Reserved excitement

Several months ago I wrote an article about possible impact players among the incoming freshmen. I have also noticed recently a flurry of posts on different message boards about some incoming freshmen and their potential to make an impact. While I am excited about several players and their potential to make an impact, I am equally reserved about the thought they will make a huge impact like Collie of '04 or Jacobson of '06.

Let's look at history:

Of the 25 players recruited in the 2006 class, the following actually played in a game:

Four Star:
Matangi Tonga: Saw reps along the line and even had an interception on the year.

Three Star:
McKay Jacobson: Freshman sensation, saw quite a bit of time on the field and was quite successful.
Ryan Freeman: Saw reps on the offensive line due to injuries.
Tico Pringle: Limited reps, no longer at BYU.
Andre Saulsberry: Played in 6 games, 1 tackle.

Two star:
Mike Hauge: Clean-up RB, used very infrequently but had one really nice 82-yard run on the season.
Ian Dulan: Surprise contributor along the line until he got injured.
Romney Fuga: Played at NT through out season.

As you can see here, quite a few freshman (or JC transfers) contributed to the 2006 squad. Besides Jacobson, however, it would be very hard to argue that any made a huge impact (Dulan was on the right road but got injured.)

Jacobson's edge, besides athletic ability, was the fact that he arrived in Winter and played in Spring and all through summer. Ryan Kessman graduated early in order to do so but was denied by the NCAA Clearinghouse (he arrived in June instead.) Austin Jorgensen did arrive in Winter but got injured and will be out for the season.

At this point their is good enough depth at most positions that we shouldn't see many freshman contribute in substantial ways. However, fall camp starts in a couple days and injuries can throw the projected depth chart out the window. The only positions I see freshman making an immediate impact is at NT (which already has little depth) and H-back (DiLuigi or Kessman.) The rest will likely have to wait their turns to step foot on the field.

My 3 Cents: In order to see any of these players on the field, they need to be in top shape and quickly grasp the play book. I think most freshman that do play will fill a role similar to that of Hague, Fuga and Pringle last year: Back-up when the starters (and backups) need a rest, but not as a main cog in the machine.

Fall Camp: Position Battles

Fall camp is nearing (as is the launch of the new Cougar Legion website) and incoming freshmen and will be testing their skills against the upperclassmen. The newcomers, however, aren't the only ones looking to get playing time. Several positions are going to be hotly contested this fall and we'll give you a rundown:

Field Corner: With the departure of speedy cornerback Justin Robinson, there is now a spot in the secondary. Boundary corner, Ben Criddle, is too good to lose his spot, so the other CB's will be fighting for a chance to start. Kayle Buchanan is the likely starter, but I think Brandon Bradley or Brandon Howard have a good shot of stealing it. Buchanan is a great hitter but is injured quite often. I think this will be one of the very last questions answered by Fall camp and should be up for grabs until the week before Arizona.

My 3 Cents Prediction: Brandon Bradley.

Defensive Tackle: Russell Tialavea had to sit out the game last year against Arizona, and *knock on wood* barring injury will get his shot at the Wildcats this year in Provo. Tialavea is a lock at tackle, but the depth chart behind him has many fans a little concerned. Tialavea is 300 lbs and the only other tackle above 300 lbs. is Mark Fitu, a walk-on (310 lbs.) The rest (Mosese Foketi, David Angilau and Eathyn Manumaleuna) are in the 275 range, which is really just a big DE. I think the battle will mostly be between Foketi and a freshman. Foketi redshirted last year and should be ready to battle his way into the rotation. BYU rotates frequently along the defensive line and we will likely see 3 DT's each game.

My 3 Cents Prediction: Mosese Foketi will win the backup spot.

H-Receiver: Bryce Mahuika played this position last year and through spring, but reports are that he is moving to the outside to the X and Z position. This leaves a wide open spot if true. I think that Daniel Trevort, Reed White, Cortny Barton, J.J. DiLuigi and Ryan Kessman will get a shot here. This will be the most interesting battle in the off season on the offense.

My 3 Cents Prediction: Daniel Trevort (had a great spring.)

Quarterback: The battle is over, right? Essentially, for the starter. It would take a fantastic fall by Brenden Gaskins or James Lark to usurp the throne, but I think Max Hall is the man this year. That leaves Gaskins, Lark and incoming freshman Jason Munns to fight for the back-up spot. Whoever wins is an injury away from leading the Cougars, so they will be going all out to prove themselves.

My 3 Cents Prediction: Lark. Sounds a bit crazy, but hear me out: He has now been with the team for a year and has already redshirted. Gaskins is a sophomore with a redshirt available. If he redshirts, he is now in position to take over when Hall graduates. Munns would be better served this year as the #3 QB and taking his redshirt after his mission. Lark would have to prove himself equal to or better than Gaskins for any of this to happen, but this is my "upset" pick.

My 3 Cents: Today My 3 Cents will likely pass 65,000 views since its beginnings in April. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has commented, read, clicked on sponsors or otherwise supported My 3 Cents over the last several months. A special thank you to those who clicked yesterday, it was our best earning day in our short lived history. We look forward to providing BYU football updates and insight as we move into the 2007 football season!

Cougar Bites

Today we're bringing you a hodge-podge of links to get you excited about BYU football:

2008 commit Austin Holt tearing up Florida:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6KSSBlWaa8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdfDHLHh56k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyKywu5f2uA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jv0Q9D9ETw

My personal favorite is the second where he makes the DB look silly. Holt looks to have a great burst off the line and great hands (he didn't drop a ball last season.)

