We put our defense is bad positions all night and they were unable to stop the Horned Frog offense on a consistent bases to give us a chance to win.

Turnover can be tough to swallow when you are struggling on defense. You finally get a stop and take a breath and than you are thrust back onto the field in a crappy situation. In those “sudden change” instances it is deemed successful if you can limit the offense to field goals. Normally field goals can’t win games, but if you can’t stop an offense it doesn’t matter. Our sudden change defense last night didn’ t hold up and with four turnovers -most of which lead to points- their is no way we could of expected to win.

It’s going to be a long Friday, and I don’t even know if I can watch my 9 hours of football on Saturday. I might have to limit it to 6. I need to sit one out and regroup for next week. I need to think long and hard about what we need to do against UNLV to steady the ship. Besides now that teams have seen us lose, they will be sitting in waiting ready to rub it in and get their due.

It was a game where everyone at every position was out played. Man for man, position by position, we got beat. Don’t get me wrong, we have a good team and I do still believe we are a Top-10 program, but last night our “good” team was beaten like they stole something. What I can’t understand -and what bugs me the most- is where the spirit and passion went. Where was Fui screaming like a maniac, where was that bounce in our step and bob in our heads? Where were those young brash players that had won 16 games in a row. I want to see the team that loves simply playing the game -having fun. I can honestly only remember a couple of plays where I thought, “OK…we can make something happen here” and after that thought passed we threw an interception or we were forced into a third and forever or #85 bounced it outside for another crucial third down conversion.

That was just an old fashion shellacking, and I might need to add an extra H or L to emphasize how bad we were beaten.

Man that game hurt, but we can’t do what so many other BSC buster hopefuls have done. We can’t implode after a tough loss. There are still good things on the table. TCU still has some tough league games ahead of them and lets hope the boyz in red can pull off a win against TCU in Rice Eccles Stadium. We could than split the championship between all three of us after we beat Utah. A partial championship is better then NO championship. So brush your tears aside. The welts will fade and remember there are always blue skies in the distance. Let’s start a new winning streak, we have a lot of young talent. How about 17 games starting now, no wait……..   ……now.

Well it has come time for the sobering analysis. (Settle in folks, if you saw the game you know what might be coming.)

Offense

Steady has been our downward spiral. We as fans where spoiled at the beginning of the year, weak opponents gave a false sense of our offensive development. Now we have been beaten and it will give our players and coaches a new perspective to assess our performances. If our team uses this game wisely, they can learn a lot and can make huge strides throughout this week of preparation. Oh and our offensive staff needs to pow wow and come up with a few more plays. I backs, off tackle iso/ play action, Collie going deep isn’t cutting it anymore. Oh and smash route with Dennis running the corner has resulted in more completions to the safeties and corners -in the past three games- then to Dennis. Just an FYI.

Offensive line

Despite the offensive statistics, I thought the O-line did…..we OK. When Max dropped back to pass he had a decent pocket, time to assess the field and good throwing lanes. Yes, Max was pressured more in this game then in all other games combined. We also haven’t played a defensive front with the speed and talent of TCU. I think Max could have helped his line out by dropping back deeper or not moving up in the pocket as far. I wouldn’t blame the lack of a running game on the big fellas. They weren’t give a chance.

Last year against UCLA’s Davis he gave up multiple sacks and that game and last nights game have one thing in common, SPEED. When do we start looking to the future and give RJ Willing, Terrance Brown and Jesse Taufi a chance, to show their abilities. I am not saying lets bench some guys on our line, but lets evaluate performances objectively and see if a healthy competition improves a players performance.

I give them a C, but their performance will be seen as poor because their signal caller had a tough night and the running game was forgotten.

Running Back

First of all I hope, Harvey evaluates his priorities and begins to use his head a little more. He is a great kid, but he is a kid. He made a selfish choice at a bad time, which drew attention away from the task at hand. Lets hope he learns from his mistake.

The backs in general weren’t involved in the game that much. They didn’t have any significant catches and I think Harvey only had a couple runs where he looked effective. What I would like to see are Tongan backs who are punishing people on their way  to a five yard gain. Lets understand what kind of backs we are. We aren’t going to take it the distance. We are going to punish a few guys, and slow the defensive rush.

Get back to doing that and your carries will increase and the offense can again be productive.

