What's going to be different about next year's game?

[Coach McGuirk]

The opposing coach will not be pelted with ice and snowballs.

[UtahDan]

The opposing coach will not be pelted with ice and snowballs.

Haven't you heard of beer on ice? Latest craze.

[Coach McGuirk]

Haven't you heard of beer on ice? Latest craze.

I was thinking he would be showered with love and praise, since we are the greatest fan base to ever grace the earth.

There, I said it.

[BoylenOver]

Utah's biggest question marks going into next season are running back (Harvey Langi the starter?), offensive line (lose three starters and two depth guys, and Bergstrom+Cullen haven't inspired much confidence over the last month), and safety (not good this year, although Blechen is only a true freshman). Call me crazy, but I think the LB's will be much improved next year. Nai Fotu, JJ Williams (started as a true freshman before his mission), and VJ Fehoko are the projected starters right now.

It's really hard to use history to predict how the game will go. With the exception of Utah St (and now Iowa St), Utah teams under Whit struggle in road OOC games, but it's a 40-minute bus ride. And most of Bronco's losses as BYU HC have come OOC early in the season (15-10 in September, compared to 40-11 in all other months), but there's no comparison in terms of familiarity between the teams BYU usually plays in September and Utah.

I think the "but it won't be the last game of the season!" is a little overplayed. The game hasn't always been the last game of the season. It didn't even become a November fixture until the 60's. And next year will be the 2nd time these two teams have played in September (BYU won in Salt Lake 14-7 on September 27th, 1958).

[Surfah]

To answer your question, BYU is going to win.

This.

[Clark Addison]

I've liked Logan and Bradley, but I'm hopeful they can be replaced. Andrew Rich is close to irreplaceable, however, so that'll hurt. With that notable exception, I expect the D to be better next year. And the Heaps vs. Anyone question was answered for me yesterday. I think bowl prep, spring, and fall camp with him as the clearly established field general will be a big help in his development.

Early in the year, I thought Rich was irreplaceable, but I'm feeling better about that now. That is no knock on Rich; he is definitely my favorite defensive player of the last 3 or 4 years, and in the top 5 all time. However, early in the year, he was the only one outside of Jordan Pendleton making plays. I was terrified that, without him, BYU's D would be terrible. After Bronco took over, though, and the D got going, he did not seem to be relied on as much.

These stats may be meaningless, but through the first 7 games, he averaged 6.1 solo tackles and 4.1 assisted tackles per game. For the last 5 games, he has been at 3.2 and 3.6. I don't think he has dropped off at all, but the rest of the defense has stepped up. His loss will definitely be felt, but at least we now won't be losing the only guy who can make a tackle.

[oxcoug]

How many starters this year will Utah lose? My sense is BYU more returning starters next year than any season in memory.

On offense - unless Matt Reynolds opts to go pro (I'm hearing 50/50 at this point) BYU might not actually lose a single offensive player that they'll really notice. (No offense, Luke, but subtracting you and adding Apo and Jordan Smith is a monumental net gain). BYU should have settled the TE rotation, I think Quezada will be entrenched as our top running threat with JJ and Kariya providing quality depth. Jake will have a spring and summer behind him as BYU's entrenched starter. With those factors coalescing BYU has a chance to make a quantum leap forward on offense next year.

On defense - no doubt that losing three starters in the secondary is going to hurt. But BYU has never had more depth at CB - Corby Eason, Buckner, Johnson, Aguirre (cld go to safety), Everett (also cld go to safety), Gaines (getting raves, I think will stay at CB) - I've never been less worried abt a CB transition, which is something since Logan-Bradley is the best tandem we've had since Morgan and McTyre.

Safeties - no way we don't miss Rich's playmaking. The guy can make the case to be the best safety in BYU history. But we've got the talent that can step in. Personally I'm hoping that Daniel Sorenson gets moved back there. But between Joe Sampson, some switch of Aguirre/Everett, Uale, Galeai and Riley Nelson (hey, here's hoping) I feel like we've got far more to work with than we normally do. But Sorenson is my secret hope for a guy who's got Rich-style chops and football intelligence.

LBs - I can take off my blue 3-d shades and set them to the side and I still see a golden age in BYU linebacking on the horizon. Shane Hunter graduating is addition by subtraction. The depth and athleticism of this unit next year and beyond is going to be beyond what BYU has had since.... Gouveia-White? Forever. Amazing that we played the second half of the season w/o Jordan Pendleton and barely noticed. And EVERYONE comes back. Plus 3-4 talented guys coming off missions who can probably RS.

D line - Here's to hoping both Fuga and Richardson can come back. Losing Vic hurts a little. But I think we'll be fine there.

