For Brigham Young University, this season in football was beginning to live up to every Cougar fan’s wildest dreams. The words “Cinderella Story” were whispered in hushed tones around the country. Coach Bronco Mendenhall had at his disposal a quarterback who was putting up such impressive numbers, that it was not uncommon to hear the word Heisman in concert with the name Taysom Hill. Hill seemed to seamlessly lead the Cougar offense to 4-0 through impressive contests including two against Texas teams, making a 12-0 record seem feasible for the Cougars.
However, it looks like Cinderella won’t be making it to the ball this year.
Hill suffered a season-ending leg fracture as the Cougars faced long-standing rivals the Utah State Aggies on October 3rd. Without Hill on the field, the offense crumbled despite backup quarterback Christian Stewart’s attempts to rally the team.
Offensive coordinator Robert Anae recognized how much Hill’s presence on the field affected team chemistry.
“When Taysom got hurt, our team changed on the spot. Our dynamic changed and we became a different group and a new group. We are in the process of finding ourselves,” Anae said.
Anae summed up what seems to be an understatement regarding the Cougar’s season, as one by one offensive and defensive players alike have succumbed to injuries.
The Cougars are learning to stand on their own two feet without Taysom, which is proving to be no easy task. Looking forward to the rest of the season, there are a few things BYU can do offensively to get out of their three-loss rut. However, the road ahead will no longer be as seamless as the beginning of the season indicated.
Taking a quick peak at the Cougars’ most recent matchup against the Nevada Wolfpack should give a clear indication of what needs to happen out on the practice field in Provo. The Cougars had totaled 601 yards, delivering 30 first downs culminating in only 35 points against Nevada. The culprit? Turnovers. Most defensive programs focus on forcing turnovers, and while some of the grabs made against BYU have been pure luck, many have been for lack of Cougar ball security.
Heading into their meeting with Boise State on Friday, the Cougars really need to take advantage of developing the talents they already have. Calling on Stewart to attack the defense with his arm won’t work for this team, just check the stats of the OT loss against UCF. Anae needs to trust in his players and not force all passing plays, even in a bind.
Successful scoring drives by the Cougars will require a tight and fast passing game, and is also dependent on sufficient use of its roster of powerhouse runners. Coaches mentioned being uneasy about junior running back Nate Carter going into the game against Nevada. He ended up with seven carries, picking up 87 yards, which averages out to 12.4 average yards per carry. The talent is there, Mendenhall, Anae and the rest of the staff just need to utilize it.
So, offensively, the Cougars need to enhance ball security, utilize and develop the talent they have and put more trust in their roster. Defensive strategies are another story entirely, but working on these things will help the Cougars heal and make the most of their time out on the field.
*Photo credits to Chris Nicoll, USA Today Sports
