This year's D vs Last year's D

[TripletDaddy]

Last season, when we were 6-0, including shutouts, many were bullish on our D. The wheels quickly started to fall off and games against TCU and Utah seemed to highlight our weaknesses. By the end of the season, there were lots of complaints about the defense.

Why is this season different? Or is it different? What makes this year's defense better and why do you think that the same mistakes from last season won't plague BYU now?

[Surfah]

Last season, when we were 6-0, including shutouts, many were bullish on our D. The wheels quickly started to fall off and games against TCU and Utah seemed to highlight our weaknesses. By the end of the season, there were lots of complaints about the defense.

Why is this season different? Or is it different? What makes this year's defense better and why do you think that the same mistakes from last season won't plague BYU now?

What's different is we took out a heisman winning QB and two 1,000 yard rushing RBs.

[TripletDaddy]

What's different is we took out a heisman winning QB and two 1,000 yard rushing RBs.

I was going to clarify that I was aware that we won this weekend. Also, technically, that isn't different from last season because last season we didn't have the chance to play Oklahoma, a Heisman winner or two 1,000 yard rushing RBs.

I guess even though I am still enjoying the high, eventually everyone has to come down and think about Tulane, another long trip for the team, etc.

[cougjunkie]

Honestly the biggest thing for me is how BYU was flying to the ball. Watching utah vs Utah state on Thursday I even told HL this, I thought that utah was extremely fast and that even utah State had better athletes then BYU. BYU seems to always go for the bigger, stronger player as opposted to the faster one.

This year they have used the TCU/Utah mold, Pendleton is a converted Safety/WR playing OLB, So'oto is a converted Tight end playing D-end, Jorgensen is down to 255 pounds (the weight he was as a sophomore), Tialavea is down to 285 and much faster. They actually have athletes to put on the field and not just space eaters. That was very evident against Oklahoma. After the first week I still think utah is quite a bit faster, but BYU has made huge strides since last year.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I agree with Junkie it is speed and attacking. The BYU defense Saturday may have held UCLA without a first down, not just without a points.

[Surfah]

The play calling on defense is the biggest difference IMO. We zone blitzed all game. I think JIC said we blitzed more in this game then we did all last year. And I believe it was Goatnapper who commented that has more to do with the personnel we have out there this year than Hill's play calling last year (this supports CJ's comment about team speed being much improved). Coupling all these factors too, we saw DBs lined up in man coverage 5 yards off the ball and not 10-15. We used to get burned on those quick outs for 5 yards all day the way they used to line up. They have some serious trust in Logan and Bradley and each played well.

[TripletDaddy]

Coupling all these factors too, we saw DBs lined up in man coverage 5 yards off the ball and not 10-15. We used to get burned on those quick outs for 5 yards all day the way they used to line up. They have some serious trust in Logan and Bradley and each played well.

We commented to each other that is was a relief to not see Howard out there, 20 yards away from his man, giving up 7 yards every third down.

[smokymountainrain]

DDD, it's a fair question and it's the same thing I thought when I posted my "BYU's defense" thread. I understand what everybody is saying about flying to the ball, getting faster, taking out a Heisman winner, etc. But just as I said in that thread, I'll be convinced when they do it for 4 quarters against athletic QB who will run and/or a spread option attack that keeps them on their heels with a plethora of fakes, options and misdirection plays.

Oklahoma pretty much played a straight up pro style offense, threw it and ran it about 50/50 (somebody who wants to check the stats can prove me wrong), got caught with some untimely penalties and turnovers and then there was obviously the injury.

[cougjunkie]

Bronco said last night that they played man, zone, they zone blitzed, they delayed blitzed, they just constantly mixed up the defensive scheme. He said they knew they couldnt play just man or just zone and win. Interesting since last year they played just vanilla zone all year long.

[CJF]

Bronco said last night that they played man, zone, they zone blitzed, they delayed blitzed, they just constantly mixed up the defensive scheme. He said they knew they couldnt play just man or just zone and win. Interesting since last year they played just vanilla zone all year long.

I read a comment from Hill saying they wanted to put pressure on a Center who was a converted TE to make the right assignment call play after play. I can't remember a BYU team being that aggressive defensively. Putting pressure on the other team to make the right choice. There was absolutely no bend but don't break mentality on Saturday. That is something that has been sorely missing.

[PaloAltoCougar]

HB Arnett wrote in today's issue of his Cougar Sportsline that Mendenhall has shown that he's a very good coach because he's willing to do what's best for the program, and not just his ego. Dropping his beloved 3-3-5 and more recently giving up the DC position are examples of that. I liked the hug he gave Hill Saturday evening (much deserved). Given the change in philosophy and better talent, this team can be very, very good.

[UtahDan]

Last season, when we were 6-0, including shutouts, many were bullish on our D. The wheels quickly started to fall off and games against TCU and Utah seemed to highlight our weaknesses. By the end of the season, there were lots of complaints about the defense.

Why is this season different? Or is it different? What makes this year's defense better and why do you think that the same mistakes from last season won't plague BYU now?

I don't know what the difference is. But I think it will be very interesting to see how it fairs against TCU and Utah, in other words, against the other good teams in the league whose coaches know it the best. I still have a feeling that we could both be scratching our heads looking up at TCU at the end of the year. I think they are going to kill us in week four. We'll see.

[TripletDaddy]

I think I will go ahead and .....uh........bump this thread right here.......for everyone.......

[cougjunkie]

Go back and watch the game (ok dont unless you want to be depressed). But when BYU got their one stop of the game they actually played man press on the corners, so FSU couldnt throw that quick WR screen.

[TripletDaddy]

Go back and watch the game (ok dont unless you want to be depressed). But when BYU got their one stop of the game they actually played man press on the corners, so FSU couldnt throw that quick WR screen.

At the end of the first quarter, FSU had converted something like 9 first downs. Or maybe 11? It was some ridiculous number. I stopped keeping track.

I will NOT be re-watching that game. In fact, I already deleted it. I don't ever want to see it again.