Brigham Younger Cougars quarterback Jaren Corridor (3) is hit by Oregon Geese defensive finish Brandon Dorlus (3) at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. No foul was referred to as. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
U-G-L-Y.
No. 12 BYU didn’t have an alibi, or any solutions, in its lopsided 41-20 loss to No. 25 Oregon on Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
Listed below are three takeaways from the Cougars’ first lack of the season:
Missed tackles, poor run protection plague BYU
BYU’s missed sort out downside on Saturday turned a operating commentary throughout the Fox broadcast of the sport.
One week after the Cougar protection was lauded for its effort in containing the Baylor speeding assault, BYU struggled at stopping the Oregon offense till the sport was properly in hand.
Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, specifically, brought on the Cougars complications. He accounted for all 5 of the Geese’ touchdowns, finishing 13 of 18 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, and likewise operating for 35 yards and three brief landing runs.
The Geese scored on their first six possessions, together with 5 touchdowns, and ran for 212 yards with a 4.8 per-carry common.
After Oregon went to Nix’s backup for 2 possessions and the Cougars scored a pair of touchdowns to start out the fourth, Nix returned to the sport and once more marched Oregon downfield on an eight-minute drive to seal the win.
The Geese transformed all three of their fourth-down makes an attempt, together with two on a landing drive simply earlier than halftime to increase their result in 24-7, a key drive throughout a stretch when Oregon scored 28 straight factors.
The Cougars’ speeding assault was once more a legal responsibility
BYU was too one-dimensional on offense, because the Cougars rushed for less than 61 yards towards the Geese. BYU averaged simply 2.5 yards per carry.
That every one began with Chris Brooks, the staff’s lead again, who picked up simply 28 yards on 10 carries. Whereas he scored a fourth-quarter landing, Oregon bottled up the BYU speeding assault all through the day and solely gave up one carry longer than 10 yards all recreation.
One play that encapsulated the Cougars’ operating struggles got here within the third quarter after they fell behind 31-7.
Attempting to construct some momentum, BYU went for it on a fourth-and-1 from its personal 36 and put the ball in Brooks’ arms. The Geese caught him for a 1-yard loss on the carry, and Oregon shortly turned the turnover on downs right into a landing.
Whereas Oregon and Baylor symbolize two of the hardest matchups BYU will see this season within the trenches, it’s worrisome for the Cougars with groups corresponding to Notre Dame and Arkansas arising later within the 12 months.
Oregon began quick and BYU failed to complete
The Geese outscored the Cougars 24-0 mixed within the first and third quarters, setting the tone to start out each halves.
It created a state of affairs through which BYU usually seemed prefer it was again on its heels, particularly on protection.
On Oregon’s first drive, the Geese had chunk performs of 26 and 36 yards to assist arrange a 2-yard Nix landing run, and Oregon’s second drive was aided by some premature Cougar penalties — BYU had seven penalties for 64 yards on the day.
Identical to that, it was 10-0, and whereas BYU minimize the deficit to 10-7 with a formidable landing drive, the Geese’ offense got here by way of again and again.
To begin the second half, the Geese marched 75 yards in 9 performs for a landing to go up 31-7. After a BYU turnover on downs in its personal territory on the following drive, Oregon wanted simply 4 performs to go up 38-7 on Terrance Ferguson’s second landing catch.
BYU, in the meantime, struggled ending drives. 4 occasions, the Cougars moved the ball into Oregon territory with out scoring factors — that features three turnovers on downs and a missed area objective.
Whereas Oregon transformed all three of its fourth-down makes an attempt, BYU didn't convert any of its 4 fourth-down makes an attempt. Oregon was clearly the superior staff, and compelled the Cougars to go away some scoring alternatives on the sector.