert switched from safety this Spring and is coming along nicely.
Strengths: Depth, experience. The returning starters were part of the 2005 Liberty Bowl Championship team that won C-USA. They are seasoned and poised for nothing short of a championship. All have come through with big-time plays in game-winning situations in their careers. The depth TU has built is solid as well with Antle, Bryan and Clinkscale. Another name, Jon Piorkowski, a transfer from Baylor, could pop up in that second rotation of LB’s.
Weaknesses: As it is with the D-line, it’s hard to pinpoint at true weakness at the position, other than the lack of size in the second rotation. Clinkscale is ready to start immediately, but Antle and Bryan could add some pounds before being ready to start 13 games a season.
DB:
TU plays five defensive backs in the 3-3-5 stack defense. Two cornerbacks, two strong safeties (spur/bandit) who play up near the linebackers, and one free safety deep. TU returns two starters in junior cornerback Roy Roberts and senior strong safety Anthony Germany. The other corner looks likely to be filled by sophomore Charles Davis. Strong safety has the most depth, as Steve Craver will finally get to start again at this position for his senior season. Craver started two years ago and recorded two sacks and an interception against during an early season game against Oklahoma before being injured in the second half of that game. After his season ending injury, Germany stepped in as a sophomore and played so well that he earned the starting spot for the next three seasons. Germany and Craver will be backed by junior Ty Page, who has a reputation for being the best athlete on the team. The starting free safety spot appears to be firmly secured by junior Randy Duncan. Known for having the speed to play corner, Duncan is ideal at FS at 6’2”, the tallest of any of the DB’s. He is backed by sophomore Josh Burris.
Strengths: Play-making ability. Craver and Germany have come up big and often in their careers at TU. Both play strong safety and that bodes well for TU’s defense as it relies on relentless pressure and superior ability at the strong safety position. Charles Davis has a nose for the ball and will probably return punts as well this season.
Weaknesses: Depth, experience. The safety positions are in good shape but lack experience in the reserves. Page is known for being a freak in the weight room, but has yet to gain any in-game experience. Both Duncan and Burris have looked good in garbage minutes in the past, but both have yet to see meaningful minutes. Depth is a real concern at the cornerback position. TU lost two great ones in Nick Graham and Julian McGowan. Roberts is seasoned and has a great physique at 5’10” 210. Davis, on the other hand, could be a liability at 5’9” 160.
Five reasons TU beats BYU (in no particular order):
• The game is played at TU. There is a new energy in town around TU football with the opening of the new Case Athletic Complex and the recent announcement of plans to renovate Skelly Stadium. Coach Graham and Malzahn have created a buzz in the media, as TU had the largest crowd in school history at it’s recent Spring game. Expect this game to be played in front of a large crowd (for TU games, that is) of 30,000 or more.
• Malzahn’s offense. Many people doubt TU has the receivers yet to run Malzahn’s offense at its best. However, those people are disregarding the return of Paul Smith. Smith was limited in what he could do in Charlie Stubb’s offense and was often forced to throw passes late (after the receiver was open). Also, the majority of Smith’s completions last season were out-routes. Malzahn’s offense focuses on throwing the ball downfield and getting it out quickly. This will work in Smith’s favor, as he is a real student of the game and is as heady a QB as any around. Expect him to grasp the offense quickly and know exactly where each throw is going before the snap.
• TU’s Defense. When Todd Graham arrived in 2003 with Steve Kragthorpe, TU was returning what was arguably the worst defense in the country. Since then, Todd Graham has worked adamantly to change the character of TU’s defense. With the exception of those players recruited during Graham’s short stint at Rice, every player on TU’s defense has been recruited by Graham. The defense has improved steadily over the last four years and that trend will continue this year. The D-Line and LB’s are probably the best in TU history, as Hopkins, Jones, Nemons and MLB Nelson Coleman are sure-shots for the NFL. Expect them to hound and rattle Beck’s replacement from the start of the first quarter.
• The ground game. TU’s running backs are experienced and fit well into Malzahn’s offense. Both Tennial and Adams have shown high comfort levels running out of the shotgun formation. Tennial is great between the tackles and will be the ‘banger’ of the two. Both have proven they have the ability to catch and score on passes out of the backfield, and Adams has shown exceptional ability to catch balls out of the slot receiver position. BYU’s defense will have its hands full with Malzahn’s high-powered passing offense, and that could really open it up for Tennial/Adams. Expect at least 150 yards combined on the ground from these two.
• Revenge. TU lost more games than it anticipated last season, suffering a 3-game losing streak late in the season. However, even after losing to some patsies, no team embarrassed TU last season as badly as BYU. BYU soured a season with high hopes early and most TU players will still have a bad taste in their mouth from getting stomped in Utah last season. BYU made TU look like high schoolers last season. The last time that happened to a TU team, it occurred at home against Navy. The next season TU returned the favor, beating a strong Navy team on the road.
My 3 Cents: I'm glad I don't have to write a rebuttal against my own writing, that is just downright wrong. Again, thanks to Rippin for an excellent article.
A special thanks to Rippin for the great article:
Tulsa Football 2007 Preseason Team Analysis
Tulsa Offense:
QB:
The Golden Hurricane return two experienced QB’s in Paul Smith and David Johnson. Paul Smith will get the nod to start, but David Johnson may be the best backup in the country. Smith is very savvy in the pocket and is great at managing the game from the QB position. Johnson is a gamer. While Smith may be one of the best QB’s in school history, many fans believe Johnson’s height and tremendous arm strength make him a better NFL prospect. Redshirt freshman Clark Harrell is 6’2” 190 and chose TU over Wisconsin. He has a strong arm but is unlikely to take a snap behind Smith and Johnson.
Strengths: Smith is a two year starter and is approaching every school passing record. Depth is an obvious strength with Smith being a 5th year senior and Johnson a 4th year Junior. Both quarterbacks have accurate arms and can throw extremely well on the run.
