BYU Football: How good can offense be?
Now that the BYU football media day is here, it is time to take a look at the 2015 offense.
The 2015 BYU offense is loaded. Quarterback Taysom Hill is expected to be healthy after recovering from a broken leg sustained against Utah State in 2014.
Oct 3, 2014; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Taysom Hill (4) passes the ball while offensive lineman Kyle Johnson (67) blocks during the first half against the Utah State Aggies at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Utah State won 35-20. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Running back Jamaal Williams is expected to return to the back field after surgery on a knee injury he sustained against Middle Tennessee State in 2014. Junior Algernon Brown and seniors Adam Hine and Nate Carter will see time in the Cougar backfield in 2015 as well. Williams in on pace to take down the all-time rushing record at BYU set by Harvey Unga. He needs to average 71.5 yards per game which is very attainable.
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Wide receiver Nick Kurtz is healthy and ready to go and will add much needed relief on the opposite side of the field of Mitch Matthews and provide another big target for Taysom Hill to throw to. With Devon Blackmon, Terenn Houk, Mitchelle Juergens, Colby Pearson, and Kurt Henderson also getting on the field, it could be a huge year for the BYU receivers.
Dec 22, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Mitch Mathews (10) makes a catch as Memphis Tigers defensive back Dontrell Nelson (10) defends the play during the first quarter in the Miami Beach Bowl at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The big question mark for the offense is the BYU offensive line. The projected starters consist of two juniors in Brad Wilcox and Kyle Johnson and three sophomores in Tejan Koroma, Tuni Kanuch, and Ului Lapuaho. Senior Ryker Mathews is in the mix to battle for his left tackle spot after having surgery on his knee that he injured on the last play of the game in the Miami Beach Bowl.
According to an article by Jay Drew of the Salt Lake Tribune the BYU offensive line isn’t very deep. It consists of sophomore Brian Rawlinson, junior Manu Mulitalo, junior Parker Dawe, freshman Jaterrius Gulley, and sophomore walk-on Dallas Doane. It is a second-team that is untested and inexperienced.
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The hope for BYU offensive line coach Garett Tujague wants to have 12 or 13 guys who are ready to play on Saturday. That might not be realistic considering that athletes leave on missions or have to work themselves back into shape after they return.
One thing that is for sure is that the starting offensive lineman or whoever fill in if there is an injury need to be able to protect Taysom Hill.
Aug 29, 2014; East Hartford, CT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Taysom Hill (4) looks for an opening against the Connecticut Huskies during the first quarter at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
In his only full season as the starting quarterback at BYU in 2013, Hill averaged 103.4 rushing yards per game. He led the team with 10 rushing touchdowns. He averaged 226 passing yards per game and threw for 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. BYU averaged 493.6 yards of offense per game and they averaged 30.1 points per game.
With a more difficult schedule in 2015, the BYU offense will need to put points on the board and with a healthy Taysom Hill and a healthy Jamaal Williams and other offensive weapons all over the field, it could be a special year on the offensive side of the ball.