Zzz...sorry. I just woke up...
BYU needs to figure out how to kick field goals. They need to figure out how to block on kicks. They need to figure out how to put it through the uprights. Suddenly, the 10 kicks they did in fall camp is looking like too few. Who knew? There are going to be games where it matters (like Utah). This was ALMOST one of those games.
BYU fans will look at this game and outcome and not like the direction of the team. But, as bad as it was (and in the heat of the moment, I forget this as well), there were some good things tonight. Hill completed passes to 7 different guys, completing 66.67% of his passes for 234 yards and a TD (and a pick). The offensive line continues to underperform, but BYU is also shuffling guys in and out there right now. I believe in 6 games this season, BYU has had 5 different starting line-ups. Lasike isn't ready for the big time, but, he needs to get a few carries here and there still. Just not on 4th down and 1 or 3rd and 2 in the 1st quarter. And let's be honest: I am just happy the offense's only scores gave BYU points...after Boise State and Utah, that's a feat!
The D held another opponent to under 300 yards. They held Keeton to under 10 yards per completion and 57% completion percentage (was 68% on the season coming in). Kerwynn Williams averaged 1.2 yards/carry, with a long of 7. Utah State's longest play of the game was 16 yards. This was an O that had at least one 50-yard play in 3 of their 5 games and had two or more plays over 30 yards in the other two. BYU stopped the big play offense from having ANY big plays.
BYU is 4-2, which is exactly where an above average TEAM would be at this juncture. I just cannot accept the fact that this D is so awesome but this O is so bad. It reminds me of one of Crowton's years where BYU lost a game 13-10 and Brady Poppinga said: our O scored 10 points, we shouldn't lose a game where they get to double digits. That's how BYU is this year. If they score 10, you have to feel like BYU has a chance!
The last 3 games, the D gave up 3 points. Against Utah, the D did not allow a TD drive of over 40 yards, meaning the points the "D" gave up were really on the O and special teams! Weber State didn't score until it was mostly backups playing. Washington State only managed 2 FGs. And this is with limited to no offensive production, excluding the Hawaii game.
Utah State averaged 3 yards/play: that means they AVERAGED a 3 and out. They came into the game averaging 450 yards and 28 points a game. 3 points. 2 turnovers. 25 minutes of possession, even with the BYU offense not REALLY doing much. If the O can figure ANYTHING out, the D will hold up. This team could salvage what could be considered a special season after all. They will get a chance against two top 15 teams in the next two weeks (though I think most people in the country are still not sold on the legitimacy of those teams in the top 15).
Williams isn't ready for 20 touches a game. BYU needs to develop Lasike or get Foote in there to share the load. He did not look good from late 3rd quarter up until the last drive when he found his burst again. Hill is finding some success. Doman just needs to give him more chances at success: 12 QB Draws, 3 option runs, and a bunch of screens aren't likely to yield results. Hurry up offense, taking shots down the field, unconventional screens (shovel pass to Williams) are where he looks comfortable. Doman needs to use the strengths to get him going: it doesn't have to be "safe" to help him gain confidence. In fact, Doman may be holding him back by not allowing him to make BIG plays with his arm.
Good analysis. I find it interesting that the only points were when we were forced to throw downfield a bit due to time left on the clock. It's not like USU didn't know that's what we had to do, but we were still able to make it work. I'd like to see a bit more of those deeper patterns.
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