The off-season teaser…
Wow, that’s all I have to say. I would break that game down, but the problems were obvious and the Wildcats took advantage early and often.
The defense couldn’t find any answers for the short passing game and when they did run complicated downfield route combinations our defensive backs didn’t communicate and the ball went over their heads. It was a frustrating game to watch.
The offense… I really don’t have an explanation. Our offensive line continues to struggle with speed and we could count on the long ball to Collie this game. Like I said earlier in the year, when you live and die by the long ball your offense become too one dimensional. When we couldn’t find anyone deep we couldn’t move the ball.
It’s time to add some swirls to that vanilla bean ice cream.
Coming up towards the end of the month and the New Year:
Position by position break-down.
Interesting look at each coach.
Looking towards the future, players etc.
Spring- ball preview.
I’ll try and get some more about Bryan Kehl and other players, including Doug Jolley’s experience in the Super Bowl.
It will be good, football for breakfast, luch and dinner.
Enjoy!!
Thanks, for great insight this season.
I’m looking forward to next year.
Quinn, I talked with several players after the fireside. I asked all of them if they had read your blog, and no one I talked to had, but I told them to catch up on the off season. I also talked to Dennis Pitta and he told me that he still was not as ready as he wished. Do you think he could have helped more if he was healthy, or were the other mistakes to hard to overcome?
Quinn, and all other former player who have participated in keeping this blog great: Thanks!
It’s been a nice break from regular reporting sources and adds insight that I haven’t found elsewhere. Good work guys keep it up.
Quinn, do you think it will get more difficult to add those same insights the further removed you get from the program? Anyway, love the blog.
Harvey Unga out of the backfield all but vanished from the offense this year. I would bet he caught less than 15 balls on circle routes, flares or other release patterns. I think he was running the routes, I just don’t think Max Hall was getting him the ball.
I might be wrong, but this underneath part of the offense seemed to be missing this year.
Quinn, Mark, and other contributors,
Thanks so much for all your comments and insights. I tell everyone I can about this site. I am glad we have a quality site that will help stave off the hunger pains as we wait for next season
I have a lot of thoughts about the game, but, hey, it’s Christmas week and there are more important things to think about so I’ll keep it brief.
One thing that you didn’t mention is kicking. It’s been frustrating all year. For all the hype, Justin Sorenson didn’t put the ball in the end zone nearly enough. And did he make even one of his patented 50+ yard field goal attempts? I don’t think so. C.J. Santiago didn’t get off more than a handful of great punts and Payne missed when it counted. We need better kicking and we haven’t seen it for quite a while. When you get to breaking things down I’d love to hear your thoughts on that.
Thanks, Quinn, for making this my first stop for BYU Football! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Markell, and all former players who have been participating!
One thing I’d love to hear about is some of the interesting things Bronco does. For example, I heard in his first year that he did some kind of fitness challenge and beat every player or something like that. I’m curious whether he still does that and whether it motivates off-season preparation. I know Bronco is very into business principles of time management, efficiency, etc. It would be interesting to hear any more you know about that. Finally, I have to wonder whether last year’s Bowl win was a curse in disguise because maybe it decreased the sense of urgency this year, and maybe this year’s loss will have the opposite effect.
It might be harder to write about the program as I get further and further remove, but I have plans just to find a player who wants to step in and write some stuff also.
Its a cycle and players are always coming through the program.
This is the best BYU football info site on the web! Thanks for doing this, Quinn and Markell. I look forward to reading your future material on the Cougs.
Quinn,
Would you analyze who of the present seniors has NFL ability?
Quinn,
I must admit I was really looking forward to what you were going to say about Hall. Is he a buddy of yours? I think it’s about time we call a spade a spade. Yet another game, where just about any QB on the roster could have stepped in and had the same results.
Also, I’ve never mentioned this before, but seriously, Fowler may be extremely intelligent going to UVA law school and all, but he has got to be one of the worst D-1 football players out there. Do you think he is one of the people who “didn’t watch film” like so many players are harping on these days? I assume he’d have the time considering he’s only taking one class this semester, but seriously, he lookes clueless out there. It’s comforting knowing that we can’t have a drop off at the safety position next year.
For those who would whine about Sorenson I would ask that you check the touchback stats for the last few years and see how things have improved.
Also, if you aren’t the one attempting the majority of the kicks it’s very difficult to go in and hit a long bomb. Toss in other factors like the temperature and distance and it’s easy to see why Sorenson’s attempt in this game was 50/50 at best.
If Sorenson was the regular kicker then you may have a beef but he’s not. No sense degrading him until he really gets a shot. That will come after his mission.
We play with who we got, Max is the best we’ve got! This game wasn’t lost by the O, it was lost by the D. 21 points will win most anybody a lot of games.
Thanks guys for a great site. This old man really appreciates it.
