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SpiffCougThis was an interesting game. It was a game in which result was never in doubt. BYU jumped out to an early lead and did whatever they wanted on both sides of the ball. It seemed like the coaches knew BYU was a tired team after two very long road trips and an emotion game versus Texas, that by getting out to the early cushion, the Cougars could weather a semi-comeback by Houston.
So here are some observations from being in attendance and reviewing the box score:
- The start and pre-game were kind of odd. Like they were asking two different things of both the crowd and the players. They had a 9/11 memorial video montage set to Lee Greenwoodâs âProud to Be an American.â It was fairly poignant since it followed a moment of silence. But before the song was over, the team was coming out of the tunnel and the crowd wasnât sure if we were to cheer and get riled up as they took the field. Then the teams helped hold the flag during the national anthem. Perhaps the team should have forgone the charging out of the tunnel or something, but it was a weird moment.
- BYU coaches made some great adjustments at halftime on both sides of the ball.
o Defensive adjustments: Houston had just two rushing attempts in the 2nd half for -3 yards. Just nine of their 31 pass completions came in half two. Only 93 of their 315 passing yards were after halftime. Houston had 18 first downs, but 14 of them occurred in the first half. Houston ran just 9 plays in the 3rd quarter for a total of 16 yards.
o Offensive adjustments: BYU took their time and sustained drives in the 2nd half. BYU ran just nine more plays in the 2nd half compared to the first half, but 21:48 of BYUâs 35:30 time of possession was in half two. Two of BYUâs five longest drives of the season were in the second half. BYU ran the ball 42 times to help keep Houston off the field as well.
- After winning 35 of 38 games, the team with higher PER has lost the last two.
- BYU has 32 penalties. Itâs the most through three games under Bronco.
- Houston had three first downs by penalty. Defensively, the Cougars have now allowed nine first downs by penalty. They have allowed ten first downs by rushing.
- The Cougars converted on 55.6% of third downs vs Houston. That makes two games in 2014 with a 3rd down conversion at or above 50% - which matches the total of the entire 2013 season.
- BYU has forced 13 three-and-outs the last two weeks. The defense has faced 28 drives in that span.
- Two of Taysom Hillâs three career 200-yards passing/100-yards rushing games have come against Houston.
- BYUâs ten punts through three games is the fewest since punting six times through the first three games in 2009.
- The Cougars failed to cover the spread (-18.5) and havenât covered the spread in Game 3 since 2008.
- Bronco improved to 21-4 (.840) against teams in a white helmet. Hereâs more teams wear a white helmet this year. Teams that do and might include Utah St, Boise St, UCF, and Nevada.
- Taysom completed âjustâ 5 of 9 passes on 3rd down. This drops his completion percentage to 78.9% on 3rd down. His 3rd down PER is 160.25.
- BYU has 7 Blue Zone completions this year. It took into BYUâs sixth game to reach that amount. The Blue Zone PER has more than doubled through three games this year, from 60.40 to 128.43.
- A lot was made about Broncoâs record in Game 3s (now 2-8). He is 6-3 (.667) in Game 4s. He is 8-1 (.889) in Game 5s, 9-0 (1.000) in Game 6s.
So here are some observations from being in attendance and reviewing the box score:
- The start and pre-game were kind of odd. Like they were asking two different things of both the crowd and the players. They had a 9/11 memorial video montage set to Lee Greenwoodâs âProud to Be an American.â It was fairly poignant since it followed a moment of silence. But before the song was over, the team was coming out of the tunnel and the crowd wasnât sure if we were to cheer and get riled up as they took the field. Then the teams helped hold the flag during the national anthem. Perhaps the team should have forgone the charging out of the tunnel or something, but it was a weird moment.
- BYU coaches made some great adjustments at halftime on both sides of the ball.
o Defensive adjustments: Houston had just two rushing attempts in the 2nd half for -3 yards. Just nine of their 31 pass completions came in half two. Only 93 of their 315 passing yards were after halftime. Houston had 18 first downs, but 14 of them occurred in the first half. Houston ran just 9 plays in the 3rd quarter for a total of 16 yards.
o Offensive adjustments: BYU took their time and sustained drives in the 2nd half. BYU ran just nine more plays in the 2nd half compared to the first half, but 21:48 of BYUâs 35:30 time of possession was in half two. Two of BYUâs five longest drives of the season were in the second half. BYU ran the ball 42 times to help keep Houston off the field as well.
- After winning 35 of 38 games, the team with higher PER has lost the last two.
- BYU has 32 penalties. Itâs the most through three games under Bronco.
- Houston had three first downs by penalty. Defensively, the Cougars have now allowed nine first downs by penalty. They have allowed ten first downs by rushing.
- The Cougars converted on 55.6% of third downs vs Houston. That makes two games in 2014 with a 3rd down conversion at or above 50% - which matches the total of the entire 2013 season.
- BYU has forced 13 three-and-outs the last two weeks. The defense has faced 28 drives in that span.
- Two of Taysom Hillâs three career 200-yards passing/100-yards rushing games have come against Houston.
- BYUâs ten punts through three games is the fewest since punting six times through the first three games in 2009.
- The Cougars failed to cover the spread (-18.5) and havenât covered the spread in Game 3 since 2008.
- Bronco improved to 21-4 (.840) against teams in a white helmet. Hereâs more teams wear a white helmet this year. Teams that do and might include Utah St, Boise St, UCF, and Nevada.
- Taysom completed âjustâ 5 of 9 passes on 3rd down. This drops his completion percentage to 78.9% on 3rd down. His 3rd down PER is 160.25.
- BYU has 7 Blue Zone completions this year. It took into BYUâs sixth game to reach that amount. The Blue Zone PER has more than doubled through three games this year, from 60.40 to 128.43.
- A lot was made about Broncoâs record in Game 3s (now 2-8). He is 6-3 (.667) in Game 4s. He is 8-1 (.889) in Game 5s, 9-0 (1.000) in Game 6s.