Air Force Post Game Wrap-up
After taking some time to think about Saturday’s game I was able to look at the game objectively. While our team’s performance was adequate it left me anxious. Yet at the same time, I was encouraged by our team’s resilience and ability to limit big play opportunities and leave Colorado Springs with a win. With regards to improving each week, I think the Cougars set themselves up for a great game next week.
I pinned this game as one of the most important games of the year. Both teams needed a win, both teams were capable of winning, and both teams play with phenomenal effort and execution. As a fan, the game offered every emotion. I was frustrated that the AFA’s fullback was able to rush for so many yards, but I was ecstatic that the Falcons couldn’t complete any long play action passes. I was frustrated by the penalties throughout the game, but I was all smiles as the Cougars marched up and down the field when they needed to. I was mad that Air Forces was running their mouths during the game, but I was encouraged by the amount of emotion the Coaching staff and team displayed throughout the game.
I believe that our team improved against Air Force and gave Utah enough to worry about. Radio keeps talking about the Utes defense and how Sakoda is going to be translated after this season. Everyone keeps talking about how on paper BYU just doesn’t have the defensive abilities to stop Brian Johnson’s lead attack. You would think after the past four years of the Rivalry people would stop paying attention to box scores, statistics, and paperweight advantages. This year’s rivalry will come down to one thing does BYU want to disrupt Utah’s BCS dreams bad enough to play a complete game?
Against Air Force we showed flashes of composure, but we haven’t shown the consistency needed to silence the Utes since we played UCLA. I am talking about big hits, high fives, chest bumps, great field position, physical tackling and the capability to finish a team in the fourth quarter.
Our defense was close against Air Force, but AFA’s 7-play 85-yard drive in the fourth quarter didn’t sit well with me after the game was over. If there was a time when we needed our defense to dig deep it was then, and they just didn’t make the plays needed in that particular situation. A team has to be able to rely on their individual confidence in late game situations. Each side of the ball has to feel as if they could win the game, but I don’t know if both sides of the ball have that confidence in each other.
I am encouraged by our teams overall attitude. Both sides of the ball, and special teams, demonstrated the emotion needed to win against Air Force. Against Utah the emotion will automatically be there, but the team that can harness that raw emotion and make it work for them is the team that will end up piled in the Northern end zone.
Air Force is a good football team. Good enough to take Utah to the last play and good enough to lose to BYU by 14. How can BYU be ready for Utah?
That’s a great question, but I would start Monday’s meeting with two video clips. One, the final drive from 2006 and two, I would show last years final drive for the win. Then I would proceed to tell the players about all the tough games they have won this year, turning their minds to their personal, on field performances. I would end by asking them to deposit the toughest week of practice of their lives so that on Saturday they could take a giant withdrawal, and leave their final game this season with a smile on their face and a fist in the air.
Until The End.
November 17th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I have replayed the 3rd quarter of the game, to remind myself of how good it can be. You are right about emotion, that you’ve been saying since you started this blog. I realized that the intensity I saw on the Y sidelines after half-time (thanks to Austin Collie, I guess) is something you don’t see a lot. You do from certain players, like Max, but not overall. Thanks for all I’m learning about the game and those who play it, Quinn.
November 17th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
What was the deal with the defensive delay of game penalty against Air Force? How common is it that a defense tries to mimic the snap count? I’ve never seen Coach Anae show any emotion let alone get upset. Does Max do a good job of mixing up his cadence? It seemed like some cadets tried to time it to get a jump to the qb.
November 17th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I second Jeff’s question. Even the ref stuttered saying the penalty.
please help Quinn.
By the way, great post game write up. spot on
November 17th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Quinn- I have one additional question.
As exciting as it was to see collie at QB for a few different looks, for Utah’s D, is that an advantage to see that? or is it still so new that the surprise will still be there? To me it seems like we should have held that one more week. What is your take?
November 17th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I haven’t seen that kind of emotion expressed from our coaches in a long time.. Although not sure you can see a whole lot from the TV. I drove up to the game and will say that after the incompletion to Reed in the 4th quarter that killed a drive (Reed got held more like tackled), I thought Anae was literally going to tackle the ref. He chased that ref all the way down the sideline and let him have it. Good to see some emotion from both the players and the coaches. Great game
November 17th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I believe mimmicing a snap count happens, but I haven’t ever been a part of a team that did it. It is a bush league tactic reserved for teams and players who can’t get it done between the whistles.
It’s one of those penalties that isn’t caught that often, unless coaches freak out and get on the side judge, who in turn gets on the ref, who is supposed to make the call.
Most of the time it’s a non-issue because offense -in shot-gun- operate on a silent caught. So the quarterback will raise his leg, which the center sees and than the center counts to 2 and snaps the ball. It’s the job of the center and the QB to mix up their counts and insure that they don’t get in a rut calling the cadence.
Does that help any?
November 17th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I know someone else explained it in a comment right after the game was over. I think it can be found under the “Cougars get it done” post.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Goochman,
Does Bronco ever show any emotion at all? The really good coaches have class as he does but they also seem to get the guys charged up with a great talk before or during a game. In fact it seems that it is part of his job to do that. I realize that he wants the players to take charge but sometimes a coach needs to take the lead to show them how. This ain’t Scouts or Deacons or Teachers Q where the leaders are there to show the way but let the kids lead.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Jeff,
Bronco shows a lot of emotion, but it might not be in a manner that some fans appreciate. He yells and encourages during the week and then lets his work manifest its self on the field.
I think he feels his mind power and attention needs to be on the task at hand, not disputing a penalty that can’t be reversed.