Weaknesses: Smith proved to be durable last season, starting every game for the Golden Hurricane. However, at 6’2” 195 there is constant concern that a season ending injury could be a snap a way. While both Smith and Johnson are elusive and creative on the run, neither have exceptional speed at the quarterback spot. Third and finally, the Golden Hurricane is implementing a new offensive scheme under Gus Malzahn. This complex scheme will take some getting used to, so both quarterbacks could be affected by this early in the season.
RB:
TU returns senior Courtney Tennial and junior Tarrion Adams at tailback. Both started games last season at tailback and are proven playmakers. Two other players, both freshmen, are likely to see time in the backfield as well. Jamad Williams is a redshirt freshman who made a name for himself in Spring practice after switching from cornerback to running back. Charles Opeseyitan arrives in August and is expected to compete for playing time immediately.
Strengths: Tennial and Adams both have big-play ability. Adams is a great north-south runner and is more likely to break runs of 40+ yards. Tennial doesn’t have the speed as Adams but is better between the tackles. Tennial is a thicker back and has great feet. His shifty moves complement Adams’ speed in the backfield.
Weaknesses: Hands. Adams is yet to fumble in his career, but Tennial made bad habit of putting the ball on the turf last season. Many of Tennials fumbles came on key drives in the red zone. If TU wants to improve this year and have a better team, the fumbling issue with Tennial is going to have to be resolved, or it is possible Tennial’s spot will be taken over by Williams or Charlie O.
Injuries: Adams missed 4-5 games last season with a minor knee injury, and freshman Charlie O is coming off a torn ACL that caused him to miss his senior season.
TE:
Once known for having one of the best TE tandems in the country in Garrett Mills and Caleb Blankenship, TU has experienced a drop off in depth and talent at TE. Senior Ted Curtis and Sophomore Jacob Collums saw the most time in Spring practice. Collums has the prototype physique at 6’4” 250, while Curtis is a smaller, thicker TE at 6’1” 250.
Strengths: Blocking. Collums has the size and strength to be converted to offensive tackle if needed, and Curtis has been used in his career as a blocking back and H-back.
Weaknesses: Catching. Two or three interceptions last season were the result of tipped balls by Curtis. All were costly, one coming in a loss at BYU. Also, depth could prove to be an issue late in the season.
OL:
The rebuilding position for this season is the entire offensive line. TU lost 4 out of 5 starters on the O-line to graduation last year. The tackles appear to be solidified with senior Walter Boyd and junior Rodrick Thomas. Boyd switched from the DL during Spring practice. Thomas is 6’4” 350 and Boyd 6’2” 305. The guard spots will probably be manned by a combination of sophomores Jody Whaley and Curt Puckett and junior Justin Morsey. Of those three, whoever does not start at guard is likely to start at center.
Strengths: Size. The line averages over 300lbs. Boyd has great feet having played his entire career at DE or DT.
Weaknesses: Endurance. The hurry up-no huddle offense that Malzahn is implementing requires the entire line to be in superior athletic condition. The line will have to race to the line of scrimmage before every play.
WR:
The receiving corps is characterized as a stable of weapons. Many names such as Jesse Meyer, Dion Toliver, Nick Henderson, Corey Kizer, Kyle Grooms and Stephen Polk have proven they have the ability to make big plays. However, none have emerged to be the clear possession receivers that will be relied upon next season. Right now, the leader appears to be Toliver, a 5’10” JUCO transfer. The rest of the names mentioned have shown flashes of greatness but have yet to show up with the consistency that Toliver has. There will be new faces arriving in August that could see time at WR, including freshmen A.J. Whitmore, CJ Chaten and Phillip Dokes.
Strengths: Speed, depth. Toliver, Kizer, Henderson and Polk have shown the ability to stretch the field vertically. Redshirt freshman Daniel Morell deserves to be mentioned here, even though he’s probably a year away from seeing meaningful minutes. Depth is a strength here as well, as the coaches have stated they have six to eight receivers they plan to rely on next season.
Weaknesses: Catching, height. The main knock throughout Spring practice was that the WR’s were dropping way too many passes. This could have a bit to do with the implementation of the new offense. Furthermore, many of TU’s talented receivers have the physical attributes ideal for the slot receiver. Only Kizer and Meyer have the height and play-making ability to play split end/flanker. Grooms and Polk have the height but need to show more consistency before being relied upon.
Defense
D-line:
This may be the strongest position on the team. TU runs a 3-3-5 odd man stack defense. This requires the D-line to alternate full rotations every few snaps. Moton Hopkins and Anthony Egbuniwe will start at the DE spots. Hopkins is a 6’3” 255 junior and Egbuniwe is a 6’4” 225 sophomore. The depth at DE is strong with redshirt freshmen Popsie Floyd (6’1” 230) and Cedric Godfrey (6’1” 245). At DT, TU has 2 players likely to be playing on Sundays. Junior Terrel Nemons is a beast at 6’4” 330 and started most games last season. Senior Brandon Jones (6’2” 300) has been a contributor since he stepped on campus.
Strengths: Depth, experience. TU has two talented D-line rotations that will spell each other nicely throughout the upcoming season. That will be a key factor in keeping fatigue down in the 3-3-5 stack. Nemons, Jones, Hopkins and Egbuniwe have proven themselves on the field and will do a great job clogging up the middle, allowing the LB’s and DB’s to make plays.
Weaknesses: Size. While the DT’s and starting DE’s have great size, Floyd and Godfrey lack the ideal DE size. Because the defense only plays three down linemen, it is vital that the D-line have the ability to hold its own up front, otherwise teams will be allowed to run all day.
LB’s:
This may be the other strongest position on the team. TU returns three starters in seniors Chris Chamberlain, Nelson Coleman, and Alain Karatepeyan (AK). AK started three games last season in place of an injured Chris Chamberlain, but saw significant action throughout the season and became known for his pass rushing and reckless-abandon on the field. They are backed up by a solid trio of sophomores, Tanner Antle and Mike Bryan and junior George Clinkscale. Clinkscale will see the most minutes of these three, spelling both AK and Chamberlain. Clinkscale actually pushed for a starting spot in Spring practice. Bryan will be seen sparingly to spell Coleman at MLB. Redshirt-freshman Donald Gobert switched from safety this Spring and is coming along nicely.
