What Improvements to we need in 2012

Looking forward to next season already but also recognize that there are things that need to change or be revised.



Our defense this year was again our strength. If our O can become as equally tough and determined, we will have a complete package.



Below are some initial thoughts:



Offense:



1. Tailor offense to Riley's strengths - roll out, run option, misdirection.

2. Have multiple options in the running game - need tough yardage/3rd down conversion, the FB as a weapon (running, pass catching, blocking) and some power/speed at RB.

3. Shore up the OL with big, athletic bodies that can both run block and pass protect (especially when Riley rolls out of the pocket).

4. Have TEs step up to be viable threats in pass catching.

5. Use Flex TE and HB more often.

6. FG kicking/KOs needs to improve besides our productive PAT capability.

7. Need Sorenson to be consistent in all games - although he plays lights out in bowl games.

8. Lark needs to develop a starters mentality and the associated skills/intangible leadership. If Riley goes down, we need a very competent back-up.



Defense:



1. Continue to stack up our DL for stopping the run - Addition of Russell Tialavea and Marques Johnson in the middle will help.

2. Need to continue good pass rush from outside - here's hoping Ziggy and Fua provide help to KVN.

3. Shore up other LB positions - need Stout, Hadley, Pikula, etc. to step up.

4. Bring more speed and tight coverage to corners - Hadley is set, will Everett and Johnson be able to handle the edge?

5. Need improved play from safety to avoid big play and deep throws - hope that Sampson plays SS and Bills, Sorenson, et. al. rise to the top.

Forgot to mention that the O seems to keep the D off-balance when we are playing an up-tempo game - getting the ball off quickly before defense has time to set up. Requires well conditioned athletes but also the ability to get plays in and out or have a series set up.



Bronco has talked about balance between run and pass (50/50 - and equal yardage), but I also feel there is balance in the passing attack when we spread the ball out between Hoffman, Apo, Falslev, the TE's along with other running backs. When there are seven or eight people getting the passes it is difficult to defend and makes the O less predictable.

Runningbacks and Offensive Line need to improve substantially.

The offense needs to look to throw to the running back out of the backfield. It's shocking (literally shocking!) to see how few receptions and targets we had to running backs out of the back field.



I hope Doman is reading, because here's some sound offensive advice (LadyHawk says all my advice is offensive)... run crossing routes over the middle of the field and then release a RB into the vacated area. Assuming your offensive line gives the qb the standard time to make a play, you'll have a lot of nice openings and mismatches.

Bigger Jumbotrons.



Longer Cougar Tails.



Less 8:00 pm start times for home games in November.



Lower subscription fees to cougarcorner.com.

hawkwing wrote:
The offense needs to look to throw to the running back out of the backfield. It's shocking (literally shocking!) to see how few receptions and targets we had to running backs out of the back field.



I hope Doman is reading, because here's some sound offensive advice (LadyHawk says all my advice is offensive)... run crossing routes over the middle of the field and then release a RB into the vacated area. Assuming your offensive line gives the qb the standard time to make a play, you'll have a lot of nice openings and mismatches.

This is what I was screaming pretty much the whole bowl game. Where were the passes to the RB in the flats and on wheel routes? Some of that gets limited if the backs have to stay back and block, but I didn't think that was this case vs. Tulsa.



Like I said in another post, I had no issues with the play calling in the last drive. That was brilliant. But I agree that a large part of BYU's offense will always be exploiting mismatches to make up for talent gaps--that means hitting passes to your backs and Tight Ends playing against Linebackers, who are not usually great in pass defense.

We need to schedule a game on 12/21/12. Come to think of it...what day is the Poinsettia bowl played?

hawkwing wrote:
The offense needs to look to throw to the running back out of the backfield. It's shocking (literally shocking!) to see how few receptions and targets we had to running backs out of the back field.



I hope Doman is reading, because here's some sound offensive advice (LadyHawk says all my advice is offensive)... run crossing routes over the middle of the field and then release a RB into the vacated area. Assuming your offensive line gives the qb the standard time to make a play, you'll have a lot of nice openings and mismatches.

If you saw Utah play GT in the bowl game, Chow used this strategy very effectively. It was old school BYU offense 101. I loved it and I miss it. Now if we throw to the back, it is usually a dump over the middle.

My biggest beef with the O is the ability to adjust during the game to what the defense is presenting. We had no answer for TX and Utah and struggled with TU. Bronco seems to have figured out how to adjust and states that if we can hold a team to <21 points we generally will win. I would like to see Doman/Dupaix/Cahoon implement that multi-option balanced attack that we heard about in Spring, didn't witness in Fall and were dumbfounded by in the first four games. May be with Riley at the helm, Doman can unleash his offensive genius and start to give Bronco fits when they scrimmage. He certainly was humbled in Fall when Bronco started implementing his full bag of tricks - we had sacks galore and offensive stalls were frequent - should have been the first hint that we weren't such an offensive juggernaut as we thought.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Wickchad84087 wrote:
Bigger Jumbotrons.



Longer Cougar Tails.



Less 8:00 pm start times for home games in November.



Lower subscription fees to cougarcorner.com.

This is a pretty much a perfect list.

More consistancy from the QB.

#1, 2, 3: A legit TE. Pretty much every great team in BYU history had a great TE.

SpiffCoug wrote:

Bigger Jumbotrons.



Longer Cougar Tails.



Less 8:00 pm start times for home games in November.



Lower subscription fees to cougarcorner.com.

This is a pretty much a perfect list.

a few nights games are okay (I guess) in October but November games should start at noon.

ProV1 wrote:

Wickchad84087 wrote:
Bigger Jumbotrons.



Longer Cougar Tails.



Less 8:00 pm start times for home games in November.



Lower subscription fees to cougarcorner.com.

This is a pretty much a perfect list.

a few nights games are okay (I guess) in October but November games should start at noon.

I actually prefer night games, as long as its warm enough that you are comfortable in a sweatshirt. So, pretty much until late October most years. Night games in Sept are awesome. Night games in November suck like :utard:

Cougarfan87 wrote:

The offense needs to look to throw to the running back out of the backfield. It's shocking (literally shocking!) to see how few receptions and targets we had to running backs out of the back field.



I hope Doman is reading, because here's some sound offensive advice (LadyHawk says all my advice is offensive)... run crossing routes over the middle of the field and then release a RB into the vacated area. Assuming your offensive line gives the qb the standard time to make a play, you'll have a lot of nice openings and mismatches.

This is what I was screaming pretty much the whole bowl game. Where were the passes to the RB in the flats and on wheel routes? Some of that gets limited if the backs have to stay back and block, but I didn't think that was this case vs. Tulsa.



Like I said in another post, I had no issues with the play calling in the last drive. That was brilliant. But I agree that a large part of BYU's offense will always be exploiting mismatches to make up for talent gaps--that means hitting passes to your backs and Tight Ends playing against Linebackers, who are not usually great in pass defense.

Absolutely agree. Last time we had this was with Manase, and even then we didn't do it enough. Man I miss that guy.