The BYU Cougars storm the sphere earlier than a recreation in opposition to Arkansas in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Saturday afternoon in Lynchburg, Virginia, BYU gamers will cost onto Williams Stadium to face a pesky Liberty workforce. Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information
Can BYU flip a two-game dropping streak right into a victory in opposition to 6-1 Liberty on the Flames’ residence subject? Can Utah State proceed to win regardless of quarterback accidents with a recreation in Laramie?
These are the questions.
The 4-3 Cougars spent the week doing a little soul-searching about roles, schemes and tradition and evaluating private accountability after dropping to Arkansas in Provo final Saturday.
BYU’s defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki spoke of adjustments made this week in preparation for the street recreation. He didn't elaborate, however a state of affairs spoken about earlier within the week is that head coach Kalani Sitake can be extra concerned within the protection and work with linebackers coach Kevin Clune. Tuiaki would then deal with the line of defense, assistant head coach Ed Lamb would deal with particular groups, and defensive ends/hybrids coach Preston Hadley would coach safeties.
Sitake coached linebackers at Utah for 9 years, along with a stint as defensive coordinator.
I’ve by no means seen this in a soccer recreation
— Choose Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) October 20, 2022
Earlier than the third down snap, BYU rotated out ALL 11 defenders. A whole line change pic.twitter.com/ggxO0KAWJp
Whereas BYU’s offensive gamers walked off the sphere within the loss to Arkansas believing they have been persistently shifting the ball on an Arkansas’ SEC protection with two 75-yard scoring drives within the third quarter, the lack of the Cougars protection to cease groups on third downs stays a problem to be resolved.
In the meantime, the Aggies will begin freshman Bishop Davenport for the primary time in his profession if Cooper Legas (concussion) or Levi Williams (ankle) can not play in Wyoming. This brings up an fascinating quandary for coach Blake Anderson, who is aware of Laramie isn't a pleasant place to determine issues out.
BYU at Liberty
Whereas Hugh Freeze is telling everybody who will pay attention that the BYU recreation is the largest soccer occasion at school historical past this Saturday, BYU coaches are preaching to their gamers that regardless of dropping to Notre Dame and Arkansas, there may be nonetheless a lot to play for and show.
Freeze has completed an impressive job at Liberty, making the Flame a scary opponent. Liberty leads the nation in takeaways and whereas QB points have cropped up with Charlie Brewer’s standing questionable, one factor is for certain — Freeze can coach.
Conversely, Sitake’s defensive employees has come beneath scrutiny for miscues, misalignment and failures in fundamentals like tackling and hole management. If coaches can not repair these points, the Cougars may lose to any workforce on its schedule, besides struggling Utah Tech.
Will Liberty be capable of rating 21+ on BYU?
— BYU Sports activities Nation (@BYUSportsNation) October 20, 2022
Alan York (@LUFlamesVoice) says, "All of it relies on the quarterback."#BYUSN | #BYUFOOTBALLpic.twitter.com/rIgwIpFnUK
In a nutshell, BYU’s protection needs to be productive in getting off the sphere and offensive coordinator Aaron Rodrick should manufacture plenty of factors as insurance coverage for the Cougars to win.
In speaking to Roderick and Tuiaki this week, each put a optimistic spin on preparations this week. Each have been being clearly optimistic, attempting to construct up confidence in gamers earlier than assembly Liberty.
You may see Roderick’s pathway. He has playmaker Puka Nacua again and may have working again Lopini Katoa again to enhance with Chris Brooks within the backfield. He has an elite pass-blocking workforce that denied Arkansas’ prime sack artist Drew Sanders, a switch from Alabama, from getting a hand on QB Jaren Corridor. His offense scored 35 on Arkansas and will have had two extra TDs.
“No. 42 was third within the nation in sacks going into that recreation and he didn’t get wherever close to Jaren,” mentioned Roderick.
“At this level, this is sort of a character intestine test to search out out what we're all about,” he mentioned. “I form of relish this chance, this adversity. I’m going to embrace this chance and exit and get it and that's the mentality we've this week with our offense.”
Tuiaki mentioned he'll search for higher execution out of BYU’s protection.
“You all the time have a look at the plan however can all the time change some issues round,” he mentioned. “We're reevaluating every little thing proper now.”
Liberty coach Freeze on BYU: “That is big-boy soccer for certain. We’ll be actually undersized in plenty of matchups and it’s going to take monumental straining on each play for us to win this within the fourth quarter.”
Utah State vs. Wyoming
Essentially the most fascinating factor about Utah State is that after dropping to Weber State in Maverick Stadium, Anderson has been capable of finding plenty of combat in his squad — proved within the wins over Air Pressure and Colorado State regardless of mounting accidents.
Wyoming presents plenty of issues for USU with measurement and athleticism and the house subject is hard to beat with each altitude and climate; it may snow.
Of the Aggies beneath Anderson comes this fascinating notice: Utah State has received every of its final 5 Mountain West street video games and has received six straight street video games in opposition to MW opponents. Its final MW street loss was at Nevada on Nov. 5, 2020. USU is 8-2 in street video games beneath Anderson and 18-10 (.643) in its final 28 street video games general. UnderAnderson, USU is 9-2 in video games away from residence with each of these losses coming this season in opposition to top-20 opponents.
This week’s picks
Oregon 34, UCLA 31
Oklahoma State 28, Texas 24
Ohio State 37, Minnesota 24
TCU 27, Kansas State 24
Alabama 44, Mississippi State 38
Mississippi 31, LSU 21
Ohio State 42, Iowa 28
Stanford 28, Arizona 24
Oregon State 31, Colorado 24
Washington 24, California 17
Wyoming 24, Utah State 21
Boise State 34, Air Pressure 21
San Diego State 27, Nevada 21
Kansas 24, Baylor 21
West Virginia 27, Texas Tech 24
BYU 31, Liberty 24
Final week: 5-8; 66-32 general (.673)