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PROVO — The adjustments, which were more of a mindset rather than a physical change, resulted in a record-shattering difference that crumbled a traditional national power.
And for that, two coaches and several players deserve all the credit. Take your bows, Robert Anae and Garett Tujague, along with all of the offensive linemen that set the tone in BYU’s impressive 40-21 win over Texas last Saturday.
“There is a tremendous story that’s currently happening in the program, and a big chunk of that is going on with the offensive line,” Anae said.
During all of preseason practice, Anae’s focus as BYU’s offensive coordinator was to increase the tempo to the point of using as little time as possible between plays. The Cougars ran 93 plays in the loss to Virginia, but it didn’t do near enough to win the game.
Anae and Tujague, the first-year offensive line coach, used a week of practice to blend the basics with the new style. The offensive line overwhelmed the Longhorns, so much so that defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was fired after his group allowed a school-record 550 yards on the ground.
For all the fancy styles and schemes, blocking and tackling is the essence of football. Coach Bronco Mendenhall attributed the improved line play to putting the players on notice for playing time, but it was more about getting down and dirty.
“It seemed like they had this kind of like tunnel vision and focus of moving the line of scrimmage and playing physical,” said Jake Kuresa, a former four-year starter on BYU’s offensive line. “Because, in my opinion, that was really the only thing that was missing in this offense — it solved all the problems."
BYU’s offensive line opened up enough holes to allow quarterback Taysom Hill rush for an astounding 259 yards. BYU’s rushing total set a school record.
In the first game, the big guys up front knew that they were “soft and didn’t come off the ball,” said starting lineman Manaaki Vaitai.
After the abysmal performance against Virginia, the coaches were determined to change the personnel up front. Shuffling the lineup was only part of the story.
“It’s not as much a matter of where we are on the line, it’s our effort as a whole,” said starting lineman Michael Yeck.
The boss agrees.
“They were assignment sound, but they also blocked harder and longer,” Mendenhall said. “They weren’t just on the right people (Saturday), they actually blocked them with the right intensity and physical demeanor. Week 1, they were going fast and they were on the right guys, but they weren’t blocking them with the mindset that we wanted. That was our focus — to not give up the quality of each play for the speed of each play.”
In his ninth year as the head coach, Mendenhall wasn’t the least bit surprised that the message got through. He has long maintained that his players always respond to the proper coaching.
All it took was a new focus. Simple as that.
“I’ve been meeting with the entire team more on what it means to be a BYU football player and what that looks like,” Mendenhall said. “I think any time that I’ve been able to identify as a coaching staff what it is our team needs and we ask them right, they respond.”
With a bye until playing host to Utah on Sept. 21, Mendenhall might want to spend the time asking the offense to improve its efficiency through the air. Through two games, as crazy as it sounds for the traditionally pass-happy program, BYU stinks at throwing the ball.
Texas can testify that Hill can whip a team with his legs, but so far he’s fallen far short with his arm. The sophomore is a miserable 22-of-66 passes with his. His throws are rarely on the money.
Eventually, if not sooner, BYU is going to need to go 80 yards in two minutes to win a game. A healthy Cody Hoffman at receiver will greatly improve the passing game, but Mendenhall and Anae have preached patience with the new offense.
“We know it’s going to take time,” Mendenhall said. “Fans and others don’t really want to acknowledge it’s going to take time.”