MWC Media Days:

Kehl and Allen chime in their views on the season

Interesting notes on Pitta. He is the only one of the three TE's who has a red-shirt available but might be too good to keep off the field. I can't help but wonder if George or Pitta will be used as a H-back in addition to another TE on the field.

MWC signs a deal with....a radio station?

Just what we've all been waiting for... Wait... no...that was 45 years ago. Is anyone really going to listen to the radio show? Does anyone care that they signed a "flagship radio agreement"? In related news, copies of the show will be available on vinyl and 8-track 6 weeks after the fact.

My 3 Cents: My 3 Cents has enjoyed a great run but it is time to move on. To bigger and better things of course. On August 3rd, My 3 Cents is joining forces to launch a new website. For now the site is under construction, but as of that date we will be going full swing with new writers (Cruiser will keep writing, don't worry!) and more content.

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On the Road with Cruiser: The Final Cut

Sometime this week a dozen or so players will show up for practice and find their equipment gathered in large plastic bags. For some it will be the most devastating moment of their lives. The message will be silent but clear: "You’ve been cut."

By NCAA rules, teams can only invite 105 players to fall camp, which starts August 3rd, and because the team carries closer to 120 players during spring and summer, a dozen or so players receive the dark news toward the end of each July.

For most, it will be the last time they ever set foot in a locker room as a football player. It will be the end of a lifelong dream. At that moment, they will be fans, spectators, former players. Yes, a few will be invited to play on the scout team, but for most, it’ll be the end of the rainbow.

The loss and devastation at this moment cannot really be described. Players and coaches go out of their way to avoid seeing it. Some young men cry. Some get physically sick. Others numbly pick up their garbage bag and walk back through the corridor, open the large double doors, and go out into the rest of their lives. It is a walk they will not want to remember—the darkest moment of one of the darkest days of their lives.

One wonders if there isn’t some way to alleviate the pain, to help them carry this unjust load, this unfathomably heavy grief. If there is, no coach has found it yet. This is an absolutely personal and solitary loss. Though families and friends will feel accompanying sorrow, it is a moment when each young man will have to stand on his own and apply the lessons he has learned in countless drills—to suck it up, to bury the pain, to stand proud even in defeat. But in many cases, the lessons of the tough getting tougher will seem hollow, and tears will flow, sobs will stick in throats, and massive legs will suddenly grow weak.

It’s the end of the line, the final cut, and no amount of coaching or commiserating or repeated platitudes will help. In silence they will suffer, and though the world and its raucous mayhem will continue to spin around them, only a vacuum of silence remains in their broken hearts.

Each year, during the last week of July, ten to fifteen very good athletes are shattered with the news that they are not good enough, not needed, not invited back. In some cases, these are players who have vied for starting jobs, who have endured surgeries and painful rehabilitations but may not have come back to full form. In some cases they will look around and see scholarship athletes who are not as good as they are but who are protected by a precious piece of paper. In each case, the former player will suddenly learn a lesson no coach could teach on the field—that football, for all its pomp and glory, can be just as painful and unjust as the meanest tyrant. Football, it turns out, can be just like life.

To those cut this week, I say: "Well done, and thank you for the blood and service you gave. Thank you for the grief you now bear. Thank you for reaching for that unreachable star. And welcome back to our sides in the stands. When we cheer for the team, we mean you too."

More names to know...

On Friday we left off with a list of names you should know for this upcoming season. With less than two weeks left until Fall camp, injuries are likely to occur and players will get a shot at breaking into the rotation. Here are some more names to keep in mind:

1. Joe Semanoff (5'11, 220 Sr.) - With starting fullback Manasa Tonga suspended from the first game of the season, Semanoff will likely be starting and Fui Vakapuna's lead blocker. Semanoff played in all 13 games last season and will be counted on to provide good protection for Max Hall. I doubt he will get more than a couple carries, but could be an important part of the game.

2. Markell Staffieri (6'3, 232 Sr.) - Staffieri is no stranger to the field, having played in 30 games over his career. When healthy, Staffieri can be a great linebacker and should firm up his starting spot on the inside next to Poppinga. This duo on the inside are each about 20 lbs. lighter than last years ILB, but quicker.

3. Judd Anderton (6'5, 270 Sr.) - Anderton is one of two seniors along the defensive line. Anderton was working with the first team defense before being beat out by Jorgensen. He will be the first off the bench to rotate with the defensive ends and may even get a look at DT if needed.

4. Harvey Unga (6'0, 221 Fr.) - Another bruising back in BYU's stable. If Vakapuna isn't 100% by September 1st, Unga might be getting a fair share of carries. Unga is an intriguing prospect and may get a similar amount of carries as Vakapuna did last year. He needs to step in and establish himself as a reliable back this fall.

5. Mitch Payne (6'2, 201 Fr.) - Payne has now had a year to shake off the rust of a mission and get ready to step into the large shoes left behind by his brother, Matt (Just watch the first 30 seconds of this clip to see why.) Mitch will be able to focus on place-kicking duties as BYU has just awarded the scholarship vacated by Scotty Ebert (2007 recruit who did not qualify academically) to the #2 JC punter, CJ Santiago.

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Fifa and Media Day

Bronco Mendenhall has announced that Fifa ...er...Manase Tonga will be serving a one-game suspension for his arrest.

