Unbelievalbe key to game: Bryan Kariya

[Borg]

In this particular game, I think Bryan Kariya may have been the difference maker even over Harvey Unga. Just a theory of mine...but, in thinking about this game, Kariya played one helluva game.

Did anyone see him running with this kind of confidence and/or power last year?

The difference? The stage. Kariya took the additional pressure given him, and rose to the occasion and beyond. He had to fill the very big shoes of Harvey Unga all everything BYU.

Kariya was HUNGRY. He HAD to play well and do everything he possibly could to NOT let the team down or slacken the Unga-less effect. In doing so...I actually think he might have performed better than what Unga may have done if he was 100%. This was Kariya's best chance to show the coaches (and the nation) what he was capable of doing...and he did it very well might I add.

Harvey is established. He is 'the man' when he is in. I don't think Harvey runs with the same passion, power and aggression that he could, because he knows he has to "last the entire season" running 20 times per game.

Kariya just hauled off and went toe to toe with the defenders, pushing them back, knocking heads, etc.

I think Kariya deserves as much credit (and more) than what he has received. I loved his play this weekend.

[Surfah]

Kariya ran hard. He should have followed Tonga on two plays I noticed though. Instead he went to the left right into McCoy. I loved that run on BYU's first series on 3rd and 4-5 and ran it straight up the gut for the first down. That showed me a lot about this team. Tonga blew up Travis Lewis on that play. I watched it several times.

The best part about Kariya is that now we have someone who we can depend on to share time with Unga when he comes back.

[jay santos]

In this particular game, I think Bryan Kariya may have been the difference maker even over Harvey Unga. Just a theory of mine...but, in thinking about this game, Kariya played one helluva game.

Did anyone see him running with this kind of confidence and/or power last year?

The difference? The stage. Kariya took the additional pressure given him, and rose to the occasion and beyond. He had to fill the very big shoes of Harvey Unga all everything BYU.

Kariya was HUNGRY. He HAD to play well and do everything he possibly could to NOT let the team down or slacken the Unga-less effect. In doing so...I actually think he might have performed better than what Unga may have done if he was 100%. This was Kariya's best chance to show the coaches (and the nation) what he was capable of doing...and he did it very well might I add.

Harvey is established. He is 'the man' when he is in. I don't think Harvey runs with the same passion, power and aggression that he could, because he knows he has to "last the entire season" running 20 times per game.

Kariya just hauled off and went toe to toe with the defenders, pushing them back, knocking heads, etc.

I think Kariya deserves as much credit (and more) than what he has received. I loved his play this weekend.

Unga when healthy has NFL talent and is a difference maker for BYU. I seriously think we win that game comfortably maybe by two touchdowns with Harvey. Our offense will be in trouble without him this year. No running game and no deep threat = an impotent offense. We won that game last night on one drive. Granted it was one freakin' incredible ballsy clutch drive, but still just one drive. One drive a game won't win you a lot of games.

[Borg]

Kariya ran hard. He should have followed Tonga on two plays I noticed though. Instead he went to the left right into McCoy.

I noticed that too...but, I chalked it up to inexperience. But, if I were the tailback...I'd follow Tonga just about anywhere. If he had to run to the bathroom, I'd be right behind him! ;-)

[Commando]

No running game and no deep threat = an impotent offense. We won that game last night on one drive. Granted it was one freakin' incredible ballsy clutch drive, but still just one drive. One drive a game won't win you a lot of games.

that's because we were up against OU's D. Oh- and we fumbled on the 2 yard line and shanked a chip shot FG. I don't envision similar difficulties against anyone on our schedule but the likes of TCU.

Oh-- and McKay did smoke their stud corners more than once last night.

[CJF]

Unga when healthy has NFL talent and is a difference maker for BYU. I seriously think we win that game comfortably maybe by two touchdowns with Harvey. Our offense will be in trouble without him this year. No running game and no deep threat = an impotent offense. We won that game last night on one drive. Granted it was one freakin' incredible ballsy clutch drive, but still just one drive. One drive a game won't win you a lot of games.

