Like other woes, Kalani Sitake sees BYU's run game as 'fixable.' Former lineman isn't so sure

PROVO — Less than 48 hours after BYU's 38-27 road loss to Kansas to open Big 12 play, head coach Kalani Sitake met with local media and, as many expected, almost immediately addressed the Cougars' woeful run game.

Sitake had few, if any answers, in the moments following the Cougars' loss to the Jayhawks, who entered the Associated Press Top 25 at No. 24 on Sunday. But he wasn't giving up on a rush offense that averaged just 0.4 yards per carry and a 2.5-yard average from the two main running backs of LJ Martin and Deion Smith, while also accounting for sacks (1.8 yards per carry, sack-adjusted).

The Cougars' 2.22 yards per rush and 61.0 yards per game through four games ranks 129th out of 133 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision — dead last in the conference, with only Colorado State, Colorado and Sam Houston State ranking worse nationally.

But when asked Monday if Sitake has any more answers to spark the ailing ground game, the eighth-year head coach said it's "fixable" ahead of the final eight games of the season.

"It's all fixable," he said. "Probably hard to answer in 30 seconds, but it's all fixable and we're working on getting it done. The proof will be what we do on Friday. That will be the attempt."

Martin, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound freshman out of El Paso, Texas, continues to lead all BYU rushers with 223 yards and two touchdowns on 56 carries. But former BYU offensive lineman Trevor Matich doesn't see Martin or the backfield as the issues.

Matich, who currently works as an analyst for ESPN Radio, isn't so sure. In his weekly appearance on BYUtv's Sports Nation, the 1984 national champion as a center, who spent 11 years in the NFL, was blunt in his assessment that he doesn't "think it's fixable this year" before pinning the offensive line.

"They've had enough reps, they've had enough games to show that they at least know how to do it," Matich said. "Watching them on tape, it just doesn't look like they know how to run block. It's hard for me to say that, but the tape is the tape; show me where I'm wrong."

Plan B, he added, is for the Cougars to "throw the ball more," incorporating some Air Raid principles, including short passes and crossing routes to spark a dreadful ground game instead of "banging your head against the wall if the run game is not working."

Utah transfer center Paul Maile was BYU's highest-graded lineman through four games with a 70.3 rating, according to Pro Football Focus. Weylin Lapuaho follows at 65.6, with Kingsley Suamataia (55.0), Brayden Keim (54.0), Connor Pay (53.4) and Caleb Etienne (38.3) also grading out in the 50-snap minimum metric.

Quarterback Kedon Slovis completed 30-of-51 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, as well as two interceptions and three sacks taken. The fifth-year senior graduate transfer said Monday that, ideally, he'd like to see a run-pass combination that goes to the air about "60% of the time."

Yes, the Cougars fell behind at Kansas, including 7-0 early when defensive back Cobee Bryant knocked wide receiver Parker Kingston out of the game with a vicious hit on a scoop-and-score fumble recovery. BYU rallied to take a 3-point lead at halftime, but turnovers doomed the cause en route to an 11-point loss.

Aidan Robbins did not make the trip to Lawrence, Kansas, after the 6-foot-3, 240-pound big back was "dealing with some stuff" back in Provo. Sitake continued to insinuate Monday that the absence was related to an injury, but said that no players have been lost for the season since safety Micah Harper (knee) and running back Hinckley Ropati (knee) were ruled out during fall camp.

BYU coaches don't typically talk about injuries unless they are of the season-ending variety.

Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said Suamataia, who left the game in the second half with an apparent injury but returned by the final drive, was "fine" on his weekly Coordinators Corner appearance on BYUtv. But Utah State transfer guard Lapuaho was among a number of players who remain questionable for Friday's kickoff against Cincinnati (8:15 p.m. MDT, ESPN).

Linebacker Ben Bywater and Kingston also remain questionable, though Kingston's apparent head injury make him more doubtful for the pre-general conference weekend bout. Former Corner Canyon star Harrison Taggart is listed as Bywater's backup at "mack" linebacker on the team's depth chart.

The only significant change on that depth chart was at right tackle, where Keim is listed as an either/or starter with Etienne. The redshirt-junior from Alta High played most of the second half against Arkansas, and also played both tackle spots against the Jayhawks.

Still, Roderick doesn't envision any major offensive overhauls after the first month of the season. It's difficult to make major scheme changes in the middle of the season, he said during his coaches' show.

"I do think we can win games throwing a few more passes than we have the last couple of years," he said. "But we need to shore up that run situation."

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