As many predicted, this suspension will be the first game of the season against Arizona. While I really wanted Tonga to play in that game, I recognize that is the most fitting punishment for what happened. Back-up fullback, Joe Semanoff, may not be as versatile as Tonga but is no stranger to the field. He is more of a pure fullback and Vakapuna will likely get most of the carries.

In other news, today and tomorrow are the MWC media days in Las Vegas and they have just released the Preseason Media Poll and All-MWC preseason team.

I am actually impressed that BYU is projected to finish #2 in the conference. The MWC media realizes more than the national media that it was more than just the seniors that made the 2006 squad great.

Last year BYU inexplicably had only 1 player on the All-MWC defense after a great season. This year, Bryan Kehl and Quinn Gooch are both on the pre-season team as are Sete Aulai and Dallas Reynolds on the offensive side of the ball.

My 3 Cents: If BYU is #2 in the conference, it will be because #1 TCU is in a BCS bowl game. I think the race is very tight and both teams have young quarterbacks at the helm. It should be one of the best games in MWC history in November.

I think by the end of the season we will see 1-2 more BYU players on the All-MWC team on offense and 1-2 more on Defense. I would venture a guess that Collie/Reed and Pitta on offense and Poppinga and Jorgensen on defense. What other players could emerge as stars?

Names to know

My sister was a freshman last year and gave me her tickets for the Wyoming game which happened to be about 10 rows back in the student section. I figured I could endure a couple hours with freshmen in order to have good seats. After a play by Fui Vakapuna the kid behind me starts to talk about how he met him one time at a party and he was cool and therefore, Fui was the best player.

If you want to sound more knowledgeable than the 17-year-old in basketball shorts in November (which wouldn't be a high goal), here are some names you might not know but probably should for 2007. I have already talked about potential true freshman potential impact players, so here are the rest you should know to impress the fans around you (in no particular order):

1. Tom Sorensen (6'5, 315, So.) - Sorensen has played 8 games already, just never as a Cougar. He started 8 games at center for Vanderbilt and was named to the All-SEC freshman team. He transferred after his mission and was looking to beat out Aulai to be the starting center but injured his knee before the 2006 season. Sorensen is likely too good to keep off the field and could be starting by the end of the year.

2. Bryce Mahuika (5'9, 185, Jr.) - Mahuika isn't completely unknown, but looks to make a bigger impact this year as both as a wide receiver and return specialist. He had 5 receptions in 9 games last year (3 of those against Utah.) Mahuika, as Cruiser pointed out, is one of the fastest players on the team. Whenever he catches the ball I cringe and think, "He is going to die." He seems to land funny and always looks like he is going to get injured. If he can stay healthy and catch the balls thrown his way, he may figure to be a key part of the offense. His biggest impact may come as a returner where he has some experience, being one of the returners on the 2004 squad.

3. Brandon Bradley (6'0, 195, Fr.) - BYU doesn't often get big cornerbacks so many BYU faithful are anxiously awaiting the day that Bradley sets foot on the field. He committed to Louisville prior to this mission but transferred before ever attending. He was forced to redshirt last season due to a knee injury but is ready to contend for the field corner position. He is almost 5 inches taller than Justin Robinson and if he is as good as advertised would be a major force in the secondary.

4. Corby Hodgkiss (5'11, 206, Sr.) - If Dustin Gabriel decides to hang up his cleats to prevent further injury, Hodgkiss may get the nod to start at the KAT position (BYU named for a strong safety.) Hodgkiss has played in 30 football games in his BYU career and will be a an excellent replacement if needed. Other players who would get a shot at the KAT position: David Tafuna and Kellen Fowler.

5. Mosese Foketi (6'0, 270, Jr.) - Foketi redshirted last year after transferring from a junior college. He is the back-up to Russell Tialavea at the NT position on the defensive line. BYU rotates the line quite often and he will likely be seeing quite a bit of playing time. He has the size to play DE if better back-ups come along at NT like Mark Fitu.

6. Andrew George (6'5, 240, So.) - The least heralded of BYU's three great TE's, George is more like Harline in that he is more of a big wide receiver than a tight end, but may be a better blocker than Harline was. George played last season mostly in 3 TE sets with no receptions on the season. Look for George to play split out wide as a slot receiver more than tight as a true TE. He is reported to have good speed and really good hands.

My 3 Cents: I'll continue this section on Monday, let me know if there is anyone/position in particular you'd like to hear about!

Note: Cruiser pointed out some errors I made. George's father competed in the Javelin, not a running event. Also, Mahuika has been moved to the outside and will be competing with Allen, Reed, Collie for playing time.

MWC Quarterbacks

A lot of focus is being placed by BYU fans and opponent fans alike on the lack of experience behind center at QBU. They also point out that BYU's offense is rebuilding (or reloading if you wear blue-goggles) and can not possibly expect to replace the output of last year's seniors.

What everyone, and I include myself in this statement, forgets is that every team loses seniors and has turnover. That is the nature of college football. Today we'll revue all of the MWC to see who else is in the same boat:

BYU: How could I not start with the team I know best? Max Hall (So) has been tabbed the starting QB after beating out the #1 and #2 JC QB's in the nation. He has a year of tutoring under the Becks, Doman and Anae. I'm not predicting a repeat John Beck's stellar TD/INT ratio, but he will be effective and lead his team to a winning season.

My 3 Cents Grade: B - Has all the right tangibles and training for a great start, but too much unknown to give any higher.

