Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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Bronco Mendenhall previewed his team's nationally-significant, marquee matchup with TCU on last night's "Bronco Mendenhall Show," and here's your weekly show re-cap...
: referencing last year's 32-7 loss at TCU, the coach said in studying the game, there were three to five plays that helped determine the game's outcome, and that TCU "made every play, and we did not." He added that BYU "learned a lot" from that game; how much, "we'll find out" Saturday.
: he said the TCU game is "taxing mentally" for the BYU defense, given the Frogs' variance and diversity in offensive formations and personnel. He says "you can't allow it to slow you down, physically."
: regarding any news bells and whistles either team might introduce on Saturday, Bronco said "the team that varies the least have the best chance." He said he believes the game will come down to "execution versus execution."
: noting that WR Jeremy Kerley ran the ball 9 times for 77 yards out of the "Wild Frog" formation in last year's meeting, Mendenhall said BYU was slow to recognize Kerley in the backfield and that once they became accustomed to the formation, he was less effective running the ball. The coach said "getting a running back to throw the football would be ideal."
: Bronco says ESPN College Gameday's presence is "quite a statement," saying the appearance was "earned" as the "best football game" and "most intriguing matchup" nationally. Mendenhall called the broadcast "a huge step in terms of credibility...our hope is that we play in a manner to keep it and maybe we get (College Gameday) back."
: relative to BYU's preference to defer won coin tosses, Bronco noted that BYU has yet to score when receiving the second half kickoff--a stat he used to validate his decision to start games on defense. He says he "likes the chance of making their offense execute right off the bat."
: Bronco says for the BYU offense, "the key (v. TCU) is balance."
: Seeing that BYU allowed 313 rush yards to Florida State, but only an average of 66 rush yards per game in BYU's six other games, Mendenhall said it was "my mistake for not focusing enough on (technique and fundamentals), and thinking we had to do "scheme" that week."
: about trick plays and gadgets that opponents tend to employ against BYU, Bronco said teams "usually dig deeper in their preparation," given their traditional underdog status. He noted this will be one of the few times BYU is not favored to win.
: the coach said the NFL likes both tight ends Dennis Pitta and Andrew George, "for different reasons." Bronco confirmed that former backup QB Brenden Gaskins is essentially now a tight end, taking part in their meetings, and having been taken out of the green jersey at practice.
: Mendenhall says BYU's weekly offensive and defensive game plans are set by Tuesday afternoon's meetings, and that the coaches "adjust very little" from that point forward. He said most other programs make adjustments through Thursday, but that BYU's plan allows for "more repetition and more efficiency."
: Bronco says it's "not an accident that we win so many (home) games, because of our fans." He says "our fans do a really nice job of annoying the opponent, in a respectful, classy, Christian manner." I must note that Bronco said this with a smile on his face, so don't think he was being self-righteous; he was being funny.
: the coach confirmed that Bryan Kariya, Brandon Bradley, Brett Denney and Shawn Doman all had the HiNi flu lkast week, and that in all, 11 players were affected by the flu, but that all but two (Fono Vakalahi and Jameson Frazier) were back at practice yesterday. Bronco said "we're in better shape than the numbers sound like," and that the flu "is affecting us, but probably not to the level everyone is worried about." He did say "we're not shaking hands" this week.
: Mendenhall said a decision on WR McKay Jacobson's playing status "might go all the way to game time" on Saturday.
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