A realistic POV

Hey all. I want BYU to win as badly as the next great fan. But I have a concern.



Our running game was horrific for 3/4s of last game. Unbelievable. A negative 28 at one point in the 3rd quarter. Can you believe it. In almost 30 rushes, we had a net of -28 yards.



Now I don't want to assume they aren't working on it, but that to me says bad schemes, bad coaching, and poor running. I think we have talent. But seriously? -28 is unfreakin real.



Now to get to my main point of this post. These are UCLA's top 4 rushers. Count em...4. They are averaging over 5 1/2 yards per carry, and 3 of them over 6 1/2.



RUSHING GP-GS Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G

Perkins, 2-2 32 212 2 210 6.6 2 56 105.0

Olorunfu 2-0 14 96 1 95 6.8 0 16 47.5

Jamabo, 2-0 13 91 3 88 6.8 0 39 44.0

Starks, 1-0 6 35 0 35 5.8 0 12 35.0



I am sure their competition in those two games wasn't as good as we are, but still. This makes me pause to consider, what do we have to do to stop them. This looks like they will out score us. I doubt their defense is that much better than the ones we have already played, but their offense can run. I think the qb is probably greatly benefitting from impressive back. He also looks pretty good in his own right.. Well, there you have it. We need to stop a dang good running game to have a chance in this game.



I really hate to say it, but I think they are better than us. Our offense just doesn't have it yet. But it is definitly getting better. Hope Tanner makes big strides this week.

sage wrote:

Now to get to my main point of this post. These are UCLA's top 4 rushers. Count em...4. They are averaging over 5 1/2 yards per carry, and 3 of them over 6 1/2.



Perkins, 6.6

Olorunfu 6.8

Jamabo, 6.8

Starks, 5.8

Thot I would make it easier to see the relevant stats.

...and they did a lot of that against UNLV...who allowed 5.5 ypc last season, and gave up 4.4 ypc to mighty NIU this season before yielding 5.8 ypc to UCLA last week.



BYU is currently the #22 yards per rush defense in the country, and has done it against #33 YPC Nebraska and a BsU team whose strength was supposed to be the run. I think they'll surprise against #32 YPC UCLA.



https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/stat/yards-per-rush-attempt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I will look at this more blue goggled in that I will look at the run game for BYU. I think BYU will be able to have a decent run game against UCLA. I am not saying they will run for 200 yds but the run game will be balanced enough for the passing game to work.



Why do I think this? UNLV ran as a team for 181 yds for a 4.2 avg, with 2of their backs averaging 6.1 and 7.1 ypc. This was done after UNLV's starting QB went down at the end of the 1st QT and the back up QB's threw only 15 times the rest of the game. What that shows me is UCLA knew the Rebel's were going to run the ball and their backs still got those kinds of numbers.



This reason I think the run game for BYU will be sufficient for the game. Again not talking big numbers but I could see a 100 yard run game total for the team.

All in all, UCLA seems to be the better team. This is one we "shouldn't" win. But, we will be close. Steal this one out of the Rose Bowl and look out baby.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

I certainly consider myself a realist and don't believe in being blue-goggled. As much as I hope that we pull a third straight upset and keep this train rolling, I have a hard time seeing how we win.



Bronco is 2-8 in Game #3. That is due to the opponents we've faced as much as anything - TCU, Boston College, Tulsa, UCLA, Florida State, Utah, and Houston.



As exciting as it is, we can't keep depending on last minute long bombs to win. And we simply won't beat UCLA if we don't play all around better than we did against Nebraska and Boise State.



The O-line has got to give Tanner time to do his thing.



Tanner has to be even smarter and not force the ball which leads to interceptions.



We really only need enough of a run game to keep the D honest but it's gotta be better than what we saw in the Nebraska game and most of the Boise State game.



Our D has to be absolutely suffocating. The more physical we play, the better. And we must force turnovers. We don't win the turnover battle, we don't win.



We have to keep the game close, like within 10 points, and can't play from way behind.

I'm here to eat my humble pie. I thought UCLA's run O was a paper tiger, but once they found out that if they spread the field with 4 receiver and ran in the A and D gaps they could get 10+ ypc, it was game over as our D had no response, other than to use timeouts before allowing first down rushes...

If Tanner can learn to see the entire field he will be dangerous. He is still learning and I'm excited for the future.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

http://i59.tinypic.com/s1j6g3.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Taken just as the ball is being intercepted. Houk may not have been all that open after all.

Better view.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

SpiffCoug wrote:
http://i59.tinypic.com/s1j6g3.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Taken just as the ball is being intercepted. Houk may not have been all that open after all.

Still more open than Jurgens but yeah, maybe not as wide open.