Air Force: Shaun Carney (Sr) has a tough year ahead of him. I already thought Air Force was going to struggle due to a head coach and offensive scheme change, but the guy brought on as Offensive Coordinator just jumped ship for Arkansas yesterday, leaving the team high and dry with 6 weeks to go. This offense will likely be lethargic at best, not having a proper scheme or personel for the change. Carney is often described as an accurate passer, completing 83 of his 137 attemps (60%) last year for 1,192 yds and scoring 12 TDs to his 3 INTs. However, I think this success was based more on the option offense they ran. They averaged a little over 10 passes a game in a run offense. When he did throw the ball, the defense was likely playing tight and not expecting it. Will he have nearly as much success? I see his TD to INT ratio taking a major hit this season.

My 3 Cents Grade: D- - Carney was brought in to Air Force to run the option, not a modified spread. The obstacles for the entire offense are too big for this season and he will likely struggle.

Colorado State: Caleb Hanie (Sr) had his hands full last year, leading the attack backed up by the 113th best running game in the country. Few quarterbacks are capable of carrying a team with no help and Hanie threw more INTs (12) than touchdowns (11.) He was accurate when he wasn't throwing at the defense, completing 209 of 342 passes (61%) (For comparison, Beck completed 69% of his throws.) Hanie only stands to improve with the return of Kyle Bell.

My 3 Cents Grade: C - While his accuracy isn't awful by any stretch, his decision making needs to be a step better to avoid throwing INTs.

New Mexico: Donovan Porterie (So) earned the Lobo's fans admiration by stringing 3 back-to-back comeback wins. Porterie can be labeled a game. While his stats (58% completion and 967 yards in 8 games) aren't too impressive, he has a decent TD/INT ratio (6/2.) Porterie really blew up against Utah, throwing for 350 yards and 3 touchdowns, but only threw for more than 150 yards two other times. If he wants to be a contender in the league, he needs to be more consistent.

My 3 Cent Grade: C+ - Needs to improve his consistency while maintaining his TD to INT ratio. He proved he can be a gamer, but needs to do it every game, not 3 in 8.

San Diego State: Kevin Craft, whose welcome party to D-1 football was in LES, transferred away to play for his dad. He was only playing due to injury to the starting QB and this years leader, Kevin O'Connell (Sr.) When O'Connell wasn't injured, he "performed" in 6 games to the tune of 635 yards (58%) and threw 5 INTs and 3 TDs, adding two more on the ground. This is another case of great tangibles (6'6, 225, good mobility) but no production to show for it.

My 3 Cents Grade: C- -This is being generous. If he stays healthy for a full year, he may deserve better, but his production flat out stinks.

TCU: I think many are underestimating what the loss of QB Jeff Ballard will mean for TCU. Ballard won games. It was that simple. Marcus Jackson (So) finished up the game against Baylor last season, but lacked good decision making skills in spring ball. The running game will have to carry this team if they are thinking of BCS busting or even MWC championships.

My 3 Cents Grade: B- Also a unknown. What little he showed was good (2 TDs against Baylor) but may not be ready to take over the team based on Spring ball.

UNLV: A lot was expected out of USC transfer Rocky Hinds (4 star recruit in 2004) but he never produced due largely to an ACL injury. He too has the tangibles (6'5, 220, good mobility) without results: 13 INTS to 8 TDs, 58% of passes completed for 2,148 yards and -49 rushing.

My 3 Cents Grade: C - All the tools, good receivers, but no production. He sat out spring, so he lost the chance to build the chemistry. If he can play up to 50% of the hype, he may turn out to be better than a C, but I doubt it.

Utah: As you have undoubtedly heard, media darling Brian Johnson (Jr) is back. Johnson is being made out to be the next big thing out of the MWC but I will hold judgment on that. Of the returning QB's, he has had the most success. In 2005 he threw for 2892 yards, completing 64% of his throws for 18 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He too needs to work on decision making skills. He has a good cast of receivers returning which well help.

My 3 Cents Grade: A- - Johnson hasn't taken a snap in a game or gotten hit in over a year. His knee should be 100% and has a good supporting cast. If he can get his TD/INT ration better, he might be the best QB in the MWC this year if Jackson (TCU) or Hall (BYU) don't explode onto the scene.

Wyoming: Karsten Sween (So) got thrown to the wolves last year 4 games into the season. He did a great job but trailed off as the season progressed. Sween threw for 1,304 yards (60%) and 9 touchdowns. Again, another player with tangibles without matching results (6'4, 204), throwing 8 INTs, nearly a 1-to-1 TD to INT ratio.

My 3 Cents Grade: C - Like other QB's that got a C, he has the physical traits but not the results you would expect. If Wyoming is going to go bowling, he needs to learn to throw the ball to the guys dressed in brown.



My 3 Cents: In writing this, I realized only BYU, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico and TCU have QB's coming back for 2008. The question might arise why two quarterbacks that are untested got better grades than some who have played full seasons. The answer is simple: Supporting cast and expectations. TCU and BYU have great offensive lines, good receivers and a running game to take the pressure. They are unproven, but not bad. Those with a C or lower have earned their grades.

[Edit: Added New Mexico, sorry about the omission!]

