6th place and going to the Veg: BYU vs Utah bowl game thread.

[Omaha 680]

I don't get the comments (not necessarily here) that the team came out "flat" (what the hell does that mean anyway?) or that the coaches weren't interested or motivated. We dominated for three quarters. What exactly where the coaches doing differently those quarters vs the first quarter?

I don't think they came out flat. The defense dominated the whole game. The offense had a perfect storm of some bad decisions and bad luck in the first quarter. Props to Utah for capitalizing enough in that stretch to hold us off in the end.

[YOhio]

I don't get the comments (not necessarily here) that the team came out "flat" (what the hell does that mean anyway?) or that the coaches weren't interested or motivated. We dominated for three quarters. What exactly where the coaches doing differently those quarters vs the first quarter?

Coming out flat is a metaphor used to describe inability of a team to perform at a high level, similar to how a deflated or 'flat' ball doesn't bounce or travel as well as one inflated to the recommend specifications.

What's funny to me is how people seem unwilling to acknowledge that the distractions of the past few weeks had something to do with the historically shitty start of the game. This game was the second job for a majority of our staff and uncertainty was there for those remaining. So BYU came out unprepared to deal with Utah's blitz schemes (fumble number one and multiple sacks in the first quarter) and coverages (two of the three interceptions were on out routes, the first was kind of flukey). The players felt the tension, the coaches didn't prepare them and it took a while for the to adjust.

[YOhio]

I don't think they came out flat. The defense dominated the whole game. The offense had a perfect storm of some bad decisions and bad luck in the first quarter. Props to Utah for capitalizing enough in that stretch to hold us off in the end.

Seriously? If you don't think they came out flat then I don't think the concept exists. Of the five turnovers, one was flukey and that was the first interception. Even then it was a result of great coverage, a weird bounce and being in the right spot. Every other turnover was a result of Utah playing better football than BYU. The fact that all turnovers were sequential was weird and 'lucky.' But they won the game due to superior play when it counted.

[jay santos]

Coming out flat is a metaphor used to describe inability of a team to perform at a high level, similar to how a deflated or 'flat' ball doesn't bounce or travel as well as one inflated to the recommend specifications.

What's funny to me is how people seem unwilling to acknowledge that the distractions of the past few weeks had something to do with the historically shitty start of the game. This game was the second job for a majority of our staff and uncertainty was there for those remaining. So BYU came out unprepared to deal with Utah's blitz schemes (fumble number one and multiple sacks in the first quarter) and coverages (two of the three interceptions were on out routes, the first was kind of flukey). The players felt the tension, the coaches didn't prepare them and it took a while for the to adjust.

So, in your mind what happened after the first five possessions? BYU coaches suddenly shook themselves out a funk and started calling plays that would work? Utah coaching suddenly got stupid? Does coaching really work like that? Are our coaches especially known for brilliant in-game adjustments that would completely turn things around like this? Are Utah's coaches known for the opposite? Does this "come out flat" thing apply equally to our offense and defense, or just offense? If, just offense, is this a specific complaint towards Anae and not Bronco?

[San Juan Sun]

Coming out flat is a metaphor used to describe inability of a team to perform at a high level, similar to how a deflated or 'flat' ball doesn't bounce or travel as well as one inflated to the recommend specifications.

What's funny to me is how people seem unwilling to acknowledge that the distractions of the past few weeks had something to do with the historically shitty start of the game. This game was the second job for a majority of our staff and uncertainty was there for those remaining. So BYU came out unprepared to deal with Utah's blitz schemes (fumble number one and multiple sacks in the first quarter) and coverages (two of the three interceptions were on out routes, the first was kind of flukey). The players felt the tension, the coaches didn't prepare them and it took a while for the to adjust.

Well said Mr Stockton.

[Topper]

So, in your mind what happened after the first five possessions? BYU coaches suddenly shook themselves out a funk and started calling plays that would work? Utah coaching suddenly got stupid? Does coaching really work like that? Are our coaches especially known for brilliant in-game adjustments that would completely turn things around like this? Are Utah's coaches known for the opposite? Does this "come out flat" thing apply equally to our offense and defense, or just offense? If, just offense, is this a specific complaint towards Anae and not Bronco?

Houk said the coaches were out of it so the players took it upon themselves to fight back.