Wide Receivers

They haven’t been open in two games. Partly because of the route combination’s and partly they were out performed by the corners. The only balls they caught were on double moves or they were in serious traffic and immediately tackled. The TCU corners had chips on their shoulders tonight and they were out to make a statement. The corners sat on routes, were physical in press and most importantly made plays. Austin and Mike couldn’t create separation and if they did the window of separation was too short and the ball didn’t come till after the corner had recovered. Timing was off and -in a pass happy offensive scheme- if that  happens you’re a fish out of water.

Like I said above I was just looking for some passion. A big block, a move after a catch, just something that told me they are passionate about their performance. Mike, don’t get frustrated that you can’t get open and pull a bush league move like you did. Show more class and hustle back and make it happen the next time. You are great players, but it didn’t show last night. It will be gut check time next week, so what’s it going to be…feast or famine?

Tight End

Dennis was throwing his body around and Andrew only got a few touches. I still think we need to get George involved more. He creates a tough match-up for opponents and  with Collie and Pitta drawing double teams we need to find a third guy. Mike was that guy, but hasn’t returned from his surgery yet. George is that guy. Dennis, just keep catching the ball when it comes your way. Hopefully you won’t separate your shoulder diving for balls.

Quarterback

The stage was Max’s tonight and he didn’t leave the Cougar faithful wanting more. I am not going to rattle off statistics or anything like that. Mostly because I personally don’t care about statistics, I care about WINS. Max has gotten respect because he has won games. He lead our team to 16 straight -so lets not forget that. Did he hold onto the ball too long last night….yes (but he did that all last year too.) Did he zero in on receivers and throw into tight spots…..yes (but again, he did that last year.) In last nights game he simply paid for his bad habits. He has made similar mistakes in the past and people said he was gutsy, but now that he isn’t getting away with it people are starting to question his abilities.

Max excelled at the beginning of the season because he spread the ball around and got rid of the ball quickly. He needs to get back to taking what the defense gives and being smart with the ball. Dennis and Austin are great players, but teams are taking notice. They will not be open all the time, the well has been pumped and will need to be primed until it is ready again. Spread it around, lets work the slot receivers, lets hit the running backs out of the backfield. Make it easier on yourself Max.

We have fallen victim to the long ball. She is a fickle beast and when she is pissed we struggle as an offense. A great offense doesn’t depend on the long ball. A great offense uses the long ball to throw the knock out blow -alla UCLA & Wyoming. It doesn’t throw the long ball with hopes and dreams. We can’t be a team that depends on a bomb to Collie every game. UNLV will be a great game to get back into an offensive groove. Lets work the timing routes and hopefully a receiver can get some separation and make Max’s throws a little simpler.

Defense

Well….we looked like we were in quick sand, you can’t coach speed. That’s just something you have to combat with technique, leverage and effort.

Defensive Line

I thought these guys did an admirable job at stopping the runs up the gut, but we didn’t do a good job of containing their speed and forcing the ball carrier back towards the pursuit.

Jan tried to strap the squad on his back, but he couldn’t get any help. They didn’t consistently win the one on one battles. With speed backs a defensive linemen can not stay blocked. They have to shed the blocker and get in a position where they can make a play on the ball carrier. Our guys had Frog linemen all over  them all night, which made it nearly impossible to get a paw on the ball carrier (no pun intended).

Also, our stunts were ineffective. We often brought pressure up the middle, which caused the backs to bounce to the outside. They were supposed to run into a containing end but instead found green grass. In order to be successful down the road, our ends are going to have to stop trying to get sacks and instead complete their job within the defense to insure the collective success of the defensive unit.

Linebackers

With Nixon banged up no one stepped up to fill his shoes. We are weakest at the most  crucial position on the field, Middle backer. That player should of had 15 tackles tonight and should be leading the team in tackles interception and sacks. The defense is built around having a dominate interior linebacker and well, we haven’t found the answer. Granted our blitzes didn’t help them last night, but when you are blitzing you need to come free and when you are in open space we need you to make the tackle.

Next week I think we continue rotating the interior linebackers and start shopping for a guy who is going to take the reins from Cameron and Kelly. With David nicked up, our defense lacked a leader who was going to make plays. A defense is useless if they aren’t making plays. Guys can be in the right spots all night, but if they aren’t being aggressive and making plays what is the point of being on the field.

