3 keys to a BYU victory against Utah State


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PROVO — After breezing to a 52-10 win against Fresno State Bulldogs last week, the BYU football team shifts its focus to its final regular-season contest against the Utah State Aggies.

Here are three keys to a victory for the Cougars.

Establish the run

The Cougars appear to have made some progress in the run game against Fresno State. BYU running backs accounted for 158 yards and four touchdowns against the Bulldogs after two pitiful efforts against San Jose State and Missouri.

Before saying the ground game is back, however, it has to be taken into account how awful Fresno State is. The Aggies are much more physical and stout against the run. A lot of things will have to happen for the Cougars to produce in the run game. First, BYU linemen need to play nasty and open up holes for the running backs. Secondly, Cougar runners will need to be decisive and hit the holes aggressively. Finally, BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae will need to be committed to establishing the ground game. All three of these units failed to do their jobs for most of the game against the Spartans and Tigers. BYU needs to establish the run to take pressure off of quarterback Tanner Mangum and the receivers against a very good secondary.

Wide receivers need to be physical

Michigan laid out a perfect blue print for stopping BYU receivers. In that contest, Wolverine secondary players utilized man-press coverage and were extremely physical at the line of scrimmage. Cougar receivers could not seem to create any separation from defenders as BYU got shut out for the first time in the Bronco Mendenhall era. Against Michigan, BYU only gained 55 yards through the air as Mangum had no windows to throw through.

Colby Pearson (3) of BYU has a pass knocked away in the end zone by Delano Hill (44) of Michigan during NCAA football in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Sept. 26, 2015. (Photo: Ravell Call, Deseret News)
Colby Pearson (3) of BYU has a pass knocked away in the end zone by Delano Hill (44) of Michigan during NCAA football in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Sept. 26, 2015. (Photo: Ravell Call, Deseret News)

After the disastrous effort at The Big House, BYU coaches and players vowed to work on beating man-press coverage. After the Michigan game, the Cougars saw a steep decline in quality of opponents. Against the weaker competition, BYU's pass game again flourished. Then came the Missouri game. Using a similar game plan, and having comparable talent to the Wolverines, Tiger defenders smothered Cougar receivers. Again, the wideouts seemed to be hesitant and unaggressive. Anae confirmed that fact after the game. The Aggies do not have the same caliber of athletes that Michigan or Missouri does. Still, they are stalwart against the pass and you can bet they will run some man-press. Cougar receivers will need to be physical in order to create separation and get open for Mangum.

The Cougars need to play with heightened emotion and intensity

Much to the chagrin of Utah State fans, Cougar faithful are hesitant to call the battle for the "Old Wagon Wheel" a rivalry. They generally point to BYU's head-to-head dominance over the Aggies since the beginning of the LaVell Edwards era as proof that this annual contest doesn't fit the billing of a true rivalry.

However, BYU is only 3-2 in the last five meetings and two of those wins were by a field goal. One thing is clear, too. Utah State players and coaches think this is a rivalry game and prepare for it and play like it is one. BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall affirmed this week his stance that he will treat every game the same and not put any particular emphasis on any contest. I understand this mentality for the most part and believe it has been key to his team's consistency. But if BYU doesn't come to the fight swinging, it could get ugly. BYU players and coaches need to bring fire and intensity to a game that would be the feather in the cap of Utah State's otherwise disappointing season.

Prediction: BYU 24, USU 17


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**About the Author: Dylan Cannon** ----------------------------------

Dylan Cannon is a regular KSL.com contributor and can be reached at DylanCannon86@gmail.com or via twitter @DylanCannon11.

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