Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
The numbers show Bronco Mendenhall's BYU teams are generally better on offense in game two, as compared to their season-openers.
*******
Here are BYU's game one/game two point totals in the Mendenhall era:
2005: 3 v. Boston College/45 v. Eastern Illinois (FCS)
2006: 13 at Arizona/49 v. Tulsa
2007: 20 v. Arizona/17 at UCLA
2008: 41 v. Northern Iowa (FCS)/28 at Washington
2009: 14 v. Oklahoma/54 at Tulane
2010: 23 v. Washington/14 at Air Force
2011: 14 at Ole Miss/?? At Texas
BYU's game-to-game goal is to score 24 points or more, a mark that has been achieved only once in seven openers, and never against an FBS opponent. BYU has scored 24 or more four times in six previous second games.
*******
Having watched Texas v. Rice on both sides of the ball, a few things stick out:
Rice was no threat through the air. The Owls aerial game produced a scant 94 yards on 15/30 passing (that's a brutal 3.1 yards/attempt). Many passes were mere hopes lofted up instead of balls actually directed at intended receivers. Texas' defensive backs may be very good, but last week doesn't tell us much.
Texas will dare you to run inside, unless you're threatening to win the game that way. The ‘Horns love going with only two hands-on-the-ground defensive linemen, with ends upright and wide splits on the line. The starting linebackers are excellent, but literally every back-up backer is a freshman.
Although he averaged 18.4 yards per reception last week, QB Garrett Gilbert is very inconsistent (13/23 v. Rice). He has a mechanical, downward trajectory on short passes, but will drop back and air it out for guys like Mike Davis, and now Marquise Goodwin, who has returned from a track and field sabbatical. If BYU can bottle up the powerful Texas run game, Gilbert will be forced to make plays the coaches may not feel he is able to make.
The Longhorns are loaded in the backfield. Senior Fozzy Whittaker is the de factor leader of the backs, but true freshman Malcolm Brown will earn a ton of playing time as the season progresses. Doing most of his damage with the game in hand last week, Brown averaged 5.4 yards per carry on 16 rushes.
Co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin's Boise State playbook is reflected in the Longhorns' multiplicity of formations, most of which rely on quick-hitting play-starters, whether on screens, or fly sweeps. Tight end/H-back is not featured in the offense. Backs will line up in slots for sweeps, while freshman Jaxon Shipley was the only wideout to carry the ball last week (three times for 25 yards).
*******
Notes from game prep:
BYU was a good third down team last week (6/13, 46%). On 3rd and 5 or shorter, the Cougars were almost perfect, going 5/6.
In each of BYU's last 13 wins, the Cougars opponents have scored fewer than 24 points.
Under Bronco, BYU is now 42-6 when holding the edge in average starting field position.
In the last six games, BYU has outscored the opposition 130-13 in the first half.
Since Bronco took over as defensive coordinator, BYU has allowed six first quarter points (over nine games).
Since Bronco took over as defensive coordinator, BYU is allowing only 5.2 points/first half.
*******