Defensive Backs

I know everyone is waiting for me to lay into Bradon Howard, but everyone already knows he played bad. Lets talk about the collective unit. As a whole this group hasn’t been tested. Our corners were playing timid. They were worried about the speed of the TCU receivers and gave them too much cushion. Our safeties weren’t in position when they were in underneath coverage and our defensive line & linebackers didn’t get pressure which magnified the problem.

Where do we go from here? I think we start looking at ways in which we can mix up the DB’s. We need to find a combination of players that is going to give us the best possibility of stopping the pass. We can do some things in the scheme to help Howard or whomever, but it will put stress at other positions.

We have to be bend but don’t break, not bend and take it up the tail pipe. I am still waiting for a play maker to emerge. I am dieing for a big hit, an interception, a pass break-up, just something to let me know that their is some promise.

A lot of credit needs to be thrown Gary Patterson’s way. He had his teamed amped and foaming at the mouth.

Our Coaching staff needs to assert themselves to make sure that we don’t lay an egg at home against UNLV. When Lavell talked to the team in 2004 he specifically said you can not lose at home. Coach Mendenhall is in uncharted waters, he set the expectation and now he has to deal with the fall out. Coach Anae needs to get on the phone with his Texas Tech buddies and start drawing up some new route combination’s. Austin right and Dennis left is not working as good as it used to. Coach Hill will need to find out who “the guys” are that are going to start making plays. That means in practice guys better be making plays and in film sessions guy better be asking and answering questions.

It is going to be an interesting week for me as well. The monday poll discussion won’t be as fun, but don’t worry I’ll keep it light and we will have a good time. Don’t lose the faith, we still have a very good football team, we just got beat by a team that had more speed and was more diverse in their play calling and abilities. We need to adapt and progress. Next up UNLV, anyone have a good Las Vegas joke???

Photo by Denis Poroy

This year’s season has already been filled with a couple defining moments. Moments like the Washington field goal block and the UCLA blow-out have been the memorable pieces of a BCS puzzle. My question to you is, will this game be the moment in this 2008 season? Will we look back at this game as the moment BYU became a Top-5 team and program?

I think a win could be the turning point with the pollsters. It will solidify BYU as “the” BCS buster and once again push our team into the lime light.

For me the 2006 moments were the Boston College loss, the Utah win, and the Oregon beat down. In 2007, the most memorable game would again be the Utah game, the home win against a good TCU team -for different reasons- and the revenge game against UCLA. These games stick out in my mind as the special games in the past two 11 win seasons.

Tonight’s game has that special feel about it. Fans are a little nervous, the national press is taking notice, coaches are biting their nails, players are watching a few more hours of film, team meetings are quiet and focused, and walk-throughs aren’t a meaningless task. This game could be a kick start to a special journey that will end in Florida, Louisiana or possible Pasadena. It could be that game that we talk about for the next year. A great offense against a great defense, coach against coach, mascot against mascot, cheerleaders against cheerleaders. It has all the intangibles of a special game.

Will it be that moment? I think it will be and after it’s over and the dust has settled, we will understand what kind of team we have.   

Well our defense better get ready to tighten their helmet straps and play the run. It isn’t that their offense is extremely diverse or even high powered, but their defense puts them in good situations and gives them the ability to stick to their run, run, run game plan. (Warning!! This post is not for the faint of heart. Are you fully invested?…..OK read on.)

Offensive Scheme:

They run a lot out of the spread formations. They run a lot of ride option plays and often align in an empty backfield and then motion to a single back set. The most important player on the field is the quarterback. Whoever is playing quarterback on Thursday holds the key to TCU’s success. If their quarterback makes good reads and solid fakes we will be forced to devote a man to each running back and the quarterback every time it looks like they will run the ride, option, or ride option. The quarterback alone is capable of keeping our linebackers and defensive ends honest.

Even their passing game needs the running attack to work. They often will fake a run and roll the quarterback out and throw a quick out or hitch. They also have a good option pass, which they will use one or two times during a game. Despite having good speed at the skill positions they don’t throw the ball down field very much. They will instead run the ball on first down in order to set up a manageable second down play where they can either attempt to get to the perimeter or they can throw a short route and hope for a missed tackle.

In past years BYU teams have done a great job of defending the option and our offense has been able to score early and move the ball on the ground and in the air. This has forced TCU into uncomfortable situations where they couldn’t simply finesse the ball around the edges and throw a quick pass every once in a while to keep everyone honest.

