HB Arnett’s
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West 800 South –
Vol. 34,
Issue 22 – December 30, 2013
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Adjustments Needed by Coaches,
Players and Especially Fans
BYU lost to
BYU was out talented by the Huskies. It was obvious to me that the most
athletic and gifted player on the field was Taysom Hill. Hill accounted for 426
of BYU’s 473 total offensive yards. He had 293 yards passing and 133
yards rushing.
Unfortunately, when it came to athleticism and talent, his skills were
negated by the sheer number of other athletes UW had in comparison to the
paucity of offensive talent put on the field by BYU.
Except for the aberration of
Here’s the bottom line adjustment that needs to be made by Cougar
football fans. BYU fans need to accept that the Cougars have Mountain West
talent on the line of scrimmage that can’t hold up against BCS Big 5
talent. It’s that simple.
It is also obvious that BYU coaches, including Bronco, aren’t the
most gifted when it comes to game management, play calling and in game
adjustments. But even if they were the reincarnation of Nick Saban et al, you
can’t make adjustments if you don’t have enough talented players
with which to make those adjustments.
Here is a segment of the Fight Hunger Bowl post game press conference
that featured Hill and Bronco which gives credence to that assessment.
Question: Taysom, what was
Hill’s Answer: “What
they started doing in the second half was bringing their safeties down. They
were playing ten yards deep and stacking the box. What really started clicking
for us in the second quarter was a play fake, slant pass over the middle but we
still had room with the safeties back to complete that and really sustained a
lot of drives through that. Then they adjusted and took that away and
unfortunately we weren’t able to adjust and capitalize on a lot of
opportunities that we had in the second half.”
Bronco then jumps in and
interjects the following: “The way to adjust and beat that is for
protection to hold long enough for receivers to run by them and ultimately the
offensive front has to keep the players off of Taysom long enough to run by
guys that are playing safety at 8 yards. It’s pretty simple.”
I’ve made my feelings known in previous issues about how I feel
this BYU offense is flawed and geared for failure. Foremost, there isn’t
enough talent on the offensive front and secondly, you can’t let your
best player and key cog in this offense be exposed to the pounding that Taysom
Hill is taking. Not only are defenders gearing to beat him up by bringing
safeties down in the box. BYU coaches are just asking for Hill to be beat up
and injured by letting him carry the ball 30 times a game.
An offense that is dependent on just one guy, like BYU’s offense
currently is, is eventually doomed to failure because of injury. This is
especially so with the current situation at offensive line. Knock on wood, Hill
is still healthy, but in my opinion, he can’t take the kind of beating he
currently takes for two more seasons.
Those beatings are inevitable if the offensive line doesn’t make
dramatic improvement beginning next season.
All of which brings to the forefront the question, How did BYU’s
offensive line get to be so ordinary and mediocre? There is only one real
answer. Recruiting, recruiting and lack of recruiting. All of which breaks down
to evaluation, misevaluation, salesmanship or lack of salesmanship. Before
recruiting, however, comes targeting and marketing. BYU’s hands are tied
because they automatically have their pool of potential lineman limited based
on who wants to come to BYU and participate in its unique lifestyle and whether
those who want to come to Provo to play can actually get in school. For BYU
offensive lineman, it is about talent or lack of it, but also lifestyle
choices. Coming to BYU is a big lifestyle choice.
I am not opposed to the BYU lifestyle, consequently I have adjusted my
expectations under Bronco Mendenhall when it comes to Cougar football
recruiting, especially on the line of scrimmage.
Since Bronco took over 9 years here are the offensive linemen he has
recruited during that time period.
Feel free to pick out the guys that jump out and scream, “Stud,
Big Time and Difference Maker.” Even more importantly, feel free to pick
out the guys playing significant minutes in the NFL or likely to ever be
playing in the NFL. The only guy I see from 9 years of Mendenhall recruiting
playing in the NFL is Tayo Fabulujue, the TCU retread, who will be starting
next season for the Cougars. All weights are those coming out of high school or
jucos.