Bob
I was talking to my brothers about the game and we each commented that we have never seen the Cougars play with as little heart and emotion. They didn’t care to be there and they showed it. Max has been on the down slide since the TCU game when we fell out of the BCS and he dropped out of sight in the Heisman watch. He needs to do some SERIOUS film studying in the off season and get together with a therapist of sorts to learn how to control his emotions and become a little more level headed and not so emotionally unstable. We haven’t had the same spark on offense since the TCU loss. We peaked at the UCLA game…. obviously too early.
I agree with your comment on the “vanilla bean” offense. What happened with Collie running the offense as QB? I think we saw that play 4-5 times this whole year, but he never threw it. What happened to hitting Unga in the flat? Short, quick outs? Why did everything have to be 10+ yards passes? When the run was humming why did we go back to relying on the throw? I liked the option… we saw it what? 5 times all year, if that? BSU didn’t beat Oklahoma by doing the same plays every game. You need those few plays to pull out at the right time. The only play I was surprised by was the touchdown against Utah (VERY clever and AWESOME!). Come on Annai!
I’d like to see Bronco go back to the deffensive duties and put Hill back as the secondary coach. It’s Bronco’s defense, wouldn’t it make more sense for him to call the shots there?
You know, Feinga and Reynolds are good but I don’t think they are as good as they get credit for. I don’t mind losing a little size if it means that we gain more speed. TCU, Utah, Air Force, and AZ sliced up our O-Line. I expected better performance from them… thoroughly disappointed.
There’s my 2 cents.
Bob,
Three turnovers isn’t the offense? All those were Max (again). Nine in the last two games. I really don’t think Max can beat a good team. He is good enough to post a comeback against a team we should handle easily (a la Colorado State). But he can’t win when it counts. We’ve had a season that proved it and I think he only got worse as the season (and the size of his head) progressed. I don’t expect anything different next year…
Thank you Quinn for continuing not to criticize the players and coaches. When we lose, we just move on without comment or reflection, because maintaining our relationship with the coaches and players is more important than truthful analysis. Finally, someone on the internets gets it. I look forward to hearing about who is jittery about the combine.
I’m staying on the bandwagon. I really like BYU’s system. I think they need to make some adjustments, and I think the coaches are humble enough and smart enough to realize that. Looking forward to a great year next year!
As I have been saying all season, Max is overrated and is a total headcase, which he continues to prove, and I would argue that he began his unending tumble downward during the utah state game, after which he explained that his 2INT and poor performance was a “good thing”. And somehow losing to TCU was worse than losing to Utah. How is that, when by beating Utah we still had a chance at a BCS bowl and Utah being are arch rival? It’s because despite him being a “competitor”, he is a loser. He didn’t think we could beat Utah, and that’s why it didn’t hurt so bad. I wonder if Doman will finally admit that Beck would dominate Hall.
To all of you who say that the Vegas Bowl was Max’s fault –
I, along with your beloved John Beck, will have to disagree with you. Max played a really good game. Sure you can say we turned it over a bunch of times again, blah blah blah…The fact is that Max threw a lot of REALLY great passes in that game. The deep INT was probably not the best decision, but you take chances in games. Don’t put this one on Max. I was very impressed with the way he handled the game and the Offense.
I also have to say that this game was not on the D either. Sure it is not good to give up 31. But the D played excellent in the first half and gave the O chances after chance to make something happen. It is tough to go out and play D when you are on the field all the time.
The fact of the matter is that this was everyone’s fault. There were about 6 guys that showed up to play in this game: Collie, Max, Pitta, Nixon, Jorgensen, Kariya. Those guys in my mind game out and played tough and fought. Everyone else in my mind was in la la land and really seemed as if they didn’t care either way.
THE KICKING GAME –
I don’t blame Sorensen. One of the coach’s needed to wide up and remind the others that we were in Vegas, not The Wasatch Front. Just because there was snow on the ground didn’t mean we were at the altitude where he hits those 50+ yarders. Then I have to agree with the comment that if he were the kicker all the time, he might have had a better shot. Pretty tough to warm up a leg after an hour and half of standing around.
To me, if the assessment was, Sorensen for length and Payne for accuracy, we need to re-think our inks and bring back Aaron Edmonds to do double duty (Punt and Kick)
CASEY -
CASEY –
I remember you asking me to define something about Max after one of the games early on. I think when I called him a fighter. So now I want to hear what your definition of a “headcase” is and why Max fits that mold?
Markell-
Max made some good throws, but how many good throws compensate for a fumble. He is responsible for like 30 TO this season, and the rest of the team 5. And why does he gamble? We were driving with plenty of time left when he throws a pick in the endzone. Do you think Doman endorses Max so much because Max was his first recruit, and his first QB (that he had for the QB’s entire career)?
I also think Bauman was playing a good game until their RB knocked him out. He seemed to wear down late, but I thought him, along with the rest of the LB one of their best games.