The Quarterback

With #10, Dalton, being out for the past few weeks the TCU offense has struggled. #11, Jackson, while a good player doesn’t give the offense the throwing dimension that they would like.

With Dalton taking more snaps this past week, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize he is going to give it a go. Their team is better with him on the field. While not as fast and athletic as #11, Jackson, he is very smart and has good feet in the pocket. He gets the ball off quick and on time, allowing his receivers to catch and make a move. Dalton has a great ability to fake the ride option play and then wheel up and throw a quick out of hitch opposite the run action. It is a great play but Dalton is the only quarterback that runs it. With Jackson you get a great runner, a questionable passer, and a smaller play book.

#11, Jackson, does a great job of making good decisions in the run game. He is a check one off type quarterback. He looks to his first guy, than his second option and if nothing is open he is running. Sometimes it’s even one and done. If he gets the start TCU will be running the ball almost every down. When he drops back to pass he has lazy, sluggish feet and often throws off his back foot. He is inaccurate and his receivers tend to drop a lot of his balls. What I like about his game is his ability (like Aaron Brown) to dip inside and than accelerate to the edge for a eight yard gain.

I would expect a two headed quarterback monster on Thursday. With Dalton being a little banged up you will want to limit his touches and give the experienced running quarterback some snaps. If the staff would work with Jackson on his mechanics he could be a dangerous threat in the future (Much like the Penn State quarterback).

Running Back

#23, Aaron Brown, will get the start, but they shuffle different guys in all the time. In almost every game they have used a different back than the previous week. Brown is extremely dangerous in the open field, especially speed option to the short side of the field. They run it with a lead blocker picking up the corner and if Brown gets the edge- he’s gone. Brown is also very dangerous while returning kicks, so lets hope Sorenson brings his big leg to Texas.

#24 is their every down type back, he runs hard between the tackles and gets the not so sexy yards up the middle.

#18 is their all purpose player. He is shifty in the open field and runs well off tackle. He is also effective on option plays. In the SDSU game he got the ball a lot and had some great runs. He is a young player and I think they have brought him along slowly. Now that they have seen what he is capable of, TCU coaches are beginning to give him the ball more.

Wide Receiver

This bunch is somewhat of a wild card, because TCU runs the ball so much. I noticed that they used a variety of guys at different spots, but there are a few “go to guys” on their team.

#85 is their most dangerous receiver. He catches a lot of the screens and also gets some snaps at quarterback. He is very fast and quick in and out of breaks and he shows a lot of emotion when he makes a big play. Something tells me he is a talker.

Other than him #1 and #6 get the most touches but not many so it’s hard to tell what their capabilities are.

One thing they do well is cut block down field. If you aren’t paying attention you will end up on your head and with TCU’s speed at running back, that means the ball is around you and half way to the end zone before you even hit the ground.

Offensive Line

Like last year this is their weak area. They aren’t dominant at the line of scrimmage. Teams are able to get pressure on the quarterback with a four man rush and they don’t blow guys off the line of scrimmage when they line up in power running formations.

Where the line excels is in position/zone blocking and cut blocking. Because their running backs are fast, they only need to position themselves between the defender and the ball for a short time and the running back is gone.

Keys To The Game:

1. Be extremely physical and win the one on one match-ups. These two things go hand in hand. We need to get penetration against the run and bring the pressure into the backfield. This will cause confusion and force their backs to change direction. This will enable our pursuit to get to the ball and allow more than one player to be in open space with their running backs. I have always said the way to combat speed is with physical play. You have to smack them in the face enough times that the quarterback no longer wants the ball and the running back is trying to do to much and ends up running sideways or backwards.
2. Continue to be stingy in the red zone. TCU has a nasty habit of getting penalties in the red zone, if we are smart and continue to play assignment sound inside the twenty we can limit their offense to field goals. If they get field goals inside the red zone it is a success for us, because field goals should never win games.
3. Create turnovers. Their defense is going to get some stops, not every possession is going to result in a touchdown. We need to give our offense as many chances as we can, so look for the ball when you are the second and third guy into the pile. We will need to take the air out of their sail by winning the emotional battle.
4. Be excited for a challenge. Embrace the fact that they are faster then you are and make it your mission to prove them wrong. Speed is deadly when it is in open space, be smart with where you align. Pay attention to your keys and play hard. Playing with extraordinary effort and playing smart will always beat speed.
5. Our linebackers need to have a very good game. A lot of pressure will be put on them to stop the quarterback on the ride option play and most of the time it will be a one on one tackle. They need to trust the defensive end or outside backer that they will take away the running back and they will need to fold around and meet the quarterback in the open space. If you Q doesn’t have the ball fold back inside and help out, but make sure he doesn’t have the ball.
6. Backside players need to slow play the quarterback and secure the cutback lanes. Their quarterbacks are smart with their option reads and if they notice the end crashing down hard they will simply pull the ball out of the running backs belly and take off. Make sure you keep your shoulder parallel to the line of scrimmage and shuffle down before you take off. It will be very important!!

