“[BYU] admitted that it didn’t prepare for Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder as a runner.”

Why?! Ponder’s mobility was a hot topic before the game. Thousands of fans were nervous to see how BYU would handle a mobile quarterback and the defense didn’t even prepare for one?!

After the tough lessons from 2008, of not taking anything for granted and respecting every opponent 100%, to hear that…

FAIL.

We walked out of the meeting and he broke Rule 1, don’t look at your phone.  His brother had texted him:  BYU 35 – UCLA 0.  And BYU was driving.  In the first half.

Shock.  Triumph.  We found ESPN Radio in the car, found a restaurant at the Ontario airport with a lone BYU fan to watch the game come to a beautiful 59-0 finish.  BYU was going to the BCS, I was sure of it.

We saw the UCLA team at the Cinnabon at the SLC airport and almost pretended to not know how the game went and ask them, but decided that we didn’t want to die.  They actually seemed fairly happy, even Mr. Olsen, but that’s a story for another day.

Fun story Peter, but who cares?  Remember the next week? BYU rolls Wyoming 44-0.   BYU’s defense was an iron wall, curtain and drapes in one.

Fast forward past a relatively sad end of the season, where BYU’s defense looked more like sieve than anything else, to 2009.  BYU holds the most prolific offense in the country from the previous season to 13 points and one touchdown, and follows it up with 3 points to Tulane.  Cornerbacks actually broke up passes.  Safeties actually tackle people under 10 yards.  Linebackers – gasp – fill gaps.  The defensive line gets good pressure.

Is it all a farce?  Are we being hoodwinked this year and are about to have TCU v2 where the world feels like it is imploding?

Here is why I think this defense might actually be for real:

1.  Corner play is tighter: During the offseason, coaches got three junior college corners to commit to BYU to bolster the defense.  Talk about immediate payoff.   Brian Logan, all 5′6″ of him,  is playing lights out.  He looks like the senior version of Justin Robinson, in the good way.  He tackles well and breaks up passes.  Scott Johnson has moved to his more natural position, free safety, and Brandon Bradley has taken over at boundary with great success (leading tackler against Oklahoma).  This tighter play is forcing the QBs to make better throws, which they haven’t done consistently yet.

2.  Safeties making plays at the line and in the backfield: Shiloah Te’o and Andrew Rich both already have tackles for loss this year.  Nearly unheard of last year.  Rich is a rocket and needs to be very careful to avoid getting concussions.  He goes for a big hit every time and has already forced two fumbles.  Johnson is in his zone at FS and has learned some hitting from Rich (hopefully he can keep his head up and not get knocked out again).  Props to Craig Bills for staying in his zone against Tulane for his first career pick.  Te’o will probably see quite a bit of time this season and I think that is a good thing.  He’s not quite the quarterback of the defense that Johnson is, but is a playmaker.

3.  Defense playing faster: Did we find a way to turn our slow white guys into track stars?  Not really.  However, Coach Hill’s schemes are finally clicking and he is putting them in the right spot to make plays.  Some guys trimmed up (particularly Russell Tialavea) and while they can still bring the power, they are flying around and not over-thinking the plays.  You look a lot faster if you are in the right gap.

4. Pressure: Was there any more annoying play last year than 3rd-and-long on defense?  BYU sends two guys for pressure, a spy on the QB, and drops 14 into coverage.  This year, BYU is 18th in the country on 3rd down defense (26.9%), without playing all patsies like most top programs, so I think that counts for something.  BYU is showing blitzes, throwing them from different places, mostly with four (six max.)  I have yet to see a safety or a corner blitz, but we can only dream. The other nice defensive stat is seven points per game, good for12th in the country.  Remember, we beat Oklahoma who averaged a billion points a game last year (and scored 64 last week…against Idaho, but hey, makes my argument look better.)

Pressure + Speed + Being in the right place= Turnovers.  BYU is #10 in the country (10 way tie, 1 away from 2nd place) in forced turnovers.  In 2 games the defense has gotten the offense back on the field five times (six turnovers, but Pendleton took one back for a defensive-6.)

We’ll see if I’m right this week.  Is it all a mirage and FSU is going to throw for 300 yards and put 30 points on us? I doubt it.  I think the game is closer than most expect, maybe a one touchdown win (BYU 21-FSU 14).

However, despite the drawbacks (less moola, BCS teams scared of playing BYU), being part of a non-AQ league isn’t all bad. There are ways in which BYU’s non-automatic-qualifier status is a plus for the program and for fans. Consider the following:

Perpetual chip on the shoulder

BYU is always out to prove they belong with the best of the best (they’re starting to prove it, too, now that the gaps in recruiting are starting to fill in). There is always motivation to put the hurt on a team bearing the shiny gold “BCS” stamp. Teams that already enjoy the entitlements of the BCS are getting more and more arrogant in approaching competition from non-AQ leagues (the athletic directors are another story, but I digress), and are losing those games more than ever. How long will BYU keep their competitive edge once they’ve finally caught the elusive BCS carrot? I’d like the chance to find out, but it’s nice to know that when a BCS school shows up on the schedule, the team will be mentally ready for the tussle.