One thing of note too was the penalties. How ridiculous was the third and short that turned into third and twenty in literally thirty seconds. I might be off on the downs, but I imagine you know what I’m referring to…
But I was super impressed with Pitta carrying two guys on his back to reach first down (only to have it come back on a penalty). I don’t think he was 100% but I was very impressed with his effort.
Headcase – I don’t exactly know how to articulate headcase, but some examples would be how he thinks the 2 INT in the USU game were a good thing. They didn’t help him grow at all, but instead hindered him for the remainder of the season. Also, the lack of confidence against Utah, where he apparently had a preconceived notion that we were going to lose. The lack of self control, which greatly hurts our team (costing us penalties at critical times).
Someone that over thinks big challenges and chokes as a result. Also being full of themselves and their sense of greatness, which doesn’t let them improve since they can’t see their faults.
He may be a competitor, but so am I, and believe me, you don’t want me suiting up for the Cougs. I want a winner, like Beck. Beck isn’t merely a competitor, he is also a winner.
Casey –
When I was in Vegas my brother and I were talking about Max and all the crap that has been said about him since the Utah game (and even before) and my brother made the best comment. (We play football every saturday as a stake, ward v ward) …”It’s pretty funny huh, that we can sit here and rip on a guy for throwing an INT when we go out on sat and play QB and throw like 3 INTs in an hour?”
Why does Max take chances? You know, sometimes you have to let your guy make a play. I think if he throws that deep ball to Austin 10 times, 5/10 Austin makes the play and 5/10 the UofA guy makes it. Maybe it wasn’t the right time in the game, maybe we don’t see what he saw. When the ball was in the air, I thought it was looking like a great pass. Think back to the amazing grab by Harline over Weddle…that play, the fade route, is a play where the O coord. says, our guys is better than your guy 1on1. Do you think Johnny makes that catch on Weddle 10 out of 10? Of course we want to believe it, but I don’t think that is the reality.
I was just as pissed as you were when Max fumbled (and Travis let it slip through his paws), but TOs happen. I would like to see Max slide, but that is another story.
About Doman, I don’t know what to say about that. I think there is something to be said for Coaches wanting their recruits to do well…see my article on making an NFL team…fact of the matter is, if you recruit a Heisman player you look really good. But Max is the best QB on the team right now far and away. He is not a system QB, or he would have been running the O the way John did. There is NOBODY on the roster that will pus him for time right now. NOBODY!
Casey -
About the LBs. I think that they may have stepped up at times, but I was not impressed in the early going at all. Too many bad angles caused some small gains to become big ones. I got sick and tired of seeing them catch that bubble pass and out run our OLBs bad angle to gain 15 yds.
I think we should shelf Headcase and just say prideful, or cocky. Those sum up your description of a headcase. There is a fine line between cocky and confident and you have to toe it, or you could lose your edge. Sometimes he crosses it, I’ll give you that.
Casey-
PS I have really enjoyed your comments all year. I hope you continue to comment throughout the off season and into next year. Good Stuff!
Yeah, i know Max will be starting next year, but correspondingly, a magical season will have to wait. He may be the best on the roster, but he is not good enough to take us to the next level. A lot of awesome offensive talent will be sacrificed next year because we won’t have a QB that can get the job done. Max to me is like Kellen Fowler. The best we have at the position, which is why they are starting, however they clearly aren’t players capable of leading a unit to great things no matter how big of competitors they are.
I hope going into the 09 season will be like going into the 06 season, but I doubt it will because Max, unlike JB, isn’t humble enough nor willing to make the appropriate sacrifices.
alright, i’ll get rid of the headcase label. and thank you, i appreciate you responding to my numerous questions.
I think a huge problem this year was competiion among ourselves. I mean back when Beck was a senior he had Hall backing him up and Hall was mentioned as one of the reasons Beck played better and better, he knew if he didn’t do the job the next guy might get put in. While Hall knew if he threw 5 int he was still the man, he was tons better then #2
Sorensen/Payne Look at kicker. last year our kicking game was terrible. this year it was actually pretty good. when a big name kicker comes in then they both excelled at the start trying to prove they should start. As there roles were defined, payne field goals/Sorenson kickoffs/long field goals maybe they didn’t feel they had to perform like they did at the start.
Fui/Unga When Unga knew that Fui was there to run if he didn’tperform, he ran harder, after Fui went down Unga became a 260 lb dancer, instead of the bruiser that he usually was. (maybe could have been hesitant because he didn’t want to hurt his neck again)
next year we have Riley nelson coming in (I think) and a few others that can fill the backup roll pretty well, hopefully that will give Hall incentive to perform.
Am I totally off on this?
