The 2012 season has reached the midway point for the Brigham Young
Cougars. There have been many great moments and some not so good moments in
these first six games. As part of BLUE COUGAR FOOTBALL’s mid-season evaluation,
here is a look at the front runners for the awards that will be given at the
end of the season.
Each award has three nominees (except Team
MVP). The first five awards are for an individual player. To keep things
interesting, once a player won one of these awards he was removed from consideration
for the others.
For additional commentary why a certain nominee was or was not awarded a certain honor, listen to the clip below.
Team MVP
Nominees
Kyle Van Noy: 24
tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 5 pass break ups, 7 quarterback
hurries, 3 forced fumbles
Cody Hoffman: 31
receptions, 432 yards, 2 TD
Brandon Ogletree: 49
tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 4 pass break ups, 1 quarterback hurry
Winner: Kyle Van Noy
The defense is the strength
of the team, and Van Noy is the cornerstone of that defense. He leads the team
in tackles for loss, sacks, quarterback hurries, and forced fumbles. With the
attention garnered by Van Noy, it has allowed Ezekiel Ansah and Spencer Hadley
to fly under the radar and make several big plays. Van Noy has developed a
trademark play: blindside hits on the quarterback that result in fumbles. He
has done it three times this season.
Offensive Player of
the Year
Nominees
Cody Hoffman: 31
receptions, 432 yards, 2 TD
Taysom Hill: 42-71,
59.2%, 425 yards, 4 TD, 2 Int; 55 rush, 336 yards, 4 TD
Riley Nelson: 64-109,
58.7%, 754 yards, 5 TD, 5 Int; 36 rush, 84 yards
Winner: Cody Hoffman
Hoffman has continued to be a man
among boys. His first eight receptions of the season were good for first downs
or touchdowns. When BYU needs a big play, Hoffman is the go to guy. He has been
one of the few bright spots for BYU on offense. He already has three 100-yard
receiving games.
Defensive Player of
the Year
Nominees
Brandon Ogletree: 49
tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 4 pass break ups, 1 quarterback hurry
Ezekiel Ansah: 27
tackles, 8.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 pass break ups, 3 quarterback hurries,
Spencer Hadley: 32
tackles, 7 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 pass break up, 1 QB hurry, 1 fumble recovery, 1
forced fumble
Winner: Brandon
Ogletree
Ogletree leads the
team in tackles. He is the captain of the defense. He may be the most
consistent player on defense for BYU. Week in and week out, Ogletree makes
tackle after tackle. He has improved his game this year. He gets into the back
field faster and has become involved in the pass game. He had just four tackles
for loss in all of 2011, and zero pass break ups. He is on pace for many more
tackles than the team-high 76 he made last year.
Newcomer of the Year
Nominees
Paul Lasike: 14
carries, 47 yards, 2 TD; 1 reception 25 yards
Jamaal Williams: 50
carries, 309 yards, 3 TD; 6 receptions, 54 yards
Taysom Hill: 42-71,
59.2%, 425 yards, 4 TD, 2 Int; 55 rush, 336 yards, 4 TD
Winner: Taysom Hill
Hill has done what no
other freshman quarterback has ever done at BYU: start two games and win them
both. His potential is off the charts. Against a tough Utah State defense, he
led the team to 380 yards. Hill looked like a veteran as he drove BYU 61-yards
in 25 seconds to score a touchdown, that would win the game, just before
halftime. Hill leads the team in rushing, and he has the longest run from
scrimmage. His very first play was a touchdown pass. He entered the Boise State
game in a very difficult situation, and nearly led BYU to victory.
Most Improved Player
Nominees
Kaneakua Friel: 20
receptions, 248 yards, 4 TD
Ezekiel Ansah: 27
tackles, 8.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 pass break ups, 3 quarterback hurries,
Spencer Hadley: 32
tackles, 7 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 pass break up, 1 QB hurry, 1 fumble recovery, 1
forced fumble
Winner: Ezekiel Ansah
Ansah the Monstah has
gone from special teams contributor to terrorizing offenses on nearly every
play. He saw little time in the first four games of the season, but with Eathyn
Manumaleuna going down with a season ending injury, Ansah started playing full
time. He is now the second most feared player on the defense. Not bad for a guy
who didn’t even know how to put on pads two years ago.