2005…Sete
Aulai, 6-3, 290, El
2006…Ryan
Freeman, 6-4, 275,
2007…Famika
Anae, 6-5, 260, Timpview HS, UT; Levi Mack, 6-5, 315,
2008…Michael
Yeck, 6-7, 260, Keller HS, TX; Jesse Taufui, 6-5, 320, Long Beach JC; Brock
Stringham, 6-6, 280, Mt Vista HS, CO; Solomone Kafu, 6-2, 315,
2009…Terrance
Alletto, 6-3, 290, Ponderosa HS, CO; Tui Crichton, 6-4, 300, Timpview HS, UT;
Ryan Mulitalo, 6-4, 290, Hunter HS, UT; Fono Vakalahi, 6-4, 320,
2010…Jordan
Black, 6-7, 250, Jordan HS, UT; Manu Mulitalo, 6-3, 300, Granger HS, UT; Tayo
Fabulujue, 6-6, 300, Oak Ridge HS, TX and TCU transfer; Blair Tushaus, 6-2,
260, Notre Dame Prep, AZ.
2011…Ului
Lapuaho, 6-7, 280, Hunter HS, UT; Ryker Mathews, 6-6, 270, American Fork HS,
UT; Brian Rawlinson, 6-6, 280, Oologah-Talala HS,OK.
2012…Austin
Hoyt, 6-7, 260, Argonaut HS, CA
2013…Josh
Carter, 6-5, 290, Eastern AZ JC; Tim Duran, 6-4, 290, Cabrillo JC, CA; Keegan
Hicks, 6-3, 285, Bingham HS, UT; Brayden Kearsley, 6-4, 295, Aloha HS, OR;
Addison Pulsipher, 6-6, 260, Temecula Valley HS, CA; Thomas Shoaf, 6-6, 265,
Columbus North HS, IN; De’Ondre Wesley, 6-7, 330, Diablo Valley JC, CA;
Edward Fusi, 6-0, 315, Mt. SAC JC, CA.
2014…Current
Verbal Commits; Austin Chambers 6-5, 295,
9 Mendenhall recruiting classes and no offensive lineman has been
drafted by the NFL as yet.
Here are the official stats from BYU for offensive linemen who played
for the Cougars this season. It is broken down by Games Played In/Games
Started.
Terrance Alletto…10/7; Josh Carter…2/0; Tim
Duran…1/0; Edward Fusi…10/6; Cole Jones (Walkon)…1/0; Solomone
Kafu…13/11; Brayden Kearsley…11/1; Quinn Lawlor (Walkon)…6/0;
Ryker Mathews…10/4; Brock Stringham…8/3; Manaaki Vaitai…12/2;
De’Ondre Wesley…12/9; Brad Wilcox…13/1; Michael
Yeck…13/13
Based on games played and started, it would appear that Michael Yeck and
De’Ondre Wesley were BYU’s two best offensive linemen for this past
season. If you have a couple of hours to kill, go back and re-watch the BYU-UW
game and count how many sacks on Taysom Hill, the two best BYU offensive
lineman game up. If you don’t have two hours, the answer to sacks allowed
against the Huskies is 5.
The fact that BYU’s offensive line was mediocre to poor
this season, is in my opinion, a sign of poor recruiting or a poor recruiting
pool or a poor recruiting model for that position.
That is why I have made the adjustment as a fan to accept that BYU,
especially on the offensive line, but for a few aberrations and anomalies,
under the current coaching regime is always going to be MWC caliber and never
BCS caliber.
In the 34 years I have been writing this letter, here is the list of
BYU offensive lineman that have been drafted in the NFL or played in the NFL.
They are listed by year drafted and round selected.