Quinn and Markell,
I throroughly enjoy this blog. Unfortunately, what I see happening is the same thing that, in my opinion, has been the dowfall of Cougarboard and similar fan web sites, i.e. the posters begin using the site as a means to relieve their collective angst. While that may be one purpose for a fan web site or blog, wouldn’t it be better if we struck a more postive approach?
For example, as I watched the Poinsettia Bowl last night the thought struck me that Boise State, a school with a much smaler fan base and fewer resources than BYU, was giving TCU (a team that humiliated BYU) all it could handle; and in the process was garnering the same sort of national respect that we Cougar fans wish we could have. Before anyone plays the “BSU plays a weak schedule” card remember that BYU is 0-2 aganst Boise State and that last night’s loss to TCU was the first time Boise State has lost to a MWC team–ever! How does Boise State doe this?
There are obviously many reasons for BSU’s tremendous success over the years. and most have little or nothing to do with the fans. Still, as a Boise resident I do know that the local media and the many BSU fans I know are rarely, if ever, critical of Coach Petersen or individual players. They may be disappointed at times, but they are always fully supportive. For example, after last night’s loss to TCU the local Boise TV stations had 30 minutes of valuable air time devoted to how proud the community should be of the Broncos. I will also guarantee that as I talk with my friends and neighbors about the game in the upcoming days they will be upbeat and anxious for another successful season in 2009. I wonder if it had been BYU that had lost that game how supportive the local Utah media and the BYU fans would have been.
I think we could learn a valuable lesson from BSU. While we may be disappointed from time to time I would hope that we would not let that disappointment lead to negative comments about things that we as fans know very little. Instead perhaps we could focus our discussions on what we as fans can do to improve the atmosphere in which our players and coaches must function. That way we can be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Thanks to all for your passion and your support of BYU!
Cory –
I think your on the right track, but maybe with the wrong examples. I know for a fact that John wasn’t concerned with losing his job, and definitely not to Max. Remember we had Jason Beck in the #2 spot, and we all know what he did to Utah State.
By the same token Harvey and Fui were more of a combo than competitors for the same job.
The kicking game may have been helped by it, but that is still by far the weakest area of our team right now.
I will tell you where I saw it the most this year and that was LB. All 3 spots except for Nixon’s. Matt knew from the get go that he was the only one playing his spot. Early Doman knew the same thing. That position got better when AhYou stepped up the competition. Then Clawson. When Vic was around Clawson was an animal because he wanted more time. Vic went down in the first quarter of the WA game, and I haven’t heard much from Clawson since.
Cory, Max didn’t get hear until last year, after Beck left. Not a big note, I just think Beck was great because he kept a level head.
Anyways, I just read the like 600 emails between Markell and Casey… can I try and sum up the opinions?
I agree with Casey, Max does have issues of getting his head into the game after he makes mistakes. He didn’t do very well recovering himself mentally to give us a chance which caused him to make a lot of mistakes and try to force the ball into tight spots. Do I like Max as a QB? Yes. Do I think Max could lead our team to an undefeated season and then to a BCS win? Eh. He really needs to get in touch with some clutch guys (Beck, Detmer, Doman, etc) and see what it took them to recover from poor decisions. He is a competitor and a fighter but he tries to make every play the “game winner”. He seems to put little thought into “simple and steady moves the ball”. He wants to go deep every time… not always gonna fly Max!
I agree with Markell, NO WAY was the Vegas bowl his fault. Micheal Reed caught 2 incredible passes (bad throws by Max, but still completed) just to drop a TD the very next play that hit him right in the numbers! I really think where we lost a ton of confidence since the TCU game was with the O-Line! Max was almost forced into bad decisions during the Vegas bowl because his Line got ripped to shreds! I’m totally okay with losing some of those behemoths on the O-Line because they really haven’t done the job I expected from them this year. The BIGGEST problem with our offense this year goes to Mr Robert Annai. Don’t get me wrong, I do like him but he’s certainly no Chow. We made next to ZERO changes on offense coming out of the locker room at half in every one of our games. You can’t just keep doing the same things that didn’t work in the first half. His play calling was extremely disappointing!
All in all, Max will be our QB next year and I like our chances of making a good run at an undefeated MWC championship…. I don’t want to get my hopes up again and say the other 3 letter possibility
A little perspective here.
I have been a cougar fan for more than 3 decades. Sat in the same seats. Wore out 3 sets of stadium chairs. Missed less than 10 games in all of the years since I have had season tickets (24 yrs). I have seen literally all of the great games of the past, Miami, Penn State, Florida State, Michigan, USC, just to name a few. watched all of the great players whose numbers are on the wall at LES, I almost always go down to the visiting locker exit and watch the oposing team come out at halftime. I’ve seen some of the greatest players from other teams. Marshall Faulk, LaDanian Tomlinson, and so many others. I’ve seen them all.