Better non-conference slate

BCS leagues are getting lamer by the year when it comes to scheduling out-of-conference (OOC) games. This year alone, BCS schools scheduled 64 games with FCS opponents. Sixty-four! Only 14 BCS schools eschewed FCS cupcake games. Only the PAC-10 has fewer than ten FCS games among all BCS leagues (they have four). All by themselves, the ACC has an astounding 16 games versus FCS schools. Not a single Big East team has an FCS-free schedule.

BYU has played a few FCS patsies in recent years, but one of those was an emergency owing to Nevada backing out of their contract at the 11th hour. If BYU were to become an AQ school, either in a different league or as part of a promoted MWC, would they still be motivated to play compelling OOC games versus marquee opponents? I enjoy watching competitive games in September as well as November. I’d hate for BYU to make an about-face in this department.

Easiest road to a BCS game

For teams like BYU, a nationally-competitive non-AQ school, there is no easier road to the BCS than through a non-AQ league. Start the year in the vicinity of the Top 25, beat one or two BCS teams, beat the one or two other contenders in your conference and avoid laying an egg against the conference’s riff-raff and you’re golden. Granted, going undefeated is tough, but not as tough as going undefeated in a BCS league, except for the Big East.

Now, I’m not saying that BYU should adopt the Boise State formula (play middling PAC-10 teams and ride that inflated hype through a JV-level conference schedule). I’m elated that the Cougars are more concerned with earning respect against the biggest and baddest instead of trying to only schedule “beatable” big-name opponents just to chalk up BCS wins. But if you want to go with the former route, you’ve got a pretty good shot at a big-money game most years if you can stay at the top of the non-AQ heap. Even in the most competitive of years among non-AQ schools, there are only 4-5 candidates vying for the yearly title of BCS Crasher.

Even though BYU hasn’t broken through yet, they’ve been in the discussion the past few years and the team is only bringing in more talent and greater depth. If they keep it up, the Cougs could go on a run of BCS bowl appearances that all other non-AQ schools could only dream about.

I’m just sayin…

I’m not trying to say that I’m content with BYU’s current BCS-outsider status. There are programs with a small fraction of BYU’s history of success that get fat checks every year and happily take a beating for it. Some of these teams are even in smaller markets (Ames? Pullman?), so it doesn’t make financial sense for BYU to be on the outside looking in. It’s a frustrating predicament.

However, BYU football is on its way to restoring and building upon the luster of its football legacy. We’ll get our day in the sun soon enough. In the meantime, it behooves us as fans to enjoy the advantages that BYU football currently offers, including September games with Oklahoma and Florida State. Beats a date with Coastal Carolina.

Go Cougars!

Until nearly halftime on Saturday, I didn’t know who you were or even aware that BYU had left the WAC.  Now, I am your biggest fan.  We had “Clawson Day” yesterday on campus with bear claws (get it…claws? Clawson?) and I have replaced my Nelly Furtado poster in my room with your smiling visage.  You see, you have single-handedly changed my life.  In one fluid and every so graceful movement, you swam past some poor plodding lineman and popped the reigning Heisman winner.  Before I continue singing your praise, I want to point out, as you so poignantly did, that it is unfortunate that the injury happened and you would never hurt a fly until it put on football pads and that would only be to keep it from scoring a touchdown.  However, with that well-timed collision, you thrust me to the front of Heisman race with Mr. Jorts, and he already said he’d donate his first one to me if I don’t win this year, so it’s a win-win-win situation.

Please accept this fruit bouquet and my signed headshot as a token of my gratitude.

Hugs,

Colt

Ok, so the above letter probably didn’t occur, but the name Coleby Clawson has just become a saint in official religion of Texas (and Big 12 country in general.)  His hit enabled multiple teams in the Big 12 to move into a spot for a National Championship, primarily Colt McCoy’s Texas Longhorns, and thinned the race from a three way tie to a two horse race.  The good news for Clawson is that it was a perfectly clean hit and is being portrayed as such in the media.

Where can you start or end about Saturday’s game?  I chose a highly lame fake letter.

Some quick points I can’t fail to mention:

-         Did anyone else chuckle after Oklahoma’s first 3-and-out and attribute it to beginner’s luck?  Then when I happened again look around to see if anyone else had seen BYU hold the most prolific offense of all time to less than 10 yards in 3 plays, FOR A SECOND TIME?  If we are handing out game balls, Jaime Hill, the new defensive coordinator, gets one.  For the most part BYU didn’t throw anything too fancy at Oklahoma, but has finally gotten the players and scheme to the point where things just click and the players can fly to the ball without over-thinking everything.  The goal line stand was entirely unexpected and a thing of beauty.  Collie must still be living right in Indianapolis.

-         Jordan Pendleton and Coleby Clawson look like they are on pace to match the intensity and game-changing prowess of Bryan Kehl and David Nixon.  Pendleton started his first game at a new position and dominated, even if it doesn’t show up in the stat sheet.  A goal line pass break up, knifing into the backfield, dropping into coverage: this kid is good.