Nick Eyre, 1981, 4th ; Bart Oates, missionary, 1982, USFL
then NFL; Louis Wong, 1985, 5th ; Robert Anae, missionary, 1985, 3rd
; Trevor Matich, missionary, 1985, 1st ; John Hunter, 1989, 3rd
; Mo Elewonibi, 1990, 3rd ; Neal Fort, 1991, 6th ; Eli
Herring, missionary, 1995, 6th ; Tim Hanshaw, missionary, 1995, 4th
; Evan Pilgrim, 1995, 3rd ; Morris Unutoa, missionary, 1995,
undrafted; Larry Moore, 1997, undrafted; Jason Anderson, 1998, 7th ;
Eric Bateman, missionary, 1998 5th ; Joe Wong. 1999 7th ;
John Tait, missionary, 1999, 1st ; Dustin Rykert, 2003, 6th
; Scott Young, 2005, 5th ; Ray Feinga, 2008, undrafted; Travis
Bright, missionary, 2008, undrafted; Lance Reynolds Jr., missionary, 2005,
undrafted; Dallas Reynolds, missionary, 2008, undrafted; Matt Reynolds,
missionary, 2011, undrafted.
It should be noted that of all the offensive linemen listed above, none
were recruited by Mendenhall. Since Bronco Mendenhall has been the head coach
at BYU, he has not had an offensive lineman drafted by the NFL. He has had a
couple of undrafted free agents get a couple of cups of decaffeinated coffee in
the league, but no bona fide offensive lineman good enough to be drafted by the
big boys. It has now been 8 years since a BYU offensive lineman has been
drafted by the NFL. He has yet to sign an offensive lineman that has been
drafted by the NFL.
NFL notes: The Reynolds brothers were all undrafted, but got their NFL
careers kick started by being picked up and signed as free agents by Andy Reid
at
In my opinion, BYU’s best ever football team was the 1996 Cotton
Bowl squad. There were 3 NFL offensive linemen on that team: Larry Moore, Eric
Bateman and John Tait.
Feel free to now make your own adjustments as a Cougar football fan
when it comes to the current offensive line situation at BYU.
When I am feeling upbeat and optimistic, I start thinking that under
Bronco Mendenhall, maybe it takes 9 years to get the offensive line recruiting
pipeline filled and pumping out good players. When I am less upbeat, I take a
look at the offensive linemen recruited under the current regime and shake my
head.
It is a little better on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage
for Mendenhall, but only by accident. Ziggy Ansah was an accidental walkon and
not recruited by Mendenhall or anyone else.
Here is a list of Mendenhall’s defensive line recruits:
2005…Jan
Jorgensen, 6-3, 250, Carbon HS, UT (Kentucky Transfer after mission); Russell
Tialavea, 6-3, 265, Oceanside HS, CA.
2006…Ian
Dulan, 6-1, 245, Kamehameha HS, HI; Mosese Foketi, 6-1, 240, Laney JC, CA;
Romney Fuga, 6-2, 280, Edison HS, CA; Jordan Richardson, 6-4, 250, Bonneville
HS, ID; Matangi Tonga, 6-2, 270, Aragon HS, CA.
2007…David
Angilau, 6-2, 255, Niwot HS, CO; Star Lotulelei, 6-3, 245, Bingham HS, UT;
Eathyn Manumaleuna, 6-3, 270, Timpview HS, UT.
2008…Bernard Afutiti,
6-0, 260,
2009…Thomas
Bryson, 6-5, 230,
2010…Jordan
Afo, 6-4, 300,
2011…Corbin
Kaufusi, 6-7, 230, Timpview HS, UT; Moses Kaumatule, 6-2, 240, Bingham HS, UT;
Baker Pritchard, 6-2, 240, Bingham HS, UT; Stehly Reden, 6-6 245, Valley Center
HS, CA; Kesni Tausinga, 6-1, 285, Bingham HS, UT; Hebron Fangupo, 6-1, 310, USC
Transfer, undrafted NFL free agent; Ziggy Ansah, 6-6. 290, walk on first round
NFL pick.