This years team was a good team. Not a great team possibly, but a good team never the less. We have on this current team possibly 3 or 4 of the best position players of all time. Collie, Pitta, Hall, Unga, Nixon, Jorgensen among others. They are the heart and soul of this team. They have led this team to 10 wins against some pretty tough competition. The league is infinately better than in years past that finished with 3 teams in the top 25. We lost 8 starters to graduation on DEF, and 5 or 6 to injuries and yet they still won 10 games, including 2 from the historically vaunted PAC 10.
I am just as disapointed with the 3 loses this year as anyone, but I will never call out any of our players, because it is not my place to do so. I know that the Coaches are solid, as well as intelligent, and football wise. They will do everything they can to help next years team get better.
So many people have opinions on which player should do this, that, or be benched, or that coach should be fired. that I seriously wonder why they watch the Cougs at all. How can a person be a “FAN” when all they do is complain?
Wow! Sounds like everyone is trying to get in their comments before they head out for last minute christmas shopping. I get what Casey is trying to say about Max though I wouldn’t exactly put him in the same category as Kellen Fowler. He became our starting QB because he was the best of the QB’s we had on the roster. I’ve heard all the Doman favoritism stories, most of which stemmed from the Jacob Bower incident. Fact is every coach has their favorites and players they single out and push hard. I’ve heard no evidence that Doman pimped Hall at the expense of more talented QB’s on the roster. We have seen QB’s like Bower, Cooper and Doman leaving the program but I don’t think any of these guys were better than Max.
As for Max himself, I’m not trying to make excuses for the guy but let’s keep in mind that he is a guy who came off his mission and had zero playing time in 2006 because of eligibility issues and then in 2007 he is suddenly our starting QB along with all the expectations that come with it. The last time BYU attempted to start a QB with no prior playing time as a Cougar was Steve Sarkisian and he was a junior. Ironically, because Max played better than everyone expected in 2007, it probably raised expectations for him a little too high for 2008. But for the most part I think he’s handled the pressure well under the circumstances. Does he have things to work on? Of course he does and you can guarantee he will work hard in the off season on becoming better. We can only hope the rest of the team has that same resolve.
As for Anae, I actually thought his playcalling was fine for the most part. I can count about 3 plays that should’ve been TD’s but the players on the field failed to execute properly. The pass to Chambers that resulted in a pick would’ve been a TD if the ball was thrown more to outside. We all know about Reed’s TD drop which was a perfect play to call and a great pass. The INT where Max tried to go deep with Collie could’ve been a TD but the ball was a tad underthrown and Collie admitted he should’ve turned around to fight for the ball. If all 3 plays had been TD’s, would we still be complaining about Anae’s so-called incompetence? The play calling wasn’t perfect but I wouldn’t say that was the sole reason for our failure last Saturday.
Just want to 2nd what Neil had to say. I think the competition BYU faces week-to-week is much better than it was under Lavell. Granted, I’m only in my late 20’s but the non-BCS teams have risen to narrow the gap between the best of the BCS conferences the last 20 years. BYU isn’t immune to that. Our competition now is relatively much closer than it was during the in the old WAC.
I enjoy losing/failing about as much as a root canal. But I’m not about to come down on players/coaches. I rarely put together a “perfect season” in my own life. Sometimes I get outworked and outschemed, a hell of a lot more often than the football team in fact. Sure we lost some games we could have one, but all in all, 10-3 is a big success. To next year. Go Cougars-Semper Fi
Thanks for the assessment of it all. It was a frustrating game to watch… the onsides gave me hope though. When has that happened in the recent past?
For all the comparisons that have been bantered back and forth about players past and present, you play with the deck you are dealt.
I’d like to add that Reed came with a great game on Saturday as well.. and the pass that he missed, the replay showed it was a tad late and it is hard to catch with your biceps.
I look forward to the break down of positions etc.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!
Max Hall needs to take a page from John Beck’s preparation routine, get in the film and weight rooms, and see if he can get better. If he achieves half of the improvement we saw from JB’s junior to senior years BYU will be in great shape next year and I will be very happy.
Our O. was “suppose” to be great. It was “suppose” to score at will. I could go on and on, but the big games, TCU, utah and Airzona we scored ummmm NOT ENOUGH! Whether that is on Max or Anae or everyone combined it doesn’t really matter.
Vanilla O. is what we have had, sure we mixed some thinks up against utah and Arizona, but not nearly enough.
Our LB’s and Safeties are BAD! Outside of Nixon they are not good. If we land some of those recruits that are touted to be studs, they could easily replace the current guys. Our current guys are weak! We miss Poppinga and Kehl, Jensen big big big time. We don’t have anyone playing or looking like they can improve and make an impact.
Bronco gets all kinds of love for everything he does but we have serious holes on this team so he better have some recruits coming or we are in trouble!
Lastly, the big advantage to going to a bowl is so you can develop your younger players. We used less than half our practices. While that may have been enough to prepare the team for Arizona the other practices could have been used to develop the younger players.
