Deseret News | BYU football: Story lines aplenty for matchup against UCLA

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BYU football: Story lines aplenty for matchup against UCLA

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UCLA top of the ladder | 12:42 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

UCLA is always a top talent . They get the best athletes top to bottom in all sports. Beating UCLA takes pretty much mistake free football along with some added luck. BYU can match up size wise but not athletically. UCLA is always built on SPEED which usually manifests itself in a couple of places - defensive backs and wide receivers. BYU will see a man defense against UCLA so Max Hall is going to have to be on top of his game. UCLA will always challenge you with the deep ball so BYU will have to rough up the UCLA QB and bring constant pressure. Prediction ....

BYU 28 UCLA 24

Hmmm... | 12:52 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

BYU fans should be very nervous about Norm Chow having two weeks to prepare for a program he's very familiar with.

SpringvilleRules | 1:00 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Give it up about the officials, in the end they gave us a gift win. They should have called 15 unsportsmanlikes/holds against the Cougs as well. UCLA is ten times the team of Udub, don't get too worked up.

Comments continue below

byu fan | 1:05 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

I'm a big fan...Collie is overratted.

Long Time Cougar | 1:18 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

First of all Washington was lucky have a chance to win at the end. The score should have been 35-21 before the last Washington drive. Had Unga not fumbled into the end zone on the one foot line the "questionable call" would have been a moot point. Also, how about the holding "NO CALL" on WA's 71 against Ian Dulan on their final drive-he acually tackled him as Dulan went for Locker around mid field! My point is that BYU outgained WA by 138 yards, clearly outplayed them in the 2nd half and was the better team!

As for UCLA, yes they will be better than Washington but not by that much. I have been present at BYU games since Marc Wilson QB'd at BYU (while many of you were in diapers or not born) and I don't recall seeing as good an offense overall at BYU. If both teams bring their "A" game, I am confident BYU will win on Saturday.

As for the defense, they are good but not great. However, if the line can get just a little tougher and the backs can improve a little, BYU will be alright.

Nevada Blue | 1:21 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

I watched the UCLA game and Craft could not throw deep. Neither could Locker. Craft should be improved but even his dad says he starts slow. Collie dropped passes he never drops, in the Washington game. The Washington game was a few inches from being a blow-out and only Locker kept them in that game with his feet. Before the game Bronco said BYU could not keep up with Locker. He was correct. Craft is not Locker. BYU's front line should be able to get to him if UCLA's Oline is not a lot better than Washington's Oline. Washington had zero turnovers. I doubt UCLA will be able to do the same. If Collie can catch this game, BYU should win big. If he cannot then it should still be close but could go UCLA's way. It will all depend on which teams show up. If UCLA's second half team shows up and BYU's "We can't beat a PAC 10 team" shows up then BYU will lose. If BYU's "We know how to play" team shows up BYU will win no matter which UCLA team show up. BYU is a better team and at home. BYU 38, UCLA 20

QB key | 1:24 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

COMP ATT YDS/A TD INT SAX
Max Hall- #4 in comp% @ 78%- 64 82 10.4 5 1 0

KevinCraft- #74 comp% @ 58%- 25 43 6.0 1 4 1

Iknow that Craft has only played one game. Well he's only really played one good half, and he's never played a good half at Edwards stadium. He was part of a 47-17 slaughter at the hands of John Beck two years ago. I know he has nightmares of that stadium and that crowd. He needs to remind his teammates how hostile it will be to play BYU at home. The BYU defense will be able to pressure him and control him.

Max Hall has played four good quarters. He has been very efficient with only a few miscues. He made big mistakes in his second start last year at the Rose Bowl. Less mistakes on a nuetral feild at the Las Vegas Bowl. He should be more poised this time around at home! He needs to keep his young teammates calm and from making a big mistake against a very fast PAC-10 defense.

If BYU scores each time they are in the Blue zone they will win! Go cougars!

What about Michael Reed? | 1:31 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Does anyone remember him? He's our stud 2nd receiver and doesn't drop passes, but no one is mentioning him at all. The guy is just as talented as Collie, in this fan's opinion. So I'll blow his horn if nobody else will. He's fast, tall, difficult to tackle and does what all good receivers must: get positive yardage after the catch. So UCLA DB's, a word to the wise: don't put all your defensive scheme's to work against only Collie, cause Reed will go to work against your secondary and probably have a career day.

bigbear | 1:46 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

"Johnny"

10 X 10 to the 10th power????? What's your point.

RR | 1:58 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

IF we can beat UCLA, that should put us in more of the national talk. We should be so glad they got all the attention they did when they beat Tenn.

Re: Just like... | 2:00 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

"UW lost to Oregon the week before by 30 plus points, Heck Oregon scored 40 plus points on the huskies [sic] and made it look a lot easier than BYU did, so BYUs [sic} offence [sic] is good but there [sic] are at least three pac-10 teams with better offences [sic]."

