|
QB
Max Hall |
|
|
2007
Statistics |
Coach:
Bronco Mendenhall
28-10,
3 years |
2007
Record: 11-2 |
|
ARIZONA |
WON
20-7 |
at
UCLA |
LOST
17-27 |
at
Tulsa |
LOST
47-55 |
AIR
FORCE |
WON
31-6 |
at
New Mexico |
WON
31-24 |
at
UNLV |
WON
24-14 |
E.
WASHINGTON |
WON
42-7 |
COLORADO
STATE |
WON
35-16 |
TCU |
WON
27-22 |
at
Wyoming |
WON
35-10 |
UTAH |
WON
17-10 |
at
San Diego State |
WON
48-27 |
LAS
VEGAS BOWL |
UCLA |
WON
17-16 |
|
2007
Final Rankings
AP-14, Coaches-14, BCS-17
|
2008
Outlook |
It
has been since 1984’s
championship team that BYU has
had this much momentum rolling
through its off-season happenings.
This year looks like another
double-digit win total, which
would make three in a row for
the first time since those glory
days of more than two decades
ago. The difference seems to
be the hiring of Bronco Mendenhall,
whose defensive insights have
led the way (what wins championships?)
He has embraced the traditions
here – the lower level
of prospects attracted to the
program (due to the school’s
religious foundation) means
coaching and teamwork are the
hallmarks which turn potential
into wins. Many of his players
come back from missions having
matured in their outlooks on
life (often times beyond their
years), making the roster full
of men, not boys. This pays
huge dividends as the lessons
on the field are learned faster,
and hard times during games
are overcome easier as the group
comes together to work towards
their goals. Mendenhall got
his team back to basics, and
the fruition will be seen again
this year.
Cougar fans have to be salivating
when they think of how good
their team looks heading into
the ’08 season. Six all-MWC
selections return on offense,
including underdog QB Max Hall
and bruiser Harvey Unga, last
year’s Mountain West Conference
Freshman of the Year. But UCLA
proved that the Cougar blocking
can break down to the extent
that the speed in the backfield
isn’t enough when there
are two of the bigger backs
playing together. Ergo, newcomer
J.J. DiLuigi appears to be just
what is needed to prevent this
eventuality from letting big,
fast teams like the Bruins force
their will defensively. The
two-TE sets work nicely versus
the seemingly over-matched Mountain
West foes, but the ability of
BCS-level teams to overcome
this proves a new wrinkle is
needed that emphasizes quickness
over the “old school”
smashmouth dimension Mendenhall
loves. Even Arizona proved this,
and neither the Wildcats nor
Bruins is a consistent top 25
team…yet BYU couldn’t
muster more than 20 points in
any one game versus these Pac
Ten foes. Results like these
justify many of the lower rankings
BYU receives when they have
the same record as other BCS
teams at the time. On a team
that throws it as much as it
passes the rock, balance is
the key to moving the ball.
As long as Hall remains on the
upside of the learning curve,
only top teams will have a shot
at stopping BYU for the win.
The defense rebuilds its LBs
and DBs (from scratch with the
secondary), but a quality line
will force foes into early throws
to help the DBs come along.
Jan Jorgensen is the point of
attack on D, and the latest
additions are as talented as
any who have been through here
in those past two resurgent
years. These guys do the job
against even the Pac Ten types,
offering the fan-base good reason
to be giddy. As fans remember,
it just takes one magic season
for it all to come together,
and even the new guys realize
how special the year could be
if they can join to form a single-minded
unit.
The nation’ s longest
winning streak is still in Provo
– 10 games. As usual,
the first three games will tell
the most as to where BYU is
expected to finish. Like any
mid-major, BYU knows it has
to play the best to be the best,
so the BCS-aligned opponents
stacked for the non-conference
part of the slate appear every
year. Washington is not the
same doormat they’ve been
before Ty Willingham arrived,
and the home rematch with UCLA
assures the Bruins give 100%
in search of payback. The tilts
at TCU and Utah are the toughest
MWC games, so it looks like
at least nine wins this campaign.