Play of the Year
Nominees
1. Taysom Hill to K. Friel
18 yard TD pass on Hill's first play of his career vs. Washington State
2. Fourth Down stop at
the 1-yard line against Boise State
3. Taysom Hill 68 yards
TD run vs. Hawaii
Winner: Taysom Hill
18-yard touchdown pass to Kaneakua Friel vs. Washington State
The Hill to Friel
touchdown pass gave BYU a 14-0 lead against Washington State. It was a 4th
down. Hill called an audible. He had tucked the ball away ready to run, but at
the last moment spotted Friel wide open. Oh, and it was Hill’s first career
play. It spoke volumes about what the future might bring, as well as the
outcome of the season opener.
Best Offensive Series
Nominees
1. 4 play, 46 yard drive
for touchdown against Washington State, ended in 25 yard pass to Kaneakua
2. 11 play, 95 yard drive
for touchdown against Boise State, ended with 4-yard Taysom Hill run.
3. 4 play, 61 yard drive
for touchdown against Utah State, ended with 3-yard pass to JD Falslev.
Friel
Winner: 4 plays, 61
yards, 25 seconds, game winning 3-yard touchdown pass to JD Falslev versus Utah
State.
It was like BYU
flipped a switch. The offense had moved the ball in the first half against Utah
State, but not at this speed. Trailing 3-0, and with just 28 seconds before
halftime, it seemed logical that BYU would run the clock out. Hill completed
three passes to Hoffman. How he was able to get open all three plays is still a
mystery. Utah State should have had him double covered every play. Hill’s poise
was that of a veteran, not a freshman making his second start. In the end, this
was the game winning drive in the 6-3 game.
Best Defensive Series
Nominees
1. Washington State: 3
plays, -1 yard, started at BYU 35-yard line. Ended with Jordan Johnson
intercepting a pass and returning it 64 yards.
2. Utah: 5 plays, 3
yards, started at the Utah 11-yard line. Ended with BYU tackling the Utah
punter for a six-yard loss at the Utah 11.
3. Boise State: 4 plays,
0 yards, started at BYU 1-yard line.
Winner: 4 plays, 0
yards, turnover on downs at the BYU 1-yard line versus Boise State.
What can a defense do
that is more impressive than keeping a team out of the end zone when they have
four tries from the one-yard line? After the BYU offense turned the ball over
at the one, the defense drove Boise State backwards the first two plays, one
yard each time. After Boise State moved the ball back to the one on third down,
Kyle Van Noy made the final stop on fourth down. This was on the road, and at a
moment when the game was starting to get away from BYU. This stop was the start
of BYU’s comeback that fell inches short.
Biggest Surprise
Nominees
1. BYU defense is utterly
dominating
2. BYU quarterbacks have
5 rushing touchdowns, BYU running backs have 6
3. Top 2 rushers are
freshmen, and the no. 1 rusher is a quarterback.
Winner: BYU defense is
utterly dominating
There was little
question that the BYU defense would be good. With the number of players
returning who played well in 2011, it was impossible that this defense wouldn’t
give opponents problems. What the defense has done, however, is getting ridiculous.
Four opponents haven’t seen the end zone. Two opponents have not scored an
offensive touchdown. None of the opponents have gained 300 yards of total
offense. Only two opponents have had 100 yards rushing, one had negative
rushing yards. Only two opponents have had 200 yards rushing. BYU is the best
in the nation at stopping the run, and very highly ranked in many other
statistical categories. The defense has made 20 sacks. BYU hasn’t had more than
25 sacks in a season since 2007.
Biggest Disappointment
Nominees
1. Quarterback situation
2. Kicking conundrum
3. Turnovers are still
killing BYU in big games
Winner: Quarterback Situation
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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