Using comparisons of single games, you could easily make the argument that UNLV was better than any team in the PAC-10 last season.

Utah beat UCLA 44-6. UNLV CRUSHED Utah 27-0. And made it look easy. Stanford beat USC 24-23, and UCLA CRUSHED Stanford 45-17.

See how silly it is to use individual games to make comparisons.

re: springville rules | 2:08 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

You say the officials gave us a gift win? Oh did the officials break thru WA'a line and block that kick? Was an official kicking the ball for WA? Did an official throw the ball 40 feet in the air and then call a penalty on himself? Did the officials score our 4 TD's as receivers or RB's? I'd say we need to change your title to "springville drools". And don't forget to bring your Power Rangers lunchbox home from school again, you know how your mom gets upset.

Re: Turnovers are Key | 2:14 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Are you serious? You brought this up again? Turnover margin? How bout this stat?....

More points for BYU- BYU wins
More points for UCLA- UCLA wins...

Really?

re: Are you serious? | 2:35 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Brilliant analysis. Give the man a cookie.

really?

That's one of the lamest posts I've seen in a long time, but, just to humor you...

Besides scoring the most points, what, in your arrogant opinion, will be the key stat in deciding the game?

bruin grad | 2:42 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Let's see...the last two meetings between UCLA and BYU have been a 27-17 win for UCLA and a 17-16 LV Bowl win for BYU. Unga had 28 and 16 yards respectively. UCLA played in the LV bowl with their 4TH STRING QB, interim head coach and almost won. This year we have our 3rd string QB and Coach Chow. I like our chances.

Classless is right | 2:45 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Yes, BYU players were joking around in a serious moment. Classless is correct. It was ridiculous.

Not exactly Top of the Ladder | 2:45 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

"UCLA is always a top talent"

but, talent doesn't win football games. Actual performance on the field wins games.

Having played UCLA twice in the last 12 months, BYU is well aware of the talent level on UCLA's team.

Talent is overrated as a deciding factor.

Execution is really what matters. The team that executes better will win on Saturday.

Frankly, I'll take Hall, Pitta, Collie, Unga, Fui, Reid, and BYU's offensive line, man for man, over any group of offensive players UCLA can put on the field.

Hall, Collie, Unga and Fui were all injured the last time BYU met UCLA in Las Vegas. This time, they're all healthy.

BYU beat the REFS last week | 2:48 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Jake Locker is a good kid, I feel bad that he was penalized at the end, that rule isn't really fair and I don't think he should have been called for it. What I think they SHOULD have been called for is the no joke, no less than 5 HOLDS during the legnth of the entire final drive! If they got called out when they should have been, we would have stopped them, and we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place (i.e. final score would've been 28-21, or even 35-21 if Harvey Unga hadn't fumbled the ball). I'm glad, for our sake, that it was called though to atone for ALL of the missed calls during the game, even though I personally feel that THAT PARTICULAR CALL wasn't fair to them. Also, it's so ironic, if you look at a picture of the blocked PAT, it even shows, plain as day, a U dub player HOLDING Jan Jorgensen, who still blocked it, and the ref was LOOKING RIGHT AT IT!!! AAAHHH!!! I HATE Pac-10 refs!

Question... | 2:49 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Whose officials will be at LES this Saturday? Pac-10, or MWC. If it's PAC10, we could be in for trouble given our history with their officiating crew.

Where's the D? | 2:50 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

I thought the offense played superb, but the defense was an embarassment. If Locker had been as good with his arm as he was with his legs, BYU would have lost by three Td's. If the D had played as well as the O, BYU would have climbed in the rankings. The secondary is very very weak. I look for UCLA to be throwing all day.

I say | 2:56 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

That this game will come down to coaching. That's what it almost did last year. Apparently the standout about UCLA's possibilities of being good venter around it's coaching staff (Chow, Neuheisel, Walker, etc.) If Cali Cougs statistics are right, we have an athletic advantage, and I'm pretty sure that last weeks Offensive Line was one of, if not the toughest O-line's that our defense will face this year. (With all of the uncalled holds that slipped by, that says a lot about our D-line for the rest of the year and next year).

A bunch of our fans are bagging on our defense. You need to understand we just lost 8 really talented starters on the defense from last year, and I think they are doind everything they can to learn and be effective. That's just the facts, we are going to need to be a little more patient and hope that we can continue to win games with who we have. But with the way we have been able to play, there is not a game on the schedule that we are not capable of winning.

Bottom Dweller | 3:00 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

The UofWash is a lower tier Pac-10 school.
Like bottom of the heap with Oregon State and Wash State.

UCLA has climbed to maybe lower middle of the Pac-10.

Play USC and then pop off.