This is a new era of parity
in the college pigskin scene,
and thus, this is a new era
of BYU football, and anyone
discounting them because they
are from a smaller conference
doesn’t get it. There
is a reason they are our top
mid-major, and you might as
well realize now that this team
will be in many final (AP) polls
to come.
Projected
2008 record: 11-1
|
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TE
Dennis Pitta |
BRIGHAM
YOUNG
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4 |
DL
- 4 |
RB
- 4 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 4 |
DB
- 2.5 |
OL
- 4 |
.. |
|
BRIGHAM
YOUNG
2007 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
67 |
5 |
Passing: |
14 |
1 |
Total
Off: |
25 |
1 |
Sacks
Allow: |
34 |
2 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
9 |
1 |
Passing: |
32 |
6 |
Total
Def: |
10 |
1 |
Sacks: |
33 |
4 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Max Hall, 298-496-12, 3848 yds.,
26 TD
Rushing: Harvey Unga,
244 att., 1227 yds., 13 TD
Receiving: Dennis Pitta,
59 rec., 813 yds., 5 TD
Scoring: Harvey Unga,
17 TD, 102 pts.
Punting: CJ Santiago,
62 punts, 39.7 avg.
Kicking: Mitch Payne,
10-14 FG, 43-45 PAT, 73 pts.
Tackles: Jan Jorgensen,
77 tot., 40 solo
Sacks: Jan Jorgensen,
14 sacks
Interceptions: Matt Bauman,
1 for 3 yds.
Kickoff returns: Austin
Collie, 28 ret., 25.8 avg.,
0 TD
Punt returns: Bryce Mahuika,
21 ret., 6.8 avg., 0 TD
|
PHOTO
CREDITS:
Mark Philbrick, Jaren Wilkey,
Steve Walters and Kenny Crookston
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BRIGHAM
YOUNG
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 9 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 3 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Joe Semanoff-RB, Matt Allen-WR,
Sete Aulai-C, Manase
Tonga-FB (academics) |
DEFENSE:
Bryan
Kehl-SLB, Kelly Poppinga-MLB,
Markell Staffieri-BLB, Chris Bolden-WLB,
Kayle Buchanan-CB, Ben Criddle-CB,
Andre Saulsberry-CB, Corby Hodgkiss-KAT,
Quinn Gooch-FS, Eathyn
Manumaleuna-NT |
|
|
2008
OFFENSE |
QUARTERBACK
What many fans were worrying about
at this same time last year was the
transition from current-NFL QB John
Beck to the current Cougar signal
caller, junior Max Hall. That worry
is now a confidence that the season
is in good hands with the Arizona
State transfer. A nephew of former
Dallas Cowboy QB Danny White, Hall
is a matured game manager, a guy who
makes few mistakes as he leads the
team via his example of gutsy play.
Hall tucks and runs when needed, but
needs to learn to also throw it away
when he decides he is going to stand
tall in the pocket. That’s really
a small critique on the overall scale;
most importantly, Hall makes sure
he wins the game. BYU’s closing
ten frames were perfect to give them
the FBS’s current longest win
streak, and Hall is one of the biggest
reasons for this. Backup Brenden Gaskins
is the former New Mexico 4A Player
of the Year, but as a classmate of
Hall’s, only an injury will
get him the time he deserves. If that
were to occur, he would need adjustment
time, and a few losses would be a
probable result.
RUNNING
BACK
The backfield is full of riches. First
and foremost is 243lb Harvey Unga,
the MWC Freshman of the Year and a
load to bring down. Unga set freshman
school records across the board, but
most impressive is that he led all
conference freshmen in receiving,
too (14.9 yard per catch). Unga will
continue to get the Cougar’s
share of the carries, but look for
the other guys to step their game(s)
up looking for reps. Manase Tonga
is the same sized runner and another
set of great hands, making him a great
second back who can also lead block.
