2011 BYU Football Thread

[LiveCoug]

It was a wink acknowledging that I knew what took place Saturday. So yeah, I guess it was a just kidding. I watched the game, don't you remember me in chat?

Oh, I know you watched the game. I just wouldn't put it past you to have already forgotten the game.

[MarkGrace]

Oh, I know you watched the game. I just wouldn't put it past you to have already forgotten the game.

haha...that's probably true. I just don't get much out of BYU hoops, as I've stated ad nauseum, despite the fact that I always pull for them in a general sense. But win or lose I'm over it about 30 seconds after the buzzer.

[MarkGrace]

More titillation.

Bombs continued today with Heaps hitting Jacobson for a 60-yard TD pass on a deep post...Apo caught a lot of passes as well

[I.J. Reilly]

More titillation.

Bombs continued today with Heaps hitting Jacobson for a 60-yard TD pass on a deep post...Apo caught a lot of passes as well

Is there no sensitivity for the plight of the Lybian people?

[cougjunkie]

No spring game again this year. Just an open practice.

[oxcoug]

Also more evidence of the coming age of Robbie Buckner - or at least of the coming of age of Robbie Buckner.

"Defensive highlights included Robbie Buckner knocking down a couple of passes during drills and Jordan Johnson picking off a pass that went for a pick 6 during 7-on-7 drills"

[Goatnapper'96]

Apparantly Hans Olsen is claiming BYU has the talent assembled to win the NC. The hyperbole, which is getting pretty fevered from various talking heads - some of which are not as homeristic as say Brother Wrubbell, is likely not a reflection of reality, but the reality is probably that BYU has a very good squad assembled.

I thought BYU finished last year as a team I would have placed somewhere between 30-40 nationally. Now I am not one who gives much thought to winning a MNC, but I would like to see BYU go undefeated and get a BCS bowl invite. IMO, BYU can control whether they win or lose games, the rest is just fluff. I think if BYU is a legit top 10 team this year they could go undefeated. I am not sure if I can buy they will improve that much from last year to this, but I can buy that they could be that good when Heaps is a junior.

Fundamentally, I struggle seeing BYU being a top 10 team with a RB by committee when that committee consists of JJ Duligi, Brian Kariya and Josh Quezada. Perhaps Quezada will step up and become more of a go to player at a level that teams must plan for, but I doubt anyone plans for JJ and BK. Both are solid players at best but I think BYU will need more from its RBs than gaudy stats against NM State to be a legit top 10 team. The other positions, other than OL, will need some folks to step up but I am convinced the natural talent is there. Not sure I believe the experience is there, which is why I lean moreso towards believing a BCS run is more feasible the following year. I also think that our offensive coaching staff, while seeking to be "unpredictable" and massaging the inner thighs of the fanbase, is still real innexperienced and that will have some negative consequences throughout the year. Especially early in the year when BYU plays most of its tougher opponents. I am just skeptical that BYU's offense can be as good as it will need to be for BYU to make that type of run next year, unless Jake Heaps really develops into as good as Beck was as a senior for next year. I have long advocated that I thought Jake would get there, but not until his junior year. I would love to be surprised.

I am more confident in the defense. It was pretty good by the end of last year and even with the loss of Rich, I am convinced there are enough playmakers at the right positions for Mendenhall to plug in his journeyman/high efffort guys around and it will be very good at its best and adequate enough to win each game at its worst.

[Eddie]

Apparantly Hans Olsen is claiming BYU has the talent assembled to win the NC. The hyperbole, which is getting pretty fevered from various talking heads - some of which are not as homeristic as say Brother Wrubbell, is likely not a reflection of reality, but the reality is probably that BYU has a very good squad assembled.

I thought BYU finished last year as a team I would have placed somewhere between 30-40 nationally. Now I am not one who gives much thought to winning a MNC, but I would like to see BYU go undefeated and get a BCS bowl invite. IMO, BYU can control whether they win or lose games, the rest is just fluff. I think if BYU is a legit top 10 team this year they could go undefeated. I am not sure if I can buy they will improve that much from last year to this, but I can buy that they could be that good when Heaps is a junior.