My prediction? UCLA by 10.

Noorrmmm! | 3:08 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

The article could be summed up like this:

The BYU DB's better be ready to run. Norm Chow has made an incredible living at eating up weaknesses in Pass defenses. BYU should know that since they cheered for those plays for years and years.

This will be another Tulsa game. BYU will score but it just won't be enough. The rest of the Mountain West might not be able to expose that week secondary but UCLA will.

Re: Bottom Dweller | 3:28 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

If Washington is such a pathetic team, why did USC only beat them by 3 points last season.

Beat them soundly yourself, then you can pop off about BYU's close win.

My prediction? BYU by 17.

UCLA win | 3:29 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

UCLA will win this game. Bruins 27, Cougs 24.

re: Norm! | 3:35 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Unless Norm is going to be throwing the passes himself, or he's recruited a new starting quarterback for UCLA, Norm is only as good as the tools he has to work with.

Craft threw 4 interceptions in his first game with UCLA. His team was destroyed by BYU when he played in LES with San Diego State.

Craft would have been the 3rd string quarterback if the 1st and 2nd stringers hadn't been injured.

If BYU plays assignment defense the way they're capable of playing, they can handle anything Craft throws at them. UCLA's offense this year doesn't hold a candle to Tulsa's offense from last season.

I expect a hard fought game from UCLA, but, in the end, BYU will prevail.

Norm Freaking Chow | 3:56 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

I hope you all remember me. I was the one who helped BYU all those years game plan and expose the bigger stronger faster teams BYU beat back in the day. I know what I am doing and I know that I can game plan to beat BYU. If our bigger stronger faster defense can hold BYU's offense to less than 27, we (UCLA) will win. It will be ogg to see everyone when I come back. Looking forward to going up to Sundance and eat after the game.
Norm

SoCal Cougar Fan | 4:12 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

I hate to burst the bubble of those calling for a BIG BYU victory... But if you look at the history of these 2 teams, UCLA has won 6 games to BYU's 2. Furthermore, UCLA has had a couple of blow outs. BYU won one game by 2 points (37-35 in 1983) and the Vegas Bowl by 1 point. Believe you me, UCLA has my respect. I'll be coming up from SoCal to cheer on the Cougars, but I will also be thrilled if they can win by 3 points! (a new high)

I don't understand how the odds makers can put BYU as a 8ï¿½ point favorite, but if I'm a UCLA fan, I'm all over the UCLA +8ï¿½ points -- easy money.

guess what y'all | 4:21 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Norm was a ute, that means the kewgs are going down to some red boys TWICE this season.

Norm Question | 4:23 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

I don't pretend to be a football expert. My question is with regard to statements that Norm knows BYU football so they have an edge. Norm is a great coach - No dispute their.

However, my question is does his history with BYU really help at all? I mean it's a completely different team than when he was here (both coaching and players). I think we have better recruits overall than before.

If Norm does well, I believe again it's because he's a good coach and prepared his team well, not because he's had some history here at BYU.

If anything, I think Norm's history here should help us. We should know Norm inside and out.

Thoughts?

Ghost | 4:25 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Yes, I know, Oregon killed UW...blah, blah, blah.

BYU is classless...blah, blah, blah.

The refs shouldnï¿½t have thrown a flagï¿½blah, blah, blah.

The refs hate BYU...blah, blah, blah.

UCLA is has the best talent anywhere...blah, blah, blah.

BYU's defense is horrible...blah, blah, blah.

There's a hole in the ozone layer...blah, blah, blah.

Letï¿½s just see what happens on Saturday. I can't wait. I have my ticket and I am counting the minutes until the game starts. Win or lose, I hope it's a classic game with two good opponents.

Bee | 4:42 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

What's with the biased commentators? They make me want to turn off the sound!

Relax Cougar fans | 5:08 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Relax, you all kill me, this talk of statistic domination at the end of the day the only stats that matters are W's amd L's. Bad call/no call/ good call you still walked away with the W. Good luck with the Bruins. I hope to see a Utah BYU game with huge implications locally and nationally

tallguy8089 | 5:11 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

ive already said this before the washington game....we all knew that BYU has always had a hard time with a rushing QB. its just fact. but we still pulled out 4 sacks against one of the best rushing QBs in the nation at the moment....not the best team, but a dang good QB.

i see this next game a challenge as well. the defence will step it up because for one thing....bronco is a defensive coach, he'll see to it that the cougs are ready.

our offense has alot of weapons. and if the defense does step it up, which im sure it will, this will be a better show of the true team BYU is capable of being.

Hold the ball | 5:26 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Collie, use glue man, glue. You've dropped more passes in the first two games than the rest of the team combined. Check it. Quick being Hollywood Collie and play the game. We need you to show up and hold every single ball thrown your way to win this weekend.