On the Road with Cruiser: Running Game

As many teams around the country are learning, Coach Anae has instituted one of the most sophisticated systems for running backs in college football. What looks so simple to fans is devilishly difficult for defensive coordinators to prepare for. Depending on a series of complicated reads rather than firm assignments, the system requires BYU’s running backs to understand and anticipate defenses almost as well as the quarterback does. This allows our running backs to take advantage of what the defense offers them, whether it’s going into the flat as linebackers fall back into coverage or stepping up to stop a disguised blitz.

An absolute necessity for a scheme like this, however, is experienced, well-trained running backs. On any given play they may have six or seven potential permutations, depending on how the defense reacts to the play. When you multiply this by over a hundred different offensive plays, you have the potential for literally hundreds of options for the running backs to understand and select from in the course of a game.

One reason Curtis Brown was so effective in this offense was because he spent the necessary time memorizing these options and was thus always in the right spot at the right time. One reason Manase Tonga was so valuable to the offense was because he invariably blocked the right man or runs the right route or found the right hole. These two men paid the price, both during practice and in the film room, to be at the right place at the right time, time after time. Although Fui Vakapuna appeared to be a little indecisive at times, his tremendous ability to move the ball more than compensated for any mental lapses.

How prepared will our running backs be this year? Answering that question is actually more difficult than it appears. Because of injuries and off-field incidents, both Manase and Fui, the projected starters, may miss starts or be limited in their playing time. Currently, Vakapuna is still recovering from ankle surgery and is yet to run all-out. Full-speed agility drills are out of the question, and conditioning and lower-leg strength are still concerns. Will he be ready for the September 1^st kick-off against Arizona? Although nobody really knows, my guess is that he will suit up and be available but will probably not be at 100%. Of course, there are still six weeks till then, and if anybody can prepare quickly or play through pain, it’s Fui. But, if there is a chance of re-injuring the leg, the coaches will probably choose to err on the side of caution, as it was a re-injury (against Utah) that most severely damaged his ankle last year.

Like Fui, Manase Tonga is also recovering from injury—in his case, an undisclosed injury. Also, he had a recent run-in with the Provo City Police and may lose playing time as a result. (He was arrested for giving false information to a police officer and for not paying outstanding traffic fines.) Although his injury seems to be healing, he didn’t participate in live practices this spring. Hopefully, though, he will be available for most games this season, which means we should have at least one experienced running back behind Max Hall in most games.

If both Manase and Fui can’t play for any reason, however, the backups right now appear to be Harvey Unga, Wayne Latu, Joe Semanoff, Ryan Folsom, Isaac Taylor, and J.J. DiLuigi. Of these, Unga, Latu, and Semanoff have limited game experience. The others have none. Also, there are concerns that Unga’s hip may still be bothering him, that Latu is lacking his once-blistering speed, and that Semanoff only plays fullback. Although Taylor is back from off-season surgery, he has never played on Saturday. And both Folsom and DiLuigi have yet to learn the system. In other words, if neither Vakapuna or Tonga can compete full-time, we may be in a difficult situation.

Coach Anae’s offensive system requires months, even years, to learn fully, and if our projected starters are not available, or if our experienced backups are less than 100%, we may see defenses blitzing more often and more effectively. We may also see Coach Anae calling less demanding plays. And, we may see Max Hall depending more on his legs to avoid the rush and more on his arm to move the ball down field. In other words, our success this year may depend on both Vakapuna and Tonga getting back on the field as quickly as possible.

With a healthy Fui and Manase on the field, all things are possible; without them, we could run into some real problems.

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What a verbal really is

If you haven't heard by now, it means you (a) have a real job or (b) don't follow BYU recruiting as closely as you do the actual game of football, but for those in the dark:

Sealver Siliga de-commits from BYU and commits to Utah.

If I had to guess, he wants to play ball with his friend Kendrick Moeai who recently committed to the University of Utah. Pure speculation.

For those who don't understand how recruiting works, NCAA football players sign a LOI (letter of intent) in early February. This is the first and only legally binding document between the school and the player. They must thereafter be released (like Cade Cooper recently) from that agreement to play football elsewhere.

So BYU's commitments are all just a verbal agreement between the Coach and the player. That's right, not a single one of the players for 2008 is guaranteed to be wearing Cougar blue come next fall. Siliga broke no contracts or anything of the sort. In fact, it is quite common for recruits to flip-flop between different schools. In the end, these are still teenagers. While not legally contracted to BYU, what Siliga did in many fans' minds was wrong logically, ethically, grammatically and ideologically, but in the end he is up for grabs until he puts his pen to a paper in February.

I feel it is safe to assume that if Siliga decides later on he wants to come to BYU there will not be a scholarship waiting for him. Coach Mendenhall is known for his emphasis on investment and breaking a verbal contract of any sort does not fall within the realm of acceptable for a BYU player.

My 3 Cents: While I was excited about Siliga, this does not ruin the 2008 class or make me worry about the defensive line. BYU already has Magnum Mauga (JC All-American) from last year coming and Tevita Hola, a four-star DT from Snow. Siliga would have provided a nice long term possibility but the coaches still have plenty of time to find someone else to fill the spot.

What you will get to see this year

For those outside the footprint of the Wasatch mountains or unable to get the Mtn. for some other reason, the approach of the 2007 season is both exciting and disheartening. Will you get to see your beloved Cougars dismantle the unsuspecting defenses of opponents? Will you get to see the Max Hall to Austin Collie connection in full swing or Fui Vakapuna put linebackers in the hospital?

