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BYU Football: Offensive balance and two more keys to beating UMass

By Shaun Gordon

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 01: A general view of the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins logos prior to the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium on January 1, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 01: A general view of the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins logos prior to the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium on January 1, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 11: Wide receiver Andy Isabella #23 of the Massachusetts Minutemen catches a touchdown pass during the second half of the game against the Maine Black Bears at Fenway Park on November 11, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 11: Wide receiver Andy Isabella #23 of the Massachusetts Minutemen catches a touchdown pass during the second half of the game against the Maine Black Bears at Fenway Park on November 11, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

2 – Slow Down the Pass Attack

UMass is startlingly similar to Hawaii on offense. Both feature prolific passing attacks led by one of the top receivers in the country, and that passing attack has to work for both teams to score enough points to overcome sub-par defenses.

Hawaii currently sits at No. 17 nationally in passing yards per game (308.7), while UMass sits at No. 14 (310.7).

The Minutemen average 35.1 points per game, and it’s their passing game that drives those points.

UMass relies on star wideout Andy Isabella, who leads the country in receiving yards (1,394) and is second in receiving touchdowns (11).

BYU has to account for him and slow him down. If he’s able to have a monster game, the Cougars will spend the day playing catch-up.

Fortunately, BYU found a way to minimize the damage that Hawaii receiver John Ursua could do, slowing down the Rainbow Warrior offense enough to jump out to a commanding lead.

With the blueprint there, the Cougars will have to go out and execute it. Fortunately the pass defense has been quite good since Dayan Ghanwoloku returned from injury, but they’ve got to keep up their strong play to have any chance at the cross-country win.

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