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I watched the final 2.5 qtrs and then the replay at least once. Many of my opinions could be in various threads so I decided to consolidate them because my geniusness should be concentrated in one place!
1.) I thought the OL is the best OL BYU has had in a very long time. It appeared to me that BYU really controlled the LOS. Heaps had plenty of time to throw and the backs had very big holes to run through. I thought the Ole Miss DL and LBs were decent, but innexperienced. However, usually BYU OLs that we were expecting to be good would struggle with run blocking against any BCS caliber squad - even BCS caliber squads that were not real good. This OL appears to be really good, much more athletic than BYU OLs in the past.
2.) I think that Ross Apo is really vital to this offense. IMO, the biggest difference between the first half and the second half was Apo's ability to start getting open against one-one coverage. Apo does not yet understand the offense but BYU has no choice but to grow with Ross. Historically, the inability for WRs to beat 1-1 coverage is BYU's offensive achilles heal. I think Apo has the ability to hurt teams that play BYU that way. We saw a little of it against Ole Miss and it is my most intense hope that we see more of it the next two weeks. I think with Heaps' arm strength and the size of BYU WRs, BYU can compensate with well executed long outs and other mid-range pass plays that stretch the field sideline to sideline, but to execute that style of play requires more experience than BYU has at both qb and wr, but it will come. Right now, BYU's offense is significantly better when teams have to consider Ross Apo. I am skeptical Cody Hoffman will ever really be able to consistently beat 1-1 coverage, but if Apo can do it it will really open things up for Cody and I think he will thrive.
3.) I expect Texas to blitz DBs significantly. Jake was really shaken up by that corner blitz. BYU was adjusting to the speed of the Ole Miss CBs, I thought it took Apo until the 2nd half to start asserting himself, and that sack of Jake really slowed BYU down until the 2nd half. I didn't watch the Texas game so I don't have an opinion on how the Texas front 4 can pressure Heaps, but from what I saw against Ole Miss the best way to get pressure on Heaps is unconventional blitzes from areas the OL isn't responsible to block - especially with BYU using so much play action as the RBs might not be athletic enough to get there.
4.) Pass defense vs rush defense. Football is the greatest team sport because it is the ultimate whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Different aspects of the game can really profoundly influence each other. BYU stopped Ole Miss' rush defense butt cold. We all know the RBs and the OL that Ole Miss was returning. The reason BYU did it was because the Y sold out house and home to stop the run. Mendenhall is always a stop the run first DC, but he really went the extra mile against Ole Miss. It was a smart gameplan as it forced Ole Miss to beat BYU through the air. Ole Miss was unable to do that with any level of consistency. I also think that the defensive focus exposed BYU to the pass more than it will normally be exposed. I am not claiming that BYU has a great defensive backfield, just that I think with BYU clearly moving the safeties up into rush defense the CBs gave an even larger cushion than normal by design. The intent was to force Ole Miss to consistently execute, which Ole Miss was unable to do. Against Texas , who is more offensively balanced, my guess is the BYU rush defense will not look quite as good but the BYU pass defense will look better.
5.) BYU's OLBs are really, really, really good. Their ability to cover sideline to sideline and get pressure on opposing qbs is exceptional. This was likely the best OL BYU will face and the Y could routinely get pressure on the opposing QB by bringing 4 rushers. The flexibility and athleticism of Van Noy, Pendleton and Frazier really open things up defensively. It allows BYU to basically play 3 DTs on the DL who all demand double teams and the LBs can just fly around making plays. I think Pendleton and Van Noy are better than Kehl and Nixon. Nixon was one of the most fundamentally sound players BYU has had, but Van Noy is an absolute freak of nature. So is Pendleton. If those two stay healthy BYU is going to have a really good defense.
6.) I am not worried about the BYU offense. I think that it will look more 2nd half than 1st half. I do think that the critical mistakes and symptoms of youth will continue all year long. I even think it very well may cost BYU a couple of games. The only way to fix it is sweet time. There is nothing I can see other than the lack of experience that is a problem.
7.) I was really impressed with Heaps' and Doman's composure. I think this is a reflection of Mendenhall. While Mendenhall has his shortcomings one of his strengths is that he is the anti-Crowton. Mendenhall's biggest weakness is an inability to make effective in game adjustments. However, Mendenhall is not easily moved off of his plans. The offense kept shooting itself in the foot but it appeared to me that nobody every panicked. From the young qb to the very young OC calling his first game. They stuck with what they knew was working and showed real guts and toughness in the face of consistent debilitating mistakes at critical points. I am convinced that even if Van Noy had not scored that defensive TD, the offense was going to march down the field and win the damn game. BYU was composed on offense and was never going to rush as the gameplan was to be methodical in order to shorten the game given the conditions in which BYU was playing. Watching Doman continue to guide the ship that way and watching Heaps rebound from critical mistakes positively gave me great hope for the future.
8.) I still think really consistently great football for this core of players is one more year away. I might not be seeing holes that exist, but I think this squad might be able to take the jump from this year to next that many of us were expecting from the 2007 squad to 2008.
