Pressuring Willie is focus of BYU strategy

LAS VEGAS — Willie Tuitama poised. Willie Tuitama rattled.

Those states of mind of Arizona's fifth-year senior quarterback are a huge part of BYU's defensive game plan this week in preparing for its fourth-straight Las Vegas Bowl appearance in Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday.

If the Cougars fail to make Tuitama uncomfortable, their secondary could pay a price. If they apply pressure to Tuitama and get him to second-guess himself or doubt what he does in delivering the football, BYU likes its chances.

"That's what it always comes down to with a quarterback," said corner Scott Johnson.

But can BYU's defense — one that has struggled to pressure quarterbacks like Utah's Brandon Johnson, UNLV's Omar Clayton and CSU's Billy Farris — get heat on the Wildcat star?

"I think we can," said BYU defensive coordinator Jaime Hill. "We did before."

Last season, the Cougars had Kelly Poppinga and Bryan Kehl playing linebacker which freed 2007 MWC sack leader Jan Jorgensen to make more plays from his defensive end spot.

Still, Hill said he has pregame hopes, if the Cougars play their best.

"We'll have to bring our 'A' game," said senior linebacker David Nixon. "If we don't, they have big play capability."

Nixon sees Arizona's offense as explosive, talented and good.

"Their offense is similar to the previous times we played them except now they execute better," he said.

Arizona ranked third in the Pac-10 in passing offense behind Oregon State and USC. The Wildcats were also third in scoring offense in the league, averaging 21.33 points per game.

In the Wildcats, the Cougars will face a spread offense and over the past season, that kind of offense has given the Cougars fits.

Is this another dreaded spread?

"It's really not," said head coach Bronco Mendenhall. "The spread offense, so to speak, misses one component and that's a running quarterback."

Tuitama isn't known to take off like Utah's Johnson or TCU's Andy Dalton.

Said Mendenhall, "If the quarterback isn't part of the run game then you are running more of a conventional offense. Their offense is more similar to ours. It doesn't mean they'll be easy to stop. They've been very productive."

How long has it been since the Cougars chased down quarterbacks?

They got a little heat in the third quarter on Utah's Johnson. They did pressure AFA's freshman Tim Jefferson and they even got after Washington's Jake Locker a few times and even forced a fumble.

So, can BYU's defense handle this important key to the game?