Desert Sage | 5:49 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

I was at the UW game and the BYU players were extremely respectful while Harris was being treated and prepared for transport to the hospital. They were quiet and remained still. Why a previous poster falsely accused the BYU team in this way is not clear, but that poster needs to examine himself and come to grips with why he's so eager to condemn BYU.

BIGBEAR | 6:01 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

CERTAINLY UCLA WILL DOMINATE THE COUGS...
THEY ARE BCS MONSTERS, HOW COULD A LITTLE NON BCS SCHOOL LIKE byu EVEN COMPETE WITH BCS SUPERMEN..

BCS UCLA......67
mwc byu.......0

WE'RE LUCKY TO EVEN BE ON THE SAME FIELD WITH BCS SUPERMEN....GOLLY THANKS

NevadaCoug | 6:40 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Re: Norm Freaking Chow

Yeah, I remember you Norm! You were the guy who's offense got kinda stale in your last years at BYU. You were the guy who would telegraph passing plays by sending in certain RBs who were ONLY used to pass block, while the usual RBs were never used in that capacity. Yeah, I remember you well.

Norm, you were good for us for a while, but I was kinda glad when you moved on. You needed a change. And the Cougars needed a change as well.

Me, I'm really nervous about Saturday's game against UCLA. They'll be looking for revenge after that blocked kick, so hopefully Collie has learned how to hold onto a football. And hopefully Mr. Anae is willing to RUN THE BALL!!!!!

Turnovers are key ditto | 6:55 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

I agree with you turnovers are key. If BYU wins the battle of the turnovers, we win. If not, it will be a long Saturday. That includes forcing fumbles and interceptions which didn't happen against Washington.

Ogden Cougar | 7:07 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

I totally concur with Rich's comment. He indicates that BYU's offense is good enough to win every game, as long as they do not turn the ball over. -3 turnover margin and we will lose to UCLA. We may win with a -2 turnover margin.

Where in the world were Justin Sorenson's long kicks in the Washington game. Apparently Sea Level kicking was too much for him to overcome, as it always seems to be for our high altitude kickers. Our kick coverage was pretty good though.

re: bigbear | 7:33 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

...or did you do a typo and meant to post as "big beer"? I'd say your post represents how many BCS teams feel they should do against "lesser" conference teams. But I know you're just being an idiot.

I also know it ablsolutely infuriates ute fans that BYU keeps winning. That's ok, we'll keep winning and u guys keep whining.

I like BYU's chances this week against UCLA. Our key players on offense are healthy. Our D learned some important lessons from these first two games. Hated to hear about So'oto's foot though. I wish him a speedy recovery.

Sit Chambers Down | 8:35 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

I like Chamber's enthusiasm, but somebody needs to sit him down and tell him to chill out a little. This guys straight up punched a washington player. Luckily we didn't get called on it. Once he matures a little I think he'll be a integral part of BYU's offensive attack.

Jimmy | 8:41 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

I can't stand UCLA. Hate everything LA.

But this active mormon hates BYU more.

GO BRUINS!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Bigbear | 8:44 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Actually, BYU only has to outscore UCLA by 1 point to win.

Prophet | 9:27 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

My prediction: UCLA 67 BYU 7

Concussion | 9:52 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Hall takes the snap, steps back to pass, sees Collie open on the post, WHAM. Was his arm going forward? I don't know. Is he moving? Let's not speculate.

If BYU's left tackle does not step-up, Halls WORST NIGHTMARE will happen. Walker has those D-lineman salivating at the thought of playing against the left side of the BYU OL. Will it come from a corner, a linbacker or a down lineman? Stay tuned!

Blueute | 10:02 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

1. To: Question... About the refs, it will be a PAC-10 crew. Nothing BYU can do about that.
2. About the offense, they better have a plan to block Bruce Davis. He was all over Hall the last
two games. I donï¿½t think as good as Reynolds is at LT he can stop him, after all he is a freshman.
3. About the defense, donï¿½t worry about Chow having the Cougar play book, but BYU must be
ready to make in-game adjustments to what he is calling.

norm chow | 10:48 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

be afraid, very afraid!

Anonymous | 10:52 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

The bottom line is:

If BYU is good enough for a BCS bowl at the end of the year, then they will beat UCLA.

It will be a fun game.

I hold BYU and Utah go undefeated. That will make for a good match up at the end of the year.

While I respect UCLA, I disagree with the comment that they get the best players. USC, Ohio State, Florida . . . to name a few get the best players, UCLA, Wash . . . get to mop up.

Re: Prophet | 10:50 p.m. Sept. 8, 2008

Dude, why stop there? You should also predict over 700 yards for UCLA, 8 turnovers for BYU, less than 200 yards in the air, and a season-ending injuries to Max Hall and Harvey Unga. I mean if you're going to hate on someone, go heavy.

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