Fundamentally, I struggle seeing BYU being a top 10 team with a RB by committee when that committee consists of JJ Duligi, Brian Kariya and Josh Quezada. Perhaps Quezada will step up and become more of a go to player at a level that teams must plan for, but I doubt anyone plans for JJ and BK. Both are solid players at best but I think BYU will need more from its RBs than gaudy stats against NM State to be a legit top 10 team. The other positions, other than OL, will need some folks to step up but I am convinced the natural talent is there. Not sure I believe the experience is there, which is why I lean moreso towards believing a BCS run is more feasible the following year. I also think that our offensive coaching staff, while seeking to be "unpredictable" and massaging the inner thighs of the fanbase, is still real innexperienced and that will have some negative consequences throughout the year. Especially early in the year when BYU plays most of its tougher opponents. I am just skeptical that BYU's offense can be as good as it will need to be for BYU to make that type of run next year, unless Jake Heaps really develops into as good as Beck was as a senior for next year. I have long advocated that I thought Jake would get there, but not until his junior year. I would love to be surprised.

I am more confident in the defense. It was pretty good by the end of last year and even with the loss of Rich, I am convinced there are enough playmakers at the right positions for Mendenhall to plug in his journeyman/high efffort guys around and it will be very good at its best and adequate enough to win each game at its worst.

I kind of view this year as a set up year for next. It seems like you have to have a good run up the year before if you want to break into a BCS game the following year. Not saying an undefeated team this year wouldn't get in, just that I agree with you - it seems like a steep hill to climb going from .500 to undefeated.

It wouldn't surprise me if BYU were to go undefeated this year. I tend to get caught up in the hype of fall camp and find myself - while not predicting undefeated seasons at least believing that there isn't anyone on the schedule that BYU isn't capable of beating.

But I think while this year could be good, next year should be better...

[Jeff Lebowski]

Apparantly Hans Olsen is claiming BYU has the talent assembled to win the NC.

Is there a bigger fool on the radio than Hans Olsen? I was listening to him again this morning and cringing with every dumbass comment. An embarrassment to the fine folks of Weiser, Idaho.

[Goatnapper'96]

Is there a bigger fool on the radio than Hans Olsen? I was listening to him again this morning and cringing with every dumbass comment. An embarrassment to the fine folks of Weiser, Idaho.

When he once explained the reason he dropped out of clogging classes was because all the kids made fun of his oscilating moobs, I laughed hysterically.

But other than that he is a goof who is likely not a overwhelmingly smart guy. He isn't afraid to embarass himself and the intended audience is reflected at Utefans.net and Cougarboard.com.

It is pretty hard to embarass Weiser, Idaho! Up here we are just not nearly as pretentious as you folks down in the more metropolitan wasatch front area!

But to answer your question, I don't know if Hans Olsen is the biggest fool on Utah sports talk radio, but when I have listened I have felt there were numerous fools seeking for that honor. It is a very intense competition. But the fact is that BYU and Utah have such a high concentration of dorks that those seeking for the honor of biggest fool will always be those who appeal to the lowest common denominator because of how prevalent it is in Utah. In other words, I think the area gets exactly what it wants/deserves.

[MarkGrace]

This is what Hans said about the running game yesterday:

"I am so pumped to see BYU's new running game. So deep, so fast, so athletically awesome. They can pound, they can juke they can sprint: wow!"

I sat there wondering if we signed some RB I didn't know about.

Gurney also mentioned that the coaches are giving Drew a lot of reps to get a feel for what he can do and he has apparently looked pretty good. Also, no sign of him in the slot yet.

[MarkGrace]

Small article on Kaveinga and some notes from yesterday's practice.

Kaveinga is competing for the starting Mike linebacker position which head coach Bronco Mendenhall has often termed as being the most critical position in a 3-4 defense. He's receiving stiff competition so far for the spot from Stout, Jorgensen and Beck.

"I couldn't be happier with how things are going for me and for the team this spring," he said. "It's been hard, Bronco, he knows how to work us for sure, but it's good. It's all good."

Jake lighting it up.

PRACTICE NOTES: Jake Heaps has the passing game humming as he went 8-9 for 129 yards and a touchdown unofficially. His touchdown came with a 60-yard pass to McKay Jacobson on a deep post route.

And what diet is Hague on?

Former running back Mike Hague has switched over to safety and has dropped an amazing 45 pounds in the off-season to better compete at that position.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7...l?s_cid=rss-28

[oxcoug]

Apparantly Hans Olsen is claiming BYU has the talent assembled to win the NC. The hyperbole, which is getting pretty fevered from various talking heads - some of which are not as homeristic as say Brother Wrubbell, is likely not a reflection of reality, but the reality is probably that BYU has a very good squad assembled.