Strengths: Depth, experience. The returning starters were part of the 2005 Liberty Bowl Championship team that won C-USA. They are seasoned and poised for nothing short of a championship. All have come through with big-time plays in game-winning situations in their careers. The depth TU has built is solid as well with Antle, Bryan and Clinkscale. Another name, Jon Piorkowski, a transfer from Baylor, could pop up in that second rotation of LB’s.
Weaknesses: As it is with the D-line, it’s hard to pinpoint at true weakness at the position, other than the lack of size in the second rotation. Clinkscale is ready to start immediately, but Antle and Bryan could add some pounds before being ready to start 13 games a season.
DB:
TU plays five defensive backs in the 3-3-5 stack defense. Two cornerbacks, two strong safeties (spur/bandit) who play up near the linebackers, and one free safety deep. TU returns two starters in junior cornerback Roy Roberts and senior strong safety Anthony Germany. The other corner looks likely to be filled by sophomore Charles Davis. Strong safety has the most depth, as Steve Craver will finally get to start again at this position for his senior season. Craver started two years ago and recorded two sacks and an interception against during an early season game against Oklahoma before being injured in the second half of that game. After his season ending injury, Germany stepped in as a sophomore and played so well that he earned the starting spot for the next three seasons. Germany and Craver will be backed by junior Ty Page, who has a reputation for being the best athlete on the team. The starting free safety spot appears to be firmly secured by junior Randy Duncan. Known for having the speed to play corner, Duncan is ideal at FS at 6’2”, the tallest of any of the DB’s. He is backed by sophomore Josh Burris.
Strengths: Play-making ability. Craver and Germany have come up big and often in their careers at TU. Both play strong safety and that bodes well for TU’s defense as it relies on relentless pressure and superior ability at the strong safety position. Charles Davis has a nose for the ball and will probably return punts as well this season.
Weaknesses: Depth, experience. The safety positions are in good shape but lack experience in the reserves. Page is known for being a freak in the weight room, but has yet to gain any in-game experience. Both Duncan and Burris have looked good in garbage minutes in the past, but both have yet to see meaningful minutes. Depth is a real concern at the cornerback position. TU lost two great ones in Nick Graham and Julian McGowan. Roberts is seasoned and has a great physique at 5’10” 210. Davis, on the other hand, could be a liability at 5’9” 160.
Five reasons TU beats BYU (in no particular order):
• The game is played at TU. There is a new energy in town around TU football with the opening of the new Case Athletic Complex and the recent announcement of plans to renovate Skelly Stadium. Coach Graham and Malzahn have created a buzz in the media, as TU had the largest crowd in school history at it’s recent Spring game. Expect this game to be played in front of a large crowd (for TU games, that is) of 30,000 or more.
• Malzahn’s offense. Many people doubt TU has the receivers yet to run Malzahn’s offense at its best. However, those people are disregarding the return of Paul Smith. Smith was limited in what he could do in Charlie Stubb’s offense and was often forced to throw passes late (after the receiver was open). Also, the majority of Smith’s completions last season were out-routes. Malzahn’s offense focuses on throwing the ball downfield and getting it out quickly. This will work in Smith’s favor, as he is a real student of the game and is as heady a QB as any around. Expect him to grasp the offense quickly and know exactly where each throw is going before the snap.
• TU’s Defense. When Todd Graham arrived in 2003 with Steve Kragthorpe, TU was returning what was arguably the worst defense in the country. Since then, Todd Graham has worked adamantly to change the character of TU’s defense. With the exception of those players recruited during Graham’s short stint at Rice, every player on TU’s defense has been recruited by Graham. The defense has improved steadily over the last four years and that trend will continue this year. The D-Line and LB’s are probably the best in TU history, as Hopkins, Jones, Nemons and MLB Nelson Coleman are sure-shots for the NFL. Expect them to hound and rattle Beck’s replacement from the start of the first quarter.
• The ground game. TU’s running backs are experienced and fit well into Malzahn’s offense. Both Tennial and Adams have shown high comfort levels running out of the shotgun formation. Tennial is great between the tackles and will be the ‘banger’ of the two. Both have proven they have the ability to catch and score on passes out of the backfield, and Adams has shown exceptional ability to catch balls out of the slot receiver position. BYU’s defense will have its hands full with Malzahn’s high-powered passing offense, and that could really open it up for Tennial/Adams. Expect at least 150 yards combined on the ground from these two.
• Revenge. TU lost more games than it anticipated last season, suffering a 3-game losing streak late in the season. However, even after losing to some patsies, no team embarrassed TU last season as badly as BYU. BYU soured a season with high hopes early and most TU players will still have a bad taste in their mouth from getting stomped in Utah last season. BYU made TU look like high schoolers last season. The last time that happened to a TU team, it occurred at home against Navy. The next season TU returned the favor, beating a strong Navy team on the road.
My 3 Cents: I'm glad I don't have to write a rebuttal against my own writing, that is just downright wrong. Again, thanks to Rippin for an excellent article.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
On the Road with Cruiser
I am happy to introduce My 3 Cents' newest contributor, Cruiser. He will from time to time writing a column for this site and providing insights into the team that only he can as he is a former BYU athlete with connections to the team. Don't try to ask me who he really is, I don't even know.
That being said, Enjoy!
On the Road with Cruiser
This spring the football team is engaging in something called “Super Games.” Several team leaders have picked teams, and now those teams compete against each other for prizes and bragging rights. Two weeks ago, the teams raced to the Y on the mountain. Last week they played kickball.
That’s right, the best athletes at BYU found a kickball and started taking positions on a makeshift field. Passions ran high as pitchers started rolling the ball inside and “batters” threatened to charge the mound. Soon, however, complaints centered around a newcomer who had obviously been around the game for some time. Cries of “Unfair” and “Ringer!” rang out from all other teams.
