BYU vs. Texas: Poor Second-Half Coaching, Execution Costs Cougars

In the first three quarters of game between the Longhorns and Cougars, Texas continually shot themselves in the foot and allowed the Cougars to gain a lead.

In the second half, BYU fell victim to poor play-calling and coaching, lackluster execution and, ultimately, a loss.

Notes from the loss:

While the play-calling and execution in the second half was downright embarrassing, it’s arguable the bad play-calling and touchdowns in the red zone in the first half ultimately cost the Cougars the game.

BYU was very good against a straight up run…and passing game in the first half. All of their game-planning must have assumed Garrett Gilbert would play the entire game, because they were not at all prepared for the option read-based offense Texas ran in the second half. 

Texas started making plays in the second half as well. Jaxon Shipley showed remarkable athleticism on a few plays which exposed the Cougar secondary some.

BYU got two INTs in the first quarter. When was the last time that happened against a non-cupcake (Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado State, etc.)

The boys from Provo lost this game due to coaching more than on-field play. The Cougars were obviously “playing not to lose” in the second half, adopting uber-conservative play-calling, giving Jake Heaps (and the Longhorns) a steady diet of dink-and-dunk.

For example, with 12 minutes left in the third quarter, on a 3rd-and-9, Doman called a misdirection run to get space for his punter. The result was a poor punt and the go-ahead score for Texas.

The tight ends were involved early, but not late. There was literally nothing completed (or even called) over the middle or deep in the entire second half.There was an obvious lack of faith in anything deep, and a curious lack of play-action. Into the fourth quarter Heaps was 5-of-7 for just 28 yards. That gave Texas a ton of time and possessions, and kept BYU’s offense on the field.

In another instance, BYU had a 2nd-and-1 after a Di Lugi reception, and rather than trying play-action, they ran straight up the middle where they’d had little-to-no success.

After stopping Texas and getting the ball back with a chance to drive for a win in the fourth quarter, the Cougars fumbled around with more poor play-calling and then gave themselves back-to-back penalties due to huge lags in snap time.

BYU is committed to the Wildcat with Riley Nelson no matter how awkwardly it’s run, predictably it’s executed and poorly it performs. It cost them a very important timeout early in the second half. Coaching obviously has a long way to go.

Apo and Hoffman were MIA in the second half, and in Hoffman’s case, all game.

Another player shares No. 9 with Jake Heaps. Not sure why.