I thought BYU finished last year as a team I would have placed somewhere between 30-40 nationally. Now I am not one who gives much thought to winning a MNC, but I would like to see BYU go undefeated and get a BCS bowl invite. IMO, BYU can control whether they win or lose games, the rest is just fluff. I think if BYU is a legit top 10 team this year they could go undefeated. I am not sure if I can buy they will improve that much from last year to this, but I can buy that they could be that good when Heaps is a junior.

Fundamentally, I struggle seeing BYU being a top 10 team with a RB by committee when that committee consists of JJ Duligi, Brian Kariya and Josh Quezada. Perhaps Quezada will step up and become more of a go to player at a level that teams must plan for, but I doubt anyone plans for JJ and BK. Both are solid players at best but I think BYU will need more from its RBs than gaudy stats against NM State to be a legit top 10 team. The other positions, other than OL, will need some folks to step up but I am convinced the natural talent is there. Not sure I believe the experience is there, which is why I lean moreso towards believing a BCS run is more feasible the following year. I also think that our offensive coaching staff, while seeking to be "unpredictable" and massaging the inner thighs of the fanbase, is still real innexperienced and that will have some negative consequences throughout the year. Especially early in the year when BYU plays most of its tougher opponents. I am just skeptical that BYU's offense can be as good as it will need to be for BYU to make that type of run next year, unless Jake Heaps really develops into as good as Beck was as a senior for next year. I have long advocated that I thought Jake would get there, but not until his junior year. I would love to be surprised.

I am more confident in the defense. It was pretty good by the end of last year and even with the loss of Rich, I am convinced there are enough playmakers at the right positions for Mendenhall to plug in his journeyman/high efffort guys around and it will be very good at its best and adequate enough to win each game at its worst.

I agree w/ the difficulty of the early schedule being a big obstacle to a BCS run next year. If the schedule was flipped I'd actually think there was a decent shot. But there's a second side to it - at least our first couple of opponents will have had little time to scout (a) the modified offense and (b) some of the new weapons, specifically Apo and Philips. That could work in our favor if the team is ready.

I think I disagree on your assessment of our running game. First, I think the talent is actually better than you give it credit for. JJ Diluigi had an identical YPC average in 2010 as Harvey Unga put up in 2009, something he did in spite of a passing game that, in the first half of the season, other teams basically didn't have to defend and no reliable TEs to pull LBs back into the seams. No, I don't think JJ is as good as Harvey or even in his league (and I recognize that Harvey was used in a lot of short yardage situations that would have trimmed his average a bit) but 5.2 YPC is pretty good by almost any standard.

Quezada came on strong at the end of last year and I won't go as far to predict that he'll hit Unga levels, but I think he's going to be a very potent yard eater this year, who will occasionally juke and break to the second level.

I think Alisa is going to surprise people - he's faster than a lot of people know and he's actually got decent lateral quicks to go with a physical style.

Then there's the Philips wildcard, which at least introduces a realistic homerun threat that BYU opponents aren't used to gameplanning for.

But what it really comes back to is our line - I'm not looking to make an entry in the Hyperbole Sweepstakes here, but I think the case can be made that this will be the best line in Cougar history. One of BYU's 3-4 best linemen of all time lining up with three dudes who have been starting for a full two years together and one new guy. The success of JJ/Kariya/Quezada last year and the fact that we basically averaged 200 YPG rushing in an offense that sucked for most of the year is a testament to these horses and they're only going to be better this year.

Short version - I think the mix of RBs we've got combined with the O line combined with a passing game that will make it very dangerous for defenses to stack the box on us - I think we're going to run very effectively this year.

[falafel]

Is there a bigger fool on the radio than Hans Olsen? I was listening to him again this morning and cringing with every dumbass comment. An embarrassment to the fine folks of Weiser, Idaho.

Is that how you spell it? I always thought it was Weezer, ID.

[byu71]

To add some detail.

Mckay is "real excited." Hoff is "more confident." Apo says Heaps is "pretty much 75%" of the reason he came to BYU.

No clarification on the other 25%. I'm betting it's the BYU Creamery.

I am betting mormon chicks. I hope he took note of what happened to our BB player.