1.) I thought the OL is the best OL BYU has had in a very long time. It appeared to me that BYU really controlled the LOS. Heaps had plenty of time to throw and the backs had very big holes to run through. I thought the Ole Miss DL and LBs were decent, but innexperienced. However, usually BYU OLs that we were expecting to be good would struggle with run blocking against any BCS caliber squad - even BCS caliber squads that were not real good. This OL appears to be really good, much more athletic than BYU OLs in the past.
2.) I think that Ross Apo is really vital to this offense. IMO, the biggest difference between the first half and the second half was Apo's ability to start getting open against one-one coverage. Apo does not yet understand the offense but BYU has no choice but to grow with Ross. Historically, the inability for WRs to beat 1-1 coverage is BYU's offensive achilles heal. I think Apo has the ability to hurt teams that play BYU that way. We saw a little of it against Ole Miss and it is my most intense hope that we see more of it the next two weeks. I think with Heaps' arm strength and the size of BYU WRs, BYU can compensate with well executed long outs and other mid-range pass plays that stretch the field sideline to sideline, but to execute that style of play requires more experience than BYU has at both qb and wr, but it will come. Right now, BYU's offense is significantly better when teams have to consider Ross Apo. I am skeptical Cody Hoffman will ever really be able to consistently beat 1-1 coverage, but if Apo can do it it will really open things up for Cody and I think he will thrive.
3.) I expect Texas to blitz DBs significantly. Jake was really shaken up by that corner blitz. BYU was adjusting to the speed of the Ole Miss CBs, I thought it took Apo until the 2nd half to start asserting himself, and that sack of Jake really slowed BYU down until the 2nd half. I didn't watch the Texas game so I don't have an opinion on how the Texas front 4 can pressure Heaps, but from what I saw against Ole Miss the best way to get pressure on Heaps is unconventional blitzes from areas the OL isn't responsible to block - especially with BYU using so much play action as the RBs might not be athletic enough to get there.
4.) Pass defense vs rush defense. Football is the greatest team sport because it is the ultimate whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Different aspects of the game can really profoundly influence each other. BYU stopped Ole Miss' rush defense butt cold. We all know the RBs and the OL that Ole Miss was returning. The reason BYU did it was because the Y sold out house and home to stop the run. Mendenhall is always a stop the run first DC, but he really went the extra mile against Ole Miss. It was a smart gameplan as it forced Ole Miss to beat BYU through the air. Ole Miss was unable to do that with any level of consistency. I also think that the defensive focus exposed BYU to the pass more than it will normally be exposed. I am not claiming that BYU has a great defensive backfield, just that I think with BYU clearly moving the safeties up into rush defense the CBs gave an even larger cushion than normal by design. The intent was to force Ole Miss to consistently execute, which Ole Miss was unable to do. Against Texas , who is more offensively balanced, my guess is the BYU rush defense will not look quite as good but the BYU pass defense will look better.
5.) BYU's OLBs are really, really, really good. Their ability to cover sideline to sideline and get pressure on opposing qbs is exceptional. This was likely the best OL BYU will face and the Y could routinely get pressure on the opposing QB by bringing 4 rushers. The flexibility and athleticism of Van Noy, Pendleton and Frazier really open things up defensively. It allows BYU to basically play 3 DTs on the DL who all demand double teams and the LBs can just fly around making plays. I think Pendleton and Van Noy are better than Kehl and Nixon. Nixon was one of the most fundamentally sound players BYU has had, but Van Noy is an absolute freak of nature. So is Pendleton. If those two stay healthy BYU is going to have a really good defense.
6.) I am not worried about the BYU offense. I think that it will look more 2nd half than 1st half. I do think that the critical mistakes and symptoms of youth will continue all year long. I even think it very well may cost BYU a couple of games. The only way to fix it is sweet time. There is nothing I can see other than the lack of experience that is a problem.
7.) I was really impressed with Heaps' and Doman's composure. I think this is a reflection of Mendenhall. While Mendenhall has his shortcomings one of his strengths is that he is the anti-Crowton. Mendenhall's biggest weakness is an inability to make effective in game adjustments. However, Mendenhall is not easily moved off of his plans. The offense kept shooting itself in the foot but it appeared to me that nobody every panicked. From the young qb to the very young OC calling his first game. They stuck with what they knew was working and showed real guts and toughness in the face of consistent debilitating mistakes at critical points. I am convinced that even if Van Noy had not scored that defensive TD, the offense was going to march down the field and win the damn game. BYU was composed on offense and was never going to rush as the gameplan was to be methodical in order to shorten the game given the conditions in which BYU was playing. Watching Doman continue to guide the ship that way and watching Heaps rebound from critical mistakes positively gave me great hope for the future.
8.) I still think really consistently great football for this core of players is one more year away. I might not be seeing holes that exist, but I think this squad might be able to take the jump from this year to next that many of us were expecting from the 2007 squad to 2008.
I know what you are saying but...Chambers?
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