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My thoughts on BYU's D next year. I know I am late to the party in giving my opinion but here it is.
Next years D will only improve if So'oto and Hooks are healthy. If you run a 3-4 you have to have good athletic linebackers. Doman, Bauman and even Clawson are not. They proved this year they are not athletic enough or big enough to be effective in a 3-4. If those 2 can get healthy and return to pre-injury form the D has a good chance of being better. If not then I think it will be the same thing in 09. I have a hard time thinking Manti will pass on SC. Until that LOI comes across the fax on Feb. 4th in my mind he is going to SC.
SoCalCoug pointed out all the linebackers on the roster and those that are being recruited or have been recruited in the past. The sad thing is, BYU has went for quantity and not quality up until last year at LB. The guys that signed last year and played as true freshman are going to be good but they will not help BYU next season as it looks like all of them are heading on missions. There really has not been playmakers recruited by Mendanhal at that postion.
The secondary will be improved mainly because Fowler and Tafuna are gone. Fowler was probably the worst Safety in D-1 football last year and Tafuna was not far behind. Rich is a stud. If you don't agree with me just go back and watch the effect he had on the Utah game in the 2nd and 3rd quarter when Fowler was finally benched after the 1st quarter. During the 2nd/3rd was when BYU was able to stop Utah's O and Rich played a big part in that. Mainly because they could pick on Fowler like they did the entire 1st quarter. Rich had to move to SS when Tafuna was hurt at the end of the 3rd and unfortunately Fowler returned to the game. For some reason Hill and Bronco didn't learn from this and once again Fowler played every play in the Vegas Bowl and was just abused.
When all is said and done I think there will be an improvement mainly because of Andrew Rich. If BYU is to improve a lot..... Then that depends on Hooks and So'oto IMO. The LB's that played last year aren't good. Hooks and So'oto have the potential because of their athleticism.
Next years D will only improve if So'oto and Hooks are healthy. If you run a 3-4 you have to have good athletic linebackers. Doman, Bauman and even Clawson are not. They proved this year they are not athletic enough or big enough to be effective in a 3-4. If those 2 can get healthy and return to pre-injury form the D has a good chance of being better. If not then I think it will be the same thing in 09. I have a hard time thinking Manti will pass on SC. Until that LOI comes across the fax on Feb. 4th in my mind he is going to SC.
SoCalCoug pointed out all the linebackers on the roster and those that are being recruited or have been recruited in the past. The sad thing is, BYU has went for quantity and not quality up until last year at LB. The guys that signed last year and played as true freshman are going to be good but they will not help BYU next season as it looks like all of them are heading on missions. There really has not been playmakers recruited by Mendanhal at that postion.
The secondary will be improved mainly because Fowler and Tafuna are gone. Fowler was probably the worst Safety in D-1 football last year and Tafuna was not far behind. Rich is a stud. If you don't agree with me just go back and watch the effect he had on the Utah game in the 2nd and 3rd quarter when Fowler was finally benched after the 1st quarter. During the 2nd/3rd was when BYU was able to stop Utah's O and Rich played a big part in that. Mainly because they could pick on Fowler like they did the entire 1st quarter. Rich had to move to SS when Tafuna was hurt at the end of the 3rd and unfortunately Fowler returned to the game. For some reason Hill and Bronco didn't learn from this and once again Fowler played every play in the Vegas Bowl and was just abused.
When all is said and done I think there will be an improvement mainly because of Andrew Rich. If BYU is to improve a lot..... Then that depends on Hooks and So'oto IMO. The LB's that played last year aren't good. Hooks and So'oto have the potential because of their athleticism.
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