If I could say ONE thing to Bronco it would be…. SHOW SOME INTENSITY BROTHER!!!!!!! Correct me if I’m wrong Markell or Quinn but I just don’t see enough passion or intensity coming from him. Is it in the locker room? Weight Room? Practice field? I know it’s not on the game field! If he’s going to preach intensity or say things like “come out with fire” then I would expect to see the same from him. I understand the whole image of the church thing, trust me I’m from California and BYU means everything to the Church outside of Utah (Utes are just those apostate Bishop’s kids
) BUT you can still show good moral character while being energized and excited!
PLEASE, give us something to be pumped up about!
TO EVERYONE WHO IS ON BRONCO’S CASE –
Look people, I am going to give you this tid-bit and then I am off to enjoy Christmas with my family and New Years with Kelly Poppinga.
Get off Bronco’s back. He took US, a team that was very mediocre and in 1 year turned us into a top 20 team. You know the records and accolades from the last two seasons.
Coach Mendenhall has not changed his philosophy or approach or strategy, the same one everyone loved when we were 11-2 MWC Champs and beating Utah. Now we don’t do that and everyone thinks Coach Mendenhall has gone to pot.
Just because you don’t see Coach Yelling and Screaming during the game, doesn’t mean that he isn’t fired up. Spend enough time around him as your coach and you’ll figure him out.
I just don’t think that a lot of guys this year were mature enough to handle what Coach Mendenhall asks of us. When you get “tired” of the system, program, you stop caring about the program. It is like anything else in life…back-biting is cancerous to achieving any goal as a group. It was not the system or approach that changed this year, but how invested people were in the approach. To me that is what the difference was.
MWC is 2-1 in bowl games. If Utah wins we will finish with 2 top 10 teams and I will argue we were the 3rd strongest conference this year, regardless of what Air Force does. If both Utah and Air Force lose, MWC is not as impressive, but may end up the 5th best conference.
All – excellent takes. Look forward to the off season speculation. The hype around our team will not be as great next year. TCU will be ranked top 15 (wow was their defense solid or what against BSU?) and Utah (if they win, though they lose may key players) may also be up there – both are coming to our place. I WILL BE IN DALLAS IF WE PLAY OU, even if it IS just to hear that annoying fight song over and over again (OK, I admit some may find it a bit catchier than Rise and Shout, but I DON’T). Next year no one will be able to call us a soft schedule and it’s going to take fans with iron-lined stomachs to take that medicine – but I’m one of them.
Merry Christmas, I’m one that hopes Santa brings us the Sooners. No guts, no glory. It’s a long shot, but better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.
Markell–
Thanks for the insights and comments on this blog. The one thing that i would say is that I think I’m disappointed because Bronco has emphasized execution and I have come to expect our team to execute at a high level.
I think we can agree that that did not happen in our losses this season, including the loss to Arizona. I don’t blame Bronco for that. It seems like maybe this years’ team didn’t have the maturity to prepare like they have in years past.
Drive safely tomorrow. There’s a big rainstorm expected for SoCal tonight and tomorrow.
Merry Christmas!
Just wanted to pop on here and wish each of you a very Merry Christmas season and plenty of Cougar paraphanila (I know I spelled that wrong.) to all. I’ve already gotten a new hat and Cougar blanket for the games next year. (Wow, reading that back it sounds like I’m 75 years old, I’m actually just 27…but that really sounded corny)
My quick takes going into the offseason:
I think Bronco is a terrific coach and is doing a terrific job. I truly do not understand the criticism being levied towards him.
Coach Anae: I think he’s a great OC. At times I was frustrated with some of the play calling, yes, but he sees things I don’t and I’m sure he’s doing so for a reason.
Biggest needs going into the offseason: I like our kicking crew, but they need to really practice honing in on their kicks. Those misses in the Vegas bowl were just depressing.
Obviously, overall defensive speed is a concern, that’ll hopefuly be addressed as well.
Lastly, I feel like we’re missing that “general” on defense. No, not Cam Jensen necessarily, but just the guy on D that is reliable, solid, and holds his teammates accountable for stellar play. I felt like one thing missing all year was a solid and steady pass rush, and I’m hoping that’s something we may see more of next season.
Again, Merry Christmas to each of you. Quinn and Markell thanks again for keeping up the great site. And may we all somehow patiently wait until September for some good ol’ football redeption.
