Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs BYU Cougars
BYU Offense
The Cougars rolled with Tanner Mangum last season as their signal caller and he led them to nine wins including a five game winning streak in the middle of the season. They were handled easily by the Michigan Wolverines in a game where they just couldn’t get the offense going and lost by four to the Missouri Tigers late in the year.
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Their last loss of the season came against the Utah Utes in a “Holy War” Bowl game where the Utah defense proved to be much too stout. That loss helped prompt some changes on the offensive staff.
The Cougars have welcomed in new offensive coordinator Ty Detmer who formerly won a Heisman for BYU as a player. He brings in more of a prostyle, multiple formation offense that has a heavy emphasis on the run game.
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That emphasis comes as the Cougars look to improve on their run game which ranked 106th in the country last year with 128 yards per game. When they did run the ball it was for 4.0 yards a clip.
It has been clear through the first two games that BYU wants to lean on the running game and their large offensive line and moved last year’s leading rusher Algernon Brown to fullback in order to pave the way for electric runner Jamaal Williams.
Veteran quarterback, in every sense of the word, Hill returns to the team after suffering a season ending injury last year. In years past he has proven to be one of if not the best player on the roster with his athleticism but doesn’t quite fit the scheme. Detmer would rather have a passer that he can rely on and that’s Hill’s biggest weakness.
At receiver the Cougars are largely unproven and will need to develop some players very quickly if they are hoping to have a balanced attack. What they do have is a transfer receiver that can fly down the field in Jonah Trinnaman who has eight catches on the season and dependable Mitchell Juergens.
How does this stack up against UCLA?
The Bruins should be able to contain this type of offense if they can shore up their run defense and that’s a big if. UCLA should be daring BYU to throw the ball and stack the box against them to ensure they have the numbers should the Cougars decide to run.
Did you know: BYU receiver Mitchell Juergens has been with the program since 2010.
Next: BYU Defense