Two factors that predict success in football better than any other is control of the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage. Even though the Y breaks in a bunch on D they will still be tough. With the cougs depth and talent on both lines this should be a great year.

Take a knee Pop Warner. What a bone head play that was. I thouht I'd mention that since the byu fans are fixated in the past.. like 24 years ago when they weren't even a swimimg tadpole.

So if the defensive line and our linebackers are fairly solid, is it safe to say that the only real concern for Bronco on defense is in the backfield? If thats the case, why do most prognosticators seem to feel our defense, as a whole, will be a real let-down? Or maybe its just the pro-BYU commentators I've been listening to (Gordon Monson, David Locke, etc.) .....NOT!!

Mr Kevin of the Terrace is a wise man!

I have not heard that BYU's defense is going to be rough his year. And even if I did I'm not too worried. With a real solid defensive line we should expect a solid run stop game, at least decent, depending on how well the linebackers can cover the holes. And if we remember last year BYU's defensive secondary was going to have holes shot through it. Minus the Tulsa game, that didn't happen.

I rapidly see that Bronco Mendenhall is going to be running for Congress soon. Let me explain.

Back in the 1980's Tom Osbourne of Nebraska had a great, mature system in play. Freshman played on the JV team. Second year they red-shirted. Third year, Sophmore year they played backup to a starter then they started their Junior and Senior years. Worked well enough that Tom Osbourne owned the Big-10 and the state, ultimately winng Congress in a land slide.

Mendenhall is building that same kind of capacity, at least trying. And it seems to be working.

The defense will be good. And with an offense that can move the ball, the defense won't get worn out.

...are just that. People who get paid to voice/write their opinions, in this case, about BYU football.

In most cases, sports commentatators' opinions are no more valid than any other hardcore fan who knows a little about college football.

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IMOAO, BYU's defense this year will be better than it was last year.

Is that Tonga kid ever going to play again? Is he on the roster?

the Dbacks are new in a sense but with a solid D-line putting pressure on the other team's QB and the linebackers taking care of anything over or in the middle then our dbacks will have time to adjust and make their plays. it's going to be a great season. you can just feel it. let's hope the utes can beat michigan which will be tough only b/c appy state repeat will not be allowed by michigan this year. the utes are much better than appy state however michigan does not see this game that way. they will take out their revenge of appy state on utah. appy state opens at LSU - the defending bcs champs. i forget where Georgia, the true national champ last year (if they had a playoff system) will be opening up. this time of year, the fall leaves changing colors, cooler weather on the horizon, christmas around the corner, is such a great time of year.

Tonga is suspended for his grades.

Kaufusi is a traitor! I can not respect anyone that changes side in a rivalry like this.

Tonga will play next year if he's academically eligible. He wasn't this year.

What about Kyle Whit? Can we label him a traitor as well??

I guess that means that you don' respect Kyle Whittingham and a portion of your football staff (Kalani Sitake & Aaron Roderick) then, because they started as cougars and then changed sides. I am sorry you don't respect your team.

A traitor to Dixie? Or to BYU? Or to Utah? He attended all three. Why should he be loyal only to one? He gave Utah I think 7 years, He's given BYU 7 years + 3 as a player, whats wrong with that?

Hey "TED", you must REALLY think Coach Whit (former Cougar turned head of the yewts) is a traitor!

No doubt Kyle wishes he'd taken the BYU job!

Washington is this year's Tulsa, UCLA is this year's UCLA.

So do you respect Kyle Wittingham for once being a Cougar lineman, and now head coaching the Utes?

They get paid because their opinions are based on more than bias, and they're right more than most of us. Anyone offering to pay you for your opinion? Then I'll take yours with a grain of salt.

Go STEVE! We are looking forward to a great year.

-The people at AirCom

According to USAToday: Eight ways the 2008 season can be just as great as last year

6. Brigham Young is this year's BCS buster. The No. 17 Cougars have 10 offensive starters returning, including quarterback Max Hall, whose unit averaged 30.1 points, and could be 2008's Utah/Boise State/Hawaii — a team that crashes the BCS party. The two-time defending Mountain West champion can climb in the polls and earn style points if it defeats Pacific-10 teams Washington and UCLA.

Other candidates: No. 25 Fresno State would have to get past a challenging season opener — at Rutgers — then beat Wisconsin, Toledo and UCLA before beginning Western Athletic Conference play. Two other unranked Mountain West teams, Utah and Texas Christian, could be in the running if all three don't eliminate one another in league play.