Well I have basically written a book. If you made it to the end of this post you are a trooper. Enjoy the game, I have enjoyed writing this post. I always get excited for the big games and it will be difficult to slow my mind down as I get into bed. This game should be good, but I think we will show up to play and pour it on late.

This is bold but I am saying 38-17, for the guys in BLUE and WHITE.

The TCU defense plays a manipulated 4-3, but instead of using a true defensive end, they use a smaller and faster player who can get a quick speed rush off the edge. They also use their strong safeties as both a strategic outside linebacker and a “rover” safety. Their rover is physical like a linebacker but can also match-up with wide receivers and tight ends in pass coverages.

The TCU defense has speed at every position. Their most disruptive players are their linebackers. #41, Daryl Washington, and #39, Jason Phillips, make a lot of plays behind or at the line of scrimmage and are constantly in the backfield during running plays. Their safeties, #3, Tejay Johnson, and #29, Stephan Hodge, also make a lot of plays and are heavily involved in stopping the run. Because they devote so many players to stopping the run, their corners are put in a lot of man to man situations with little or no help. This is a risky scheme, but with their speed they feel as if they can recover from concentration errors.

Defensive Line

The defensive line is not their strength. In recent years the Horned Frogs have had Tommy Blake and Ortiz speed rushing at the defensive end positions. This year those players have been replaced by solid linemen, but nothing close to Blake’s and Ortiz’s caliber.

The reason their defensive line has had success to this point in the season is because of their ability to get penetration. Their tackles are very quick off the ball, and because of this speed, they are able to get underneath the offensive linemen and push them back into the play. They also do a great job of hitting gaps with enough force to create disruption in the backfield. When tackles and ends are quick off the ball and get penetration it can cause pile-ups in the backfield. For instance, if a tackle shoots a gap and hits a pulling guard and knocks him to the ground, it frees up a linebacker on the other end of the play.

Disrupting the pulling guards and blocking fullbacks is what these guys do the best and is why they are so solid against the run.

Linebackers

TCU’s linebackers are their strength. They only have two true linebackers. I haven’t seen a pair play as physical and emotional as these two. #39, Phillips, plays smarter of the two and is good at slipping blockers in open space and still being able to make a play on the ball. He also does a good job in his zone drops, finding the receivers near him and making a play on the ball. While both players play down hill, #41, Washington, is like a heat seeking missile against the run. He is constantly in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage.

Because these two play down hill so quickly they are often susceptible to over pursuing the ball, leaving cut back lanes or even missing tackles. They are extremely aggressive against the run which leaves them vulnerable to screens and play action. With the amount of plays these two make it is crucial that we account for them on every play.

I like that these two players are emotionally invested in the game. The Frog defensive unit thrives off of their energy and play making ability. I also like their unexpected trigger rushes on to the quarterback. A trigger rush is when they are either fooled by play action or they wait until the offensive linemen have declared who they are blocking and then rush late. I saw it work a couple of times in previous games and I think it could be effective against our offense because our running backs often leak out into pass routes.

Safeties

TCU plays two regular safety body types and a “rover” safety who plays an active role in stopping the run. From what I can tell the free safety is #4, Steven Coleman, and the strong safety is #3, Johnson. The rover is #29, Hodges, and he is the most physical out of the bunch. Their safeties are often very close to the box, which makes it tough to run the ball. They also have enough athletic talent to recognize passes and recover into their zone or man coverage responsibilities.

This group, while not as talented as last years group, are very good at what they do. They have good enough cover skills to match up well against a tight end. They also have the strength to step up against a pulling tackle or guard.

