Schedule, talent indicate improvements for BYU football in 2014


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PROVO — After a season characterized by narrow defeats, BYU football is preparing for what appears to be a more manageable schedule in its fourth season competing as an NCAA Division I independent.

Four of the Cougars’ five losses during the 2013 season came by a combined 30 points, all of which occurred against teams either from or aligned with power conferences.

Following a home loss to Utah, BYU ripped off five wins in a row over teams that went to bowl games last season, four of which were by double digits, and ended up securing a spot in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, where the Cougars were trounced by Washington in Steve Sarkisian’s final game as the Huskies' head coach.

Bronco Mendenhall’s team hasn’t failed to play in a bowl game since he took over in 2005, and it’s hard to imagine 2014 would be any different.

With just three games against power-conference opponents, BYU looks to reach double figures in the win category for the first time since 2011.

That doesn’t mean it will be an easy task, however. The Cougars return the majority of their offensive starters in the second year of Robert Anae’s “go fast, go hard” scheme that saw BYU go second in the country in total plays, but there are plenty of questions to answer up front, even with Tuni Kanuch’s heralded move to the offensive line.

Anae said at BYU media day that he realized success came from playing the guys who were the most fresh last season.

Quarterback Taysom Hill and Jamaal Williams should continue to put up gaudy rushing statistics based on the amount of time on the field they expect, and if Hill can become the precision passer the coaching staff in Provo believes he can be, fans will witness plenty of high-scoring performances.

Hill will be operating with a mostly new wide receiver corps that boasts both height in 6-foot-6 targets Mitch Matthews and Nick Kurtz and speed in transfer Devon Blackmon.

Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Jordan Johnson (6) comes up 
with a San Diego State Aztecs fumble which lead to a touchdown 
during the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. 
Johnson's return to the secondary bolsters a unit that was 16th in the 
country in team passing efficiency defense in 2013.
Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Jordan Johnson (6) comes up with a San Diego State Aztecs fumble which lead to a touchdown during the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. Johnson's return to the secondary bolsters a unit that was 16th in the country in team passing efficiency defense in 2013. (Photo: Ravell Call, Deseret News)

The quality of the defense is largely unknown at this point. Only five starters return after Kyle Van Noy, Spencer Hadley and Eathyn Manumaleuna landed in the NFL. The return of Jordan Johnson following a knee injury that forced him to miss all of 2013 and the switch of Bronson Kaufusi to linebacker look like they’ll pay immediate dividends.

Craig Bills has stepped up as a leader in the secondary, according to his teammates, and Robertson Daniel seemingly improves with every down he plays.

Manoa Pikula will be counted on to relay defensive sets from second-year defensive coordinator Nick Howell, who expects big things out of his linebacker group, which returns playmaker Alani Fua and adds four-star recruit Fred Warner.

Harvey Jackson is another newcomer to look out for. The Nebraska transfer appeared in 35 games for the Huskers over the last three seasons.

Additional victories should be in order as the slate becomes more favorable and BYU adds a recruiting class Mendenhall said “might be the strongest ever” since he arrived on campus, but the Cougars will need to buck their recent trend of dropping close games to achieve their potential. Contributing: Greg Wrubell, Jeremiah Jensen, Rod Zundel.

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Kyle Spencer

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