The problem? Ryan Denney, the 6'7" 270 lb. defensive end for the Buffalo Bills, has decided to work out this spring at BYU and was wisely picked by one of the captains. That’s right, the rising NFL star who had 72 tackles and six sacks last year was throwing his weight around against mere D-1 football players. It was a mismatch from the beginning, as he threw runners out from all over the field, hitting them squarely in the head or back as they ran to first or tried to leg out a double. He hit one running back so hard he almost knocked him over. (The running back shall, mercifully, remain nameless). At the plate, Denny kicked a routine fly ball to center that suddenly took off. “Looked like it got picked up by the jet stream,” said the unfortunate center fielder, who shall also remain nameless. By the time the ball came back to earth, the bases were empty and the rout was on.
The team that Denney was single-handedly trouncing tried to recruit a ringer of their own by throwing Dan Coates on the field. But the umpire, Coach Omer, cried foul, because Coats wasn’t officially working out with the team. “He just happened to be hanging around,” said Blue, and that was that for the big tight end headed to Cincinnati. In the end, Denny’s team ran the table, giving his team a decided advantage in the on-going competition.
Now, you may ask, what does kickball have to do with football? How can a game for 6th-graders benefit Bronco Mendenhall’s hard-charging, championship football team?
I have no idea.
But then, who am I? Just some goofy-looking guy passing by. If you want an answer, try to lasso Bronco and ask him yourself. He wasn’t taking my questions that day.
That being said, Enjoy!
On the Road with Cruiser
This spring the football team is engaging in something called “Super Games.” Several team leaders have picked teams, and now those teams compete against each other for prizes and bragging rights. Two weeks ago, the teams raced to the Y on the mountain. Last week they played kickball.
That’s right, the best athletes at BYU found a kickball and started taking positions on a makeshift field. Passions ran high as pitchers started rolling the ball inside and “batters” threatened to charge the mound. Soon, however, complaints centered around a newcomer who had obviously been around the game for some time. Cries of “Unfair” and “Ringer!” rang out from all other teams.
The problem? Ryan Denney, the 6'7" 270 lb. defensive end for the Buffalo Bills, has decided to work out this spring at BYU and was wisely picked by one of the captains. That’s right, the rising NFL star who had 72 tackles and six sacks last year was throwing his weight around against mere D-1 football players. It was a mismatch from the beginning, as he threw runners out from all over the field, hitting them squarely in the head or back as they ran to first or tried to leg out a double. He hit one running back so hard he almost knocked him over. (The running back shall, mercifully, remain nameless). At the plate, Denny kicked a routine fly ball to center that suddenly took off. “Looked like it got picked up by the jet stream,” said the unfortunate center fielder, who shall also remain nameless. By the time the ball came back to earth, the bases were empty and the rout was on.
The team that Denney was single-handedly trouncing tried to recruit a ringer of their own by throwing Dan Coates on the field. But the umpire, Coach Omer, cried foul, because Coats wasn’t officially working out with the team. “He just happened to be hanging around,” said Blue, and that was that for the big tight end headed to Cincinnati. In the end, Denny’s team ran the table, giving his team a decided advantage in the on-going competition.
Now, you may ask, what does kickball have to do with football? How can a game for 6th-graders benefit Bronco Mendenhall’s hard-charging, championship football team?
I have no idea.
But then, who am I? Just some goofy-looking guy passing by. If you want an answer, try to lasso Bronco and ask him yourself. He wasn’t taking my questions that day.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
I tried to warn them...
I really did. I posted on Tulsa's football fan board and got no responses that made any sense. Really. Someone would nominate another person and then two more would snicker, followed by a post or two that I couldn't understand. I told them I wouldn't be nearly as kind as one of their own fans, but they forced me.
Tulsa Breakdown by a non-fan
Since I really don't know too much about Tulsa, I will be relying heavily on other articles about the team. If you are interested in my sources, check out:
ESPN C-USA breakdown
Scout Spring Preview
Tulsa is heading into its first year under new head coach Todd Graham, formerly of the always scary Rice Owls. He is joined by Gus Malzahn, formerly of Arkansas, and part of the whole Mitch Mustain episode. Malzahn will most likely stick to what he knows best and we should see a form of the spread this year from Tulsa.
Tulsa returns 12 total starters from last year's 8-5 squad, including 5 on offense and 6 on defense and their kicker. Tulsa's QB, Paul Smith, returns but has lost his top 2 receivers. He was ranked #29 in the country in pass efficiency and threw a measly 15 touchdowns. He will have to gel quickly in the offseason with the new bunch if they are going to move the ball on BYU through the air because they won't on the ground. Tulsa lost 4 of their starters on the offensive line. That is a huge loss and they will only have one game (and a bye week) to gel before BYU. Last year behind 4 senior OL they rushed for around 162 yards per game (#36). BYU held them to 96 last year, and it took 5 players to get there, none of them rushing for over 25 yards (and none over 3 yards per carry compared to Vakapuna's average of 8.9 yards and Brown/Tonga average of 6.)
Defense lost some starting linebackers and safeties, but maybe it's for the best: They couldn't tackle BYU last year, maybe the new guys will be more motivated. They were ranked #62 in the country last year giving up an average of 137 yards a game (BYU last year gained 235 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground.) Their secondary is considerably better, ranked #27 in the country with a pass defense efficiency of 113 (ie. the average QB against them had a 113 rating.) They only allowed 14 TDs through the air last year. Sadly, for them, 4 of those were tossed by John Beck.
Why Tulsa might win (I can't come up with 5 reasons):
3. If BYU loses to UCLA the week before and can't get up for the game.
2. Tulsa has a bye week and will have 2 weeks to prepare for BYU.
1. BYU forfeits.
See Tulsa fans, I told you I couldn't be as nice as you would have been. Tune in tomorrow for my rebuttal...to myself.
My 3 Cents update: Just got word from a Tulsa fan and they are sending me a real breakdown. I'll have it up as soon as possible, probably in the next several days.