The good news is that the Arizona, UCLA, TCU, New Mexico, Tulsa and Utah games should be available nationwide. Sure, you might have to upgrade your dish package for a couple hours or invite yourself over to someone else's house for each game, but the opportunity to actually see the game exists.

Arizona, UCLA and TCU (the best games of the year probably) will be on Versus (formerly known as the Outdoor Life Network) which is available throughout the country.

Tulsa, New Mexico and Utah (the next three best games) will be on CSTV, which is also available nationwide.

And finally, Air Force, UNLV, Eastern Washington, SDSU, Colorado State and Wyoming will be available on the Mtn.

My 3 Cents: What does it say about the Mtn. that BYU, the flagship of the conference, has its best 3 games on Versus and arguably the next best 3 on CSTV (Wyoming might be better than the Tulsa game if they get their act together) and the worst games of the year on the Mtn.?

Also, remember when MWC fans were all excited (myself included) to find out that BYU and Utah, and eventually the MWC members, had hired a lawyer to look at the contract? Cue the crickets. Still waiting to see the Mtn. budge. Keep calling your satellite providers!

The Previews begin

While it can be interesting to read the previews written about BYU, keep in mind the writers are typically writing dozens of these and will miss out on some things that are very apparent to BYU fans. For example: FoxSports says Kehl is the 9th best player on the team. They also talk about Cade Cooper as a potential QB in the mix.

Here are the previews so far:

Athlon

FoxSports

Mitch Harper (surprisingly good)

Sporting News

My 3 Cents: Let me know of any others you are aware of and I will update the list.

Football 101: Offense

Several weeks ago I wrote an article about the defensive side of the ball, who the main players were and how to identify the different schemes. Today we'll move to other side of the line of scrimmage to break down the offense.

Scheme:

BYU uses a spread offense, an adapted version of the Texas Tech offense (lots of short passes with 3-4 wide receivers.) BYU changes things up by using TE's and running backs more. BYU has its offensive linemen split wider than a typical offensive line. Boiled down, the spread offense is designed to make the defense cover the entire field, vertically (short and deep routes) and horizontally (boundary to boundary.)

Offensive line:

Center - Very important position, manned by Sete Aulai, in BYU's scheme. Typically a QB would call out blocking assignments at BYU the center handles this responsibility.

Guards- One on each side of the center. They are responsible for pass protection and run blocking. On some run plays, guards will "pull" and leave their spot to block around the other side. Rey Feinga and Travis Bright are both excellent guards.

Tackles- The quarterback's best friend (or worst nightmare.) If David Oswald and RJ Willing don't do their job the QB ends up with grass in their face mask. They are responsible for blocking the speed rushers on the outside and at times will also pull if there is a TE on their side.

Receivers

Tight Ends- At most schools, the TE would just as easily be lumped in with the offensive linemen. At BYU, TE are mostly used as a receiver and are likely to be the QB's safety valve. This years batch of TE's, Vic So'oto, Andrew George and Dennis Pitta, have an interesting mix of blocking and receiving abilities. Look for them to get a lot of balls thrown their way as Hall gets used to the speed of the game.

X and Z- BYU uses these designations for their outside receivers. With returning players Austin Collie, Michael Reed and Matt Allen, this is a good group that will rotate frequently to keep their legs fresh.

H- This position, likely filled by Bryce Mahuika, is a hybrid of a receiver and running back. Last season we saw Hague and Meikle here, and both got several hand offs during the season from the position. At BYU they are more likely to get the ball thrown their way than act as a HB.

Running backs

Fullback- At BYU the lines between the fullback and halfback are blurred. Most BYU backs are around 220lbs+ and could act in either capacity. Fifa Tonga...er..Manase, will be the guy at this position. They are asked to be a lead blocker, pass protect, run the ball and make catches.

Halfback- In reality, at BYU the main difference is that they get the ball more often. Fui Vakapuna will be BYU's main RB and should provide some excitement. Id expect him and Tonga to share the load of running.

Quarterback

At Quarterback University, Max Hall has some big shoes to fill. The Quarterback, with few exceptions, gets the ball at the start of each play and hands it off or throws it. We may see some more roll-out this year to take advantage of Hall's mobility.

Extra Credit: BYU runs a no-huddle offense. The players wear arm-bands with the plays that are then signaled in from the sideline. This makes the defense stay on their toes and takes advantage of a tired defense or mismatches.

My 3 Cents: Just some things you might want to check out:

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On the Road with Cruiser: Million-Dollar Men

At the risk of alienating some true-blue fans, I want to comment on a possible weakness this year, namely, a lack of game-breaking speed.

Now, I’m aware that raw speed is often over-hyped and can be as meaningless as size or bench pressing statistics. But I also know that speed has its place, especially at the highest levels of D-1 competition.

When your receiver catches a ball on a post pattern, there is nothing more satisfying than watching him pull away from the defenders for six. And there is nothing more frustrating than watching him get reeled in and tackled by a plodding safety. Cliff Branch, a 10.1 sprinter for the Raiders years ago, made a living of turning short passes into long touchdowns. By doing so, he forced the defense to play off farther back than they wanted to. A fast receiver with good hands is literally worth his weight in gold in the NFL (about $1.5 million for a 200-pound man).

Does BYU have any million-dollar men? For our purposes, I will define such an athlete as one with sub-4.4 speed in the forty. How fast is this? At this year’s NFL combine, only five receivers clocked sub-4.4s, out of 46 athletes. (The fastest was Yamon Figures of Kansas St., who ran a 4.31.) Last year BYU had one player running in this rarified air—McKay Jacobson, who reportedly ran a series of 4.33 - 4.35s.