Fui Vakapuna is just another large
ball-carrier in the same mold…oh,
wait…that’s right, he
came in fourth for the entire state
in the 100-meter dash as a prep senior,
making him the fastest of this sizable
trio. Then there’s the fresh
face of J.J. DiLuigi, the Old Spice/Red
Zone Player of the Year (CA) who offers
a needed change of pace size-wise
and another pair of great mitts, too.
Modest
ground gains last year will explode
in 2008 with the senior-laden line
returning four starters.
UPDATE: FB
Manase Tonga has been ruled academically
ineligible to compete during the 2008
season. Tonga has been suspended from
the University and may re-apply for
admission in October for Winter Semester,
2009. Tonga will redshirt the 2008
season.
RECEIVER
/ TIGHT END
This team runs and works through its
backs to set up those (deeper) passes
– the top two WRs finished merely
second and fourth in team receptions
to prove just where the focus is on
this offense. But that isn’t
to say that Collie and Reed don’t
have a huge impact, for they totally
benefit from defenders having to focus
on the RBs no matter what the play-call.
Legacy Collie has decent size and
is the deep threat who pulls a safety
over every time he takes off, or else.
Former Texas 5A Receiver of the Year
Reed stays underneath and is a great
downfield blocker. TE Andrew George
plays like a receiver at 6’5
(ex-long jumper, 22’ best).
But it is Dennis Pitta who has emerged
as the top target. Back from the Dominican
Republic where he served his mission,
Pitta broke out in ’07 as the
conference’s fifth-best snarler.
The multiple-TE sets that facilitate
the run so well also strike fear into
opposing back-sevens as they telegraph
little. This creative aspect of Robert
Anae’s offense makes it so even
BCS-quality foes cannot stop these
innovative yard-producing alignments
(3-3 versus BCS teams over the past
two seasons).
OFFENSIVE
LINE
The line is the one aspect that guarantees
all of the other elements will work.
As you can see by the depth chart,
the senior group is loaded with talented
starters back for a special season
together. Former Freshman All-American
Dallas Reynolds and Ray Feinga (Mr.
Football for Utah in ’03) are
solid on the left side. Dallas’s
Brother Matt is reported to be making
huge strides to bolster the two-deep.
David Oswald is another in-state bigman
who moves well for his 330lb listed
weight. Travis Bright is not the most
mobile guy, but he moves well for
his inside slot with great footwork.
The move at center looks to be Vandy-transfer
Tom Sorensen, who looked good in seven
games last year after he had torn
his knee up to force a redshirt in
2006. The OL had its troubles with
UCLA – the Bruins held BYU scoreless
in the second half of their bowl game,
the first time since 2004 the Cougars
failed to score in a second half.
This just proves that, though they
may rule the MWC, BYU has to dig (in)
deeper on its line if the team is
to rise to that next level in the
national perspective. Seriously, UCLA
is the third opponent for this year,
so that game will measure the line’s
progress against where they were to
end ’07, a nice gauge for fan
expectations. Otherwise, the offense
here is going to achieve on a grand
scale against the leagues (often)
over-matched defenses.
|
|
OT
Dallas Reynolds
|
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BRIGHAM
YOUNG 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Max
Hall-Jr (6-1, 201) |
Brenden
Gaskins-Jr (6-4, 215) |
FB |
Fui
Vakapuna-Sr (6-1, 245) |
Isaac
Taylor-Sr (5-11, 218) |
HB |
Harvey
Unga-So (6-0, 243) |
J.J.
