Does it bother anyone that NOW we are fired up?

I have been reading some of the quotes from the players and they all seem to reflect an attitude that NOW we can really play and turn things around....like they haven't been playing their guts out already? Why wouldn't they all be working as hard as possible to win EVERY game? What is the difference now? Is it because we are sooo embarrassed by our loss to USU that we have to have an excuse for playing like....I don't know I have no words. I just don't get how all of the sudden we can NOW turn everything up a notch and play better. Any thoughts? :roll: 8)

Yes.

The player's response about the intensity of practice and renewed focus is probably a telling sign as to the difference between Bronco's style and Jaime's. There is a new sheriff in town and his taking charge of the defense will also send a clear message to the Offense to dramatically change its approach. His loyalty and patience with others to whom he had delegated responsibility is probably the biggest mistake he made. I believe upon reflection, he realizes that he allowed this to go on longer than it should have.

Better late then never I say. It is bothersome that they didn't come into the season with that fire but what's past is past. I'm just glad they are saying these things, it means that they care.



Bronco taking over the defense has reignited my fire as well.

byucougar1,



That is exactly the problem here. As a player do you really need a coaching change to get your butt in gear? I was ticked in the second half of the AF game because I saw a team that decided to mail in the second half and that attitude hasn't changed yet in games. It will be interesting to see how the game Sat. goes. I can take losing, but when it's losing because the team/players give up, I can barely stomach it.



I agree with you Kbear, it will be sad if we see a different team on Saturday.



(I think this has been touched on in previous threads, there is a huge lack of leadership on the team. I'm hoping for some guys on both sides of the ball to step it up big time.)

If people were good at motivating themselves, we wouldn't have the biggest loser, Tony Robbins, 7 Habits, and a whole slew of other things. I think Bronco got complacent with the program maturity he developed and thought the flywheel would just keep spinning itself forever. He stepped away from day to day involvement in practices thinking momentum would keep things rolling. Unfortunately, he stepped away right as the program lost more leadership than ever before under his tenure. It was a bad combo, made worse by the dual quarterback gaffe that prevented either qb from taking the reins or responsibility. Instead we got a team without an identify.



I take the Hill firing and resumption of DC responsibilities as a "lesson learned" move, and I'm glad to hear that he's knocking heads in practice--the fact that this is new to this team tells me that the Hill firng was the right move.



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snoscythe wrote:
If people were good at motivating themselves, we wouldn't have the biggest loser, Tony Robbins, 7 Habits, and a whole slew of other things. I think Bronco got complacent with the program maturity he developed and thought the flywheel would just keep spinning itself forever. He stepped away from day to day involvement in practices thinking momentum would keep things rolling. Unfortunately, he stepped away right as the program lost more leadership than ever before under his tenure. It was a bad combo, made worse by the dual quarterback gaffe that prevented either qb from taking the reins or responsibility. Instead we got a team without an identify.



I take the Hill firing and resumption of DC responsibilities as a "lesson learned" move, and I'm glad to hear that he's knocking heads in practice--the fact that this is new to this team tells me that the Hill firng was the right move.



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Good point.

A former player posted insightful info about how Hill, when still a DB position coach, focused on stopping the pass back when that player was on the team and didn't understand what some of the linebackers were doing that was intended for them to be doing by their line backer position coach to stop the run. It is very possible that the linebackers have been getting a different direction under Hill than they are getting this week, and that now the run and pass defense is more balanced and synchronized Vs Pass D optimization at the expense of Run D. I have no idea if that is all true - but it sure seemed plausible.



They may be pumped more in the sense of having a clear direction and a plan they believe they can execute than all of a sudden that they are going to try harder.



I can't measure their previous effort and passion, but the result was not great.



But one thing I believe is that the defense has not been as bad as last in the nation looks. Here is the conundrum



The O goes 3 and out. Not much clock runs. The D has to defend. They may give up, 0, 3, or 6, or 7, or 8 points, but yards amass whether it is an 8-minute, 20-play field goal or an 80 yard bomb. If the D held to a 3 and out every time, yards would not amass, and points would not amass, but if the ball moves yards and maybe points ensue.



