Not totally sure what to expect for the season opener tomorrow.
Uconn finished last year on a nice run and played well in some losses like Michigan. But then they got blown out by some teams and the defense played bad.
I don't know how the defense will look this year for Uconn. They're not well regarded generally, but Diaco is a defense minded coach, so hopefully the defense improves for the Huskies this season.
Diaco did a good job against BYU @ ND, but I think he likely had more talent to work with. ND gets a ton of talent, but they don't always utilize it. And I know Uconn has some talent also.
BYU tends to start out slow. Looking at Virginia last year-more people saw that game as kind of flukey-playing Virginia in a near monsoon and delay of game for 2 hours, wet field-BYU just trying to get the new offense going and not really knowing what to expect. Taysom not utilizing the passing game very well at all-not many passing yards and game losing/changing interception (bobble tipped pass from our RB) near the end which UVA scored one play after that.
I don't think BYU will play like that in this opener. I'd be suprised if BYU CAN"T put up at least 20 or 30 pts on Uconn.
The O-line wasn't that good last year and still trying to get used to pace of play with the hurry up tempo. BYU returns a good deal of starters at O-line and yes, some big bodies. I think the O-line is going to be a bit tougher this year and a little nastier.
Be suprised if BYU can't run for a couple hundred yards, despite the suspension of J Williams. There's still some good returning backs on the team that are pretty physical-Laskie and Hine.
I think the combo of the no huddle offense and the fact that BYU is pretty balanced-being able to run and pass the ball, along with more speed overall at WR this year and Tayson pretty much forcing defenses to account for him running-that's a lot to try and deal with for many teams.
Despite what people think-Taysom can throw the ball and hurt defenses-just look at Houston.
What's kinda interesting is how Uconn will match up with BYU on the run game. I read Uconn likes to run the ball. Well, that's what BYU loves to stop or try to-first. If you can stop the run, it makes it harder to throw the ball for whatever QB. And not only that, but BYU may have a better secondary this year.
BYU has some big LB's that can pick passes and make it hard for QB's to throw some stuff in their area-Kafusi-6'7, played basketball at BYU and Fua-6'5. Both pretty fast. BYU gets a good deal of polynesian talent on their team.
I think the defense could have a very good season. Top-15, maybe better.
I'm not sure how much Uconn likes to run the ball, but I think it will be a challenge against BYU. That's usually their strength on defense.
Anyway, hopefully it's a fun game and even a close game for Uconn fans, but hopefully not too close...
If the game does get out of hand, Bronco doesn't like or tend to run up the score on other teams. You wouldn't see a 50 or 60 pt type score, unless the game was close and BYU had to score a lot. If BYU was up by 2 or 3 TD's at the end, Mendenhall usually just runs the ball.
Uconn finished last year on a nice run and played well in some losses like Michigan. But then they got blown out by some teams and the defense played bad.
I don't know how the defense will look this year for Uconn. They're not well regarded generally, but Diaco is a defense minded coach, so hopefully the defense improves for the Huskies this season.
Diaco did a good job against BYU @ ND, but I think he likely had more talent to work with. ND gets a ton of talent, but they don't always utilize it. And I know Uconn has some talent also.
BYU tends to start out slow. Looking at Virginia last year-more people saw that game as kind of flukey-playing Virginia in a near monsoon and delay of game for 2 hours, wet field-BYU just trying to get the new offense going and not really knowing what to expect. Taysom not utilizing the passing game very well at all-not many passing yards and game losing/changing interception (bobble tipped pass from our RB) near the end which UVA scored one play after that.
I don't think BYU will play like that in this opener. I'd be suprised if BYU CAN"T put up at least 20 or 30 pts on Uconn.
The O-line wasn't that good last year and still trying to get used to pace of play with the hurry up tempo. BYU returns a good deal of starters at O-line and yes, some big bodies. I think the O-line is going to be a bit tougher this year and a little nastier.
Be suprised if BYU can't run for a couple hundred yards, despite the suspension of J Williams. There's still some good returning backs on the team that are pretty physical-Laskie and Hine.
I think the combo of the no huddle offense and the fact that BYU is pretty balanced-being able to run and pass the ball, along with more speed overall at WR this year and Tayson pretty much forcing defenses to account for him running-that's a lot to try and deal with for many teams.
Despite what people think-Taysom can throw the ball and hurt defenses-just look at Houston.
What's kinda interesting is how Uconn will match up with BYU on the run game. I read Uconn likes to run the ball. Well, that's what BYU loves to stop or try to-first. If you can stop the run, it makes it harder to throw the ball for whatever QB. And not only that, but BYU may have a better secondary this year.
BYU has some big LB's that can pick passes and make it hard for QB's to throw some stuff in their area-Kafusi-6'7, played basketball at BYU and Fua-6'5. Both pretty fast. BYU gets a good deal of polynesian talent on their team.
I think the defense could have a very good season. Top-15, maybe better.
I'm not sure how much Uconn likes to run the ball, but I think it will be a challenge against BYU. That's usually their strength on defense.
Anyway, hopefully it's a fun game and even a close game for Uconn fans, but hopefully not too close...
If the game does get out of hand, Bronco doesn't like or tend to run up the score on other teams. You wouldn't see a 50 or 60 pt type score, unless the game was close and BYU had to score a lot. If BYU was up by 2 or 3 TD's at the end, Mendenhall usually just runs the ball.
