Sorry this is so long. I don't post that often, but I thought that the brighter side of things deserved some observation. I won't be quoting any hard stats, although I have read many of such in reaching some conclusions.
I some what agree with the OP, but wouldn't bet money on ALL of the predictions. However, I do expect BYU to be 3-1 after September, with the one loss coming from UCLA. I still think that we've got a decent chance to beat the Bruins, and would not bet money against the Cougs, even in that one. I think BYU also takes Mizzou and Matty Mauk in November, assuming no injury to Taysom, or three or more other key starters. Not worried about USU at all in game 12, assuming the same reasonable luck with injuries.
Taysom is not "fragile," as has been claimed by Utes and opponents' fans. He might be fragile in their dreams. The guy is a bull. His knee is solid, as has been show through all of 2013 and 4 games of pounding it in 2014. I'm not worried about his ankle at this point, either. The previous injuries were freak accidents, the ankle especially (quite similar in mechanism to what happened to Luke Staley against Miss St in 2001). I would call Taydom's risk to be lower than that of any other QB that runs as much as he does.
Why am I so optimistic? Here are the reasons: BYU has an experienced OL that will be better than last year. Not only is Bronco back on defensive duties (this is a huge deal), but he has a very deep front seven on D. The secondary is experienced at the top, and won't have to be so stellar when backing up this front seven. Add to that, a deep group of out-standing receivers, a stable of very effective RB's, and clearly the best QB in the nation. Yeah, Hill is all that. None of of the others are the freak that Hill is. I wouldn't trade him for any of those rated above him. Popularity of programs, politics, and size of viewing audiences are the only reason that Taysom is not recognized as being beyond any other. You can bet that if he were at ND, Florida, Ohio St., or Alabama, that he would be labeled as number one, with no Questions asked. Hill is frequently compared with Lake Locker, as a QB that is dual threat, but primarily runs. However, Hill is faster than locker without giving up anything in terms of size, power or agility. Hill also was passing at a rate in 2014 that was good enough for most primarily passing prototypes. He continues to look that way in fall camp. Even if Taysom were to be lost to injury, in say, the Michigan game, and that game also is lost, I believe that Tanner Mangum can win for BYU through October, while developing the Div I confidence to take on Missouri by November. Tanner is awesome good, and can scramble well enough to be evasive in the backfield. I say this because I keep seeing posts on opponent forums boasting that all they have to do to win is to take Taysom out, or at least bottle him up. No one can "bottle up" his screens and slants while Hill is scrambling out of the pocket. To bottle up his running, they will have to over-commit to the box, and they'll get burned.
Regarding the multiple 8-5 seasons, I say that the glass is much more than half full. BYU was very close to break-out seasons during Riley Nelson years and Taysom years, but then we had Riley's back injuries and Taysom's injuries. So, things were good, if not great, without key personnel. I too, have grown weary, and feel annoyed with the negativity and pessimism being spoken by those who profess to be BYU fans. Perhaps their usage of the term, "fan" requires re-definition.
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