Tulsa Breakdown by a non-fan
Since I really don't know too much about Tulsa, I will be relying heavily on other articles about the team. If you are interested in my sources, check out:
ESPN C-USA breakdown
Scout Spring Preview
Tulsa is heading into its first year under new head coach Todd Graham, formerly of the always scary Rice Owls. He is joined by Gus Malzahn, formerly of Arkansas, and part of the whole Mitch Mustain episode. Malzahn will most likely stick to what he knows best and we should see a form of the spread this year from Tulsa.
Tulsa returns 12 total starters from last year's 8-5 squad, including 5 on offense and 6 on defense and their kicker. Tulsa's QB, Paul Smith, returns but has lost his top 2 receivers. He was ranked #29 in the country in pass efficiency and threw a measly 15 touchdowns. He will have to gel quickly in the offseason with the new bunch if they are going to move the ball on BYU through the air because they won't on the ground. Tulsa lost 4 of their starters on the offensive line. That is a huge loss and they will only have one game (and a bye week) to gel before BYU. Last year behind 4 senior OL they rushed for around 162 yards per game (#36). BYU held them to 96 last year, and it took 5 players to get there, none of them rushing for over 25 yards (and none over 3 yards per carry compared to Vakapuna's average of 8.9 yards and Brown/Tonga average of 6.)
Defense lost some starting linebackers and safeties, but maybe it's for the best: They couldn't tackle BYU last year, maybe the new guys will be more motivated. They were ranked #62 in the country last year giving up an average of 137 yards a game (BYU last year gained 235 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground.) Their secondary is considerably better, ranked #27 in the country with a pass defense efficiency of 113 (ie. the average QB against them had a 113 rating.) They only allowed 14 TDs through the air last year. Sadly, for them, 4 of those were tossed by John Beck.
Why Tulsa might win (I can't come up with 5 reasons):
3. If BYU loses to UCLA the week before and can't get up for the game.
2. Tulsa has a bye week and will have 2 weeks to prepare for BYU.
1. BYU forfeits.
See Tulsa fans, I told you I couldn't be as nice as you would have been. Tune in tomorrow for my rebuttal...to myself.
My 3 Cents update: Just got word from a Tulsa fan and they are sending me a real breakdown. I'll have it up as soon as possible, probably in the next several days.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Beware of Sunday's Paper
Latest news out of Southern California on BYU recruit JJ Diluigi:
DiLuigi breaks his foot by stepping on Sunday Newspaper
According to the article, DiLuigi stepped on the newspaper and injured his foot, which has led to surgery and a cast. It turns out DiLuigi is more committed than we believed: Seeing all his running back teammates with injuries, he decided to show his solidarity and got a matching injury and cast.
He will be out for approximately 7 weeks (which puts him at around end of June for recovery.) He will still have all of July to be ready for Fall camp, so this should not hamper his ability to work for playing time in August.
My 3 Cents: In our continued commitment to support the the team and recruits, and to avoid future injury, My 3 Cents will only be offered in paperless format.
DiLuigi breaks his foot by stepping on Sunday Newspaper
According to the article, DiLuigi stepped on the newspaper and injured his foot, which has led to surgery and a cast. It turns out DiLuigi is more committed than we believed: Seeing all his running back teammates with injuries, he decided to show his solidarity and got a matching injury and cast.
He will be out for approximately 7 weeks (which puts him at around end of June for recovery.) He will still have all of July to be ready for Fall camp, so this should not hamper his ability to work for playing time in August.
My 3 Cents: In our continued commitment to support the the team and recruits, and to avoid future injury, My 3 Cents will only be offered in paperless format.
Friday, May 11, 2007
"2008 Recruit"
BYU has added another player to their 2008 roster, but not by traditional means. Steve Fendry, 6'5 255, is transferring to BYU from Colorado University. From Ralphie the Buffalo to Cosmo the Cougar.
Why? From BCS to MWC?
I think it is a combination of factors. First, as he states in an article, he was looking for a change in atmosphere. He was recently baptized and the party school environment just wasn't his thing. Fendry was a SuperPrep All-American and will probably be switched to DE (great speed and work ethic.)
The other factor, as you states towards the bottom of the article, is Coach Mendenhall. I have noticed a pattern recently in recruit interviews: They all point out how straightforward and honest Bronco is with them. Mendenhall is not making these players unrealistic promises, which makes me all the more excited about his National Championship talk.
Fendry will lose a year of eligibility for transferring (he red shirted last year) so he will be a RS sophomore when he is eligible in 2008, but will have a full year with the program and should be ready to contribute when the time comes.
My 3 Cents: I should probably explain the picture... My brother-in-law played at CU and we were exchanging banter over email and I made this picture for him. Who knew Id ever get to include it in a post?
Because Fendry is not technically a recruit, I have not added him to the recruit list on the bottom right hand side of the page. There are links to videos that are available to everyone (youtube, googlevideo, etc.), if you know of any more let me know.
Completely unrelated, just wanted to thank the readers of this page. Yesterday My 3 Cents eclipsed 10,000 hits since it was begun back in early April. Sign up on the right hand side of the page to get your updates automatically!
Why? From BCS to MWC?
I think it is a combination of factors. First, as he states in an article, he was looking for a change in atmosphere. He was recently baptized and the party school environment just wasn't his thing. Fendry was a SuperPrep All-American and will probably be switched to DE (great speed and work ethic.)
The other factor, as you states towards the bottom of the article, is Coach Mendenhall. I have noticed a pattern recently in recruit interviews: They all point out how straightforward and honest Bronco is with them. Mendenhall is not making these players unrealistic promises, which makes me all the more excited about his National Championship talk.
Fendry will lose a year of eligibility for transferring (he red shirted last year) so he will be a RS sophomore when he is eligible in 2008, but will have a full year with the program and should be ready to contribute when the time comes.
My 3 Cents: I should probably explain the picture... My brother-in-law played at CU and we were exchanging banter over email and I made this picture for him. Who knew Id ever get to include it in a post?
