Where will the D be ranked this year? Top 10?

Stewart Mandel's in his Mailbag:



"BYU's defense was ranked third in the nation last year, trailing only Alabama and Notre Dame, but lost several important starters. The offense, to say the least, struggled and likely cost BYU several big wins. With Ziggy Ansah and other defensive starters gone, but with Kyle Van Noy opting to return, can the defense and revamped offense lead BYU to an outstanding year?

-- Taylor Action, West Jordan, Utah



I was a sucker last season for two teams, BYU and Michigan State, both of which had championship-caliber defenses but painfully anemic offenses. Remember that 7-6 Thursday night loss at Boise State last September? Consider yourself lucky if you don't. But I certainly think the Cougars can improve on last year's 8-5 performance. Van Noy -- who had one of the most dominant individual defensive performances I've ever seen in last year's Poinsettia Bowl -- should be a prime candidate for the Butkus Award. Losing a top-10 draft pick would normally be daunting, but Ansah wasn't even a major contributor for the first part of last season. The defense won't likely be a top-10 unit again, but it should still be very good.



The question is whether offensive coordinator Robert Anae -- back after a two-year exile -- can get more production out of that offense. Taysom Hill is the clear-cut starting quarterback now, and I was impressed with his athleticism last year from the get-go. Cody Hoffman is already being billed as one of the top receivers in next year's draft. The pieces are there. If the Cougars can get things going quickly, they've got a chance to make an early statement on Sept. 7 against Texas.



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I'll be happy with top-25 this year. We lost a lot, and the schedule is tougher. Plus, the offensive philosophy will put more stress on the D.



We play, some good teams this year with talented athletes. Virginia, Texas, Utah, BSU, GT, ND and Wisconsin. Even Nevada has had great players of late. The overall depth of talent of the opponents on O is just better this year.



Add to it that BYU lost Fuga and Ziggy and then Tree, and Kav and Sampson and Hadley, and that is 6 starters gone on D. We hope the Dline can be as good, hope the ILBS will be as good. Last year, that D was special.



And then with Anae trying to run 80 offensive plays per game, the pace will increase, meaning the D will see the field more as well. That means giving up more yards and points, most likely.



The D could still be very good. Like 2006 good. I just do not see them being as good statistically as the 2012 D was.

No way are we top ten.



the chemistry and experience of last year's defense was a perfect storm. i don't expect that this year. top 25 would be a great surprise in my mind.

But does it really matter if the D is as good as last year? I expect the offense to put up 40 points a game, if they had done that last year, BYU might have gone undefeated. I disagree the defense will be on the field more. If the O runs 80 plays a game, sustains drives, and scores, the D will likely be on the field less. It's those three and outs that keep the D on the field.



And offensively, I can't imagine the O line being worse than last year, so yes, I expect them to be significantly better, and the skill people are all back, the O will score this year.

golong wrote:
But does it really matter if the D is as good as last year? I expect the offense to put up 40 points a game, if they had done that last year, BYU might have gone undefeated. I disagree the defense will be on the field more. If the O runs 80 plays a game, sustains drives, and scores, the D will likely be on the field less. It's those three and outs that keep the D on the field.



And offensively, I can't imagine the O line being worse than last year, so yes, I expect them to be significantly better, and the skill people are all back, the O will score this year.

I was really worried about the oline play but i have confidence that 2j and anae can whip them into shape after what they did with third stringers this spring.



Our offense will struggle at first but get better as the year goes on. there is no doubt to me that we have some nfl talent on the offensive side of the ball. we just need some good coaching.



i agree that offense will be better and defense will be good, not top ten good but better than byu is used to. i expect byu to be a pretty dangerous team by year's end. especially if we stay health.

Top 35 for sure. Maybe Top 30. They are tied for number 1 right now. A ton of new guys give too many unknowns to make any bolder predictions this early.



Ziggy, Fuga, Tree, Kavienga, Corner Back whose name we no longer mention, and others leave big shoes to fill.



KVN returning was huge. EM and BK will be huge. Unga - solid. Safety solid. Pleasant surprises - maybe.



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golong wrote:
But does it really matter if the D is as good as last year? I expect the offense to put up 40 points a game, if they had done that last year, BYU might have gone undefeated. I disagree the defense will be on the field more. If the O runs 80 plays a game, sustains drives, and scores, the D will likely be on the field less. It's those three and outs that keep the D on the field.



And offensively, I can't imagine the O line being worse than last year, so yes, I expect them to be significantly better, and the skill people are all back, the O will score this year.

I would be happy with 25-30 ppt. No way we get to 40, but that number is rare for any team. BYU will have a top 25 D and if the O can put up 30 ppg, it will be a very good and maybe even great season.



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northerncougar wrote:

But does it really matter if the D is as good as last year? I expect the offense to put up 40 points a game, if they had done that last year, BYU might have gone undefeated. I disagree the defense will be on the field more. If the O runs 80 plays a game, sustains drives, and scores, the D will likely be on the field less. It's those three and outs that keep the D on the field.



And offensively, I can't imagine the O line being worse than last year, so yes, I expect them to be significantly better, and the skill people are all back, the O will score this year.

I would be happy with 25-30 ppt. No way we get to 40, but that number is rare for any team. BYU will have a top 25 D and if the O can put up 30 ppg, it will be a very good and maybe even great season.



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30 offensive points every game would make for a great season - whereas an average of 30 with a couple of 10 pointers and a couple of 20 pointers raised up by a couple of 55 pointers and a couple of 40 pointers would spell 4 or 5 losses. The BYU defense will not often give up 30 or more points.



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25-30 ppg will translate to a ranking between #50 and #77 based on the NCAA averages last season:



http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/1043/p2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



I'd like to think we can keep it to 21 or fewer--while we have a tough schedule, not many of the teams we face are offensive juggernauts--scoring averages of 22.75, 35.69, 26.67, 26.58, 34.94, 33.57, 32.42. 30.23, 29.57, 25.77, and 37.85. Only Texas, USU, Ga Tech, Houston, and UNR made it into the top half of scoring averages, and I'd only consider Texas and UNR as troublesome offenses.



I'll predict we finish between #20 and #25.



Our bigger issue has been, and will continue to be next year, whether WE can score points.

BYU has never had back 2 back top 10 defenses. In fact, BYU hasn't even been top 20 the year after having a top 10 defense



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