It’s just his style, it might not work for some people, but for the most part he is exceptional at getting the most from his players.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
And make no mistake he is a councilor and bishop to his players. His job isn’t easy and what makes it harder is hundreds of thousands of people get to judge him and critisize his performances.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I really enjoyed the Air Force game. As a fan it had about everything, and no other place outside of Provo has the stadium and atmosphere of going to Colorado Springs and playing the Air Force.
Everything has been hashed out on here and everyplace else about what when on during the game. We really got hurt when Feinga went out. In my opinion he is our best offensive lineman and it isn’t really close. Plus, when was the last time you seen Fui miss so many blocks? Take out the second quarter and this offensive could do whatever it wanted all night long. I loved the way air force played defense, and I know we lite them up, but if our defense had the same emotion as Air Forces did this game would not have been close.
I want to give a howler at #4 from the I.E. The more I have watched him the more he reminds me of Justin Robinson his junior year. I would take Brandon Howard as a senior playing the same as Justin Robinson in a heart beat.
In my opinion we need to reach an emotional high and maintain it for Utah like we have not reached yet this year outside of UCLA. Someone on Defense needs to step up and set the tone and get the rest of the defense to follow. This game needs to be about more the execution and assignment discipline. Our defense needs to bring an attitude to this game that there is not going to be enough ambulances in the Salt Lake Valley to cart all the Utes off the field. Hopefully we can run the ball, start off fast, and maintain a crazy emotional discipline for the entire game. We play the best football game we have played this year we whoop’em.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Much has been said about the intensity, emotion and spirit being a factor in this week’s rivalry game. I kind of like Bronco’s mantra of consistency and execution; sometimes in all of the hype it’s easy to let your emotions get the best and miss assignments, bite on a play-action pass, try to jump an out route, drop an easy pass, miss a block, fumble when trying to get that extra yard, etc.
I also like Max Hall’s quiet intensity. I don’t need to see any chest bumps, just game winning drives. And don’t get hurt trying to make that downfield block!!!
I’m not saying we need another outing like TCU - that was like night of the living dead.
I just want us to harness that emotion, channel it into pinpoint precision and focus and unleash ferocity on the Utes this Saturday.
In a controlled manner.
Is it a little ironic that injuries have helped improve our secondary? Or am I the only one who likes Tafuna, Rich, Howard and Bradley holding down the fort back there?
Ki
November 17th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Folks, Quinn would know better than me about Bronco, but I will say he has a presence about him that is piercing to the athlete. If a guy is an athlete, then he wants to be challenged.He wants a coach who will demand his best, who will expect his best, who will seemingly know more about the player than the player knows about himself and the coach knows how to access that best self within the player. Yes, its psychology, but more its human nature. Its knowing your players and putting them in the best possible situation to win a football game and more importantly be successful in life.
When I think of great coaches, I think of men who players would run through walls for and leave a clean break in the process. Lavell Edwards had that quality. He knew you better than you knew yourself until later in life, you said to yourself, “that’s what he meant.”
Bronco is compulsive about being organized and when he looks at you, you know what he means. Bronco follows through on what he says and holds people accountable. Bronco is emotional, just listen to one of his post-game shows, he sounds completely drained.
BYU players and coaches want to win this game, they want it like fans want it, probably more. But its just a game and when its over, they will move on to the next opponent and the next thing needed to be done—probably recruiting.
I think BYU will win, especially if they play to their ability and potential
But if they don’t win, oh well. If they do win, then oh well. Really, in the long run, all winning is “is” bragging rights, I do think going to and playing for BYU goes, hopefully, far beyond sports.
I will ask fans not to become validated through a BYU win, rather impressed by how difficult victory on a consistent basis is and how impressive the coaching has been.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I saw Bronco’s “raised fist salute” on that one kickoff fumble recovery. Think I learned that from this blog. That’s one of the controlled ways he communicates to his players.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Till the end, that’s why the Air Force post game post is ended with those words.
The raised fist is part of every Bronco graduate.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Quinn, a huge thanks for the blog. Whatever happens on Saturday (BYU by 10), this season of BYU football has been the best in history for two reasons: We won a bunch of exciting games, and we have an excellent blog to talk us through the season and strengthen the community of fans.
I’m flying across the country to sit in the southwest corner of Rice Eccles and scream myself hoarse. And this year, my wife doesn’t even think I’m crazy! Go Cougs!
November 18th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I think Howard may have turned a corner with his interception. He has been improving. Air Force showed the week before that they could throw the ball. I think Howard and others were playing closer because of confidence and took a lot of looks away from Air Force.
I am a fan of Bradley and Tafuna as well.
At 9-2 Air Force should have been ranked. Hopefully the MWC can see that dominant teams and not have them play eachother until the end of the year so they can rise in the polls.
Max Hall and Austin Collie will not allow their teams to lose Saturday. Fui will come out like a man on fire.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:49 am
“…Leave their final game this season with a smile on their face and a fist in the air.”
Excellent Quinn. That line gave me goose bumps! Of course, I wouldn’t have known what that meant if it wasn’t for your blog and insight. Why do I love the Holy War, because you can’t predict how it will turn out (exception 2004). I’m looking forward to seeing the best out of our boys!
I don’t know how anyone can question Bronco’s emotional intensity. The only side I have ever seen of him, being a fan and not a player or family member, is all strictly business. His professional demeanor demands respect. That’s what BYU wanted after the honor code incidents during the Crowton era. That is the type of reliability that we have come to count on out of Bronco. He’s the best!
Quinn, what do we know about injuries this week? Is Harvey gonna be okay, or is it up to Fui now? Do we think that Pitta will play much or do we need to rotate positions. Could George pick up Pitta’s routes? Thanks for any insight.