Then the O goes 3 and out and you repeat it all again. If the D held them to an 8-minute, 20-play field goal every time, that would actually be reasonably Ok because the clock is running and you only gave 3 points. On the 80 yard bomb, you get 80 yards and 7 points in no time flat. If we held them to 3 on such long drives every time - we probably give up 24 points or less in the game even if our O goes 3 and out on every posession.



Now - if our O grinds out some long drives with runs and completions rather than incompletions that stop the clock, clock runs leaving less time for the opponent to get yet one more drive. If by some miracle we get the ball in the end zone, we run clock and offset points. One TD beats two field goals. If we only score a TD on every other drive, we can give up a field goal on every drive and win.



Anyway - I hope you get the concept. Our opponents are getting too many offensive posessions due to our offense not eating up enough of the clock and that skews stats like average yards per game and average points per game given up.



As my boss said in a presentation today - the thing about statistics is that when you calculate a statistic you lose information - you may think you get clarity, possibly falsely, but you lose the details that went into the statistics.



Maybe that is why they are excited. Maybe they think the offense will actually move the ball, run A LOT OF clock, and score a bit more. That will give the opponent less possessions. Maybe we force them, with great special teams play to go the length of the field, and EAT A LOT of clock on each dirve for 0 or 3 points and then win on a late fumble recovery.



To simplify - WE NEED TO MAKE THEM EAT A LOT OF CLOCK BEFORE WE YIELD ANY POINTS AND WE NEED TO EAT A LOT OF CLOCK EVERY TIME WE GET THE BALL AND WE NEED TO SCORE MORE CONSISTENTLY



Go Cougs

I think you bring up a good point about statistics and about how details are lost in them. Like when Detmer was QB how BYU scored a ton and quickly, and usually always lost the time of possession battle. The D gave up more, but we scored more. Teams that strive for balance with TOP usually score less and ball control more, but give up less. Sadly this year, we possess less, score less and give up more. With a sorry offense, TOP is vital. With a great offense, it is less vital. So I think the emphasis for this team is to possess more, score more and allow teh D to give up less. Basically chip away from both ends, rather than expect the O to win it or the D to win it.



I just hope both sides of the ball show up Saturday and give the team a chance to win it.

What do you think of this quote from Ethan Manumaleuna:



“Before we were just lollygagging around, taking it easy, being spoiled. Now we’re just getting our mind-set right. Coach Mendenhall is very straightforward. He said that we’re going to hate him sometimes, but it’s all just to make us better.”



Apparently the BYU defense did not run a single play during practice on Monday, but instead ran sprints and conditioning drills the entire time.



Are we to assume that the lackadasical effort that we have seen on defense the past couple of games is because we weren't well conditioned and simulating the speed of the other teams?

Kbear wrote:
I have been reading some of the quotes from the players and they all seem to reflect an attitude that NOW we can really play and turn things around....like they haven't been playing their guts out already? Why wouldn't they all be working as hard as possible to win EVERY game? What is the difference now? Is it because we are sooo embarrassed by our loss to USU that we have to have an excuse for playing like....I don't know I have no words. I just don't get how all of the sudden we can NOW turn everything up a notch and play better. Any thoughts? :roll: 8)

Yes

I think we see this pay off the week after TCU. Until then, not so sure. I just know that this team has to be ready to play better. We are all ready to see it.

Another quote: from BYU KR/PR/WR J.D. Falslev:



He confirmed that things have changed with Mendenhall taking a more active daily coaching role:



"It's a whole different mentality with Coach Mendenhall there. He was there before, but not to this level. I think with him there now, the guys haven't played this hard since I've been here, for a year and a half. And I don't think it's been as fun, to be honest, for a year and a half. I've never had so much fun as a scout team player, and it's hard to have fun as as scout team player. It's fun to see those (defensive) guys be successful, playing with so much heart and so much passion for the game, and so much love for each other."



