Deseret News | Reader comments: BYU football: Y. knows there's work to be done

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Y. has work ahead

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Laguna Niguel Ute | 1:05 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

New BYU Football Slogan / Perfection-No Exception

No changes? | 2:05 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

"While Mendenhall acknowledged there must be improvement, he said there are no plans to alter the defensive scheme."

WHAT!!!???

No matter how hard you bang your head against a brick wall, or how well you execute the banging, the brick wall will eventually win. The ability to see when something isn't working and find alternatives that do is what separates the good from the great coaches.

Sam | 3:09 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

If Y would allow dreadlocks, tattoos, and earrings within their dress/honor code, they could solve most of their problems on offense which is being able to recruit speed

Comments continue below

A few ideas | 4:25 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Bronco,

If you are serious about improving the program and taking it to the next level, here are a few ideas:

1) Practices that last longer than an hour.
2) Get rid of the bend-don't break defensive philosophy. That's rubbish and you know it.
3) New offensive coordinator who can bring some creativeness to his game plans.
4) Being more than a nine-to-five coaching staff. Your competition is out-coaching you guys...because they are putting in the hours.
5) Take a few chances to improve the athletic ability of the players. DBs that have to play 10-15 yards off the line will get beat every time.

Kevin P | 5:14 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Maybe the new slogan/t-shirt for 2009 season should be "More Defense Less Turnovers."

Turnovers | 7:02 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

The defense did fine when the offense was protecting the ball and scoring points. The offense needs to protect the ball. The offense needs to spread the ball around. Max was targeting single receivers in the last few games thus Paul K from Utah was able to bat down many balls. Max was singling in. I think Austins Departure will be good especially with McKay coming home.
Cougars will be just fine. GO COUGARS!

Bob in line | 7:22 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

What ever happened to the blitz?

I remember one year reading another coach say of the BYU/Mendenhall defense that 'BYU started blitzing the moment they got off the bus.' Do we blitz anymore?

It seems we don't. We rush 3 or 4 and drop the rest into pass coverage. When you have a weak pass coverage the first thing you do is blitz in order to put pressure on the quarterback.

Next year, always next year. With Oklahoma in Texas and Florida State, Utah and TCU in Provo, it has all the makings of either a BCS busting year or 7-5 and maybe a bowl game.

I worry that we are breaking in 4 new offensive linemen. Clearly that is a big concern.

Go BYU!

Hope For Change Go BYU | 7:25 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

TOP 3 things BYU needs to do over the off season if they want to improve for next year!
1. Coaches need to spend every minute between now and August, recruiting DBs that can play Football/ create a defensive scheme that does not allow 6 yards or more per play. In the Utah Game they were averaging 8 yards per play, pretty easy when the defense gives them 15 in cushion!
2. Max Hall needs to learn how to go through his Checks! He is a good leader and and has a accurate arm. But the defense knows where he is going every time. Hot route, sack, or pick cant always be the option!
3. Robert Anae needs to pull out the stops. Go back to BYU spread football. When the commentators from the MTN know they play before the snap THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM!!!! Put a counter in the offense. Run a trick play once in while! Its funny how we think of the fake handoff to Fui and then Pitch to Unga in the Utah game as a trick play! No creativity. You had it in Texas where is it now?

Scott | 7:31 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I am proud of the football team. They are winning like they did in the glory years, and they are doing it right. Keep it up.

Interesting | 7:45 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

"...the teams we lost to this year were the best teams we've lost to since I've been the coach."

Some will probably snicker at this quote, but it's right on the money. TCU and Utah were strong enough teams to force the Cougs into multiple errors and bad decisions. BYU was its own worst enemy against Arizona--which, if you take a look at the UA schedule and several very close losses, was only a handful of plays away from being 9-3 or maybe even 10-2 entering the LV Bowl. Nobody came close to blowing them out--their biggest loss was 10 points.

So all BYU losses were in fact to very good teams. The only shame in losing to any of those programs was in the Cougs' own failure to execute during those losses.

So forget the "get-rid-of-Anae-and-Max" overreactions. If BYU will just execute its own darn game plan against the best teams it faces, it'll take care of a lot of its own problems.

byu idaho | 7:50 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

BYU football is great, Bronco and his staff work very hard to build a great program and put in the time and energy to make it such. Outstanding quality kids are comming into the program and it will improve. If all the best LDS athlets committed to BYU with a blend of good non LDS athlets with the desire to live the same standards it would be top 5 team evey year. Note to all the LDS high school athlets, really think about your options carefully and what BYU has to offer. You won't regreat it!

knowwhat | 7:58 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I have promoted the new slogan already, that is why Bronco doesn't have to get one. "Surrender to Deficiency". I just have one question about BYU's dress and honor code...Why can you be a card carrying member of the LDS church and have tatoo's and dreadlocks, but you can't attend BYU?

