What happened?

[jay santos]

I don't understand why we don't have any TE's. I don't understand the lack of talent at LB. I don't understand why that safety position is so bad.

I don't fault the coaching related to schemes and playcalls. The same group has been extremely successful very recently.

Heaps is a terrible QB right now. You're not going to win much anywhere at the D1 level with him right now. And you're up in the night if you think it's cuz he hasn't had enough practice reps.

[Goatnapper'96]

I will have to go back and watch some tape to confirm some of these things, but here are my initial gut feelings.

1) Bronco did an absolutely horrible job at managing the game. It didn't matter because we didn't score, but his decision early in the 4th on about the 15 to go for it on 4th and 4 (with a horrible play call) really hurt. 3 points there, and another 3 points the second to last drive puts the score at 8 instead of 14. A TD on the last drive with a 2 point conversion at least ties the game. Where we were at, we had no shot. Also, we left a timeout on the board. In a tight game you just can't do it. Call timeout before their punt and it gives you another 4 or so plays instead of letting the clock run down.

2) Watching the offense with Heaps reminds me of watching John Beck circa 2004. A lot of big plays or big play potential, but just off a little bit. I think Heaps has more upside than Beck and I think he will realize his potential quicker. But something just isn't clicking offensively, and I don't know if it Heaps making the wrong reads or trying to force the ball and get it all once, or if it is the play calling. But the offense has been most effective over the last few years when they focus on the 8-15 yard plays. It seems like we have focused on either shorter or loner stuff. Like I sad though, not sure whose shoulders that falls on, Heaps or Anae, or the fact that we don't have a tight end or safety blanket that he can check down to for those plays.

3) My biggest concern right now is momentum and confidence. 1-3 is
a downer at 2 games below .500 but 1-4 feels like a long ways from .500. 2-3 you're still only one game down heading into a winnable conference schedule. You get further down and guys start trying too hard and don't buy into the team concept, discontent and questioning the coaches and staff happens. It's not a good thing.

4) Anae and Bronco have built schemes that focus on execution. If you are disciplined and do your job, you are going to win most games. But there is a fine line between perfect execution that wins games and average execution that gets you beat. We are young. If we can Get back to what has made BYU BYU recently, we can turn it around and get ready moving forward for the next few years. Having said that, I wouldn't be terribly sad to see RA let go.

I agree with you on #1. This is really Mendenhall's first rebuilding year and I do not think he is handling it real well. I don't think the 2 qb idea was bad, but yesterday's game management was awful. It got fans to boo him and word on the street is that hurts his feelings.

I also totally agree on your analysis of the offense. I think it is just youth and lack of experience. Jake is just a half tick off in timing and when he is on someone else is just a half tick off. The one long timing out to Hoffman was nice. A nice premonition of things to come over the next few years. It will come but it is going to take some time and unfortunately without Unga BYU does not have a real reliable rush game to take that pressure off the young qb. Diluigi is a good back, but not a real primary type and he needs the pass established before he can go as he needs a lot more space than Harvey needed.

I actually thought the defense improved a lot in the second half of that game. I was at the game so I will defer to those who watched it with instant replay and commentary, but it seemed to me that Zac Stout is clearly the present and the future at MLB. He is starting to get it. I hope he chooses to not serve a mission. If Frazier improves as much from this year to next as Clawson did, BYU could have a really solid set of LBs next year.

In the summer, before the myopic hype and the hope of another great year got to me, I recall talking about the youth on both sides of the ball. The DL has two guys at DE with limited-no reps at their position, the LBs are starting 3 new guys with a hell of a lot of youth up the middle. Neither of the two middle lbs ever played MLB for BYU before this fall camp. The offense is rebuilding at several key skill positions. Missing the TE hurts, BYU's offense needs to dominate that middle of the field and those guys are completely MIA. But I believe the talent is there but I agree with the sentiment that it is getting to the point to force the pegs into the hole instead of waiting. There is just an awful lot of youth out there. I think the talent is there but BYU hit a bump in the road where it is clear to me that Mendenhall slightly mismanaged the program. This much new youth should not come in at once. It could turn out great for him over the next couple of years, but much of college football is consistency so it is crucial that BYU only stay down one year.

I admit to being an optimist, but that is what I think will happen. I think BYU will struggle to a 6-6 or a 7-5, and to be honest I don't think a non-bowl year is out of the question, but I think the Cougars will rebound next year in a real big way. I just hope that the confidence and ability to win is not shaken like it was towards the end of the Crowton years. I think getting to a bowl game this year is crucial. Heaps could use the extra reps and it makes a case that BYU is clearly improving.

[Goatnapper'96]

I think Anae needs to call a few more fades. Seriously, why don't we work the middle of the field more? It seems the few slants we ran today were wide open. The fade is a silly low percentage play unless you have a really accurate QB and a great receiver.

