BYU Football: 5 Things that have to change

Oct 9, 2021; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake watches his team from the sideline during the second quarter against the Boise State Broncos at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake watches his team from the sideline during the second quarter against the Boise State Broncos at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
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Oct 9, 2021; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake watches his team from the sideline during the second quarter against the Boise State Broncos at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake watches his team from the sideline during the second quarter against the Boise State Broncos at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Pace of play

For most of this season, BYU Football has lacked pace or rhythm. When the Cougars have had some urgency they have been potent picking up large bunches of yards. Last week against Boise State, the Cougars had a drive late in the third and into the fourth quarter that averaged 32 seconds per play. For a team down two scores, 32 seconds per play is not acceptable.

While I’m not calling for a no huddle, gas on the pedal offense, that number needs to go down to 22-27 seconds. While the difference of five to ten seconds doesn’t sound like much, it will keep momentum and wear out defenses. Had the Cougars gone even seven seconds faster in the drive I mentioned, they would have saved 1:24 which could have come up huge late in the game. Had they taken off just five seconds on every play, they would have saved over six minutes!

The Cougars are VERY deep on almost every position and could expose defenses very easily. To this point, they haven’t done that, allowing more than enough time for defenders to sub in and out and recover.

Schedule

Schedule