Fire Bronco | 7:58 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Don't get me wrong, Bronco is a great coach and he will continue to win a lot at BYU. But I'm starting to doubt he can take BYU to the next level. The next level being BCS or a National Title. He never changes his game plan and has become too predictable. Bronco needs to add a little creativity to his belt and then BYU might have a chance. But I don't see that happening.

What | 8:07 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Bronco, I will bet you park your car in the same spot every day, so at the end of the day you can find it. There is a sign that says, "Bronco, park here." Nothing changes, its simply, do I back in this time or pull a little more forward, um, let me see.

Tommy, take away his parking place, something has to change, or its 3rd place again! Try to keep it simple for him, we would not want him to RAISE is voice and maybe get a little extra out of his players.

You had better change something Bronco, or its I am glad we finished 3rd and not 4th.

Thanks Cougs | 8:15 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Thanks Cougs, for being the people you are. Even though the school gets kidded about it, the fact is other programs would be decimated if they had to be as quality a people as you. They can't do it. They're not strong enough. We are always very, very proud of you. You're the best in many ways, including football. Can't wait for next year.

Go Coach M! | 8:28 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Mendenhall is a great coach! His record speaks for itself. When other teams will ebb and flow, the Cougs will not take those massive dips. The talent level is very high, the excitement is so great that 10-3 is disappointing.

What's not so great are ute fans, even after a great season they can't get past their morning without piling on. Here's a slogan for them..."Quest for Perfect INSECURITY". Congrats ute bloggers, hold your inferiority complex high!

cb | 8:36 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

As for the execution of the defence I am all for it.

The Shamwow Guy | 8:42 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I think the new slogan/t-shirt for BYU's 2009 season should be "At BYU We Have Uped Our Standards, So Up Yours."

John Lambert | 8:49 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Maybe BYU's new slogan should be: "BYU, Where Knowledge is Good."

Oregoncougar | 8:49 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Stop with the tips, here is a tip, BYU has rarely had a great Defense, sometimes we have a reasonable defense, sometimes a good defense, but never a great defense. You think Bronco created the bend don't break concept, every year that is our collective hope, and MOST years it breaks too much. 10-3 is a great record when 2 out of the 3 loses were against 2 of the best teams in the country. I admit, the AZ game was a bunch of BYU players that were playing because they had too not because they wanted to.
Good season.

Anonymous | 9:17 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

@ Sam:

If you are fast then you have dreadlocks, tattoos and earrings.

BYU doesn't allow dreadlocks, tattoos and earrings,

Therefore, BYU is not fast.

Are you serious? Do you really expect this arguement to fly?

P.S. Your punter had a tattoo.

No motto: Good 1st step | 9:30 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Now, get rid of the HAKA and sign some defensive football players.

Bronco should be fired | 9:44 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

For him to come out and say no major changed need to be made is reason to fire him! Their defense is bad as it. There is a reason why Austin Collie declared himself eligible for the NFL. I would too. The Cougars are in trouble next season. They open up with Oklahoma at Dallas. As for Collie moving on, so should Bronco Mendenhall!

Anonymous | 9:49 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

No changes? You're spot on! I think it's great to have a "game plan" but if that plan isn't working, make some chnages!!!! Quite banging your head aginst that wall. I'm so tired of Bronco using "lack of execution" as the reason his team didn't play well. Maybe it's not lack of execution as much as lack of preperation. Also, if you're using lack of execution as an excuse, who's responsible to prepare these athletes so they can execute???

Bash | 9:51 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I think its funny how every BYU fan seems to understand exactly what needs to be done to improve the team but the coaches don't.

Execution can only do so much when your Db's are playing 15 yards of the reciever. Teams could run a WR screen the entire game if they wanted to.

If Max Hall can't learn the check off his recievers then BENCH HIM. They hardly ever threw the ball to Michael reed who is an amazing reciever.

And Don't get me started about the lack of blitzing.

No Changes? | 9:54 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Hmmm, I can see the record falling from 10-3 to 8-5 or worse next year. The defense was horrible this past year and the offense did not improve from the previous year. BYU made average Qbs look like they belonged to the All-American team. The coaches are fools if they can not see that change and evolution need to take place. The defense needs a complete overhaul and the offense needs to get more creative. The MTN teams are now able to predict each pass route along with each running play because they have seen the exact formation and route for the last three years. CHANGE IS NEEDED!