[San Juan Sun]

So, in your mind what happened after the first five possessions? BYU coaches suddenly shook themselves out a funk and started calling plays that would work? Utah coaching suddenly got stupid? Does coaching really work like that? Are our coaches especially known for brilliant in-game adjustments that would completely turn things around like this? Are Utah's coaches known for the opposite? Does this "come out flat" thing apply equally to our offense and defense, or just offense? If, just offense, is this a specific complaint towards Anae and not Bronco?

What's the alternative jay? Blame the players for not being as good as Utah? That may be true, but who recruited and coached those players? And we're those players responsible for the mind numbingly bad record Bronco has against Utah? Is the 2010 loss on Tanner Mangum too?

0 for last 5
1 of last 6
2 of last 7

At some point, the organizational failures go on the generals, not on the privates.

[jay santos]

Seriously? If you don't think they came out flat then I don't think the concept exists. Of the five turnovers, one was flukey and that was the first interception. Even then it was a result of great coverage, a weird bounce and being in the right spot. Every other turnover was a result of Utah playing better football than BYU. The fact that all turnovers were sequential was weird and 'lucky.' But they won the game due to superior play when it counted.

First fumble was due to Tanner trying to do too much. First INT was a flukey tipped ball on a questionable PI call. We had a fumbled QB-RB exchange in there. Another INT due to tipped ball. Can't remember the other one.

I would put one criticism on the coaching staff on this. We probably were not prepared for their pass rush. But the result of that was extremely flukey. Mangum should have been prepped that this will be a long game that will likely be a defensive struggle and not to try to do too much. But Mangum's an aggressive and inexperienced QB. Sometimes the school of hard knocks are the only place you learn these things.

This bullshit about "coming out flat" is obnoxious and ignorant.

[smokymountainrain]

Utah sucks.

[jay santos]

What's the alternative jay? Blame the players for not being as good as Utah? That may be true, but who recruited and coached those players? And we're those players responsible for the mind numbingly bad record Bronco has against Utah? Is the 2010 loss on Tanner Mangum too?

0 for last 5
1 of last 6
2 of last 7

At some point, the organizational failures go on the generals, not on the privates.

I'm not generally defending Bronco or claiming we're a better organization than Utah. I just don't agree with this concept that we came out flat or were outcoached in this game.

[Jeff Lebowski]

First fumble was due to Tanner trying to do too much. First INT was a flukey tipped ball on a questionable PI call. We had a fumbled QB-RB exchange in there. Another INT due to tipped ball. Can't remember the other one.

I would put one criticism on the coaching staff on this. We probably were not prepared for their pass rush. But the result of that was extremely flukey. Mangum should have been prepped that this will be a long game that will likely be a defensive struggle and not to try to do too much. But Mangum's an aggressive and inexperienced QB. Sometimes the school of hard knocks are the only place you learn these things.

This bullshit about "coming out flat" is obnoxious and ignorant.

All three picks involved tipped balls.
One fumble was due to Tanner's shoulder being bumped
The other fumble was a bad exchange with Canada

[jay santos]

One coaching decision I really didn't like was the low percentage pass on that 3rd and 1 in the first half.

[Jeff Lebowski]

One coaching decision I really didn't like was the low percentage pass on that 3rd and 1 in the first half.

Didn't like the FG attempt either.

[scottie]

So, in your mind what happened after the first five possessions? BYU coaches suddenly shook themselves out a funk and started calling plays that would work? Utah coaching suddenly got stupid? Does coaching really work like that? Are our coaches especially known for brilliant in-game adjustments that would completely turn things around like this? Are Utah's coaches known for the opposite? Does this "come out flat" thing apply equally to our offense and defense, or just offense? If, just offense, is this a specific complaint towards Anae and not Bronco?

Don't discount what being up 35-0 in the first quarter might do to a game plan, especially with an offense as inept as Utah's to begin with. The only way for BYU to quickly get back into the game after that would have been Utah turnovers, which maybe played into what seemed like Utah coaches just going super conservative on offense, which probably worked because Utah didn't turn the ball over.

[jay santos]

Don't discount what being up 35-0 in the first quarter might do to a game plan, especially with an offense an inept as Utah's to begin with. The only way for BYU to quickly get back into the game after that would have been Utah turnovers, which maybe played into what seemed like Utah coaches just going super conservative on offense, which probably worked because Utah didn't turn the ball over.

Yeah, I've heard that from a few Utes so far, but based on the few passes Wilson did throw in this game, I'm not buying it.