DiLuigi-Fr (5-9, 196) |
WR |
Michael
Reed-Sr (6-1, 202) |
Bryce
Mahuika-Sr (5-9, 186)
Spencer Hafoka-Fr (6-0, 183) |
WR |
Austin
Collie-Jr (6-2, 206) |
Luke
Ashworth-So (6-2, 194) |
TE |
Dennis
Pitta-Jr (6-5, 250) |
Andrew
George-Jr (6-5, 246) |
OT |
Dallas
Reynolds-Sr (6-5, 332) |
Nick
Alletto-So (6-6, 280) |
OG |
Ray
Feinga-Sr (6-5, 331) |
Terence
Brown-So (6-3, 334) |
C |
Tom
Sorensen-Jr (6-5, 306) |
Garrett
Reden-So (6-3, 275) |
OG |
Travis
Bright-Sr (6-5, 329) |
Matt
Reynolds-Fr (6-6, 315) |
OT |
David
Oswald-Sr (6-8, 330) |
R.J.
Willing-Jr (6-5, 312) |
K |
Mitch
Payne-So (6-2, 207) |
Justin
Sorensen-Fr (6-1, 222) |
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|
2008
DEFENSE |
Coach
Mendenhall has given the reigns of
the defense to in-house assistant
Jaime Hill, at least for most aspects,
save play-calling during games. Officially
the defensive coordinator, Hill has
been part of the consistency seen
here since his arrival two seasons
ago. The former Academic All-American
will keep the trends going –
stopping the run first and managing
foes need to pass in the process.
DEFENSIVE
LINE
The line is coming off of a great
effort. None of BYU's BCS foes, nor
run-silly Air Force, had strong ground
results in their games with BYU. One
of ten schools in the country allowing
under 3.0 yards per carry to foes
last year, all three starters on the
line are back. And if it all starts
up front, then we have to begin our
breakdown with the guy who had the
breakout season in ’07, Jan
Jorgenson. Only six people had more
tackles-for-loss in all of the FBS,
and only four had more sacks. Jan
won the state wrestling title in his
first year ever of competing in the
sport, so this quick-study likely
has more progress to make on the gridiron
this year. His spring was huge, showing
how he is definitively the best lineman
here. Ian Dulan will go on a mission,
as will Manumaleuna, so new blood
will be found…like already-established
Brett Denney, who got back from his
mission last year. Matt Putnam has
many excited, for the 6’7 frosh
has been in everyone’s way in
practice, both Hall’s and the
RB’s. All of the ends are 250+lbs,
combining mobility and enough girth
so that decent sized OLs have trouble
when facing the Cougars. Replacing
Eathyn Manumaleuna at tackle is either
hulking Russell Tialavea (knee injury
shot his ’07 campaign down)
and/or ex-Eagle Scout Tevita Hola,
an All-American while at the JUCO
level. Bernard Afutit, also a JUCO
transfer, is another rare three-star
find to bolster the revamped line.
LINEBACKER
The linebackers are looking for three
replacements, but this area looks
covered nicely. Coleby Clawson was
an end in CC, but he is projected
as an OLB (one who will be a fourth
lineman in certain cases.) Grant Nelson
was compared by his prep coach to
Paul Posluszny, whom he also coached,
so Clawson and he will battle for
the spot, with the big winner being
BYU’s stopping efforts. The
other outside spot is where the only
returning starter in the “back
eight” resides, David Nixon.
Nixon uses his speed to match up well
with extra guys in the slot and/or
TEs. Inside, Matt Bauman finished
as the team’s 10th-leading tackler
while still a backup, so he looks
solid for one spot. Shaun Doman had
fewer big plays but more tackles than
Bauman to secure the other spot. Junior
Terrance Hooks (ex-RB) is the guy
in waiting who will have a huge year
once given the chance. Moala, So’oto
(changing sides of the ball) and Wagner
all possess the level of skill needed
to make the defense better, so this
area is amply stocked.
DEFENSIVE
BACK
The “rubber hits the road”
with the secondary and its all-new
lineup (five senior CBs left at once).
How well the DBs adjust and gel will
go the longest way toward defining
the season for the entire team. Ranking
18th last year and 16th the prior
one for defensive pass efficiency
means there are big shoes to fill.