This year I only have rumors and my own eye-witness estimates to judge by, but I believe there is only one athlete who qualifies on BYU’s team. Bryce Mahuika, a 5-9 receiver from Vancouver, Washington, probably runs in the high 4.3s. Last year he saw time at inside receiver (H-back), but I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone with his speed moved to outside receiver. He may also return kick-offs.

So, we probably have one player running in the 4.3s. That’s great, but how many can run in the 4.4s? At best, two: Brandon Howard, and Dustin Gabriel. How many can run in the 4.5s? Again, just a few—perhaps David Tafuna, Kayle Buchanan, and Isaac Taylor. Out of this group, only one is an offensive player.

With my apologies for any omissions, it appears that the rest of our returning skill players run 4.6 or slower. Word is that at least two of our new receivers run between 4.8 and 5.0. I considered including a list of our skill players and their estimated forty times, but I think we get the picture. With perhaps one exception, we lack dangerous, break-away, game-changing speed.

Are speedy players simply not available to BYU? Do they want to ply their trade elsewhere, or do the coaches find many of them unacceptable for other reasons? Although Bronco knows that speed is not the most important element on the field, surely he wants his share of burners. As he and his staff continue scouting for 2009 and 2010, let’s hope some of these talent-rich athletes find their way to BYU.

Fifa las Vegas

I have heard someone from California say, literally, concerning stop signs: "The small ones are just suggestions." Apparently, Provo police are not aware of the patented "California Rolling Stop" as another BYU player has a run in with the law.

Full details can be found here.

Essentially, Manase (a California native) has a little trouble (3 tickets in a year) with stopping at stop signs. He never paid the first one and they put out a warrant for his arrest. On Tuesday morning (or late Monday night, depends if you are married or single) Manase was pulled over for not stopping at a stop sign and, aware of his warrant, said his name was Fifa. Fifa? Really?

Anyways, long story short, he was arrested and posted bail shortly thereafter.

A lot of people seem to be thinking this is the end of Manase's career. His charges are essentially, including the false name, the equivalent of a lot of parking tickets. He will be back in Cougar blue and I would venture a guess that he will be on the field against Arizona.

I think Manase will learn from the experience, do his community service and this whole thing will disappear.

Fifa...really?

My 3 Cents: Less than two more months until Arizona. We are getting there!

Thanks for your support and comments! They are greatly appreciated!

Nineteen

BYU is nearing completion of its 2008 recruiting class, a cool 7 months before any of these kids will put a pen to paper to make it official. BYU received another commitment this week and I would expect if any more are to come soon, it will be this week. After this week, I would be surprised to get more than one or two more before fall camp.

BYU has added Jake Murphy (6'5 215) to the fold. Jake is the son of Dale Murphy (retired professional baseball player) and would like to also play baseball during his time at BYU. Murphy is an intriguing prospect with his size. He played WR and Safety this past season but likes offense better. He had 30 receptions for 520 yards (over 17 yards a catch) and 8 touchdowns last season. He is an automatic mismatch against any corner. However, he acknowledges his weakness is his speed where he was timed at 4.7.

My 3 Cents: I am interested in seeing where Murphy ends up on the field. He seems willing to try other positions. If he can keep his weight down he can become a great wide receiver (if he can boost his speed a bit, thought Harline had the same measurables and I doubt anyone would mind another Harline.) If he gains weight, which a 6'5 frame can easily do, he could be a DE or great TE (or even possibly a LB.)

I am going out of town this weekend and will not be back until the 11th. As such, I am looking for one or two "guest" contributors to fill in those days for me. If you are interested, please send an article (of any BYU football subject of your choice) to morethantwocents@gmail.com. I will select the two best and have them published those days. If I don't get any, you will be stuck in BYU football limbo for a couple days. The choice is yours.

On the Road with Cruiser: Max Hall

Who was the best quarterback BYU’s defense faced last year?

According to several BYU defenders, it was Max Hall. While leading the scout team, he learned the offense of every team in the MWC, and then, while scrimmaging against our 1^st team defense each week, he picked them apart in ways our opponents never could. During one memorable practice when he seemed to score at will, the defense finally intercepted a pass, and a spontaneous celebration erupted on the field as the defense rejoiced in their rare achievement. That Saturday, the same defense smothered UNLV’s offense, holding them to a single score.

Said Bryan Kehl, an outside linebacker and one of the BYU best players: “Max Hall is awesome...I love how confident he is.” And Ben Criddle, a star cornerback echoed that, saying, “He’s an incredible player, and he’s going to be great....He’s going to lead our team to success.” (TBS, 10-18-06) Amazingly, these comments were made before he was named the starting quarterback.

Who is this man with the keys to BYU’s future? Here are some facts:

He is the nephew of NFL great Danny White and the grandson of Wilford “Whizzer” White, who played at ASU.

He is 6-1½, 205, and was once timed in a 4.55 forty. He benches close to 300 and is said to be able to throw the ball nearly 70 yards.

At Mountain View High School, in Mesa, Arizona, he broke many of John Beck’s passing records. They included: TD passes (61); Passing yards (4,789); Passing yards per game (171); and Career all-purpose yards (5,257). He was also on the Dean’s list every year.

He was Arizona’s Offensive Player of the Year for the 2003 season and was recruited by many D-1 football powers.