Because Fendry is not technically a recruit, I have not added him to the recruit list on the bottom right hand side of the page. There are links to videos that are available to everyone (youtube, googlevideo, etc.), if you know of any more let me know.
Completely unrelated, just wanted to thank the readers of this page. Yesterday My 3 Cents eclipsed 10,000 hits since it was begun back in early April. Sign up on the right hand side of the page to get your updates automatically!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Why BYU will win... Part II
Yesterday I broke down 5 reasons I believed that BYU would keep it's home winning streak alive. Today I turn my focus to September 8th in the Rose Bowl where BYU takes on UCLA. UCLA will likely have a win under it's belt (they open against Stanford) and will most likely be ranked in the top 20. BYU, after beating Arizona, will be gaining national attention and also ranked, though most likely 23-25. This will be BYU's chance to show the country what it can do against a BCS team on a national stage. The channel the game will be carried on has not been announced, but it will have more viewers than the Mtn. Heck, this blog has more viewers than the Mtn.
5 Reasons BYU will win
5. Porous offensive line. Last year UCLA ranked #41 in sacks allowed (BYU was #14.) BYU's front three aren't necessarily sack machines, but they will get good pressure and create opportunities for the LBers to make plays. USC was getting in the backfield often but they weren't getting any...
4. Containment. Bronco switched from his baby the 3-3-5 to the 3-4 and began emphasizing sound assignments instead of flying to the ball. In watching tape of the USC and UCLA game, Cowan was just waiting for the line to get behind him and he would have about 20 yards down the field without a single defender. BYU is too sound in their assignments to let that happen as often as USC did.
3. BYU defense vs. UCLA offense. This is one I actually have picked up from UCLA boards. Their offense is stagnant and predictable, never putting many points on the board (#64 in the country with 23 points a game, BYU was #5.) BYU's defense won't let them sustain the type of drives a team like this needs to score touchdowns.
2. BYU Offense vs. UCLA Defense. Everyone talks about how many starters are coming back as some sort of overwhelming plus for UCLA. UCLA ranked #87 in the country last year against the pass, allowing the other QB an average ranking of 223! UCLA's strength is against the run where they ranked #9 last year. Now, I am not saying that BYU's offense is clearly better, but putting the ball in the air against UCLA is much better than running it against them. BYU's offensive line is big and good at pass protection and should give Hall enough time to find his receivers.
1. Go for broke. BYU HAS to win this game if Bronco is raising the bar. While a win against AZ would be great, this one is a must win. Beating a BCS team on their home turf is a requirement for stepping up. Bronco and Anae will pull out all the stops for this game. Let's hope that doesn't include the backyard-huddle-kick return unless they learn how to hand it off backwards.
My 3 Cents: This is the only game of the season I am worried about at this point, but for some reason I get the same feeling about it as Oregon last year. Everyone was thinking it would be a shoot out and Oregon was just too good for BYU. I get the feeling that BYU could shock the country in September and put itself on the map.
5 Reasons BYU will win
5. Porous offensive line. Last year UCLA ranked #41 in sacks allowed (BYU was #14.) BYU's front three aren't necessarily sack machines, but they will get good pressure and create opportunities for the LBers to make plays. USC was getting in the backfield often but they weren't getting any...
4. Containment. Bronco switched from his baby the 3-3-5 to the 3-4 and began emphasizing sound assignments instead of flying to the ball. In watching tape of the USC and UCLA game, Cowan was just waiting for the line to get behind him and he would have about 20 yards down the field without a single defender. BYU is too sound in their assignments to let that happen as often as USC did.
3. BYU defense vs. UCLA offense. This is one I actually have picked up from UCLA boards. Their offense is stagnant and predictable, never putting many points on the board (#64 in the country with 23 points a game, BYU was #5.) BYU's defense won't let them sustain the type of drives a team like this needs to score touchdowns.
2. BYU Offense vs. UCLA Defense. Everyone talks about how many starters are coming back as some sort of overwhelming plus for UCLA. UCLA ranked #87 in the country last year against the pass, allowing the other QB an average ranking of 223! UCLA's strength is against the run where they ranked #9 last year. Now, I am not saying that BYU's offense is clearly better, but putting the ball in the air against UCLA is much better than running it against them. BYU's offensive line is big and good at pass protection and should give Hall enough time to find his receivers.
1. Go for broke. BYU HAS to win this game if Bronco is raising the bar. While a win against AZ would be great, this one is a must win. Beating a BCS team on their home turf is a requirement for stepping up. Bronco and Anae will pull out all the stops for this game. Let's hope that doesn't include the backyard-huddle-kick return unless they learn how to hand it off backwards.
My 3 Cents: This is the only game of the season I am worried about at this point, but for some reason I get the same feeling about it as Oregon last year. Everyone was thinking it would be a shoot out and Oregon was just too good for BYU. I get the feeling that BYU could shock the country in September and put itself on the map.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Why BYU will win...
I have given a voice to an Arizona and UCLA voice on this blog about why they thing that on September 1st and September 8th their respective teams will walk away with a W. Now it's my turn:
Arizona:
5. Arizona's offensive line is young and inexperienced. BYU fans have endured several seasons of the implementation of wide splits. Does anyone remember how many drives were killed in Tucson last year because of miscommunication along the line? The splits are not only difficult to learn and implement well, but you are suddenly noticeably further from the next guy in the line and it is very hard to communicate, especially when you are...
4. At BYU. Home field advantage is huge when you are implementing a new offensive scheme because the crowd is quiet when you are trying to avoid false starts. If LES is rocking and sold out (which it will be), Arizona will have a hard time mounting sustained drives.
3. BYU defense vs Arizona offense will not be as interesting as BYU offense vs Arizona defense, in a good way. BYU lost important players, but the scheme and many of the components are now entering their 3rd year together. The new spread offense that Arizona is implementing is based on Texas Tech and BYU. In other words, the defense is very used to seeing it. If Arizona cannot mount long drives against Bronco's bend-but-not-break defense, they will not see the end zone very often.