Brandon Bradley worked against Collie
all spring and did a pretty decent
job, as did Scott Johnson, who actually
was seen on the first-team squad more
than Bradley. Brandon Howard is possibly
the fastest overall Cougar DB; this
ex-hurdler ran lots of intermediate
distances and knows the system here
the best of all the CB candidates,
hence he is penciled-in for the start.
But the quickest CB might just be
G Pittman, whose first few steps are
great but he needs fine-tuning so
his hips are proper so as to not allow
receivers to control his positioning
on their cuts...then he'll be nearly
unbeatable. New DC Hill is an expert
working with DBs, so not as much drop
off will be seen as expected by many.
The safeties will be led by Andrew
Rich, a JUCO All-American who turned
down BCS-aligned programs to enroll
early and lead the race for those
deep spots. He has impressed, as has
Dave Tafuna. An ankle injury ended
’07 for Tafuna before it started,
making his intimate knowledge of the
system a huge dividend for shaping
the position’s potential. South
Jordan-local Jordan Pendleton is a
physical specimen fans already want
to see, and Kellen Fowler is a solid
leader who has the most experience
since he started the last five games
of ‘07. Fowler as a starter
to begin the season might be best,
for he is also physically gifted with
speed and a gutsy style that rubs
off. Repeating the top 20 finishes
in pass efficiency defense isn’t
a realistic goal, but one that may
be reached if Hill can make all of
these well-balanced cylinders fire
together…turnover here is nothing
new, so we think he gets this group
to come together by no later than
Early October.
More
than 12 forced fumbles has to happen…this
’07 total was the one lacking
stat. You can imagine how far the
team will go if they can even come
close to keeping foes limited to 40
combined first-quarter points like
they did last year. Coach Mendenhall
will make sure his guys play at their
highest level, but with two- and three-star
guys, will this be enough when UCLA
comes calling again?
|
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DE
Jan Jorgensen
|
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BRIGHAM
YOUNG 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Ian
Dulan-Jr (6-1, 252) |
Brett
Denney-Jr (6-4, 252) |
NT |
Russell
Tialavea-Jr (6-3, 300) |
Tevita
Hola-Jr (6-1, 310)
Mosese Foketi-Sr (6-0, 276) |
DE |
Jan
Jorgensen-Jr (6-3, 256) |
Brock
Richardson-Sr (6-2, 267) |
SLB |
David
Nixon-Sr (6-3, 223) |
Coleby
Clawson-Jr (6-3, 220) |
MLB |
Matt
Bauman-Jr (6-1, 226) |
Dan
Van Sweden-Jr (6-2, 214) |
BLB |
Shawn
Doman-Jr (6-2, 224) |
Matt
Ah You-Jr (5-11, 227) |
WLB |
Vic
So'oto-Jr (6-3, 249) |
Matt
Putnam-Fr (6-6, 237) |
CB |
Brandon
Howard-Jr (5-9, 164) |
G
Pittman-Fr (5-10, 183) |
CB |
Scott
Johnson-Jr (5-11, 185) |
Brandon
Bradley-So (6-0, 201) |
KAT |
David
Tafuna-Sr (6-1, 211) |
Jordan
Pendleton-Fr (6-2, 220) |
FS |
Kellen
Fowler-Sr (5-11, 187) |
Andrew
Rich-So (6-3, 210) |
P |
CJ
Santiago-Sr (6-2, 212) |
Justin
Sorensen-Fr (6-1, 222) |
|
|
|
2008
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Punter
C.J. Santiago is a control type who allows
his coverage the best chances to keep net
results low. Kicker Mitch Payne has yet
to fulfill his potential – he has
a big leg but only went 1-for-4 from 40+.
Mendenhall manages Payne’s attempts
nicely, but more is needed to hold off the
incoming foot of Justin Sorensen, this year’s
No.6 kicking prospect. WR Bryce Mahuika
and Collie have both return slots covered,
but with modest results from ’07 as
the proof of their assignment(s), look for
guys like G Pittman and Spencer Hafoka to
get their chances to supplant either if
results again lag.
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