An overwhelming amount of voters, 89% to be exact, voted “Yes”
Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Kyle Van Noy will have more sacks in the 2012
season than he had in 2011. “No” came in second place with 7% of the votes, and
just 3% voted for Van Noy to have an equal amount of sacks. Just 1% was
undecided.
I will say “Yes” Van Noy will have more than seven sacks
this season.
The seven sacks Van Noy registered in 2011 were the most by
any BYU linebacker since Bronco Mendenhall became defensive coordinator in
2003. Only defensive end Jan Jorgensen has had more sacks than Van Noy during
this same period of time (14 sacks in 2007). Although seven is a lot of sacks
in the BYU scheme, Van Noy has proven he is more than your normal BYU defender.
It also bodes well for him that three times, the leading
linebackers have increased their sack total the following year.
2011: Kyle Van Noy—7
2010: Jordan Pendleton, Kyle Van Noy—2
2009: Coleby Clawson—5
2008: Coleby Clawson—4
2007: David Nixon—4
2006: Cameron Jensen—4
2005: Justin Luettgerodt—4.5
2004: Brady Poppinga—6
2003: Brady Poppinga—5
Opposing offensive coordinators are sure to scheme to stop
Van Noy. He is clearly the most disruptive player on the BYU defense, and the
opposition must account for him. Mendenhall, however, is a terrific defensive
coordinator and has repeatedly designed well-disguised schemes that opponents,
even with weeks and months to prepare, aren’t ready for.
A few other factors in Van Noy’s favor are that he should
play more downs this season than last. Outside linebackers Jordan Pendleton,
Jadon Wagner, and Jameson Frazier are gone. Not only should Van Noy start every
game, but he should play almost every down.
Van Noy will probably be the team’s primary pass rushing
linebacker. Last year, when Pendleton was healthy Van Noy was asked to drop
into pass coverage while Pendleton would rush the passer. Van Noy had a
majority of his sacks (4) in the six games that Pendleton did not play (he also
made all three of his interceptions in the seven games Pendleton did play).
UCF: 1 sack
Idaho: 1 sack
Tulsa: 2 sacks
Thank you to everyone who voted. Don’t forget to vote in
this week’s poll: “Which BYU road game do you most want to attend?”
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