Tuesday Tidbits, Week Four

Historically Futile?
2005 was the last time BYU scored 14 points or less in two games in an entire season.  2004 (Crowton's final year) was the last time they did it in consecutive games.  As far as the last time BYU went two consecutive games without 150 passing yards in either, I think you would have to go back to the Pre-LaVell Era for that.  It hasn't happened under Mendenhall, and it didn't happen under Crowton either.  I can't imagine LaVell EVER going two games in a row without at least 150 yards passing.  For most of his 30+ years he was throwing 40-50 times a game...

BYU fans have been spoiled the past 5 years under Bronco Mendenhall.  John Beck and Max Hall made moving the ball seem easy.  Most games (not against TCU or Utah), BYU was going to get 21+ points and 200+ passing yards.  35 points and 300 passing yards wasn't all that difficult to attain for them either.  How good was the John Beck with Johnny Harline, Daniel Coats, Todd Watkins, Curtis Brown, and Austin Collie combination?  Or the Max Hall with Dennis Pitta, Andrew George, Austin Collie, Harvey Unga, and McKay Jacobson combo?  This year, BYU is definitely struggling to score points.  Right now, it can't even move the chains effectively enough to get in field goal range.  And getting less than 200 yards against an unranked opponent...maybe moving the ball down the field is harder than it looks.

The Tables Have Turned:
California scored 52 points in each of its first two games, winning 52-3 and 52-7 against FCS UC Davis and Colorado, respectively.  Nevada took note: the first one to 52 wins.  Nevada got there first, beating Cal 52-31 this past weekend.  The last time Cal gave up over 50 points to an opponent was 2002, before Jeff Tedford arrived in Berkley.

Packing The Heat:
The Nevada Wolfpack have improved their scoring output each game, 49, 51, and 52.  Last season, Nevada had a similar 50+ average scoring streak over three games, but it came against San Jose State, Fresno State, and New Mexico State.  They were "held" to 33 points the next game against Boise State.  The question is: if BYU held them to only 33 points this Saturday, how much would Nevada have won by?

To this point, Nevada has averaged over 300 yards/game on the ground, good for 5th best in the country.  In the ultimate strength vs. weakness battle this weekend, they are playing the 119th (out of 120) rushing defense in the country, in BYU.  Nevada certainly is aiming for 300, while BYU needs to see that number 200 or less.

Mobile QB, My Eye:
BYU has played 3 mobile QBs already this season.  The first was Jake Locker, who rushed 11 times for 29 yards and a touchdown, with his longest rush being 9 yards.  Then came Tim Jefferson, who rushed 9 times for 38 yards and a touchdown, with his longest rush being 17 yards.  Last weekend it was Christian Ponder, who rushed 13 times for 50 yards and a touchdown, with his longest rush being 18 yards.  All 3 of them were, at best, the third leading rusher on their team during their game against BYU.  If BYU can keep those statistics going after facing Colin Kaepernick this weekend (less than 5 yards per carry, less than 100 yards, 1 TD or less, longest rush under 20 yards, 3rd leading rusher on his team), their chances are a lot better this weekend than if they don't.  If he gets 100 yards or two TDs (and leads his team in rushing), it's tough to envision the current "offensive" offense BYU is putting out on the field outscoring CK and the Wolfpack.  And let's not forget Vai Taua, who enters his 4th game of his senior year well on pace to have 3 consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.