TEAM PROFILE: BYU Cougars

BYU Cougars 10-2


Key Players:

RB- Harvey Unga: good lower body strength, quick and athletic for size, doesn’t fumble
6-0, 221 FR (Ut)- 2nd MWest 07’, Frosh of Year MWest 07’

QB- Max Hall: nephew of Danny White, Arz St transfer, good arm, pocket mobility
6-1, 200 SO (Arz)- 1st MWest 07’

TE- Dennis Pitta: good athlete, good hands, fast, hard to match up against
6-5, 230 SO (Ca)- 1st MWest 07’

LG- Ray Feinga: anchor of o-line, 2nd year starter, powerful blocker
6-5, 322 JR (Ut)- 1st MWest 07’

LT- Dallas Reynolds: been key pass protector since he was a frosh, uses length well
6-5, 328 JR (Ut)- 1st MWest 07’

OLB- Bryan Kehl: smart, instinctive, great size and speed combo
6-3, 231 SR (Ut)- 1st MWest 07’

DE- Jan Jorgensen: solid tackler, doesn’t over-pursue, can get after QB as well
6-3, 260 SO (Ut)- 1st MWest 07’

WR- Austin Collie: big game or bust type, college version of Kevin Curtis, solid KR
6-2, 212 SO (Ca)- 2nd MWest 07’ (WR), HM MWest 07’ (KR)
HM MWest 04’, Frosh of Year MWest 04’

MLB- Kelly Poppinga: strong, powerful hitter, fills gaps, brothers both in NFL
6-2, 240 SR (Wy)- 2nd MWest 07’

Watch Out For:
FB- Manase Tonga: nose for the end zone and they use him accordingly, 8tds in 85car
6-0, 234 JR (Ca)


Team Info:

Passing Off: 304.0 yrds/g, 13th in NCAA
-Spread the ball aroung every effectively
-solid pass protection

Rushing Off: 156.1 yrds/g, 57th in NCAA
-mostly to left side
-set up by efficient pass game more than they set up the pass game
-Unga is an absolute beast, will play in NFL in 3 years, great skill set
-only 3 fumbles lost on season
KEY TO GAME

Passing Def: 215.1 yrds/g, 40th in NCAA
-lack true cover corners, both are seniors
-ends must get up-field quickly to get pressure off corners
-Gooch is a big loss, ties for team lead in picks with 3
BIGGEST WEAKNESS

Rushing Def: 93.9 yrds/g, 9th in NCAA
-excellent for a 3-4 def
-key is outstanding LB play
-no 100 yard RBs (Bell and Markey had about 70 each for UCLA)
BIGGEST STRENGTH

Special Teams:
Kicking- C+ (only 42 long but 9-13 for season)
Punting- B-
Return Game- B+

Key Stats:
3rd Down Conv- 83/181 (46%) vs. 64/180 (36%)
Turnovers- 24 vs. 18 (+6)
Penalties- 89 for 763yrds (63.6per) vs. 65 for 535yrds (44.6per)
TOP- 33:09 vs. 26:51

Head Coach: Bronco Mendenhall- 27-10, 21-3 in MWest, 1-1 bowls (both LVgs Bowls)
-spread offense with aggressive defense
-16-0 last 2 years in MWest
-was rumored to take UCLA job after season
-will be coach at BYU for a long, long time
-embraces the university and its values

*team is very talented and well coached
*Unga is the X-Factor
*lots of young players, can they produce in their 13th game of the year?
*will youngsters momentum drop after almost a month off?