Go Cougars
Ok 1st off Max Hall is by far the best QB we have, Whoever the 2nd guy is Gaskins or whatever is way way way behind hall, I watched him come in in garbage time and throw every single pass 10 yards over the guys heads, if you think he should be starting over hall you are ignorant, blind, or stupid posiibly all 3. Hall is more of a brett favre then a tom brady, he takes a lot of chances makes a ton of amazing throws and also makes a lot of mistakes. if we could have him get rid of the damn ball every once in awhile instead of holding it to a 6 or 7 count his fumbles would be almost non existent. Oh and slide ! slide ! slide ! you are a decent at best runner but your one 30 yeard run this season does not make up for the 10 fumbles that you had after that trying to replicate it. Oh and with the fowler comment about him being awful, he is, he is not even close to a D 1 guy, he was in my mission we played football a lot and there were probably 5 or 6 other guys out there that were head and shoulders above him when we would play. Give Unga the ball !!!!! 25 times a game either through recieving or carries but he didnt get it nearly enough. In Anaes defense though Unga didnt run hard at all 99 % of the time out there, he was pussy fooring through the hole trying to juke or just plain stopping in the hole intstead of putting his head down and running hard, it was very frustrating to watch collie running people over and then give the ball to unga who basically just takes a knee. we’ll be fine next year cause our defense cant get any worse and our offense can get a lot better.
Casey, Jason, all the rest of you CC’s (chronic complainers), football is entertainment, not life or death! You don’t like the way the kids are coached or play, go support the pukes or ags. With all your supposed skills, perhaps you could arrange a trade, some speed on D— for Max Hall— I don’t know, I just find your arguments arduous. I’m here to learn, I like the comments and teaching moments by the staff. I don’t see this site as a forum to demonstrate my latent coaching or playing skills “put out there for all to see“ as you do! I’ll make observations with the full understanding that others will see what I saw in a different light, but calling into question a players or coaches desire because a pass or two or several is off the mark is more then a bit tiresome, it’s loathsome!
I expect players, coaches to make mistakes, why shouldn’t I, they’re human, just like me. Mistakes are part of the game. I also expect some great plays, and quite often I get them!
I’ve been around a long time, Wifie and I have watched BYU football for almost 5 complete decades, I wouldn’t trade any of those games for games of what you CC’s think football perfection should be. Some things I do know, there’s a very good reason “on display” why you CC’s “do not” have a job coaching, I’d be willing to bet not a single one of you has the guts to confront a player or a coach with you gripes and moaning after a game. And I also suspect that few if any of you do anything more to support the sports program at BYU then accept free tickets, or watch the games in the comfort of your own living rooms. Such has been my experience with your types for over fifty years of loving BYU sports.
I wish Mike had caught that pass, but he didn’t, , it would have been nice to have won all of our games, we didn’t, spilt milk, it’s over,— next year!
No matter what happens, I can walk out after a game and not give a second thought to what the final score was. I was entertained! At the bowl game my family spent $800 dollars on tickets, after the game we didn’t slouch out, we had a party! We’re Legacy club members (as a family) If we had lost every game this year, we’d be back next year.
Keep on keeping on Quinn and staff, as a family we love ya!
Bob
Sheesh. I point out that the kicking left something to be desired and I get accused of whining. If I came across that way I surely didn’t mean to. Yes, I guess the kicking was better this year than last but that’s certainly not saying much. It’s definitely not a strong part of our game. Sure would love to see us land a Sakoda some day although I know they don’t grow on trees.
Amen Bob!
I agree wholeheartedly! I may be disappointed after losses and poor play, but am I disappointed with the players or coaches? No! It was obviously not the year we as fans expected but I like the direction the program is going. Programs are built from year to year. with consistency and additions in players and coaching changes. Bronco as a HC will continue to do what he feels best to build this program. He constantly talks about building this program.
Go Cougs in 09! Looking forward to signing day in Feb.
That game was like being with my mom watching a cougar game, she has to leave the room every 2 minutes because she is too nervous to see them lose!
Bob,
I would think at your age you’d be able to see the hypocrisy of complaining about people you deem “chronic complainers.” Throw Gooch in there for mentioning the lack of speed and other things in his post. Frankly I don’t view it as complaining. We’re talking about the perceived weaknesses of the team. I view Max as one of the weakest links on the offense (also read no where am I saying Gaskins would be better). You disagree. That’s fine. I’m not going to go on some tirade about you. I think you read more into things and were a bit melodramatic about it. Where did you get the perception we thought it was life or death or more than entertainment? Seems like you are the dramatic one…
Jason
I suppose it is inevitable that the comment section on this site degenerates into another Cougarboard but I hope not. I appreciate Quinn and Co. walking the fine line of breaking down players and the team without showing anybody up.
I have been a BYU fan for 30 years and love the current system and coaches. Never have I felt that the team represented what the Y should represent more than Bronco and Co. do.
I am also one of those fans that cannot afford to jump a plane and drop a $1,000 in Vegas, I do try to get tickets as cheap as I can and watch most of the games on TV or listen on radio. I wish I could be a legacy member but I suppose the Lord doesn’t think i could handle being financially successful.