Progress | 10:01 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

BYU's success over the last four years is noteworthy and the standard by which they should be judged. Coach Bronco and Co. are doing a great job. I think the next five years will be even better.

I'm pulling for Max Hall to improve. I think that's the biggest key for the Cougars. The defense will be solid enough.

KennewickCoug | 10:03 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Bronco is right on! He knows there is room for improvement. Do you think he's going to criticize his players? He knows what he's doing. The defense was not great, but eliminate our turnovers against TCU & Utah and the bend don't break philosphy can work. Whitingham said he chose the utah job over BYU because of who he could recruit there. We just HAVE to land the Te'o's, Heimulei's, Havili's, Heaps, etc. out there, or we will have a tough time competing, since our recruiting pool is much smaller. Bronco knows it.

Steve | 10:05 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I appreciate Bronco's keeping BYU standards high, having a strong brotherhood, etc. But, the problem, as I see it, is two fold--offense and defense. We don't have enough speed on defense to cover our opponents receivers tightly, so we give them 12 yards at the line of scrimmage and that leeds to an automatic 1st down whenever they face 3rd down situations. Bronco, please note that the top teams in the nation have a great "stick like glue" defense--and that's waht TCU and Utah showed us. Secondly, our offensive play calling is WAY TOO predictable. It's pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, run. Our opponents know we're going to pass 90% of the time, so can T-off on our quarterback and receivers. BYU needs to use its running backs more, on off-tackle runs and cutting back against the grain, and not always out of the Shotgun formation where opponents get a clear view of the planned run. In short, we have good running backs that need to be used more, so teams respect our running ability as well as our passing prowess. Then, we'll find it easier to pass too.

Brad | 10:12 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

No changes??? How about a pass rush? It is time for the Cougars to start pressuring the quarterback again. Our DB's are not athletic enough to defend and opposing quarterbacks will continue to have all afternoon to find their receivers unless we strike some fear in them. It is time to change the scheme or just expect more of the same defeats against teams with accurate quarterbacks.

BYU FAN | 10:14 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Don't expect any drastic changes? Rocky you are lame!

If BYU comes back next year with Max Hall?....get ready to have another mediocre season!

Step one in the road to change and BYU success?

Sit Max Hall and Go with Riley Nelson!

Simple enough....and that change alone will give you a MWC CHAMPIONSHIP!

Ticked | 10:21 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Max Hall blows. The secondary blows. And it's completely embarrassing to have a team like BYU that doesn't belong on the same field with Utah and TCU athletically. And yeah, get rid of the Haka--that's embarrassing too! Can't wait to get slaughtered by OK in Texas because we're afraid to recruit REAL athletes.

re: Bob in line | 10:20 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I agree with your disappointment in blitzing. I suspect that given the dropoff in defensive talent this year, Mendenhall and Hill were faced with picking their poison between leaving a weak, unsupported secondary vulnerable to being burned on the blitz versus dropping more LBs into coverage to help out. They chose the latter, which clearly that didn't work so well, but I'm not sure that they had the ability to bring a decent blitzing scheme either.

As for the o-line, the good news is that a number of the "new guys" actually have a good amount of game experience. The starting center spot is up for grabs, and the unit will need to come together quickly to survive September with a halfway decent record.

Hoosier Coug | 10:23 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

It's funny how a 10-3 season is considered to be an off year and suddenly the BYU staff is incompetent. Yes, expectations are everything and they did not live up to them. But come on now, they went 10-3, a good portion of which was the best Mountain West conference ever, one that was much better than ANY WAC season in its history, pre- or post-MWC.

And no, when you're 10-3, there's not a lot that you should change.

BYU is there | 10:35 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

This is the best the Y can expect. Win the conference two out of three years ain't bad. They just can't get the athletes to go to the next level. Bronco is solid. Accept your spot as the most consistant team in the MWC. You beat who you should beat you lose to who you should lose to. (Exept Arizona that was a let down.)

Nathan | 10:37 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Bronco used to be a great coach, but now he is just a good coach. Their scheme's never change, from week to week and he has become so narrow minded, especially on the defensive end of the ball. Perhaps that is where Max Hall gets his narrow mindedness from. BYU will be better off without Collie, because Max will start looking at other receivers.