The middle of the field requires a TE and for whatever reason none of those are delivering. I also think that the fade is a safer route than throwing the ball over the middle. The confidence of the coaching staff in Jake and Jake's confidence to go over the middle is going to take some time. They are getting more aggressive with Jake each game, so I am hopefull that BYU will have found a TE in the next 3 games.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I admit to being an optimist, but that is what I think will happen. I think BYU will struggle to a 6-6 or a 7-5, and to be honest I don't think a non-bowl year is out of the question, but I think the Cougars will rebound next year in a real big way. I just hope that the confidence and ability to win is not shaken like it was towards the end of the Crowton years. I think getting to a bowl game this year is crucial. Heaps could use the extra reps and it makes a case that BYU is clearly improving.

This becomes a really huge week and the one spot where Crowton teams never seemed to be able to turn the corner, getting a win to stop the bloodshed and help the team mentally recover.

We must beat Utah State. If we lose to the Ags then all of a sudden we are in full blown panic against an improved SDSU and the ball could start rolling fast. If we lose to Utah State I am worried we fall to 1-6 before Wyoming heads to Provo.

[Green Monstah]

I don't see our defense as being all that much different than it has been the previous two seasons. In fact, overall, I think we are definitely better than we were in '09. The difference is that we don't have the Offensive firepower to keep pace with the teams we're playing. I think by season's end, however, we'll have some wrinkles ironed out and we'll know who are go-to guys are going to be. I'm hoping for six wins and several moral victories.

Losing Unga early didn't help, but it's not the end-all. This season was going to be a rebuild year not matter what.

I'm still strangely optimistic, however.

[doctorcoug]

I was kinda surprised how we held them in the second half. That is a huge glimmer if hope.

[Sizzle]

I agree with you on #1. This is really Mendenhall's first rebuilding year and I do not think he is handling it real well. I don't think the 2 qb idea was bad, but yesterday's game management was awful. It got fans to boo him and word on the street is that hurts his feelings.

I think Bronco deserves a lot of leeway. Before Bronco I wondered if BYU would ever be able to return to a level of consistently winning 9 games a year. He then ran off a string of 10-win seasons, including one where it was a "rebuilding year" and always had the Cougs in contention for a title in what I would say has been easily the most competitive conference landscape that BYU has been a part of in my lifetime. But the game management yesterday was, in my opinion, pretty suspect. I'd hope for better from a head coach with as much experience as he has.

I also totally agree on your analysis of the offense. I think it is just youth and lack of experience. Jake is just a half tick off in timing and when he is on someone else is just a half tick off. The one long timing out to Hoffman was nice. A nice premonition of things to come over the next few years. It will come but it is going to take some time and unfortunately without Unga BYU does not have a real reliable rush game to take that pressure off the young qb. Diluigi is a good back, but not a real primary type and he needs the pass established before he can go as he needs a lot more space than Harvey needed.

I agree, and I think they were planning on Harvey being around and being able to use JJ in the slot this year to help soften some of the blow of not having such good tight ends. Not only has JJ been our best runner (with the possible exception of Riley) he has also been our best receiver coming out of the backfield on the circle routes taking advantage of an open middle of the field. The timing with the WRs is what has been the most disturbing to me, and I honestly feel that a large portion of this has been due to the lack of chemistry and confusion of having two schemes and two drastically different QBs. It'll come.

I actually thought the defense improved a lot in the second half of that game. I was at the game so I will defer to those who watched it with instant replay and commentary, but it seemed to me that Zac Stout is clearly the present and the future at MLB. He is starting to get it. I hope he chooses to not serve a mission. If Frazier improves as much from this year to next as Clawson did, BYU could have a really solid set of LBs next year.

Stout looked lost from my perspective in the first half, picking gaps and picking wrongly most of the time. I think they did better in the second half, although I think it has as much to do with Nevada feeling like they could control the clock, limit our possessions and leave with the win. I didn't feel like Nevada really pushed things in the second half, because they didn't feel like they needed to.

I also think having Ogletree out hurts. He seemed to be one of the players that could really develop into the defensive leader type, a la Cameron Jensen. Talented, but not the most talented guy, but somebody who has heart and isn't afraid to fly around and hit people. The other move that I really questioned was starting the other Mendenhall at Safety. Nevada is already more athletic than us. Moving a linebacker back to play Strong and moving Rich over to Free didn't seem like the best move and it seemed to have hurt the Y early. I really wonder if our safeties are that bad. What about Jray Galeli? Or what about moving Brandon Bradley over to Free, and playing Rich at strong to help contain Kapernic and starting both Logan at Eason at the corners. Again, I'm sure Bronco has his reasons, but this move seemed a little strange to me.

