BYU Team Unity Between O&D

During a recent presentation, Bronco and Anae addressed a number of topics, one of which may indicate why Anae left BYU and why the OL struggled after his departure.



Anae said there was a divide on the team between offense and defense.The defense (led by Bronco) was intense and hard-working, and the offense (under Reynolds) was more finesse. Apparently it was very frustrating, and he struggled to mesh with this culture. He noted that in his final season he tried to demand a fast-paced offense - with the O displaying a commensurate level of intensity as the D. However, there was a "house-divided" with different opinions and resulting disagreements between staff.



Since his return, Anae said the team is truly unified for the first time as there is a comraderie that has developed out of mutual respect. Both sides of the ball are playing hard and fast and all have bought into the approach for games, workouts, and practices. Based upon the level of agressiveness on the field, both the O and D are bringing a similar level of effort.



Anae's tenure at Arizona allowed him to progress as a coach, and this wouldn't have happened had he remained at BYU. He went to AZ because he felt he needed to advance during this time. He did learn some aspects of the game at AZ under Rich Rod that he will incorporate into our O and match the style of play to the team's skill level. However, he believes that the current BYU system recruits the kind of players that will flourish under his O. If our O performs to his expectations, we should expect to see higher caliber players wanting to play this exciting brand of ball (plus the exposure ticket).



In summary, with several former OL players indicating the line had previously played soft compared to the D approach, it appears that everyone is now on the same page. Good things should happen if the O begins to approach what the D will do, and both can perform statistically in the top 20.

Coincidentally Lance Reynolds "retired" before Anae was announced as returning....

I'm genuinely excited to see what happens this year, more than either of the last two years. It sounds like Anae has been able to light a bit of a fire under the offense. Proof will be in the pudding in Virginia in August.

byucougar1 wrote:
During a recent presentation, Bronco and Anae addressed a number of topics, one of which may indicate why Anae left BYU and why the OL struggled after his departure.



Anae said there was a divide on the team between offense and defense.The defense (led by Bronco) was intense and hard-working, and the offense (under Reynolds) was more finesse. Apparently it was very frustrating, and he struggled to mesh with this culture. He noted that in his final season he tried to demand a fast-paced offense - with the O displaying a commensurate level of intensity as the D. However, there was a "house-divided" with different opinions and resulting disagreements between staff.



Since his return, Anae said the team is truly unified for the first time as there is a comraderie that has developed out of mutual respect. Both sides of the ball are playing hard and fast and all have bought into the approach for games, workouts, and practices. Based upon the level of agressiveness on the field, both the O and D are bringing a similar level of effort.



Anae's tenure at Arizona allowed him to progress as a coach, and this wouldn't have happened had he remained at BYU. He went to AZ because he felt he needed to advance during this time. He did learn some aspects of the game at AZ under Rich Rod that he will incorporate into our O and match the style of play to the team's skill level. However, he believes that the current BYU system recruits the kind of players that will flourish under his O. If our O performs to his expectations, we should expect to see higher caliber players wanting to play this exciting brand of ball (plus the exposure ticket).



In summary, with several former OL players indicating the line had previously played soft compared to the D approach, it appears that everyone is now on the same page. Good things should happen if the O begins to approach what the D will do, and both can perform statistically in the top 20.

BYU had a very confusing org chart. But the offense was not under Reynolds. It was under Anae. Or was it.



Reynolds the position coach reported to Anae who reported to whom? Well he reported to Bronco right? Wrong? What exactly is an Assistant Head Coach who is not a Coordinator?



In a way we had Reynolds the position coach reporting to Anae the OC reporting to Reynolds the Assistant Head Coach perhaps - at least on some matters.



IDK.



Substitute Doman for Anae. Doman did not have the experience to navigate that political quagmire. If it was that reporting relationship. Was it? IDK.



Matrix Management at its finest moment or darkest hour.



And Bronco probably inherited this Assistant Head Coach situation by being chosen over Reynolds. Reynolds should have been OC and taken the heat



If the OC reported to the Assistant Head Coach. Did it?



IDK.



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All of what you stated is interesting. Especially considering the conditions that Anae insisted upon prior to his return. Clear lines of authority, and most importantly, his ability to select the compliment of O coaches that fit his philosophy and attitude. That is why is looked like extreme makeover with no holdovers from prior regime returning. Cleaning out the old wine when filling the new flask.

So I'm led to believe that it was Reynolds who was preventing the offense from working as hard as the defense. That it was Reynolds who was keeping Bronco's influence on the offense being felt.



I like that the offense is getting a little taste of it.

Like seeing nasty on both sides of the ball. We will be a difficult team to beat if the offense plays like last year's defense, and the D continues its dominant performance.

Like Bib, I am not getting the org chart here.



If I am Anae, I want my own team. Happens all the time in business.



No way Doman would have made such an environment work. He was in over his head and if the situation was anything similar to Anae's with an unclear org chart and diluted authority then there was no way Doman could have succeeded.



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All of the thougths expressed make some sense in hindsight...from the QB controversy - Riley, Heaps or Lark to the physical condition of the OL to the delayed communication from sideline to QB in the huddle. Big disconnect. With the announcement of Hill as starting QB heading into Fall - we don't have a QB controversy - a united front - clear leaders on both sides of the ball (Hill, Hoffman, Alisa, KVN, Manumaleuna, Sorenson, etc.) and a more than adequate supply of backup QBs who all showed some talent during the Spring. Feel growing optimism this year rather than uncertainty and skepticism.

I read the book "Running Into the Wind". I liked the way Bronco used Organizational behavior experts to form the structure of the team. In many ways this has helped the team be successful. However, there had to be a lot of confusion with having an assistant head coach who answers to an OC. Coach Reynolds is a great guy, Anae is a great guy, Doman is a great guy; but they were put in a situation where the offense had organizational confusion.



As much as I liked Ben Cahoon (aned wanted him to stay at BYU), I like the fact that Anae got to choose his own staff.

One thing is for sure - the present coaching staff truly appeals to a variety of recruits: principally Poly, but also Blacks and Caucasians. With the geographical recruiting coverage experience by the present coaching staff (FL, TX, Cali, as well as the PNW, Intermountain West), coupled with ESPN exposure, we will be viewed by a large cross-section of players, coaches, etc. and the team unity/performance will be a big calling card.