2012: Resolutions for BYU football to "Rise Up" to Potential and Expectations

With 2012 just underway, I have set some New Year's resolutions (which I will most likely give up on before the end of the month). I also have some resolutions I want the BYU football team to set for next year (with hopefully more resolve than myself).

Resolution No. 1: Win a Big Game

This year's team won 10 games with a bowl win over Tulsa. However, it might be the least satisfying 10-win season anyone in Cougar Town can remember. The only "quality" win in the regular season was a comeback victory, at home, against a Utah State team that finished 7-6. BYU did not beat anyone else with a winning record and went 0-3 against the other bowl-bound teams they faced.

Next year, the Cougars will have great chances to make a statement in games against Utah, Boise State and Notre Dame. Winning these games will keep fans interested in the otherwise uninteresting match-ups against WAC teams in the latter half of the season.

Resolution No. 2: Get the Ball to the Tight Ends

Granted, this year's team was much more effective in getting the ball to our tight ends. The emergence of Riley Nelson made a clear difference in the spreading of the ball across the field. While this year's by-committee approach yielded better results (57 catches and four touchdowns) than last year's non-existent tight end production (34 catches and zero touchdowns), it is still well short of the typical tight end production in Provo (by comparison, tight ends in 2009 accounted for 93 catches and 13 touchdowns).

I look for Richard Wilson (if he recovers from injury) to have a big 2012, if Doman utilizes the tight end more in his schemes.

Resolution No. 3: Get to the Quarterback!

When Bronco Mendenhall came to BYU as a defensive coordinator, he was known for his go-for-broke, aggressive scheme. In the last few years, he has utilized more of a traditional bend-but-don't-break scheme that fans in Provo are used to. While this has minimized points allowed, it has also steadily declined BYU's sack total (tied for 79th in 2011). As we saw against UCF, Tulsa and Ole Miss, getting to the quarterback can quickly change games in favor of the boys in navy.

Resolution No. 4: Beat Utah

After last year's heart breaker and this year's travesty, BYU has now lost three of four to the hated Utes. BYU gambled by going and then staying independent. Continued losses to the team up north after moving to the PAC-12 will hamper recruiting and lead to widespread discontent in Happy Valley. BYU needs to avenge this season's ugly loss when they travel up to Salt Lake next year. There is perhaps more riding on this game for the Cougs than any other "Holy War" in decades.