2. BYU will be more effective on the ground this season and Arizona should not see much improvement. Curtis Brown, who I am a huge fan of, just was not effective against Arizona. Fui Vakapuna and Manase Tonga are amazing combinations of speed and power and had decent success in limited carries in Tucson last year. I expect big things from both of them this time around. Arizona lost their physical freak, Chris Henry, to the NFL. Before his 54 yard burst, he ran 12 times for 9 yards total.
1. Revenge. What motivation does Arizona have to win? Not much, its just a mid-major before the conference play begins. What motivation does BYU have? Oh, just the team that beat them on a last second field goal that essentially kept them out of the BCS, a chance to win at home against a BCS team. I think Bronco and Anae have finally found the formula to get ready in a down period for a game, like they did against Oregon.
My 3 Cents: UCLA rebuttal coming up tomorrow. Sign up on the right-hand task bar to receive My 3 Cents updates in your email!
Arizona:
5. Arizona's offensive line is young and inexperienced. BYU fans have endured several seasons of the implementation of wide splits. Does anyone remember how many drives were killed in Tucson last year because of miscommunication along the line? The splits are not only difficult to learn and implement well, but you are suddenly noticeably further from the next guy in the line and it is very hard to communicate, especially when you are...
4. At BYU. Home field advantage is huge when you are implementing a new offensive scheme because the crowd is quiet when you are trying to avoid false starts. If LES is rocking and sold out (which it will be), Arizona will have a hard time mounting sustained drives.
3. BYU defense vs Arizona offense will not be as interesting as BYU offense vs Arizona defense, in a good way. BYU lost important players, but the scheme and many of the components are now entering their 3rd year together. The new spread offense that Arizona is implementing is based on Texas Tech and BYU. In other words, the defense is very used to seeing it. If Arizona cannot mount long drives against Bronco's bend-but-not-break defense, they will not see the end zone very often.
2. BYU will be more effective on the ground this season and Arizona should not see much improvement. Curtis Brown, who I am a huge fan of, just was not effective against Arizona. Fui Vakapuna and Manase Tonga are amazing combinations of speed and power and had decent success in limited carries in Tucson last year. I expect big things from both of them this time around. Arizona lost their physical freak, Chris Henry, to the NFL. Before his 54 yard burst, he ran 12 times for 9 yards total.
1. Revenge. What motivation does Arizona have to win? Not much, its just a mid-major before the conference play begins. What motivation does BYU have? Oh, just the team that beat them on a last second field goal that essentially kept them out of the BCS, a chance to win at home against a BCS team. I think Bronco and Anae have finally found the formula to get ready in a down period for a game, like they did against Oregon.
My 3 Cents: UCLA rebuttal coming up tomorrow. Sign up on the right-hand task bar to receive My 3 Cents updates in your email!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Aaron Wagner to Jets
Just a quick update:
Aaron Wagner has signed a free agent contract with the Jets, bringing BYU's total to 8 FA signings. If this doesn't work out for Wagner, he already has a secure spot in the CFL playing for the Toronto Argonauts.
Aaron Wagner has signed a free agent contract with the Jets, bringing BYU's total to 8 FA signings. If this doesn't work out for Wagner, he already has a secure spot in the CFL playing for the Toronto Argonauts.
Fan Breakdown of UCLA
This week we will be addressing the 2nd game of the 2007 season: UCLA on September 8th. No word yet on what network will carry the game, but it will be one of BYU's few opportunities to shine on a national level against a highly regarded team.
A special thanks to Bob Wilson for this report:
Offense:
QBs:
Ben Olson has been handed the starting job this spring. He is learning his third offense in the last three years, although this year’s O should be similar to last year’s. Olson needs to make better decisions and make them quicker. Last season, he held on to the ball too long and often forced throws into coverage. For the Bruin passing game to be successful, Olson needs to think less and let his athletic abilities take over. Pat Cowen is a strong back-up and could see action if Olson falters. Cowen is a better scrambler than Olson, but doesn’t possess the arm strength of the starter.
RB: Chris Markey is a very good back, but not an elite talent. He led the Bruins in rushing (topping 1,000 yards) and receiving last season. He doesn’t have great speed, but he sees the holes well and doesn’t waste a lot of time dancing around. Markey is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. Michael Pitre is a good blocking back who rarely carries the rock. The x-factor could be sophomore Chane Moline. He is a 250 pound power back with good feet and vision. Look for Moline to be used as the goal-line back.
TE: Logan Paulson should emerge as the top tight end. He is the most athletically gifted player on the roster at the position and could be a great red-zone weapon.
O-line: The o-line is a big question mark. It is supposed to be a strength, but was embarrassed in the Spring game. If the o-line can’t open holes for the runners and give Olson time to throw – it will be a long year. Once the line gets used to the new offense and gets comfortable they should, once again, be the strength of the offense.
WR: The wideouts are solid, but not spectacular. Joe Cowan returns from injury and should lead the group. Brandon Breazell is small, but plays much bigger than his 160-pound frame should allow. Sophomore Terrence Austin could emerge as the best of the bunch.
Defense
DL: This is the strength of the team. Bruce Davis just might lead the nation in sacks this year if Nikola Dragovic can return from injury and play up to his potential. Davis had 12.5 sacks last year and is looking to improve on that impressive number. The defensive tackles aren’t household names, but they are tough and will stuff the run.
LB: Reggie Carter came out of nowhere last year and should be all Pac-10 this season. He is strong and fast and plays with a nasty streak. Chris Taylor, John Hale and Aaron Whittington are all solid backers. Brian Bosworth’s nephews provide depth.
DB: Trey Brown is a good coverage corner and Alterraun Verner burst onto the scene with two pick sixes as a true freshman. The safeties are athletic and really improved their tackling last year. Defensive back had been a weak spot for several years until last season. The DBs should be solid again.
5 Reasons the Bruins will beat BYU:
1: Ben Olson will have a breakout game against his former school. Emotions will be running high, but the coaches will put him in position to succeed.