Last year Dennis Pitta and Andrew George both had good games and I think this year our offense needs to work this match up throughout the game. While the safeties are good they don’t match up well enough against our tight ends. I am saying it first Dennis and Andrew both have big games and will be used in a variety of different ways, split out, bubble screen, and goal line situations.

Corners

Their corners are probably the most experienced corners our receivers will face all year. Both corners have started since they were freshmen and they are both very confident in their abilities. Because of the aggressive nature of the defensive scheme, these corners are often put in tough situations. Both #20, Nick Sanders, and #10, Rafeal Priest, have great recovery speed and can be physical enough to disrupt timing.

Where they don’t excel is in their pad level. They often get caught playing too high, which causes them to struggle when coming out of their breaks. Both corners have always relied on their natural speed to close out the space created by a good route. So naturally their footwork has suffered.

They also take a lot of chances in coverage. They’ll break underneath routes or play flat footed in hopes of guessing right and creating a big play opportunity. While taking chances is exciting it leaves your whole team exposed to big plays.

I would expect our offense to keep these two corners honest with double moves. We need to play with confidence and hopefully bust a big play early.

Keys to the game:

1. Like always start fast. I have a feeling TCU is going to run the ball a lot. That’s why it will be so important to get a score up early and then keep the peddle to the metal for the entire game.
2. Picking up the blitz. Our line is a couple of plays away from playing perfectly. This isn’t the game to relax or let down your guard. They will be blitzing from everywhere; corner, safety, linebacker, outhouse, and sideline. Our line has to communicate with the quarterback and the running backs to ensure that all players are accounted for. If for some reason they aren’t, hopefully Max will recognize it and get the ball away quick. If we are able to consistently pick up the blitz, we will win the match ups. Add Max’s throwing accuracy into the equation and there will be numerous opportunities for explosive plays.
3. Be patient with the running game. I don’t think we will have success early, but that doesn’t mean we should simply abandon it. We need to use some screens and quick hitting runs to catch their defense off balance. In last years game we were one missed tackle or one block away from busting a few long runs.  If we just let it develop and it will work. Our line is ready for the challenge and I think we will surprise a few folks with our running game on Thursday.
4. Max can’t take sacks, more specifically he can’t get caught trying to run backwards to escape the rush. The Frogs are too quick and they always know where the ball is. If the pocket is closing, tuck it and run for a couple or throw it into the second row of the bleachers. We can’t afford to be in long yardage situations especially against a blitz crazy team.
5. Third down conversion percentage will play a vital role in the outcome of the game. They will be bringing everything they have and we will need to make a few plays to extend drives. Our offense needs to understand the situations of the game and be able to recognize what needs to be done. Long story made short – we need to get back to 70% or better on third down. Enough said!
6. Last but not least, someone will have to make a special play. Johnny Harline made one when we were down there last time, Austin and Harvey made a couple special plays last year at home. This year we need someone, at a pivotal time, to step up and take responsibility for the offenses production and make a play.

It could be a BIG night for the Cougars. I wish I could be on the field. These are the games that everyone remembers and where names are made. Buckle the straps on your helmet a little tighter, get a fresh new pair of cleats and gloves and take the field knowing you will make the difference. Winning will require one more play than TCU. Who is going to make it?

