A lot has happened recently in the world of MWC football since I last wrote. (Former as of yesterday) SDSU Coach Brady Hoke was announced as Michigan's Head Coach. (Former as of yesterday) SDSU Defensive Coordinator Rocky Long took over as the Head Coach at SDSU. Utah DT Sealver Siligi declared for the NFL Draft. Utah landed RB recruit Harvey Langi from Bingham over USC. It is rumored that Norm Chow is to be the next Utah Offensive Coordinator. BYU named Brandon Doman their Offensive Coordinator after Robert Anae "resigned."
And all of that outside of the obvious basketball news of Jimmer's 47 points and 6 assists in the demolition of rival Utah on Tuesday night. In conjunction with that, BYU scored 104 points in a true road game. Against rival Utah. Did I mention this was at the Huntsman Center? If you haven't seen highlights from the game, find some online! People joke about some of the deep threes that Jimmer takes that are "from half court." Well, he actually hit one from half court...but in spite of Jimmer's 47, four other Cougars got into double figures. That is balance, with a Super Star. Much like the 1996 Chicago Bulls...
Hoke at Michigan
Good hire by Michigan. Good move by Hoke. He does not have a lot of pressure. People will allow him to field "competitive" teams for two years before they really expect winning. He will make a lot of money while he tries to build a winner again at Michigan. Michigan lost 6 games this season, all by double-digits. Hoke will keep Michigan closer, and that gives the Wolverines a chance to win some ball games. They have a forgiving schedule next season, with only 3 opponents that finished in this season's top 25 (and two of those are in games 11 and 12). They host SDSU in game 4, that should be interesting...I think he'll win 7 or 8 games next season and go to a better bowl where he has a chance.
Long at SDSU
Well, Long has already been a coach in the MWC, where he had as much success as he thought he could. He resigned at New Mexico, essentially stating he had taken New Mexico to their highest possible point and could help them no more. Now he gets a chance to find the ceiling at SDSU. He stated today that SDSU should be able to win the MWC and play in, and win, BCS games. I do not know that SDSU can reach that level. They may be able to "Hawaii it" and get in when Boise State has a down year and get blown out in the Sugar Bowl by an SEC team...but SDSU is better than it has been. It has better players. It has good coaches (depending on what Hoke leaves and what Long brings in). They are still in my top 2 to win the MWC along with the winner of the Boise State-TCU game. Hoke put in the framework for a champion, but it will be up to Long to keep it going next season.
Utah Loses One, Recruits Another
The announcement by 6'1", 220 pound RB Harvey Langi from Bingham High, that he would attend the University of Utah wrapped up a solid recruiting class from the state of Utah. Most boards have Harvey as one of the top 2 prospects in the state. Utah ended up with 6 of the top 12 according to every reputable site I have checked out. However, as BYU can attest from this season, teams cannot be successful at a high level if they need to rely heavily on freshmen. With the loss of so many guys to graduation, plus now two NFL-caliber players leaving the defense, they may need these guys to step up. Langi may be a great back. But it is a rare freshman that can go from high school to the Pac 10/12. 150 carries in a Utah high school is a lot different than 200 carries against BCS conference competition. But, as my nephew who attended Bingham with Harvey says, he is a full-grown man.
The loss of Siligi is big for Utah's defensive front. They still have capable players on the defensive line, but when a non-BCS team loses an NFL-type player, it hurts their depth. Their talent isn't the issue joining the Pac 12, but their depth is, and it just took a hit, where it was supposed to be strong. His loss hurts the run defense too. He was an experienced and gifted interior linemen who was big enough to demand, and strong enough to occasionally beat, double teams.
Chow in the State of Utah Again?
The rumors are out there that Norm Chow will be the Utes next Offensive Coordinator. He is a definite step up from every other OC that Kyle Whittingham has had in his tenure. Chow has done well at tailoring his approach to the personnel and style of team that he has. It was successful as he ran a pro-style offense at USC. It was successful with the Titans. It was less than successful at UCLA. But he also didn't have good players...he has been in the Pac 10/12 for years, and knows Pac 12 defenses as well as anybody. He is also a great coach of QBs. Wynn could use some coaching: he didn't improve nearly enough from his freshman to sophomore years.
Doman Running the BYU O Again
Robert Anae has stepped down and taken the same job at Arizona (that means the Utes get an easy intra-division win next season, because Anae cannot score against that Ute D). That left the door open for Brandon Doman to step in and run the BYU offense. Personally, I would always prefer to have a former QB calling plays than a former OL. QBs have a little bit more on-the-job training with interpreting what defenses are trying to do. Anae had no creativity. He did well because he had outstanding players, not because he called outstanding plays.
Doman led a fantastic offense in his time at BYU. Doman will understand better how to utilize the skillset of Riley Nelson throughout the game (having been a mobile QB himself), while playing Heaps as the starting QB. I do not think Anae was capable of starting Heaps while occasionally using Nelson. Hence the evolution of the alternating drives BYU employed for a game and a half. Doman may lack the experience calling plays on the sideline, but he does not lack experience calling plays on the field. If he can transfer that knowledge to Heaps, BYU's offense should be quite prolific the next 3 years with him at the helm. BYU should definitely be better off in the long run for this recent change in the coaching staff.
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