'It's got to be better': Rush offense, defense a focus as BYU shifts to Arkansas

PROVO — After BYU improved to 2-0 with a 41-16 win over FCS foe Southern Utah, head coach Kalani Sitake voiced his displeasure with the Cougars' run game, which averaged just 2.0 yards per carry for 46 yards against the Thunderbirds.

For the second-straight game, freshman LJ Martin led the running backs with 27 yards on six attempts, while bellwether back Aidan Robbins received just three carries — all in the first quarter — for a BYU offense that passed on 32-of-55 offensive plays.

Of course, the run game isn't all on the running backs; Sitake was none-too-pleased with the offensive line, as well.

"I want to see the ball carried with more intensity and get more yards," Sitake said Saturday afternoon underneath the stands at LaVell Edwards Stadium. "We need someone who can carry and do it the right way. We also need someone who can block for them and make sure we get more yards, because what we got is not good enough. It doesn't matter who the defense is, we are better than that and we have to figure it out."

Ahead of the Cougars' Week 3 road tilt with SEC foe Arkansas (5:30 p.m. MDT, ESPN2), the former BYU fullback took a markedly more measured tone. But the deficiencies remain.

The Cougars are averaging just 79.0 yards per game on the ground through two games, ranking 118th out of 132 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. And while there's no doubt that the offense took a step forward under Kedon Slovis from Week 1 to Week 2, putting up 348 yards and 41 points against SUU, the run game remains an enigma.

Martin remains the Cougars' top rusher with 118 yards on 22 carries, a 5.36 yards per carry average that ranks 57th nationally. Robbins' 2.9 yards per carry and 14.5 yards per game doesn't register in the NCAA's database of 137 rushers, though that number comes on just 10 carries.

Neither does graduate transfer Deion Smith's 24 yards on 10 carries, or 1.4 net yards per rush and 7.0 yards per game — though the Colorado transfer did score his first touchdown in a BYU uniform Saturday against the Thunderbirds.

Still, with the benefit of two days' hindsight and a review of the tape, Sitake wasn't feeling quite the same way about the run game by Monday morning. Like he said after the offense's lackluster start in a 14-0 win over Sam Houston in Week 1, all problems are "fixable" — especially in the first month of the season for a team that has relied on a dominant defense and exceptional special-teams play through the first 14 days of the 2023 regular season.

"We're going to be fine," Sitake said Monday. "I have a lot of confidence in our players and our coaches. When you evaluate everything, I think the job is to try to fix all the problems. But that's the game of football, problems happen. I feel really good about where we are right now as a team."

The eighth-year head coach said there was plenty to improve in the run game — with running backs, linemen, coaches and anyone else taking a share of the move. But he evaded any notion of potential personnel changes in the back field or along the offensive line.

Sitake also complimented Southern Utah and head coach DeLane Fitzgerald for its defensive game plan against BYU's run game, noting how they dropped their safeties into the box and regularly left their cornerbacks in one-on-one matchups on the outside — possibly helping Slovis connect for 348 yards and four touchdowns to a pass-catching core led by Isaac Rex (112 yards, 1 touchdown), Chase Roberts (84 yards, 1 touchdown), Darius Lassiter (73 yards, 1 touchdown) and Keanu Hill (88 yards, 1 touchdown).

"We can make them react to what they're giving us," Sitake said, "or we can keep banging our heads against the wall and try to force it."

Equally disrupting may be the Cougars' pass rush, or lack thereof. BYU has just one sack through two games, and that one came from Tyler Batty on the opening drive against the Bearkats.

In response, both Sam Houston and Southern Utah worked to get the ball out quickly, limiting tackle-for-loss opportunities but also leading to three interceptions by the Bearkats and another by the Thunderbirds, to three different cornerbacks in Jakob Robinson, Eddie Heckard and Kamden Garrett.

"We can be better; let's not sugarcoat it," Sitake said. "But I like the stuff that we're doing. I like sacks as much as anybody, but I like interceptions more than sacks."

Sitake then added: "It can be better, and it will be."

Batty feigned disheartenment at Sitake's love of interceptions over sacks, cheekily saying "that's too bad" when asked about the quote.

"To each their own," he added. "Maybe he was just saying that to back someone up. But I think deep down, I think he likes sacks more."

But the 6-foot-5, 273-pound defensive end from Payson was all business about his own defensive front, which is allowing 2.4 yards per carry and 61.0 yards per game with just one rushing touchdown, a late score by SUU's Targhee Lambson on Saturday, with 10 tackles for loss.

"It's got to be better," Batty said matter-of-factly. "I think it's improved since last year, but through the first two games, it's definitely something that we need to continue to work on."

Sitake said the Cougars are hopeful that wide receiver Kody Epps will debut Saturday against the Hogs after missing the first two games of the season with injury, similar to Hill's return last weekend after sitting out against the Bearkats.

The Razorbacks (2-0) will be without standout running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders due to a knee injury. The 6-foot-2, 243-pound back from Rockledge, Florida, averaged 11.7 yards per carry for 175 yards and two touchdowns a year ago in a 52-35 road win over BYU that included 367 passing yards and a career-best five touchdowns from quarterback KJ Jefferson.

"He's a big, physical quarterback. That's a challenge that we're really excited to take on," Batty said. "I think Arkansas is going to be really good competition, and KJ's a really good quarterback. We're just excited to have the opportunity to go compete against him."

The Cougars moved the ball well enough in that game, including 365 yards through the air from quarterback Jaren Hall. The challenge in Saturday's "revenge" game will come on defense.

"Revenge can only get you so far," Sitake said. "I think the key for us is to keep it more simple than that ... for our players, this was a whole separate deal."

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