BYU Cougars 2018 Football Preview

BYU Cougars 2018 Football Preview

Opening Statement: Nobody outside of Utah Utes fans were happy last season with the results in Provo, as the Cougars train wrecked to a final record of 4-9. Say what you will about how likable Kalani Sitake is, and about how much of a BYU guy he is, but these results will not be tolerated at the base of the Wasatch Mountains for very long. The key to finding success once again will be getting the offence back on track, because it was anything but on track last fall. The defense is still fairly sturdy, but winning 4 games per year with this proud program is not getting it done, and something has got to be done about that quickly.

Breakdown Offense: It really could not have gotten much worse for the BYU offense last season, as they averaged just 17.1 points per game. BYU, a historical QB factory, is struggling to find consistency, or even basic competency at the position these days. Tanner Mangum, who was so promising, never got going last season, and really fell backwards after a year of backing up again. He has now fallen to 3rd on the depth chart entering 2018, and is in a battle with Beau Hodge and Joe Critchlow that likely will not be won until the very end of fall camp. Kody Wilstead also will be entering that battle as well, so you have a very messy situation to iron out, not just to find a starter, but to identify the primary backup as well.

BYU did not fair any better running the football, as they averaged just 130.54 yards per gam, as the lagging passing game allowed defenses to key in on and stop the run. Squally Canada needs to be unleashed this fall, as he led the team with 710 yards and 6 scores, while averaging 5.92 yards per carry. The team average was just 4.4 yards per carry. Ula Toluta'u returns as well after rushing for 303 yards. Austin Kafentzis is back as well, but is in a tight battle for the HB job With KJ Hall. Riley Burt will likely back up Canada if healthy in the fall. All in all, the Cougars need better protections from the line, and the QB play needs to improve massively, or this unit has no chance.

Beau Tanner is the starting X receiver coming out of spring ball after catching just 12 passes last fall. There is very little experience behind him, so this position is an area of concern and need. Talon Shumway is the Z receiver, or the slot, and caught 25 passes a year ago. Micah Simon could be the 3rd receiver in multiple sets. Nail Pau'u and Aliva Hifo are in reserve coming out of spring ball. Hifo caught 37 passes last season, and could push his way back into a starting spot. TE Matt bushman led the team last fall with 39 catches, and returns. The backup spot is an ongoing battle.

Thomas Shoaf is your starter at LT, and Austin Hoyt will be the starter on the right side at OT, with Chandon Herring and Kiefer Longson expected to provide relief. Herring will also provide backup support at OG, specifically at on the right side. Austin Chambers and Addison Pulsipher are projected at the OG spots, but other than Herring coming in to relieve at OG from his OT spot, this is not a deep group of Guards. James Empey is slotted in as the starter at C, and again, depth is not great.

Breakdown Defense: BYU will have different looks on defense, as they do on offense, but the defensive side of the football is a much clearer picture, as it was in 2017. The Cougars allowed just 24.7 points per game, and teams passed for 225.2 yards per game, while they were rushed on to a total of 147.62 yards per game.

Corbin Kaufusi is back at DE after finishing last season with a solid 6.5 TFLs. Sione Takitaki is back at the OE spot, and led the team last fall with 12.5 TFLs, and 5 sacks. Kaufusi led the team with 6 sacks in 2017. Trajan Pili and Uriah Leiataua provide some depth behind Kaufusi, while Langi Tuifua and Rhett Sandlin backup for Takitaki. Merrill Taliauli will start at NT this fall, and will be one of the new kids on the starting block. Solomone Wolfgramm is projected to start at DT. Khyiris Tonga will push for the job at NT after finishing with 4.5 TFLs as a freshman last fall, while Tevita Mo'unga will be trying to get healthy for fall camp to compete at DT. Lorenzo Fauatea was also banged up in spring ball, and could provide some depth at NT, if healthy.

Fred Warner is gone at LB, leaving a rather large hole in the middle of the defense. Zayne Anderson could be moving into the FLASH spot, but could be in a battle with Morgan Unga in fall camp for that spot. Anderson finished with 61 tackles last season, while Unga had just 16. They were tied up in battle heading into the summer. Butch Pau'u is back at the MIKE spot, and is a leader on this defense. He finished with 74 tackles last fall, good for 3rd on the team. Johnny Tapusoa will likely be his backup after finishing with 14 tackles as a sophomore last fall. Takitaki could move off the line and start at the BO position, with Adam Pulsipher moving into the OE spot on the line, but that is a continuing development as we head into the fall. Pulsipher could also stay back and play the BO himself after a 54 tackle season in 2017. Isaiah Kaufusi and Matt Hadley are battling for the backup job there.

The secondary was rather solid a year ago, and should be once again in 2018. Chris Wilcox and Michael Shelton are battling it out to start at LCB, with Wilcox coming off of a 5 PBU season, and Shelton finishing with 2. Trevion Greene could move into the starting job at the RCB job, where depth is not as pronounced. Dayan Ghanwoloku is also in the fight on the right side. Shelton is projected to slide into the NB role when needed, while Tanner Jacobson provides help in the Dime package. If Anderson does not end up playing the FLASH LB spot, he could slot right back into the FS position. Jacobson, who finished with 28 tackles last season, could end up as the SS, with Austin Lee moving in to support him as the backup at either Safety spot. Ghanwoloku could also slide from CB to the SS spot, providing Anderson wins the FLASH spot.

Breakdown Special Teams: Rhett Almond is back at PK after struggling to hit 13/19 FGs last fall. His accuracy rate of just 68.4% is troubling. Almond may end up handling punting duties as well, as Jonny Linehan has moved on. Andrew Mikkelson is there as the backup PK if Almond needs some pushing.

Michael Shelton averaged 19.92 yards per kick return last fall, and will handle those duties again, as well as returning punts, where he averaged 6.71 yards per return last season.

Final Analysis: BYU still has plenty of questions to answer on offense, and they are moving some pieces around on defense to better array the weapons that they do have on that side of the football. I see some improvement coming this season, and they should be able to push their way back into bowl consideration, but only if the QB job irons itself out and they can find a way to be the Cougars of old again through the air. If that does not develop, BYU could be in a heap of trouble once again, and we will be having a conversation about whether or not Sitake is the right guy to lead this program, BYU guy through and through or not.