I appreciate the Bob’s who financially make the program run and I’m sure they make some sacrifices to do it. You are and have been a great fans but I think some of us have too just in a different way. I realize I’m throwing a mite into the football treasury but you have to realize sometimes that’s all some of us have to give.
Keep up the good work Quinn and Co. This site was the best thing that has ever happened to cougar football as far as internet access is concerned. Hopefully it ends up making you enough money to keep you interested enough to keep doing it.
The season was great. 10-3. I think what we saw the most was players struggling to live up to expectations that became way too high following the UCLA game. Those expectations locally and nationally are hard to manage and it got to many of the players including Max.
Max is the best quarterback we have. I think even he would admit he didn’t progress much this year. He is great when the line creates a situation where there is no pressure. He struggles when the D applies pressure. I don’t know if Doman can teach him how to handle decision making when the rush is on but if he can Max will improve. That is the reason he struggles against competition because good competition is able to apply more pressure.
Overall players and coaches did the best they could and I was grateful for the chance to be along for the ride.
If we ran the Boise State offense we would still be undefeated. Period.
That’s a bold statement to make considering Boise State got defeated by the same team who handed us our first loss.
Ummmm I sort of agree with mars because we have better athletes on offense, but i think our main problem was that our d was terrible, and max had a few rough games, but mainly our d was bad bad bad
I am just grateful that BYU has a head coach that understands what the football program should be about. I will admit, I was as disappointed with the losses as anyone, but after the emotions wound down, I still found myself feeling gratified with how the program has developed. I am very proud of Coach Mendenhall and his players for representing BYU the way they do. Even though they were not rewarded in the way some of us fans would have liked…their turn will come soon enough.
Thanks Quinn and Staff for your awesome insight. Please keep up the good work!
Gary, when it comes to supporting BYU sports we were in your shoes for a good part of our life. We raised 7 great kids, all BYU fans. Now their grown, educated, and doing much better then I was at their age.
It’s now pretty easy for all of us to chip in a bit over $130 bucks each and donate the money in the name of one of our sons who’s company will then match that donation to the BYU sports programs, a total of something over $2000 each year.
For that donation we get pretty good seats and great parking, worth it for us. Our family meets at the Orem mall, load into my number three son’s SUV and get to parking right next to the stadium. After the game, win or lose, we all get together somewhere near the mall and eat.
I don’t attend many BB games now, I struggle with the cold. So I like you watch most of the BB games on TV. There’s nothing wrong with all that, some of my oldest son’s customers gets my tickets.
There have been times when my sons have had special customers ask for ticket, for the good of their business I watch on TV. At times one of my grandkids wants to attend, I sacrifice and watch on TV. We have a pretty big family, but we’re only allowed to purchase 12 tickets each season.
Hang in there Gary, like mine, your time will come.
Here’s to a great year next year, and great recruits in Feb.
Bob
Right now, the Cougars have some off-season work to do. The Spread Offense is about controlling the ‘D’ gap, getting the ball out fast enough and ‘building a fence’ around the defensive box and their attacking lb’s. You have to sacrifice protection on the backside, leaving that to the runningback, (Unga and Co. need a massive amount of blocking work), and get out into the attack zone with faster linemen. As the BYU tackles failed against the speed rush, the OT’s tipped their retreat to the inside, giving the DE a better angle, and unneccesarily compressing the QB’s pocket.
While we’re on the subject- the O-Line needs to lose around 30-50 lbs apieceto enable a quick drop, and stabilize the center and guards to prevent a ‘block-up’. Nearly everyone of Max’s interceptions started with his inability to step forward and deliver the ball. His own line gave too much ground preventing gfood ball management and read progression. It was when Max had to bring the ball down and then scramble that he was sacked-again, more of O-line sloppiness than poor mechanics on the part of the QB: a QB, by the way, that graciously took the blame for losses that were clearly a team problem.
Hopefull, we can look forward to a slightly lighter, faster and more aggressive team this spring and next year.
Interesting post, CoachB. Do you think BYU coaches are aware of these issues or do they perhaps see things differently? It does seem like our O line failed to live up to its potential and potbellied offensive linemen (or should I say “offensive potbellied linemen”?) seem to have been the rule at BYU for as long as I can remember.
Thanks Robb: I think the Coaches are aware and Iwould guess we’ll see some changes in that area. If you’re going to be big, you’d better me strong, and quick. This year BYU beat every team they should have (none of their beaten opponents logged winning seasons), and they lost the games they should have lost. That may sound harsh. Against TCU, Utah and Arizona, the OLine failed to run the ball, and failed to pass protect. The first is a test of strength, and the second a test of speed. The Cougar OLine failed both tests. But, nothing in football is written stone. The Cougars find themselves following the pack, I believe, in offensive innovation and defensive adjustment. In essence, they’re playing an up-pace offense with traditional, West Coast personnel. Then again, I could be just another old, retiredcoach.
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