Photo by Scott G. Winterton

1. The excitement of a big game will finally return. Yeah…I know the coaches say every game is a big one, but even I knew that some games mean more than others. Combine the fact that this game is the first game fans, media, family and friends will again be talking about.  Plus there will be emotion and pressure of it being on a Thursday and I think our team comes out focused and extremely prepared.
2. The field will be fast, the weather should be nice and the stadium will have more Cougar blue then Horny Frog purple. Just don’t trip walking down the treacherous stairs leading to the field.
3. Our defense is playing well and our offense is due for a big performance. TCU’s defensive scheme allows for some big plays and Coach Anea has been holding stuff back for this week. Most of the fans were correct, the play calling of Saturday was conservative and we didn’t try any new formations or plays. We should have been able to beat New Mexico with a vanilla playbook and guess what…..we did. The playbook will be opened wide this week and we will have a new wrinkle added to the offense.
4. Their mascot is a Horned Frog and their jerseys are purple. I am not a sports historian, but when was the last time a team won anything wearing purple uniforms? The Jazz tried but Jordan put an end to that. Sorry folks, I was raised in sweet home Chicago.
5. Mike Reed and David Nixon -Texas boys- have something to prove. Besides if they don’t play well, Texas might not let him back in.
6. After a Thursday night homecoming beating, at the hands of the Colorado St. Rams in Bronco’s first year as a BYU Coach, he vows to never again to be out coached in a Thursday night game. I think since that game the only other Thursday night lost was in Boise. Oh bless your heart Matt Payne, but you did smash Carr on that punt return.
7. The most hated periods of practice, pre-practice. This is when the defense gets to run extra plays against the scout team. It’s fifteen minutes when you aren’t warmed up, you haven’t tied your shoes and the scout team guys are running faster then they ever have. It is just another way the defense prepares just a little more then everyone else.
8. Players will have a double dose of their daily vitamin I. Your scrunching your forehead and thinking, is there a vitamin I? I can honestly say that vitamin I is the only reason I could run during the week and on Saturday. Anti-Inflammatory -vitamin I- it’s every players best friend.
9. Max Hall has only been sacked like twice, and hurried maybe five or six times this whole year. Right now he is wondering why everyone is walking so slow. He hasn’t felt this good since he was twelve playing football in his back yard.
10. Once again, like with Washington, I heard the TCU players poking fun at Jan’s name. I told’em to stop but they persisted.

As you gather with friends this evening and begin to talk about what BYU has to do to win, I hope you have 1. read my scouting reports 2. read the first look at TCU and 3. become familiar with the next few paragraphs.

This game is almost the perfect pre-TCU game BYU could have scheduled. In watching the film I have seen a lot of similarities between the teams and I think having UNM this week and a short week to prepare for TCU won’t be bad. Here are my top reasons:

1. UNM defense and TCU defense do a lot of similar things, i.e. lots of pressure and man to man coverages They also rely on having more “athletes” on the field than a typical defense.
2. UNM’s team speed is equivalent to TCU’s due to the effort demands of Rocky Long. Yeah…. at a position by position comparison the TCU defense is faster, but they don’t play collectivly as hard as the UNM’s defense. So the speed factor balances out.
3. The UNM/TCU offenses have similar characteristics/styles (a running quarterback, a spread attack with power concepts mixed in, good skill position players, coordinators that will run first and pass second and both team are efficient at running screen plays). How BYU’s defense performs Saturday will be a good gauge of what we could expect on Thursday night next week.

The only negative that I see is that UNM is normally very physical and a short week doesn’t allow your body much time to bounce back. Saturday’s game is going to rely heavily on the defensive and offensive fronts’ ability to control the line of scrimmage. I just hope we don’t lose anyone to a significant injury before the real tests of the season begin.

Short practice weeks are tricky. Coaches have to make sure they prepare enough, but also give the players time to recover from the previous game. BYU has a good track record the past 2 or 3 years during Thursday night games. Plus, with everything that will be riding on the game in Fort Worth I wouldn’t expect a bad week of preparation.

Now that a few teams have played some conference opponents I get the chance to watch other league teams in action. Last night I watched the UNM/ TCU game and here are my first thoughts.

Like always the Horned Frogs have great athletes (just so you know I only watched the TCU defense). Their defensive guys have good size but they bank on their speed and ability to get pressure on the quarterback. That is why they both do a great job at stopping the run, and messing up quarterbacks rhythm which causes their opponents offense to struggle.

Gary Patterson runs that 4-2-5-but it is simply a personal modified 3-4, with the outside linebackers being smaller, quicker safety type players instead of a typical outside linebacker.

One thing that I saw that our offense will be able to exploit is their defensive backs tendency to sit on routes. Because their fronts bring so much pressure I am sure that their coaches have instructed their corners and safeties to play more squat man. (Squat man is when you wait for the route to break in front of you, so the corners give up very little ground.) By playing squat man the corners better match the pressure tempo of the front seven and when the quarterback has to get rid of the ball quickly, the frog corner is ready to leap into action (I know that was very cliche, but it just fits.) Playing a squat technique can also make your defense very susceptible to long pass plays and big plays- Please reference the Oklahoma game.

This game could very well come down to how well our offensive line can pick-up their blitzes and Max standing strong in the pocket and finding open receivers.

It is going to be a very tough game.