BYU vast receiver Chase Roberts (27) runs for additional yardage after a catch towards USF on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Robert W. Grover, for the Deseret Information
BYU’s first check of the 2022 season was successful, because the Cougars opened the yr with a dominant 50-21 win over South Florida.
What classes can BYU glean from the lopsided victory?
Right here’s what the Cougars confirmed of their Week 1 win, and the way it might impression them in upcoming weeks.
Cougars rode that operating recreation
What occurred: The Cougars ran for 314 speeding yards towards South Florida, probably the most in a season opener since 2001 — once they had 437 towards Tulane.
BYU was paced by Cal switch Chris Brooks, who ran for 135 yards and a landing in his Cougar debut.
That included a 52-yard rating up the center within the third quarter, in addition to a 40-yard scamper late within the first quarter that arrange a landing move.
It wasn’t simply Brooks who had a pleasant day. Lopini Katoa completed with 10 carries for 55 yards, whereas vast receiver Puka Nacua additionally had three carries for 76 yards — largely on a 75-yard jet sweep for a landing on the sport’s first play.
What it means shifting ahead: Final yr, BYU largely relied on Tyler Allgeier within the speeding recreation, and for good purpose — he completed the 2021 season with a single-season college file 1,601 speeding yards and 23 touchdowns.
Not less than throughout the first recreation post-Allgeier, the Cougars balanced issues out just a little extra among the many high ball carriers.
Brooks had 13 carries and averaged 10.4 yards per tote.
Katoa’s 10 carries included back-to-back 12-yard runs early within the recreation to assist arrange BYU’s second landing. A kind of carries picked up a primary down on a third-and-11 play deep in USF territory.
Whereas Nacua left with an harm, it’s conceivable the jet sweep can be a heavy a part of BYU’s plans this season, whether or not from him or one other receiver.
The Cougars even have an skilled offensive line — one Professional Soccer Focus ranked sixth-best nationally heading into the season — to run behind. BYU’s subsequent opponent, No. 10 Baylor, was ranked No. 4 on PFF’s high offensive line checklist.
BYU confirmed off the depths of its receiving group
What occurred: The Cougars had 12 totally different gamers catch passes towards South Florida.
That occurred regardless of — or maybe as a result of — BYU’s high two vast receivers have been largely absent: Nacua acquired harm late within the first quarter and didn’t play once more, whereas Gunner Romney missed the sport.
That led to the Cougars testing out their younger vast receiver expertise: Kody Epps had 4 catches for 26 yards, Chase Roberts caught three passes for 41 yards and Brayden Cosper added three catches for 27 yards.
Tight ends Dallin Holker (three catches, 39 yards) and Isaac Rex (two catches, 23 yards) additionally added a number of receptions.
What it means going ahead: Quarterback Jaren Corridor accomplished 25 of 32 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns with a red-zone interception, the one large unfavorable on an in any other case stable passing night time for the junior.
His management can be examined once more over the following couple of weeks, as BYU hosts Baylor, then travels to Oregon.
Will Nacua and Romney be again for the Baylor recreation? If not, gamers equivalent to Epps, Roberts and Cosper (plus Keanu Hill, who had one catch) often is the receiver names to observe because the Cougars face one of many hardest stretches of their 2022 season.
Particular groups had a kick protection situation
What occurred: South Florida made issues a bit attention-grabbing within the third quarter, when Jimmy Horn Jr. returned the kickoff to open the second half 89 yards for a landing.
His teammate, Brian Battie, then had a 38-yard return later within the third quarter. A private foul on BYU on the return meant the following drive began on the BYU 43.
That return helped arrange the Bulls’ closing landing of the night time, a 9-yard scoring run from Battie.
What it means going ahead: On an evening when the BYU protection allowed lower than 300 yards of whole offense and the Cougar offense rolled up 575 yards, these two kickoff returns caught out as a uncommon sore spot within the win.
Whereas South Florida’s lead kickoff returner, Battie, had seven returns with a manageable 21.4 per return common, what’s regarding is that on 9 kickoffs, Jake Oldroyd by no means had a touchback.
On Saturday, Baylor had a 72-yard punt return for a landing in its win over Albany.
With the sort of velocity the Bears will deliver into LaVell Edwards Stadium subsequent weekend, the Cougars might want to present larger self-discipline on particular groups.