I love his brash style, but his competetive edge tries to force the impossible, almost as though he thinks he can ‘will’ the ball through triple coverage to Collie’s waiting hands every time he needs to. It’s a bit of a paradox, but IMHO his self-confidence is both his best attribute and his greatest weakness when he’s trying to make big plays.

Great post, great insight. You brought up a great point about the opposing D’s making great plays. If there is anything that really changes a game it is defenses making big plays. In our losses our D didn’t make any. In our alpse games they didn’t make any either, except WA. As I’ve been watching the playoffs you really are how bad you need big D plays to win against evenly matched teams. Even the Florida game. The goal line stand! The blocked FG!

To win football games you need to score points on O and create turnovers on D.

On to throwing it away. I wish Phillip Rivers would learn that lesson too. Some QB’s just need to read through Bill Parcels’s QB commandments. I know throwing it away is up there. I always liked the quote “3 things can happen when you throw the ball and only 1 of them is good.”

It’s definitely true that turnovers hurt the D big time in the three losses this season. I’ve thought about it a lot and it seems to me that these turnovers are more a result of great defensive plays on the part of the opposing D, then careless play on the part of BYU’s O. Sure, Max struggled with fumbles or throwing into coverage or whatever, but I really believe it was the opponent’s D (their particular players, or schemes, or strategies, or whatever) that really shook up the game. Not just for Max but for everyone on offense. But I dunno. I’m just a fan and I don’t understand as much about football as I wish I did. It just seems like a trend you know? The best teams in the country this year were all the best because of their D. Utah’s offense? Not as good as BYU’s. Florida’s offense? Not as good as OU’s. TCU’s offense? Not as good (supposedly) as BSU’s, etc. Just I trend that has been really strong lately.

I see what you’re saying MS about needing both sides. It’s not like Florida or Utah had letdowns on either side of the ball in their big games.

I seriously think the offense will be as awesome next year as it has been these last three years, even if no one can “fill” Collie’s shoes. And maybe you’re right; maybe not having a go-to guy will work wonders for Max. And by the way, someone took a shot at Anae earlier for Max throwing into coverage and stuff. Is Anae really at fault here? I mean, wouldn’t it be more Max’s fault? Shouldn’t he have a prescribed list of things to check down to if the #1 option is gone? Somewhere on that list, “take a sack” has got to be above “throw a jump ball into triple coverage.” Don’t get me wrong, Max is my homeboy. I’m just curious and want to know more about what is really going on in a game.

P.S. I feel like I’m getting way off topic here, but I want to keep discussing. (Sorry everyone, I’m used to forums). Can we keep talking about this or is there a more appropriate place somewhere else on the blog?

Then why’d you mention them in the same breath?

Remember those ESPNews commercials where the guy would literally talk sports from his behind? Your comments remind me of those commercials.

“YES”, I do understand what position Collie and Packman play. That said, do not try to divert the attention off yourself. “YOU” are a very disloyal BYU fan and you exhibited that on this BLOG.

I won’t comment on your Cowgirls jab, I strongley feel that 5 SuperBowl titles speak for themself. You are not ready for a NFL ageda until you can learn how to be a Loyal BYU fan.

Gunny

You are right about the Defense. In 2001 the Offense was unstoppable, but the D gave up a lot of points. However, there were some games where the D had to come up big and they did. It’s been like that a lot throughout BYUs history. I know nobody really liked the way the D played this year (myself included) but I think as a whole the BYU defense is becoming more reliable. Teams are getting better and better and in order to win week in and week out you really need both sides to be clicking.

2005: Lost to TCU because there was no D, Lost to SDSU because there was no O. Lost to ND because no D.
2006: Lost to AZ because lack of O and turnovers, lost to BC because no D.
2007: Lost to UCLA because no O, lost to Tulsa because no D.

When both sides play well (O score more than 24, D allow less than 24) we win games! But if one side doesn’t show up, we play teams that will beat you.

But I think turnovers have played a role in putting our defense in bad situations.

Turnovers can kill momentum and kill a defense if they just sat down and have to hurry back onto the field. That would frustrate me..

When Beck was QB, did he have a “Go-to-Guy”? I think he had players who he knew would make “Magic Happen” but I also think he distributed it more amoung his players. But I could be wrong.

I think the defense had its growing pains. And mistakes were made. I am not sure if it was the coverage or the personnel.

Interesting that you bring up the “key to success.” I have been to lots of games over the last several years. It was while reading the paper the morning after witnessing the Vegas Bowl loss to Cal (back in ‘05) that I realized something about BYU’s success. There has been success on the offense for a long time. The Crowton years were an anomaly. It is the defensive side of the ball where success has been inconsistent. Like the columnist said in that paper I read, BYU has solved the offensive scoring equation. 24 points ought to be enough to beat anyone. The offense shouldn’t have to put up 50 points to beat TCU or Utah or whoever.

So for what it’s worth, I think the offense will be successful next year. If we stick to the same philosophies, strategies, and plays that we have used since Bronco became head coach, the offense will be successful enough for the team to win games. Defense has long been the question.

Being defensive players yourselves, I would love for you to chime in on this one QG and MS.

I think we need to get back to the distribution of the ball. We need a fast guy to break good ones. Those are always fun to see caught, but I seem to think distribution is the key to success…

It is always tough to see a great player move on early. But Austin Collie is a good guy, and I wish him the best. I am not really worried about skill players on offense next year. (Linebackers and defensive backs, well, that’s another story…) Anyway, Collie certainly has the tools to have a solid NFL career. In fact, I was thinking of him yesterday as I watched Kevin Curtis put in another reliable performance for the Eagles. He’s not the fastest receiver in the NFL, but he does just fine. And I would gladly trade paychecks with him …