UNR vs BYU game thread (positivity only)

[Gunk]

If you go back to UCONN, BYU has really only had one good quarter per game, maybe two in their best games. Consistency and adapting to the other team's changes have been an issue since game one. Early on we had the depth/talent to get by with one or two good quarters. We no longer have that talent/depth advantage after this injury bug.

The coaches are robots. You hit parameters and you're done. The players have this thinking embedded in their systems as well. Bend but don't break is an excellent microcosm of the apathy of this coaching staff as a whole. Bronco doesn't like changing systems and he doesn't like risk. The man is a great mission president but a very very average head coach.

The killer instinct, kick 'em while they're down attitude does seem to be lacking.

I got the sense against Nevada we took our foot off the gas a bit - "We did our job. Hit our goals. Time to contain." Course turnovers are turnovers.

The number goals work to an extent. If Bronco actually had a defense that could hold teams like USU, UCF and Nevada to under 24 points then the goals would be just fine. As it stands, his team can't hold a middle of the pack MWC team to under 24 points.

[Cougarbib]

BYU offense did not take their foot off the pedal at all. The defense and special teams never had their foot on the pedal to start with. The offense covered the shortcomings of the rest of the team in the first half, and even reasonably well in the 3rd quarter. The 3 fumbles came at the very end of the 3rd quarter and in the 4th quarter.

I laugh every time this comes up regarding the Nevada game. The offense was given a long field on every single possession and came out throwing. They took more shots deep in the 2nd half than they did in the first. Not conservative at all. Bronco has long had a defensive strategy built around putting the opposing team at field position disadvantage. Most coaches do that, because when you have to drive 75-97 yards every time, penalties, turnovers, sacks, dropped passes, rtc., are going to stop that drive most of the time even if great defensive play does not.

That is exactly what our defense and special teams allowed Nevada to do to our offense and eventually, when momentum changed and desperation set in, our offense crumbled, too, not due to bring conservative. But due to turnovers as Nevada focused on stripping the ball on nearly every tackle.

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[Gunk]

BYU offense did not take their foot off the pedal at all. The defense and special teams never had their foot on the pedal to start with. The offense covered the shortcomings of the rest of the team in the first half, and even reasonably well in the 3rd quarter. The 3 fumbles came at the very end of the 3rd quarter and in the 4th quarter.

I laugh every time this comes up regarding the Nevada game. The offense was given a long field on every single possession and came out throwing. They took more shots deep in the 2nd half than they did in the first. Not conservative at all. Bronco has long had a defensive strategy built around putting the opposing team at field position disadvantage. Most coaches do that, because when you have to drive 75-97 yards every time, penalties, turnovers, sacks, dropped passes, rtc., are going to stop that drive most of the time even if great defensive play does not.

That is exactly what our defense and special teams allowed Nevada to do to our offense and eventually, when momentum changed and desperation set in, our offense crumbled, too, not due to bring conservative. But due to turnovers as Nevada focused on stripping the ball on nearly every tackle.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

The Nevada loss is squarely on the defense. As is the UCF loss. Offense met their goals and as you say covered for the defense's short comings. Defense has only held two teams under 24 points this season - UCONN and Texas. Defense held 10 teams to under 24 points last season.

That said, BYU scored at will against Nevada in the first half, particularly the 2nd quarter. They followed up 28 points in the first half with 7 points in the second half. Turnovers cost some drives, but it is the offense's job to hold onto the ball just as it's the defense's job to get the ball. So, did the offense come out and continue what they did in the first half? Nope.