He accepted a scholarship to Arizona State, where within weeks he rose to 2^nd string behind Andrew Walter, last year’s starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders. When Hall reiterated to his coach that he wanted to serve an LDS mission after his freshman year, he was promptly red-shirted, thus prevented from seeing any playing time at ASU. He transferred to BYU after his mission to Des Moines, Iowa.

On September 1^st, in LaVell Edwards’ Stadium, Max Hall will take his first official snap in a football game since 2003. He can’t wait, telling reporters this spring that he has been working hard and is stronger and more prepared than he has ever been.

Earlier this spring he was running stairs with the team and got into a spirited competition with one of the receivers. Every time Coach Omer (the weight and conditioning coach) blew the whistle, Hall gave it everything he had but kept coming up short. As other players dropped out, in some cases to vomit, Hall kept fighting for victory. On the last rep he took the lead but got beat at the very end. As he came back down, he thanked the receiver for pushing him so hard then complimented him for being in great shape. This is a quarterback! Talk about competitive.

Having personally watched him play this past spring, I am as excited for a new quarterback at BYU as I have ever been.

How good is he now? Let me share a play from a scrimmage this spring: He took a snap, waited a beat, then checked off his receivers, 1 - 2 - 3. They weren’t open, so he turned to his right where a running back was waiting in the flat. Hall made eye contact, cocked his arm, and hesitated. The defense collapsed on the running back, then Hall turned and fired a laser to Pitta for a 15-yard gain over the middle. The poor guy covering him nearly broke his ankles trying to reverse directions. The whole play took maybe three seconds. It was a thing of beauty, a work of art. It was devastating, and I am confident that 95% of college quarterbacks could not make that play. Fortunately, Hall still has three years left at BYU.

It’s going to be a lot of fun watching him treat other teams like they are nothing but scout teams this year.

My 3 Cents: Thanks as always to Cruiser for the great information.

Tomorrow's piece will be about BYU's second commit this week, Jake Murphy.

Numero 18

To many people (such as myself) recruiting is a season. If so, BYU would once again be the Conference Champions, steamrolling every team just like the 2006 football season. Just how bad is it?

BYU reached 18 commits yesterday (more on that soon.) That ranks them #5 in the country. The next closest? Wyoming with 4. The whole conference (minus BYU) COMBINED has 14 (Air Force does not report early commits.) BYU has 8 players from the Northwest Hot 100 (from scout.com) and the list keeps growing.

BYU received a verbal commitment yesterday from Sealver Siliga (6'3 340 DT) of Copper Hills High School in West Jordan, Utah. Siliga has the size to play either way, but I would assume he will stay at DT.

Until the 4th of July, BYU's Scout page is free, so check out the article here.

You can't teach size and Siliga has definitely mastered that asset. However, he is no slouch, having won the Utah Power lifting competition in 3 categories. He benched 370, squatted 540 and cleaned 315. Its no wonder he was named All-Region 3 (with BYU recruits such as Jordan Pendleton and Austin Holt.) Last season Siliga had 5 sacks and 63 tackles, great stats for a DT that is mainly responsible for clogging the line.

My 3 Cents: Siliga is a huge recruit (literally.) I am very excited about him and his decision to come to BYU. He will be a great nose-tackle and run stopper in the future.

I will be updating the recruit section this morning, looks like some more have been evaluated.

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Update: BYU players in NFL

A reader has asked for an update on BYU players in the NFL. See folks it's that easy: Ask a question, get an answer. For more requests send an email to morethantwocents@gmail.com

Alright. In all there were 9 players that need to be tracked from the 2006 team:

1. John Beck QB: Only BYU player drafted and the 4th highest QB in the draft (8th pick in the second round, 40th overall.) Beck is likely to be the 3rd string QB this season behind Trent Green and Cleo Lemon. All expectations are for him to learn behind the others for a couple seasons then take the reigns as the long term solution at the QB position for the Dolphins. However, as Beck knows too well, injuries can throw all best laid plans for a loop. He will likely not see the field this year (besides pre-season games.)

2. Curtis Brown RB: First signed with the Browns and now with the Oakland Raiders. He signed a free agent contract on May 22nd and is working out in camps.

3. Dan Coats TE: Coats signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and has a very good shot at seeing play time this year. Reports are that he is the second best TE on the team and making plays. Head Coach Marvin Lewis said, "I think he'll compete with the other guys."

4. Zac Collie WR: Signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on April 30th. Collie had a stress fracture and was unable to participate in a camp in early June. He is reportedly doing better

5. Jonny Harline TE: Signed with the Indianapolis Colts on April 30th. Looks to be a good fit for the system but there is a big group of TE's so he will have to shine to make the roster.

6. Cameron Jensen LB: Signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks on May 2nd.

7. Eddie Keele OL: Signed with the Oakland Raider but was waived recently. He is likely looking for another team to have time to compete for a roster spot.

8. Jake Kuresa OL: Signed with the New Orleans Saints on April 30th.

9. Aaron Wagner LB: Signed a free agent contract with the Jets but did not make the roster. Wagner had been drafted by the Toronto Argonauts the spring before his senior season so he has signed a two-year contract with them.

My 3 Cents: Of the 9 players from the 2006 team given a shot at professional football, only Keele is not on a professional roster. I think he has a great chance to make one with his incredible strength (most bench reps of all draft eligible players in the country this year.) I'll keep watching for any changes!

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