[jay santos]

Another thing that will be different:

I heard this on pregame from Wrubell. Not sure if i heard it right or if it's been mentioned before. But Wrubell said from next year forward no one will wear road whites. It will always be blue vs red. ?

[jay santos]

Early in the year, I thought Rich was irreplaceable, but I'm feeling better about that now. That is no knock on Rich; he is definitely my favorite defensive player of the last 3 or 4 years, and in the top 5 all time. However, early in the year, he was the only one outside of Jordan Pendleton making plays. I was terrified that, without him, BYU's D would be terrible. After Bronco took over, though, and the D got going, he did not seem to be relied on as much.

These stats may be meaningless, but through the first 7 games, he averaged 6.1 solo tackles and 4.1 assisted tackles per game. For the last 5 games, he has been at 3.2 and 3.6. I don't think he has dropped off at all, but the rest of the defense has stepped up. His loss will definitely be felt, but at least we now won't be losing the only guy who can make a tackle.

I don't know how Bronco does it, but it seems like he truly can take crappy safeties and either turn them into great ones or create a D where their weaknesses are completely hidden. Until he took over, Thomas and Uale's deficiencies were on display front and center. It seems they personally gave up 6-8 big plays a game. Since, Bronco took over I can hardly remember a single play where I was swearing at them. (Not that Rich is in this category, but that I too am feeling OK about replacing him in Bronco's D)

[Goatnapper'96]

I don't know how Bronco does it, but it seems like he truly can take crappy safeties and either turn them into great ones or create a D where their weaknesses are completely hidden. Until he took over, Thomas and Uale's deficiencies were on display front and center. It seems they personally gave up 6-8 big plays a game. Since, Bronco took over I can hardly remember a single play where I was swearing at them. (Not that Rich is in this category, but that I too am feeling OK about replacing him in Bronco's D)

What I have concluded that 2009 might have been more of an opportunity lost than perhaps we realize. I wonder what might have been had Bronco been the DC last season. IMO, BYU is clearly better when Bronco is the DC and he should remain there indefinitely. Taking himself away from that role hurt his program a lot more than I realized.

[oxcoug]

Utah's biggest question marks going into next season are running back (Harvey Langi the starter?), offensive line (lose three starters and two depth guys, and Bergstrom+Cullen haven't inspired much confidence over the last month), and safety (not good this year, although Blechen is only a true freshman). Call me crazy, but I think the LB's will be much improved next year. Nai Fotu, JJ Williams (started as a true freshman before his mission), and VJ Fehoko are the projected starters right now.

It's really hard to use history to predict how the game will go. With the exception of Utah St (and now Iowa St), Utah teams under Whit struggle in road OOC games, but it's a 40-minute bus ride. And most of Bronco's losses as BYU HC have come OOC early in the season (15-10 in September, compared to 40-11 in all other months), but there's no comparison in terms of familiarity between the teams BYU usually plays in September and Utah.

I think the "but it won't be the last game of the season!" is a little overplayed. The game hasn't always been the last game of the season. It didn't even become a November fixture until the 60's. And next year will be the 2nd time these two teams have played in September (BYU won in Salt Lake 14-7 on September 27th, 1958).

Interesting - I didn't even know Fehoko ended up at the U. If I remember correctly BYU never offered him because they were overstocked at LB and also because he seemed really slow. Any comments on whether the perception of his speed is accurate? It always seemed odd to me that he could have scored as many raves as he did while running a 4.9 40 with tweener size.

[statman]

But we lose some big players on defense.

What is going to happen with Riley Nelson vs Heaps? Is that question answered?

It had damn well better be answered!

If Bronco or Anae says one word about there being an open competition for who gets the nod at QB1, Holmoe ought to fire them on the spot...

[BoylenOver]

Interesting - I didn't even know Fehoko ended up at the U. If I remember correctly BYU never offered him because they were overstocked at LB and also because he seemed really slow. Any comments on whether the perception of his speed is accurate? It always seemed odd to me that he could have scored as many raves as he did while running a 4.9 40 with tweener size.

Rivals has him running a 4.6 40. Rivals also shows him with a BYU offer.

Hell, maybe he can bulk up to 250 and be a 3rd-down specialist. Let Greg Bird play linebacker.

[LiveCoug]

There will only be one difference that matters: BYU by 17.

[oxcoug]

Rivals has him running a 4.6 40. Rivals also shows him with a BYU offer.

Hell, maybe he can bulk up to 250 and be a 3rd-down specialist. Let Greg Bird play linebacker.

Hah interesting - yeah I'm about 95% certain that BYU never offered him. Everyone kept thinking they would (including his Mom) and they didn't. But I've been wrong before when I thought I was right [that one night with the Ukrainian stripper] so I'll wait to be corrected.