I disagree about no deep threat. Jacobson is a legit threat. BYU couldn't give Hall time to take deep shots. Jacobson will get behind a defense at least three times this year.

[MarkGrace]

I disagree about no deep threat. Jacobson is a legit threat. BYU couldn't give Hall time to take deep shots. Jacobson will get behind a defense at least three times this year.

And when he did get time he couldn't throw the ball far enough. Man, Jacobson had an easy 6 on that thing if it wasn't under thrown by 5 steps.

[All-American]

Interesting point. I wonder if the fact that our fondest memories of Harvey to date come from the 2007 season has anything to do with the fact that there were two other backs who would be getting carries if he wasn't producing.

[JohnnyLingo]

What does Unga do that Kariya doesn't? I'm not sure Kariya is any slower than Unga, and I think he hits just as hard.

And the point re: Hall's arm is one reason I don't put him up there with the Great QB's of BYU Past. That weak arm will cost us a game this season.

[Borg]

Good thoughts all. I'm not trying to dis Unga, he's a bonafide stud. What I am saying is that Kariya played like a hungry bull. He gave it everything he could.

I'm not convinced that Harvey runs north and south with the same "punch" that kariya did. I think Harvey sees the big picture and might want to dance a bit and avoid the collisions in order to save himself for the year long grind. Not take a risk of injuring himself etc.

There were many 'keys to the game' ...but, man, Kariya played like a man possessed when he had such big shoes to fill, and basically only seeing the field last year in clean up time.

[All-American]

What does Unga do that Kariya doesn't? I'm not sure Kariya is any slower than Unga, and I think he hits just as hard.

And the point re: Hall's arm is one reason I don't put him up there with the Great QB's of BYU Past. That weak arm will cost us a game this season.

Shun the unbeliever!

(To be serious, though. I think your point is valid, and his lesser arm strength COULD cost us a game this season. At the same time, can you point to a game where BYU lost because of Max Hall's inferior arm strength?)

[All-American]

Good thoughts all. I'm not trying to dis Unga, he's a bonafide stud. What I am saying is that Kariya played like a hungry bull. He gave it everything he could.

I'm not convinced that Harvey runs north and south with the same "punch" that kariya did. I think Harvey sees the big picture and might want to dance a bit and avoid the collisions in order to save himself for the year long grind. Not take a risk of injuring himself etc.

There were many 'keys to the game' ...but, man, Kariya played like a man possessed when he had such big shoes to fill, and basically only seeing the field last year in clean up time.

I think you may very well be right. He played like a man out to beat the world that day. There were several carries where he simply willed it an extra two or three. You just can't discount the will to win.

That's not to say Harvey doesn't have the will to win, of course. I think BYU was in a mental funk last year, hoping to survive more than to attack. If Harvey has quality backs behind him, as in 2007, both to give him a breather and to mitigate the risks of injury, I think you'll see more drive out of him too.

[MarkGrace]

Kariya stepped up big, but I'm kind of shocked by all the love he's getting. I mean, we're still talking about 2.5 ypc on 17 carries. He did some great things, but he's not even close to filling Harvey's shoes. It will be great to get him back.

[falafel]

And the point re: Hall's arm is one reason I don't put him up there with the Great QB's of BYU Past. That weak arm will cost us a game this season.

You've mentioned this many times.

[falafel]

Kariya stepped up big, but I'm kind of shocked by all the love he's getting. I mean, we're still talking about 2.5 ypc on 17 carries. He did some great things, but he's not even close to filling Harvey's shoes. It will be great to get him back.

I disagree. The yards per carry definitely don't tell the whole story of Kariya's game. The guy had a lot of yards receiving, and a ton of those were after contact. Then when you consider who the opponent was, its even more impressive.