Could BYU get blown out?

Last year, the TCU loss seemed baffling to me. Seeing it get repeated made sense--okay TCU's just that good--but FSU? FSU's defense was pretty pathetic and yet we couldn't even keep the game close. Are we in for another embarrassing loss against a team with BCS-caliber, speedier athletes?



Here's why I think not:



Because Oregon State seems like a different kind of team than TCU and FSU, I want to believe BYU could win the game simply because they can keep it close and take advantage of late-game opportunities. Rogers is a stud runner, but BYU has had some success against the run this year. Logan was burned for 7 long-yardage passes against FSU, but he has since improved as a cover man. Lastly, Bronco and Anae seem to do respectably well with study and extra prep times over the last five years.



All this gives me hope that we won't see another blow out.



And yet, I find myself a bit uneasy on the matter. I don't like the fact that Max couldn't put the hammer down and convert touchdowns twice more in regulation against Utah. My personal explanation is that Max doesn't go 12 of 32 against ANYBODY. And that this abnormal stat was accomplished with a little help from the drapery school of coverage the zebras encouraged against Pitta.



But what if it's actually possible for OSU to shut down Max like that, while still putting up a few scores of their own? I have this nagging notion that we could see a 35-17 loss to the Beavers. Considering the fact that Max's only win over a ranked opponent (which wasn't later considered lousy), was the Oklahoma game, and that even in THAT game BYU only scored 14 points, I have a hard time expecting anything other than a low-scoring outing by BYU.



Last year against Arizona it was 21. Can BYU's defense hold OSU below that number? This isn't a rattled freshman QB who will overthrow half a dozen key passes we'll be playing against here.



Does anyone here feel certain BYU will not get blown out? Why?

We won't get blown out. Our offense is too good and their defense won't be nearly good enough to shut us down (if we shut ourselves down through penalties and dumb playcalling, that's another story). We could very well lose, but not in blowout fashion.



I see a game with scoring in the mid-30's to high 40's for both teams. Should be fun. I hope we pull it off.

What was the original line on the 38-8 beat down of Oregon 3 or 4 years back? I'm sure it wasn't 30.



just sayin.

Hall played "not to lose" against Utah. He had a poor completion percentage and low yardage BUT 2 TDs, 0 INTs and a win. As a senior in a bowl game I expect him to go out guns blazing. Expect a few possible picks but also 4 TDs and 350 yards. He'll get back to his usual most-games-won (and most quotable)-at-QB-in-BYU-history kind of game.

I really need to watch a few games of Oregon State from this season. THEN I'll tell you how I feel about this one

One of the analysts on the MTN said that when he spoke with Bronco about the Civil War, Bronco said that he didn't follow OSU ever since they fired him and was a little bit bitter about it, but that he would never admit it openly. I don't know if it's true or not, but I'm excited at the idea of a little extra motivation for Bronco himself going into this game.

Another thing to remember is this is the first time we're playing Oregon St. Max had already played Arizona and it was the third time the AZ coaches had seen our offense. It took TCU three attempts to really figure out our offense too (they didn't shut us down until the fourth time we faced them in conference). Same with Utah.



It'll be interesting to see how they respond immediately. Against Oregon and even Cal, they couldn't figure out how to stop us the first time they saw us.

kitic77 wrote:
Another thing to remember is this is the first time we're playing Oregon St. Max had already played Arizona and it was the third time the AZ coaches had seen our offense. It took TCU three attempts to really figure out our offense too (they didn't shut us down until the fourth time we faced them in conference). Same with Utah.



It'll be interesting to see how they respond immediately. Against Oregon and even Cal, they couldn't figure out how to stop us the first time they saw us.

It didn't seem to take FSU very long.

There's no way we get blown out. Oregon State doesn't have as much speed as say FSU or TCU, maybe not even Yewtah, especially on defense. But they have a very good team regardless.



I think both coordinators and Bronco have learned some valuable lessons over the course of the last two years. They still have some learning to do but they know that you can't just waltz in and expect to win based on your prestige or past performance. And you can't just run the same old script every game either or teams are going to catch on.



The whole program seems very excited about this game just like they were for Oregon back in 2006 and to some extent UCLA in 2007 (revenge factor). They'll put their best product on the field and when they do that I'm convinced this team can hang with anyone in the country.

UVACoug wrote:

Another thing to remember is this is the first time we're playing Oregon St. Max had already played Arizona and it was the third time the AZ coaches had seen our offense. It took TCU three attempts to really figure out our offense too (they didn't shut us down until the fourth time we faced them in conference). Same with Utah.



It'll be interesting to see how they respond immediately. Against Oregon and even Cal, they couldn't figure out how to stop us the first time they saw us.

It didn't seem to take FSU very long.

What? The team was moving the ball at will against Florida St. The problem was not that they figured out the offense, the problem was that our defense couldn't stop their offense. Apart from fumbles, it wasn't until we got in a whole and Max started trying to do too much that the offense fell apart.

Yes, unfortunately, BYU could get blown out with this game. Rogers is an exciting runner and very hard to bring down.



Yet, I think this team will be on a mission, pun intended, to get that 11th win and end the season better than last year's.

Their coaches bowl record is ubelievable. this will be a hard fought win if we can pull it off.



because their defense is nothing special i think our offense will put up some points unless they are rusty from the break.



it will be up to our defense to contain those two speedy brothers. i tell you what i am glad we have logan because when those brothers get on the edges they got speed. logan is the man when it comes to stopping this. he did it in the ou game and he will do it in our bowl game.



can't wait for this game!

Oregon State is one of the most balanced offensive teams we will have played this year. the other teams that were very balanced were TCU, FSU and Utah. We all know how those games went. So yes, OSU can punk us because they have the players to. The difficulty is shutting down their run. If we can do that, we have a chance. The problem is, if we do it, they will throw it a ton, and they are a great passing team too. Canfield avgs about 5 yards a game less than Max, and they avg 150 yards rushing a game.



The key to this game, in my mind, is our offensive approach. If we try to run it at them, run the clock, and shorten the game we can will. If we come out pass happy and make our D work harder and spend more time on the field, I think we lose. Obviously, turnovers and penalties can be a factor. Coach Anae still will not abandon the pass when the run is working, and still will not just go power football. I do not know why since it is our best formation this year. When we go power I, we run it great, and that opens things up for play action. I hope we see large doses of this in the OSU game.

I see two possible outcomes to this game--



(1) Close game decided by 3 or less

(2) BYU loses by 10 or more



Oregon State is a talented team who will show up for its bowl game (unlike their instate rivals) prepared and ready to knock their opponents on their cans. They are just a talented and just as strong as the Cougars. Like BYU, they are well coached. I can't imagine BYU dominating OSU, so if BYU pulls it out, it will be in a close one. The likelihood of a BYU blowout is low.



As potent as BYU's offense is, they've had a hard time in recent years when they get down a few scores--08 and 09 TCU, 08 Utah, and 09 FSU come to mind. Max Hall will gamble more and force some throws leading to a turnover or three. Once that happens, a blowout is not out of the question.