In the summer, before the myopic hype and the hope of another great year got to me, I recall talking about the youth on both sides of the ball. The DL has two guys at DE with limited-no reps at their position, the LBs are starting 3 new guys with a hell of a lot of youth up the middle. Neither of the two middle lbs ever played MLB for BYU before this fall camp. The offense is rebuilding at several key skill positions. Missing the TE hurts, BYU's offense needs to dominate that middle of the field and those guys are completely MIA. But I believe the talent is there but I agree with the sentiment that it is getting to the point to force the pegs into the hole instead of waiting. There is just an awful lot of youth out there. I think the talent is there but BYU hit a bump in the road where it is clear to me that Mendenhall slightly mismanaged the program. This much new youth should not come in at once. It could turn out great for him over the next couple of years, but much of college football is consistency so it is crucial that BYU only stay down one year.

I can pretty much agree with the whole paragraph, and think I've mentioned some points above that go along with this.

I admit to being an optimist, but that is what I think will happen. I think BYU will struggle to a 6-6 or a 7-5, and to be honest I don't think a non-bowl year is out of the question, but I think the Cougars will rebound next year in a real big way. I just hope that the confidence and ability to win is not shaken like it was towards the end of the Crowton years. I think getting to a bowl game this year is crucial. Heaps could use the extra reps and it makes a case that BYU is clearly improving.

Timing is something that I think will start clicking and should make for some interesting games late season. I think if we played Nevada or Air Force later in the year, we beat them. Unfortunately, the luck of the draw gave us some tough early season games and we didn't have the opportunity to work out some kinks, gain some momentum and rhythm, and we're in a hole. I felt like 1-3 was the most likely scenario for the Cougs this year, and I still think winning 8 games (including the Bowl game) is not out of the picture. If that is the case, next year will probably be a 9-win season with the chance at 10 in the bowl and on to bigger and better things the next year.

Rise and Shout Bitches! The season ain't over yet!

[jay santos]

I was kinda surprised how we held them in the second half. That is a huge glimmer if hope.

Agree. Though allowing a 20 play 10 minute drive resulting in a 4th quarter field goal that puts you behind 17 points might not be worth all the celebration it got.

[NorthShoreCoug]

So I missed the game - was on a backpacking trip with my older kids - and thanks to everyone filling me in on the game. One question I haven't seen addressed is the offensive line. How was the pass protection in this game? Did Reynolds play?

[Goatnapper'96]

I don't understand why we don't have any TE's. I don't understand the lack of talent at LB. I don't understand why that safety position is so bad.

I don't fault the coaching related to schemes and playcalls. The same group has been extremely successful very recently.

Heaps is a terrible QB right now. You're not going to win much anywhere at the D1 level with him right now. And you're up in the night if you think it's cuz he hasn't had enough practice reps.

I agree with you here. These are very legitimate shortcomings in the program that should be exposed this bad at year 6. Mendenhall has had enough time and recruiting these positions were poorly managed.

As an optimist, I believe the LB and TE position will be fine by the end of this year and probably good next year. However, I can see scenarios where safety is a struggle again next season. I don't understand how Mendenhall can find more adequate cb play than safety. I understand missions and HC attritions have some impact, but I still think it is fair to expect BYU's team to be better than what BYU has shown even in rebuilding years.

I really think it is time to pare down the TE playing time and make a decision and be a coach.

[Goatnapper'96]

So I missed the game - was on a backpacking trip with my older kids - and thanks to everyone filling me in on the game. One question I haven't seen addressed is the offensive line. How was the pass protection in this game? Did Reynolds play?

I thought the OL played fine. I only recall one sack and it was on a blitz and I assume it was the rb that missed the block. I do think there was one hold. Reynolds got hurt in the first or second quarter, but I think he returned. I think he is playing well, just really nicked up right now. I don't think OL is anyway near BYU's other problems on offense.

[Indy Coug]

It's always fun to see how in the space of 4 games you can burn through the goodwill built up over the previous 52 games.

[All-American]

It's always fun to see how in the space of 4 games you can burn through the goodwill built up over the previous 52 games.

Again, lest I appear to be calling for heads, I am not. I do think that the state of the program represents a situation more drastic than what comes with the typical ebbs and flows of a program, and that there have been mistakes which ought not be repeated. I'm asking what we did wrong, and what we could have or should have done to avoid this mess in the first place.

[Indy Coug]

Again, lest I appear to be calling for heads, I am not. I do think that the state of the program represents a situation more drastic than what comes with the typical ebbs and flows of a program, and that there have been mistakes which ought not be repeated. I'm asking what we did wrong, and what we could have or should have done to avoid this mess in the first place.

When you have 75%-80% of your athletes going on missions, there is going to be the inevitable situations in your program where class/positional imbalances are going to be particularly bad.

If you want to avoid this kind of mess, stop sending your athletes on missions. Period.

We would have an upperclassman Munns starting at QB, upperclassman Austin Holt at TE, all sorts of quality upperclassmen LBs etc. right now.

[BoylenOver]

What does the loss of Fuga do for this defense? Obviously it's a terrible injury, but how does BYU look at nose tackle?