-         Where did the secondary play come from? Logan looked exactly like the corner we have been waiting for at field corner (maybe shorter than we hoped, but beggars can’t be choosers.)  Aside from a few PI’s (one undeserved in the endzone) he locked down receivers a foot taller than him with speed to burn.  He even, gasp, broke up a couple of throws.  Bradley, believe it or not, led the defense in tackles (8) and did a great job on his side of the field and in run support.  Scott Johnson wasn’t standing out (which can be good for a free safety if it means he is shutting down his side of the field) and Andrew Rich was looking like an All-American back there on his way to earning himself conference honors on defense.  It was always strange to see a safety tackling players near the line of scrimmage, I was used to seeing them chasing guys down 20 yards downfield or diving at ankles.  Rich forced two fumbles and had a tackle for loss in addition to generally being disruptive.  He needs to lead with his head less to preserve himself for the full season.

-         Max Hall scares me.  He still is forcing the ball at times into tight spots where it shouldn’t be, then he turns around and orchestrates a 84 yard drive of beauty to win the National Player of the Week and conference honors. The play calling on that drive was possibly the most ingenious I’ve seen from BYU, from the hurry-up call on 4^th down (which had been decided when they crossed the 50) to having Pitta suck in about eight OU defenders to leave Jacobson wide open in the endzone, giving him some peace on his muffed punt.  It was the first game of the season, so he gets a pass for the time being.

-         How about that offensive line?  With so many story lines, we forget BYU not only replaced four lost starters, but Matt Reynolds is playing with a cast and they lost the starting left guard halfway through camp.  Not enough can be said for how well the offensive line played against one of the best defensive lines in the country.

-         Bryan Korea…Kariya…Where did he come from?  He looked good last year, but was an absolute workhorse, running and causing enough damage to force them to respect the run.  With over 100 yards alone, I think we found a good relief for Unga.  They tried to work DiLuigi into the game and he did fine, but I think Kariya will be #2 for the foreseeable future.

-         Wide receivers were present but not dominant which I’m OK with in this situation.  Jacobson still has speed to spare and I think Hall is still getting use to a guy who can be way down the field by the time he is ready to throw and will start hitting him in stride rather than making him slow down.  If the national talking heads didn’t know who Pitta was, they do now.  Not to mention George on the other side just taking care of business catching balls and scoring touchdowns.  I don’t know if anyone remembers this, but my favorite formation of the game is when they come out with multiple TE’s like a goal-line jumbo formation then spread them out wide.  Try matching up with Pitta, George, and Brown.  Yikes, I hope to see that more near the endzone.

-         Payne… Out of bounds when all we needed was any old kick that didn’t give them the ball at the 40.  Nightmare.  Missed PAT wasn’t game killing, but would have really come in handy there at the end.

-         Stephenson’s punt that landed at the 1 and bounced sideways was the most beautiful punt I’ve ever seen.  Not all were that nice, but I am now not at all worried about punting and its been years since that was the case.

-         If you had told me before the game we would give up four turnovers, I’d say BYU loses by 28 points or more.  BYU left points on the field with Chambers fumble (which was a fantastic defensive play, Chambers did a good job trying to hold on and anticipating the hit) and the missed field goal.

-         The players and particularly the coaches looked like they enjoyed the game more than they have in years.  Bronco willing his team to a goalline stand, Hill getting pumped, Hall running around yelling Provo obscenities (“Oh my gosh!”) Coach Mendenhall mentioned after the game he was going to enjoy the victories more and not the old “We had a good game 15 seconds ago, we celebrated and have already watched 2 games of the opponents and erased all good feelings we had.”  Hard work is important, but its still a game and the players will play better if they are having fun.

-         AND finally…We can talk National Championship and not be considered crazy.  Sure, it’s a long shot.  Sure, its statically improbable and would require a meltdown by several teams in the power conferences.  But we can talk about it!  For the guy who is going to comment that we need to focus on one game at a time: Unless you are on the team, your focus on the next game has zero impact on the results.   Let’s enjoy this win as fans and we look forward to a great season, even if we don’t win a second NC in 25 years.  If nothing else, we have one of the greatest BYU wins ever to remember.

An interesting development came out today regarding one of the Sooners’ marquee offensive weapons. Oklahoma reportedly will be without the services of their All-American superhuman tight end, Jermaine Gresham, for up to 6 weeks due to a knee injury (rumored to be a meniscus problem).

That is a BIG blow to Oklahoma’s offense.

First, Gresham is an absolute freak of nature: 6-6, 258 lbs and reportedly runs a 4.5 40. Snap! Nobody on BYU’s roster can cover that guy alone, so not having to worry about him in pass coverage relieves some pressure on the defense as a whole.

Second, OU’s backup tight end, Brody Eldridge, was slated to play some center in this game and now that is not possible. Eldridge is no slouch at tight end either, though. He’s a better run blocker than Gresham, so our defensive ends and linebackers face a stiffer test on the edges in run support.

Where this really hurts OU is along their offensive front. BYU now has a puncher’s chance to disrupt Sam Bradford’s rhythm early if they can exploit the four newcomers on the OU O-line.

More game prep material coming Saturday morning, so check in after you’ve finished off your “Honey-Do” list.