2012…Marques
Johnson, 6-2, 310, El
2013…JonRhyheem
Peoples, 6-6, 300, Rigby HS, ID; Merrill Taliauli, 6-2, 300, East HS, UT;
Kalolu Utu, 6-2, 285,
9 Mendenhall recruiting classes and nobody has been drafted by the NFL
as yet.
(Lotulelei was a first rounder, but from
JAKE TOOLSON COULD BE THE BEST OF
DAVE ROSE’S LATEST RECRUITING CLASS
A week ago I mentioned that Jake Toolson, the 6-5 scoring machine from
Highland HS in
He lit up Orem HS, yes, that Orem HS, in a tournament in
Highland is currently 11-2 on the year and it is all Toolson. There is
no other help on this team. He is the biggest guy on the team and is making a living
by bombing the ball from beyond the arc and then absolutely abusing defenders
by taking them down low to post up.
After the injury, he went to the Phoenix Suns training room to get it
checked out. It doesn’t hurt to have connections and Toolson has them
with his uncle being the former Suns coach and current Boston Celtics General
Manager. That would be Danny Ainge, who was in attendance at the games this
past weekend.
What Toolson is doing so far this season is amazing.
Ryan Andrus, another Cougar signee spent his weekend in a tournament in
TJ Haws and his Lone Peak Knights have taken the Christmas season off.
After pre season Christmas action in
I Was
Hoping to Not Have Enough Room in This Letter to Talk about BYU-LMU Debacle
It is now painfully
obvious that the BYU defense has gone into hiding in the Federal Witness
Protection Program. And rightfully so. They need to hide after the dismal
display of defensive basketball last Saturday afternoon against LMU.
The way the Cougars are
playing, or is it not playing defense, is a felony offense. If a district
attorney is prosecuting this case, his biggest incriminating evidence would be
the 87-76 spanking delivered on BYU’s basketball butt by the very
ordinary Loyola Marymount Lions in
It is so bad that even a
Matador Defense would be a improvement on what is being exhibited by BYU currently
and exploited by almost everybody they now play.
Dave Rose has his work
cut out for him during the remainder of this season. His team can’t
defend the post, can’t stop penetration from quick guards and can’t
rebound well enough. That leaves trying to simply outscore opponents.
That worked early in the
year, but teams have now figured BYU and their offense out. It’s not
rocket science. For BYU to win, they have to shoot lights out. The wattage is
waning and scoring, especially from outside, has also gone dark. BYU shot just
.300 from beyond the arc against the Lions.
I don’t know of any
BYU fans that don’t like Dave Rose as a person and most like him as a
coach. Unfortunately, it is now time for Rose to earn his remuneration from BYU
and fix the problem that is plaguing the Cougars or BYU is likely to miss an
NCAA post season invite for the second consecutive season.
BYU
Television Timetable
BYU vs.
Pepperdine
Monday, Dec 30, at
Tipoff: 8:00 pm MST
TV: Time Warner Cable also
streaming on line live at TheW.tv
BYU vs.
Pepperdine (Women’s BB)
Monday, Dec 30 at
Tipoff: 5:00 pm MST
TV: BYUtv
BYU vs.
Pacific (Women’s BB)
Thursday, Jan 2 at
Tipoff: 7:00 pm MST
TV: BYUtv
BYU vs.
St. Mary’s (Women’s BB)
Saturday, Jan 4 at
Tipoff: 2:00 pm
TV: BYUtv
BYU vs.
Saturday, Jan 4 at
Tipoff: 7:00 pm MST
TV: BYUtv
BYU vs.
Pepperdine
Thursday, Jan 9 at
Tipoff: 7:00 pm MST
TV: BYUtv
BYU vs.
Loyola Marymount
Saturday, Jan 11 at
Tipoff: 7:00 pm MST
TV: BYUtv