Sounds like this problem that is now evident has been simmering for awhile. Surprised Bronco put up with it until now. We probably got by before based upon raw talent that could make up for some youthful inexperience and mistakes.



Here's hoping we get back on track to the years K Pop was referring to.

I'd be more bothered if they weren't fired up yet

Wish Bronco would have put this in place in Fall Camp. He is the HC after all, and did not have to fire his DC to put his practice routine in place. But, better late than never.

Look for us to see more of JD Falsev - apparently his KR and bowling over the USU player was the one highlight he enjoyed in the game. He felt that that play epitomizes BYU football. Can anyone get a replay on this run - I need something to fire me up.

I think you all seriously underestimate the respect (or lack of) that someone has for a coach. I would contend that those that are saying that "they shouldn't need outside motivation" haven't played football. Or at least on the defensive side. You absolutely need to have outside motivations: coach speeches, defensive huddles, slapping helmets, butts, and smacking helmets together, the chest bump.



There are basically two methodologies of coaching, and they bring different responses from your team. A lot of coaches lean one way or the other, and that is a mistake. I like to think that you need a good mixture of both to be successful.



- The first is a General Patton "They need to fear you (the captain) more than they fear the enemies bullets." In football this translates to "you need to fear windsprint after windsprint until you puke monday until late night" more than you fear "being tired, not giving it all on every play, going through the motions, taking just one play off late in the 4th, etc."



- The second is a deep and profound respect or love for your coach. If he needs you to give more, you will. Even if you don't have anything more to give, you somehow have a few plays more left.



I have played and served under coaches or as a church unit to people that have had both of these, and adversely I have played and served under people that I didn't love or respect and there is a big difference.



As far as the defensive players, I haven't seen any of either attitude from anyone who isn't a CB, and that wasn't fear but a mutual respect. A "homey-chilling" type attitude. A lot of players really didn't like Hill and his attitude, and there was dischord between coaches even. You need your players to have both to succeed and that is the best kind of coach. SEE: The thread that Mars started on KP's (Kelly poppinga's thoughts) if you want to understand more about this dynamic. The lack of effort is going to stop, because those kids love Bronco, and he is going to do everything in his power to break them down. And I hope he does, because that will make them stronger

There is something in the air since Bronco started as DC this week,



Doman says the team is practicing as if they are 5-0, and numerous players have stated that the team seems very upbeat, enthusiastic, and very confident.



Could this be the fresh start that Bronco was referring to? I hope this attitude translates into action against SDSU - a win would set us back on track as SDSU is favored by 5 points.

byucougar1 wrote:
There is something in the air since Bronco started as DC this week,



Doman says the team is practicing as if they are 5-0, and numerous players have stated that the team seems very upbeat, enthusiastic, and very confident.



Could this be the fresh start that Bronco was referring to? I hope this attitude translates into action against SDSU - a win would set us back on track as SDSU is favored by 5 points.

flashes of a semi-bald Phil Collins playing the drums...



Thanks for that... :gross:

snoscythe wrote:
If people were good at motivating themselves, we wouldn't have the biggest loser, Tony Robbins, 7 Habits, and a whole slew of other things. I think Bronco got complacent with the program maturity he developed and thought the flywheel would just keep spinning itself forever. He stepped away from day to day involvement in practices thinking momentum would keep things rolling. Unfortunately, he stepped away right as the program lost more leadership than ever before under his tenure. It was a bad combo, made worse by the dual quarterback gaffe that prevented either qb from taking the reins or responsibility. Instead we got a team without an identify.



I take the Hill firing and resumption of DC responsibilities as a "lesson learned" move, and I'm glad to hear that he's knocking heads in practice--the fact that this is new to this team tells me that the Hill firng was the right move.



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Agreed. It also helps to have leadership in motivation coming from the top down. It is frustrating to be playing your heart out on a team where it seems like others aren't, and your coach doesn't seem to care about the difference.