Is Nevada a Must Win?

Hope you are right. Really hope being home makes something just simply change.



Another telling statistic is that our rushing defense is ranked 119 out of 120 (yes, that means only one team is worse than us) and Nevada's rushing offense is ranked 5 in the nation.



i am not as confident as you are that our coaches and being at home will overcome that. Our coaches so far this year have done a mediocre to crummy job and nevada's ability to run and thrwo the ball are going to be hard for the best defense to stop.



Unless our offense puts up at least 40 points I don't see us winning this game. Possible yes, likely no.

I think our big problem with the running D is that guys are focusing so much on being positioned properly, they are forgetting to just go play. they are a step slower as a result. That means teams get to the edge on us because guys are overthinking it instead of just going. I think this is another issue of a young and inexperienced team in key positions on defense. 3 new LBS starters and 1 safety and those are key to run defense. I saw it Saturday with KVN on some plays. He kept looking at the sideline just before the snap and did not seem committed to a play and was unsure.



Our tackling has been really bad the last 2 weeks as well. I think part of it is that we do not hit enough in practice, and our practices tend to last just over an hour. With a young team, I know Bronco is trying to keep guys healthy, but I bet we practice longer and harder now to get more reps and more time on fundamentals. The team needs it for sure. The issues are easy to see, and I think the coaches will adjust. I know many have thought Bronco runs short practices, but many he will change that for this young group.

Lawboy wrote:
I think our big problem with the running D is that guys are focusing so much on being positioned properly, they are forgetting to just go play. they are a step slower as a result. That means teams get to the edge on us because guys are overthinking it instead of just going. I think this is another issue of a young and inexperienced team in key positions on defense. 3 new LBS starters and 1 safety and those are key to run defense. I saw it Saturday with KVN on some plays. He kept looking at the sideline just before the snap and did not seem committed to a play and was unsure.



Our tackling has been really bad the last 2 weeks as well. I think part of it is that we do not hit enough in practice, and our practices tend to last just over an hour. With a young team, I know Bronco is trying to keep guys healthy, but I bet we practice longer and harder now to get more reps and more time on fundamentals. The team needs it for sure. The issues are easy to see, and I think the coaches will adjust. I know many have thought Bronco runs short practices, but many he will change that for this young group.

I think practicing a little more would be helpful. It doubt it will happen, in fact I know it won't. Don't blame him though. He does not feel the extra practice is worth compromising his position that football is fifth on the priority list. That is just who we are.

And that is why BYU will not win a national championship in football anytime soon. So I do not want Bronco to mention it again, either. it is not a priority to his program. If you want to win and be a big boy, you gotta practice like one. We don't, and we don't by choice.

Lawboy wrote:
And that is why BYU will not win a national championship in football anytime soon. So I do not want Bronco to mention it again, either. it is not a priority to his program. If you want to win and be a big boy, you gotta practice like one. We don't, and we don't by choice.

I tend to agree with you on this but understand where he is coming from. I do think it hinders us from reaching the next level.

jonnylingo wrote:

And that is why BYU will not win a national championship in football anytime soon. So I do not want Bronco to mention it again, either. it is not a priority to his program. If you want to win and be a big boy, you gotta practice like one. We don't, and we don't by choice.

I tend to agree with you on this but understand where he is coming from. I do think it hinders us from reaching the next level.

Especially when we have a rookie QB, a newbie offense and wide-eyed defense. Practice makes perfect.



The lack of practice seems counter intuitive to Bronco's philosophy of execution. Guy either needs to get a new mantra or start practicing more.

WIN. It really sums up the inconsistency of that philosophy. Execution requires practice. less practice hurts execution. What to do?

I voted no. I don't think it is, but Utah State is (if we do end up losing against Nevada)

Kapernick is a worry, but we better not ignore Muoa (sp), that guy is a great running back. It's interesting that our first four games (five actually) all have mobile, running QBs, and we've always struggled with those kinds of QBs (most teams do too). So Hill better scheme the defensive scheme of his life for Nevada, because they are a running team, they run, and run, and run. They only pass once in awhile to keep the defense honest. But 400 plus rushing yards per game is significant.



It's really difficult to compare teams until you actually play them. But I watched the Nevada vs Cal game, and Nevada just beat Cal in every phase of the game, they controlled the line of scrimmage, they had a better run game, a better pass game, and they were better defensively.



I remember watching Kapernick as a sophomore, he had some big games, but he was kind of lost about half the time, but not this year, he knows what he's doing, and the guy is a 6'6" stud who can run.

I'm with Kahuku on this one. This will be the game that Bronco plugs into and fixes some things. I trust him to do so for BYU's return home. These Cougars must defend their home field, and I think we'll see them catching zingers and making wrap-up tackles. I believe that Bronco will be creative in motivating and preparing the team without threatening the autonomy of his assistants.



Also, I'm willing to entertain the possibility that Cal is just not that good of a team right now, and that UNR still must prove that it has the cajones to compete like that on the road at LES. Is there an arena as intimidating as ours anywhere in the WAC? The mere circumstance of being home again will transform our team.



OK, OK, I was wrong with the FSU prediction, but only with how the second half went. Don't be too surprised to see our Cougs put two good halves together this time. My main worry is regarding the game status for Matt Reynolds. I do consider this game a must win for early confidence and external respect, but do not believe that a loss will sink the season's ship, or set the stage for intimidation from USU.



Go Cougars!



GO COUGARS!



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jonnylingo wrote:
Hope you are right. Really hope being home makes something just simply change.



Another telling statistic is that our rushing defense is ranked 119 out of 120 (yes, that means only one team is worse than us) and Nevada's rushing offense is ranked 5 in the nation.



i am not as confident as you are that our coaches and being at home will overcome that. Our coaches so far this year have done a mediocre to crummy job and nevada's ability to run and thrwo the ball are going to be hard for the best defense to stop.



Unless our offense puts up at least 40 points I don't see us winning this game. Possible yes, likely no.

I think these stats are a little skewed as AFA is always in the top few in the nation and they get their rushing yards even against our good defenses.



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