Note to all LDS athletes | 10:46 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I would strongly discourage you from playing at BYU. Please make some other program better and stop feeding the arrogance that has become inseparable from BYU football. Bronco thinks he has been called as the team's bishop rather than their coach. He talks about perspective, but clearly has none when he puts football on a religious level, as he does.

You will do much more good for the Church to play elsewhere, expose your teammates to the good LDS players can do, and maybe even do some missionary work while you're at it.

Please know that there are many other, wonderful options (and better programs) than BYU has to offer.

Whereever you choose to play, good luck!

BigPoet | 10:49 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

The Haka must stay. You must go.

RE:knowwhat | 10:55 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I'm glad you found something important to think about today. Good luck tomorrow.

Cornhusker fan | 10:56 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Nebraska fired their coach after going 9-3 because they were to greedy after Osborne left. Look what happened to their program after firing a good coach. If 10-3 is the worst that BYU does, that's not bad. Who cares that Utah had a great season. Utah still hasn't established consistency.

RE: knowwhat | 10:57 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

You can attend BYU with dreadlocks and tatoos. You just have to be a school athlete.

Re: No Motto | 11:03 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Amen

Keep Mendenhall, boot the Haka | 11:17 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I think the psychies of BYU's football players got messed with when the Ute players came over and broke up the Cougs' Haka dance. It's probably a good idea to let the Haka dance go, or at least do it in the locker room before coming out on the field. It is a little mocking to the other team, and somehow doesn't fit in a BYU football program image, in my opinion.

Mendenhall is Great | 11:22 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I am really glad we have Mendenhall. He is a fantastic coach. He has such great integrity and character. To go 10 and 3 is great. I can't believe the naysayers on this board. I don't think they represent the vast majority of Cougar fans. Yes, there's always room for adjustments and improvements, on every team. But to translate this into: it's time for Mendenhall because we lost three games to top notch teams, is crazy. I'm a true blue Cougar fan, but I'm embarrassed, sometimes by the dolts who nay say when we go 10 and 3. The same dolts used to criticize Lavell Edwards. It's crazy. Get a life, Cougar dolts.

UTE respects BYU | 11:27 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

This Ute fan has nothing but respect for BYU, Bronco and the student athletes that represent the school. I am NOT LDS and love nothing more than kicking the Y's butt in each and every sport. An honest student of the game will admitt it was BYU great run, last century, that pushed Utah on to bigger and better things. Now the roles are reversed and BYU has to catch up to Utah. This is the best thing for the MWC. I love those fair weather Yners that are ready to toss one of the best coaches BYU has ever had. Loyalty - ha.

CBT | 11:27 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

My wish list for Bronco:
1) Let Anae open up the sealed portion of the T Tech playbook he was supposed to bring to Provo. It is time to open it up and use it all.
2) Switch the D formation again. This time, go from a 3-4 to a 4-3. BYU has more depth on the D-line than at linebacker. When they went to the 3-4, the linebackers were awesome. Now, get more D-linemen on the field to better run stop and pressure the QB from the outside because the linebackers are not the team strength anymore.
3) Recruit a few more non-LDS skill players. I do not care where they are from, but get them. you have the culture in place now to handle it. 5 years ago, you did not. BYU under LaVell always got top talent non-LDS kids. McMahon, Clay Brown, Detmer, Omar Morgan, Tim McTyer, Jamal Willis, Leon White, etc etc. It worked before with proper leadership and it can now with proper leadership. Embrace that and go get them.
4) Beat Utah. Just beat them next year. Win THAT game.

woody | 11:35 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

One word for Bronco: Get us a new QB and maybe Hall will realize there will be compatition for him to fight through and maybe it will help him when he realizes he can be replaced.

The New Quest | 11:42 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Bronco's New Quest... "Execution on our Firesides" When football is 5th on his priority list tells me as a fan that he doesn't really care and neither should I since he's only going to put a little bit in since it's not that important. That's why practices are 90 minutes and the staff is out by 5:00. That's why they'll never be a BCS team under Bronco.

BYU Grad | 11:40 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Look, one reason that BYU brought in Bronco was because many athletes were not living the honor code. At that time, I could not in good conscience cheer for the Cougs, and I am a BYU grad. As far as we know, this is a BYU team truly worth cheering for.

As long as Bronco leads a competitive team that plays with honor, he has my support. But I also hope the Cougs have enough fire in their bellies to to find a way to win some victories over next year's VERY tough opponents.

No Change On Defense? | 11:45 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

What's the definition of Insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
Maybe Bronco should think about a different scheme since we've seen that the bend don't break doesn't work.

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