*** BYU Pregame Thread ***
- Thread starter BigJCy
- Start date
This is the correct thinking as far as I’m concerned. The linebackers and DBs have looked lost, trying to do more than they were used to…and if they have become more comfortable since the Colorado game, maybe we have a chance. I don’t frankly understand any optimism beyond that. Had we won the last two games, I would have felt this game and at TCU were our toughest tests left (with an honorable mention to the home game against ASU). My guess would have been we lose 2 of those 3. Now I would think we lose all 3 and are likely a 7-5 team to end the regular season. It stinks. We were a good team when healthy, but our running game hasn’t been elite, our passing game hasn’t been able to replace the stud WRs we lost as quickly as we might have hoped…and losing our kicker and what we did on defense was just too much. Strange things happen. I’ve seen us beat better with less, but it feels like we’re more likely to lose by 2 touchdowns or more than to win this one.
That's fine as a whole, but neither of BYU nor GT have good/different enough resumes to quibble over a whopping 4 spots in the poll. This isn't to say the ACC is the better conference.
How many you have in the box matters more.
It *feels* like they do but then give up a first down. No basis for this feel.
Crowd needs to be loud on all defensive downs on Saturday.
Agreed. A healthy Dom demands double and triple teams and frees up our LBs. Problem is he’s been playing hurt most of the season. Dudes an effing warrior, but he’s not 100%. It seems like when we have a LB come up as a fourth, he is consumed by the OLman and not free to make a play. If we could recruit enough DL for a four man front we wouldn’t use this scheme. Perhaps people forget why we made the change and all the success we’ve had since then.
Well, by definition a 3-3-5 requires 5 healthy DBs as well, and I think that’s our biggest problem. Admittedly I haven’t been watching who is what/where closely…only seeing us out of position/confused. But if we have two corners who are too green, a nickel who is too much of a linebacker/isn’t versatile enough…and safeties that are trying to do too much and out of position. Plus three other linebackers also trying to do too much/are out of position, we’re screwed. And that’s certainly what has felt like is going on. Maybe someone who has been watching tape more closely can confirm (or say this is wrong).
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Have to put extra bodies somewhere. You can pretty much account for 9-10 guys in any scheme, and the question becomes who the last ones are. DL guy, LB, S, hybrid. For us, we've traditionally chosen hybrid S/LB since we've had more volume of talented guys in that space to put on the field.
Is that still the case today? We don't really know without being at the practices to see. Is there a better 4th straight up LB to put out there? A 4th DL? The staff doesn't seem to think so. Based on their hit rate of CB and S talent/development over time, I can see why they might stick with that.
When I unprofessionally watch games, it looks to me like LB is the weakest position on the field, but adding more DL alone does not resolve that. That just pulls more backside DBs down to help the remaining LBs.
Thanks - yes, this is what I’ve been seeing as well. Updating my message now to clarify - meant to say a LB who “isn’t” versatile enough.
This is true. And the biggest issue that they covered up is that there were no other wideouts.
These guys are finding their footing, but it’s more like ‘23 Higgins and Noel than ‘24.
With the rest of the season to go.
And, there’s more than just two.
So why is one #7 and the other #11, and the one at #11 has the stronger resume.
nah, the 9-1-1 defense is supreme, cuz then you have 9 v 5. Basically a sack every time.
Shocking more teams don't use it.
They're four spots apart. How many hairs we gonna split over that massive difference?
It's like not GT is #7 and BYU is #23.
So as someone who's only watched parts of ISU's games this year, given who's injured,
What do you believe are ISU' strengths against BYU's offense and defense?
What do you believe BYU can do effectively against ISU's offense and defense?
Obviously home field advantage is huge for the Cyclones. I don't remember watching the Cyclones blitzing extensively this year. I don't haven't seen the Cyclones intercepting a lot. Did I miss both of those aspects?
How well do the defensive players maintain gap assignments?
Does ISU play mostly press coverage or zone?
What do you believe are ISU' strengths against BYU's offense and defense?
What do you believe BYU can do effectively against ISU's offense and defense?
Obviously home field advantage is huge for the Cyclones. I don't remember watching the Cyclones blitzing extensively this year. I don't haven't seen the Cyclones intercepting a lot. Did I miss both of those aspects?
How well do the defensive players maintain gap assignments?
Does ISU play mostly press coverage or zone?
This is an interesting recon strategy by Bachmeier…
Before the start of this season I would have said Iowa State was the odds-on favorite to be Big XII champs. Rocco is the best QB in the conference and it's not close. As a BYU fan, I hope they can manage to keep it a close game, but ISU would be a handful anywhere and you're a double handful in Jack Trice. Whoever wins, we're glad to be in the same conference with you because ISU is a superb school with top-notch athletic teams. I follow the Cyclone basketball team closely because I have tremendous admiration for T.J. Otzelberger. I think he's the second coming of Bobby Knight, except Otz is a little nicer.
It's going to be a hard-fought game. Let's all hope both teams come out healthy with no serious injuries.
