Here we are, five games into the season, and, as usual, we have
no idea how good this Brigham Young Cougars football team actually is. This is becoming customary
at BYU. One game they look so good, while in another game they look awful. Every
season proves to be a roller coaster ride, with the fans feeling every twist
and turn, every rise and every fall.
As a BYU football fan over the years, I’ve been a part of that ride. One thing I’ve noticed is the untempered zeal of many other fans. After losing two admittedly ugly football games to quality opponents by a combine of only four points, many fans act like all is lost. The frustration and disappointment of those games taint their whole outlook on the rest of the season. They are eager to see some heads roll on the coaching staff and want the starting quarterback benched. On the other hand, after a huge victory against a sub-par opponent, many start to think that BYU is a lot better than they really are, which is often what sets them up for the disappointment when BYU struggles against higher quality foes.
In the wake of all the ebbs and flows of a football season, I’ve learned to be what I call “cautiously optimistic.” I have a reserved and tempered excitement for the season, and I learn to keep my expectations realistic. When BYU has a big win, I feel my cautious side kick in to keep the excitement in check. I lean more on my optimism after an ugly game to help me see some of the positives and keep perspective.
Still, Hill’s play in the Hawaii game was a good sign. He clearly has talent, and I’m sure he learned a lot in his first start. The passing game needs some work, but that will come with time. I am comfortable with starting Hill while Nelson is out, but I was glad to hear that Bronco is still committed to Nelson as long as he is healthy. Judging by the current ratio of votes in the weekly poll, I’m in the minority. We have heard this story before – Jake Heaps, anyone? – and it seems Bronco has learned his lesson. Hill has a lot of upside, but right now I’ll take Nelson’s grit and experience so long as he is healthy.
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As a BYU football fan over the years, I’ve been a part of that ride. One thing I’ve noticed is the untempered zeal of many other fans. After losing two admittedly ugly football games to quality opponents by a combine of only four points, many fans act like all is lost. The frustration and disappointment of those games taint their whole outlook on the rest of the season. They are eager to see some heads roll on the coaching staff and want the starting quarterback benched. On the other hand, after a huge victory against a sub-par opponent, many start to think that BYU is a lot better than they really are, which is often what sets them up for the disappointment when BYU struggles against higher quality foes.
In the wake of all the ebbs and flows of a football season, I’ve learned to be what I call “cautiously optimistic.” I have a reserved and tempered excitement for the season, and I learn to keep my expectations realistic. When BYU has a big win, I feel my cautious side kick in to keep the excitement in check. I lean more on my optimism after an ugly game to help me see some of the positives and keep perspective.
With BYU in the middle of coming off a big win against an easy opponent and getting ready for their second big rivalry game of the year against a formidable Utah State
team, now seems like a
good time for a healthy dose of cautious optimism.
Not Quite Taysom Time
Blue Cougar Football has noted that Hill’s career path has
coincided with some of the greats, and there is no doubt that Hill has a huge upside.
I look forward to the upcoming years, and hope to see him live up to his
potential. I’m also glad to see him do well while filling-in for injured starter
Riley Nelson, but it is not quite Taysom time.
Hill looked good against a very weak Hawaii defense, and his brilliant running (15 carries for 143 yards, including a 68 yard jaunt into the end zone) masked the not so impressive, albeit effective, passing attack. Hill relied on mostly short passes, and the receivers did a nice job getting yards after the catch, but again this was a defense that has been, to put it bluntly, awful. You even have to wonder how good of a running quarterback Hill is, since other teams have similarly run all over the Hawaii defense.
Hill looked good against a very weak Hawaii defense, and his brilliant running (15 carries for 143 yards, including a 68 yard jaunt into the end zone) masked the not so impressive, albeit effective, passing attack. Hill relied on mostly short passes, and the receivers did a nice job getting yards after the catch, but again this was a defense that has been, to put it bluntly, awful. You even have to wonder how good of a running quarterback Hill is, since other teams have similarly run all over the Hawaii defense.
Still, Hill’s play in the Hawaii game was a good sign. He clearly has talent, and I’m sure he learned a lot in his first start. The passing game needs some work, but that will come with time. I am comfortable with starting Hill while Nelson is out, but I was glad to hear that Bronco is still committed to Nelson as long as he is healthy. Judging by the current ratio of votes in the weekly poll, I’m in the minority. We have heard this story before – Jake Heaps, anyone? – and it seems Bronco has learned his lesson. Hill has a lot of upside, but right now I’ll take Nelson’s grit and experience so long as he is healthy.
Return of the Running
Backs? Maybe
While we are at it, let’s not get too googly-eyed over the 394
rushing yards. Hawaii has the 109th rushing defense nationally, and besides
the 394 they gave up to BYU they gave up 355 to Nevada. Don’t forget that
an already toothless defensive line lost two of its starters early in the game
due to injury. You can bet that Utah State – whose rushing defense in the top
25 nationally (24) – will put up more of a fight. I’m concerned that, going
into the Utah State game, our top two rushers are freshmen who are filling in
for starters. Youth and inexperience is always tough to prepare going into a
game that is bound to be emotional and heated.
Don’t get me wrong, along with Taysom Hill, Jamaal Williams
gives us a lot to be excited about, and should probably be the starter anyway, as
has been argued here at Blue Cougar Football (though, no ill-will is meant
toward the now injured Michael Alisa). Williams has the skills and the speed to
be an impact player, and Paul Lasike also looks promising, but we need to realize
that they are probably going to face a lot more resistance from opposing defenses
the rest of the season.
What About the
Offensive Line?
I actually think the O-line looked much improved. But we
must remember just how weak that defensive line for Hawaii is – and they were
down two starters. Still, the O-line looked better against Hawaii than they did
against FCS foe Weber State, so I think things are moving in the right
direction there. But they may yet struggle against some of the better opponents
coming up on the schedule.
Conclusion
I want to be clear: the Hawaii game gave BYU fans a lot to
be excited about. Improved offensive line play, two exciting and dynamic
freshmen making big plays, and overall strong play from the offense for the
first time this season are all good things. Hawaii was the right kind of
team to be playing when you have to make adjustments to the offensive line and
break in a freshman quarterback. However, let’s keep our feet on the ground and
realize that there is still a lot for this team to improve on and some more
difficult games coming up this season.
I admit that I could be completely and utterly wrong – maybe
it is Taysom time, and he and the running backs are just going to tear up Utah
State and everyone else this season. That is what is so great about being
cautiously optimistic – not only does it help avoid the letdown of unfulfilled
expectations, but you can be pleasantly surprised sometimes.
I still believe BYU is a quality team that can compete with
and even beat anyone their schedule, but there is still a lot of work to be
done, especially on the offensive side of the ball. You can bet that there
will be more ugly games this season. Hopefully, as the team improves, BYU
can be the kind of team that finds the way and the will to win ugly.
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