BYU Football: How the Cougars Can Get Back on Track

After starting off the season with a less than impressive win over Ole Miss, followed by a frustrating loss to Texas then topped off with a red-faced loss to their arch-rival Utah, the BYU Cougars are looking for some positives going forward in the season.

With the threat of being on the outside looking in when it comes to talks of conference realignment, things are looking less than pretty at the Y. While many fans have given up on the season, there is still hope.

Here is what BYU needs to do to turn things around: 

Make a Commitment to Run the Ball

The BYU running backs have been extremely disappointing so far this season. As a team, the Cougars average an anemic 48.3 yards per game. Even uglier is the 1.9 yards per carry line that the team boasts.

Clearly, the running game has to improve. BYU is running the ball less and less with each game—31 times at Ole Miss, 23 against Texas and only 22 against Utah.

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham mentioned after the blowout that he was shocked that BYU didn't commit to running the ball more.

Let's face it: BYU's season is over. They have nothing to look forward to besides possibly playing in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. What they need to do now is simply improve as a football team. That means they need to figure out how to run the ball. Try some trick plays, maybe a reverse once in a while. Could it hurt?

If it takes BYU putting up 203 yards of offense for the next two games, but they commit to running the ball 30+ times, so be it. Jake Heaps and the rest of the offense will struggle mightily until they can establish some sort of run game.

Jake Heaps Needs to Eat a Huge Slice of Humble Pie

After being rated the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the country coming out of high school, Jake Heaps had every right to be a confident young man. He even hired a publicist and held his own press conference to announce he was signing with BYU.

However, in college football your prospect ranking means nothing. Jake Heaps still needs to learn this.

After the blowout loss to Utah, he took zero responsibility for the loss saying,

"

"Our opening drive, not a big deal, I try to make a heads-up play by throwing that ball out of bounds, so we [could] punt it off, but it slips out of my hand."

"

Not a big deal? That was one of the worst decisions I have seen a quarterback make. It shows his immaturity and lack of football understanding. Most quarterbacks would have fallen on that ball and let the punt team come do it's job. Instead, BYU finds themselves in an early hole.

Heaps gave no credit to the team that just spanked him like a child. Instead, he suggested that BYU had merely lost the game, not that Utah had won it:

"

"I don't care who wants to say what. You know, if we don't turn the football over in those critical situations then this game is different."

"

That's like saying, "I don't care what anyone says. If we would have scored more touchdowns than Utah, this game would have been different." Take some credit for the loss Jake. You didn't protect the ball and Utah clearly outplayed your team. You have all the talent in the world, but arrogance will just cripple your growth as a football player. 

Bronco Mendenhall Needs to Go

Bronco Mendenhall admits that he doesn't know much about offensive football. If that wasn't proven enough with his hiring of Brandon Doman as the offensive coordinator, the scoreboard after each game should suffice.

With a talented quarterback, dominate offensive line and three decent running backs, the Cougars should be able to put more points on the board. You can blame Brandon Doman all you want, but who hired him?

Bronco really is a nice guy. He produces some of the best-educated, outstanding men in his football program. But is that good enough when BYU finishes 7-6 on the season or 10-2? Enough with the cliches and cheesy religious phrases on the t-shirts. Start off with a prayer and coach some football.

Either that or Bronco needs to quit coaching and become a full-time LDS fireside speaker.