BYU Cougars Look Like a Team Running Scared

Its amazing to look at what the BYU Cougars were just four weeks ago and then see the difference in what they have become today.

From the beginning of the year up to four weeks ago, all of Cougar nation, including myself, was up in arms to try to bust the BCS and gain respect on a national level once more. After two consecutive shutouts and a convincing win at Utah St., BYU looked poised to be the front-runner for a BCS game out of all non-BCS schools.

But what BYU failed to do was look at the reality of their situation. The Cougars were in denial that any team in the MWC would give them any problems and focused too much on whether they were being dropped or jumped in the polls instead of the next opponent. That problem seems to still be there.

It started in the New Mexico game, when the Cougars failed to put away the Lobos. If New Mexico had better talent, they would have won that game. The offense looked sluggish, and the defense looked soft—not exactly the type of game you want to play before you play arguably the best team on your schedule.

When the Cougars stepped on the field in Texas, the game was over before they took a breath. TCU was better prepared and better coached. They played with more emotion, and they punched BYU in the face and kept punching 'til the game was over.

That game really made me sick. BYU refused to adjust to what TCU was doing, and for some reason I'll never understand, thought that what they were doing would work no matter what or who they were playing.

Well, I thought a 32-7 score would give the coaching staff and players a wake-up call, but I was wrong.

In the last two weeks, BYU's defense has been nonexistent. There is no intensity or emotion, they are just flat. I don't know why BYU thinks that they can play a bend but don't break kind of defense, because teams aren't stupid—they watch the game tape and will attack you.

What once was an aggressive hard-hitting defense now looks like a piece of paper trying to stop a freight train. What is so infuriating is the coaching staff will not change it.

Whenever a team needs a first down, all they have to do is run a 10-yard hitch or out and they will get it, because the corners are 10 yards off the ball and backpedaling on the snap. I'm 21 years old, and I can make an offensive game plan to beat a defense like that.

The offense seems to be back to where they were in the earlier part of the season, but I personally think it is just an illusion because they have played weak teams. Max Hall is a great QB, but he still has a very bad habit of throwing to Collie or Pitta just because, not because it's the right read.

If he can break this habit and take what the defense gives him instead of forcing the ball, he will be truly great.

Collie, Pitta, Vakapuna, and Hall (other than the aforementioned) have been great and done their best for the team to win. But I see major problems with the rest of the offense.

Harvey Unga is a great back, but he is not running with power like he has shown us all last year and some of this year. He has been trying to be a finesse back and trying to run around people instead of through them, and it's not working. I blame it on an obviously sore ankle. Despite good numbers, he has not been nearly as effective as in the past.

The offensive line has looked confused at times when teams bring a lot of blitzes at them and aren't very fast. TCU killed them with speed off the edge, and if they cannot adjust, I promise Utah will bring heat all day long to pressure Hall.

Finally, what is wrong with Michael Reed? He is starting to look like Todd Watkins in his senior year. He just can't catch the ball right now. He is letting the ball get into his chest and isn't catching the ball with his hands. This is a big problem because without him to balance the defense, they can focus on Collie and Pitta.

There is so much more I could vent on, but I will close with this. If BYU does not toughen up and start playing the aggressive kind of football they were earlier in the year, they could end the year third in the MWC.