2: The Bruin defense returns 9 starters from the team that held USC to 9 points.
3: BYU will be breaking in a new quarterback against said defense.
4: The Bruin running backs will be healthy and fresh and too much of a load to bring down.
5: The Bruins are looking for a 10 win season and will be too focused to be derailed early in the season.
A special thanks to Bob Wilson for this report:
Offense:
QBs:
Ben Olson has been handed the starting job this spring. He is learning his third offense in the last three years, although this year’s O should be similar to last year’s. Olson needs to make better decisions and make them quicker. Last season, he held on to the ball too long and often forced throws into coverage. For the Bruin passing game to be successful, Olson needs to think less and let his athletic abilities take over. Pat Cowen is a strong back-up and could see action if Olson falters. Cowen is a better scrambler than Olson, but doesn’t possess the arm strength of the starter.
RB: Chris Markey is a very good back, but not an elite talent. He led the Bruins in rushing (topping 1,000 yards) and receiving last season. He doesn’t have great speed, but he sees the holes well and doesn’t waste a lot of time dancing around. Markey is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. Michael Pitre is a good blocking back who rarely carries the rock. The x-factor could be sophomore Chane Moline. He is a 250 pound power back with good feet and vision. Look for Moline to be used as the goal-line back.
TE: Logan Paulson should emerge as the top tight end. He is the most athletically gifted player on the roster at the position and could be a great red-zone weapon.
O-line: The o-line is a big question mark. It is supposed to be a strength, but was embarrassed in the Spring game. If the o-line can’t open holes for the runners and give Olson time to throw – it will be a long year. Once the line gets used to the new offense and gets comfortable they should, once again, be the strength of the offense.
WR: The wideouts are solid, but not spectacular. Joe Cowan returns from injury and should lead the group. Brandon Breazell is small, but plays much bigger than his 160-pound frame should allow. Sophomore Terrence Austin could emerge as the best of the bunch.
Defense
DL: This is the strength of the team. Bruce Davis just might lead the nation in sacks this year if Nikola Dragovic can return from injury and play up to his potential. Davis had 12.5 sacks last year and is looking to improve on that impressive number. The defensive tackles aren’t household names, but they are tough and will stuff the run.
LB: Reggie Carter came out of nowhere last year and should be all Pac-10 this season. He is strong and fast and plays with a nasty streak. Chris Taylor, John Hale and Aaron Whittington are all solid backers. Brian Bosworth’s nephews provide depth.
DB: Trey Brown is a good coverage corner and Alterraun Verner burst onto the scene with two pick sixes as a true freshman. The safeties are athletic and really improved their tackling last year. Defensive back had been a weak spot for several years until last season. The DBs should be solid again.
5 Reasons the Bruins will beat BYU:
1: Ben Olson will have a breakout game against his former school. Emotions will be running high, but the coaches will put him in position to succeed.
2: The Bruin defense returns 9 starters from the team that held USC to 9 points.
3: BYU will be breaking in a new quarterback against said defense.
4: The Bruin running backs will be healthy and fresh and too much of a load to bring down.
5: The Bruins are looking for a 10 win season and will be too focused to be derailed early in the season.
Monday, May 7, 2007
No thanks
I was walking down a hill at BYU last week and noticed a bit of commotion at the top. There was a group of guys, hands on their knees, huffing and puffing. They were fairly large, muscular individuals, not the kind I would want to meet in a dark alley.
I was still walking down when I heard "GO!" from the bottom of the hill. Two large guys came around the bend at full tilt and continued up to the top. At the base were some guys clad in full BYU gear, obviously coaches (not sure if it was Omer.) They were having these OL and TE sized guys running sprints UP the hill. For those familiar with BYU, it's the hill between the McKay Building and the RB. I'd assume it's about 60-70 yards long and at a very steep incline.
That, fellow BYU fans, is the cost of "voluntary" summer workouts. I say "voluntary" not because they are obligated to be there, but rather because without the rigorous training mentioned above and the timing built in skeleton drills, they would never see the field.
With training like this at a high altitude, I'd wager to see BYU is one of the best physically trained teams in the country. Keele recently lifted the 225 bar 43 times at Pro-Day, 3 more than the best at the Combine.
On a side note, Ryan Kessman, the WR/RB recruit, is working out with the team over the summer, pushing his likelihood to compete at H-back even higher.
My 3 Cents: Tomorrow I will be posting the UCLA fan breakdown so be sure to check back.
I was still walking down when I heard "GO!" from the bottom of the hill. Two large guys came around the bend at full tilt and continued up to the top. At the base were some guys clad in full BYU gear, obviously coaches (not sure if it was Omer.) They were having these OL and TE sized guys running sprints UP the hill. For those familiar with BYU, it's the hill between the McKay Building and the RB. I'd assume it's about 60-70 yards long and at a very steep incline.
That, fellow BYU fans, is the cost of "voluntary" summer workouts. I say "voluntary" not because they are obligated to be there, but rather because without the rigorous training mentioned above and the timing built in skeleton drills, they would never see the field.
With training like this at a high altitude, I'd wager to see BYU is one of the best physically trained teams in the country. Keele recently lifted the 225 bar 43 times at Pro-Day, 3 more than the best at the Combine.
On a side note, Ryan Kessman, the WR/RB recruit, is working out with the team over the summer, pushing his likelihood to compete at H-back even higher.
My 3 Cents: Tomorrow I will be posting the UCLA fan breakdown so be sure to check back.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Aulai on the Watch List
Sete Aulai named to Rimington list
BYU has announced that Sete Aulai is one of 46 candidates for the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the best center.
Last year Dan Mozes of West Virginia won the award. He allowed no sacks last year *Aulai allowed only 1.* BYU has never had a Rimington award winner.
BYU has announced that Sete Aulai is one of 46 candidates for the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the best center.
Last year Dan Mozes of West Virginia won the award. He allowed no sacks last year *Aulai allowed only 1.* BYU has never had a Rimington award winner.
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