Riches to rags? The 2013 BYU defense.

[oxcoug]

The title's obviously an exaggeration.

But looking ahead the thing that sucks most is how much I love this defense - and how shortlived I fear it's going to be and how the opportunity having it presented is likely to be largely wasted. Below is my attempt at visualizing a personnel set that can help us keep the standard high next year, even if it doesn't measure up to this year.

D Line losses: Fuga, Manu, Ansah, Dulan (again), Tialavea (again)

Replacement talent: Tui Crichton? Marques Johnson? Bronson Kaufusi? Is Tuni Kanuch going to be back? Is Taliauli a guy who can step into the Manu-Tuiloma-Fuga freshman contributor type role? What other talent is there that I'm missing? Is Jordan Afo still around?

LB losses: Kaveinga, Ogletree, Jorgensen

Returning talent: KVN, Hadley, Unga, Fua (is this guy ever going to live up to billing? Ever going to put on weight?) Having Hadley back in the middle is reassuring. Who else steps up at ILB? Unga? What about Zac Stout - is he still a factor?

DB losses: Sampson, P. Hadley, Hague, Everett, Buckner

Returning / incoming talent: Sorenson, Bills, Johnson, Orphney (are those four the likely starters?) - we have some depth this year that will be missed and are likely to be thin again at CB as we have been historically.

If you wanna prognosticate pls offer an extra-early projected 2-deep for the 2013 defense.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Everyone seems positive that KVN is returning, I wouldn't count that chicken before it hatches. He already served a mission sitting out for his HS indiscretions. He might be ready to play in the National Football League for pay.

[Shaka]

The title's obviously an exaggeration.


D Line losses: Fuga, Manu, Ansah, Dulan (again), Tialavea (again)

Replacement talent: Tui Crichton? Marques Johnson? Bronson Kaufusi? Is Tuni Kanuch going to be back? Is Taliauli a guy who can step into the Manu-Tuiloma-Fuga freshman contributor type role? What other talent is there that I'm missing? Is Jordan Afo still around? .

I'm going to have to devote some thought to the bigger picture but you forgot Remmington Peck.

[oxcoug]

I'm going to have to devote some thought to the bigger picture but you forgot Remmington Peck.

Good point - please do devote some time.

Meanwhile: I'm a bit concerned that Tui might have gone hipster and learned about irony.

http://byucougars.com/athlete/m-football/tui-crichton

[oxcoug]

I'm also learning that (a) Manumaleuna got injured (this is definitely the least attention I've paid to a BYU football season in years) and (b) he might score a medical RS which wld be assume and raise the possibility of him contending for the Vic So'oto Memorial Award given to players who are at BYU for the better part of a decade.

[MarkGrace]

Goat made a good post on next year's D that you should look for. I don't think they'll be as good as this year, but they'll be good again.

[TripletDaddy]

Kvn would be bananas to come back.

[pellegrino]

Goat made a good post on next year's D that you should look for. I don't think they'll be as good as this year, but they'll be good again.

this year's defense is perhaps the best I have ever seen. I think they'll finish in the top ten, perhaps top five.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Kvn would be bananas to come back.

You, Gwen and I seem to be the only ones saying that.

[Bo Diddley]

You, Gwen and I seem to be the only ones saying that.

+1 But his loyalty to Bronco is a wild card.

[The_Douger]

I'm never going to understand Bronco's mancrush that seems to put Riley above the program. We've been dinking around with this crap for 3 years.

[Commando]

I'm never going to understand Bronco's mancrush that seems to put Riley above the program. We've been dinking around with this crap for 3 years.

Ok- please provide a nexus to the topic at hand- I'm coming up short here.

[The_Douger]

Ok- please provide a nexus to the topic at hand- I'm coming up short here.

DAMMIT! I need to focus.

I think KVN will go pro. Especially if they tell him he will be a 1st or 2nd rounder. I think another year could help him, but I would probably go pro and sign a contract rather than risk injury.

I'm hopeful Manamaleuna can get an injury redshirt. That would shore up our defensive line. But, keep in mind there are a lot of guys like Kaufusi that will be good players in the future. Bronco hit the JC circuit and has some guys this year and next that might help as well.

The secondary will need some rebuilding. Bills looks good. So does Johnson. I think you can build around those two going forward. You hope someone steps up from that younger group of guys, like the Hannemann kids and . I'm not sure many people realize how good Preston Hadley has been.

I don't worry about linebacker because all of ours are generally good and between Jermiah Double Last Name, Pikula, and some of these other guys, I just think we'll continue to have good players there.

[MarkGrace]

DAMMIT! I need to focus.

I think KVN will go pro. Especially if they tell him he will be a 1st or 2nd rounder. I think another year could help him, but I would probably go pro and sign a contract rather than risk injury.

I'm hopeful Manamaleuna can get an injury redshirt. That would shore up our defensive line. But, keep in mind there are a lot of guys like Kaufusi that will be good players in the future. Bronco hit the JC circuit and has some guys this year and next that might help as well.

The secondary will need some rebuilding. Bills looks good. So does Johnson. I think you can build around those two going forward. You hope someone steps up from that younger group of guys, like the Hannemann kids and . I'm not sure many people realize how good Preston Hadley has been.

I don't worry about linebacker because all of ours are generally good and between Jermiah Double Last Name, Pikula, and some of these other guys, I just think we'll continue to have good players there.

If KVN stays, I think the lbers are as good as they are this year. I think Hadley gets moved to the inside with Pikula and KVN and Fua start on the outside. Outside of that, you have JLD, Stout, Unga (who has made some plays this year) and Butch (assuming he doesn't head on a mission). Should be a good, deep group again.

The starters in the secondary could also match this year's with Bills, Sorenson, Johnson and Orphney (who I know nothing about but people seem pretty excited about). The difference might be depth. This year we have guys like Hague and Bills backing up, and I'm not sure what we'll have there next year.

D-line seems like it could be light on experience but has some talent as well. I expect Kaufusi to be very good, and there was big buzz about King this fall.

[oxcoug]

If KVN stays, I think the lbers are as good as they are this year. I think Hadley gets moved to the inside with Pikula and KVN and Fua start on the outside. Outside of that, you have JLD, Stout, Unga (who has made some plays this year) and Butch (assuming he doesn't head on a mission). Should be a good, deep group again.

The starters in the secondary could also match this year's with Bills, Sorenson, Johnson and Orphney (who I know nothing about but people seem pretty excited about). The difference might be depth. This year we have guys like Hague and Bills backing up, and I'm not sure what we'll have there next year.

D-line seems like it could be light on experience but has some talent as well. I expect Kaufusi to be very good, and there was big buzz about King this fall.

I like the potential with our ends (Kaufusi, King and Peck) but don't love the interior depth. If Manu is back that makes a huge huge difference.