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Kafusi and Hill have put together the best BYU defense since Mendenhall became head coach. If the defense can get off to a fast start vs. Washington and UCLA, this could be a memorable season for the Cougars.

I read that Washington has the most pourous defensive back field in the entire western United States. Apparently mediocre passing teams could really put up some yardage on the Huskies lack of passing defense. If this is true that BYU will score plenty.

The only way this becomes a Tulsa game is if Washington can in turn score lots. I doubt they can. UCLA wasn't able to, Utah wasn't able to. And Washington didn't put up that many points against weaker defenses last year.

I think Utah will shock the nation by beating Michigan in a close game. The only bigger shocker is if BYU loses to Northern Iowa.

Go BYU!

...everyday you will find the latest BYU article in the top 5 most popular......and everyday the daily Utah article is nowhere to be found.....It will be the same when the final top 25 polls come out.

Some of you are getting the Tonga brothers mixed up. Matangi is who played on defense and was mentioned in the article. He got in legal trouble. Manase was the fullback. He got in trouble for academics. Hopefully he'll be back; who knows about Matangi?

Oh, please!!! Can we just play the game on the field??!!!

And, does all this mean that Bronco will run for Congress?

I would love to see Utah beat Michigan. I am a cougar fan and why would'nt you want to see them beat Michigan?? It's good for the conference, and our state, and recruiting. Utah has a solid program and has recruited well. It makes for a fun matchup in S.L.C. this year. I have watched the team closely this year and I think that BYU is more athletic than last year. I don't think we need to worry about DB or LB because we have talent thier. Can they make the plays necessary to win big games? I definitely think so. JJ Diliugi will surprise people also. Does everyone realize how good this kid is? If you followed his H.S. career you would know. He played in the toughfest football league in California. It was the foothill league, won the state title as a senior and rushed for 134 yards again'st Delasalle who had'nt been beat in 3 or 4 years for the win in the championship game. Byu got him committed as a junior. After his senior year the whole Pac 10 wanted him among other's. He is a Reno Mahe with speed, and has great hands.

Not that it matters, but for accuracy's sake....
Now Neb. is in the Big 12. Never was in the Big 10.

The defensive line is as solid as it has ever been. I can't really say that the linebackers will be as solid as they were last year, (not that they will be soft, I just can't see them being as good as Kehl, Poppinga, and Staffieri were). The linebackers are moderately experienced, having rotated in a little bit last year. I think that there is more talent and athleticism in the defensive backfield than last year, but an obvious lack of experience. So put those three together, and that will give you an idea of what the defense will be like this year.

Ted has taken too many tackles without his helmet. Maybe you were out in a hailstorm with another blogger and got the sense knocked out of you. utes fans, a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Quick, name the last non-conference road game that BYU has won. Don't overlook Washington. They have one of the best QBs in the country. He has the size and arm of Tebow and runs a 4.4. Washington plays an emotional game against Oregon this weekend in Eugene and then have Oklahoma in Norman after the BYU game. Cougars are fortunate to be in Washington's "overlooked" week.

This week's predictions: Utah over Michigan and BYU over N. Iowa.

and for Utah: Michigan is this year's Oregon St, and Oregon St is this year's Air Force, and Weber St is this year's UNLV.

Why do you guys eat so much Jello?

The Mendenhall for Congress was completely tongue in cheek. The point I was making is that Mendenhall has built a system not on some highly regarded recruit but a method of preparation, just as Tom Osborne did. If trend continues I see Mendenhall doing this for many a year, just as Osborne did. Mentioning Congress was just heighted fun.

With Washington having a quarterback with 4.4/40 speed is great. BYU was already threatened with one of those two years ago. Dixon of Oregon and BYU played within the Mendenhall game and we thrashed the 4.4/40 quarterback. Dixon was actually much more highly regarded than the current quarterback at Washington.

Any case, I am a new believer in the Mendenhall system. I thought last year was going to be a train wreck with a horrible defensive secondary and a brand new quarterback. In stead, well we know the results.

This year should be a pretty decent year for football.

Hopefully, rising from the ashes of coach (?) Callahan, a HUSKER FOREVER, can only look with admiration at the work done by the BYU coaching staff to assemble such a group of quality D-Lineman.

Defense is predicated on the ability of the front 3 or 4 to implement their tecnique. Any second or third level player would be eager to play behind the D-Line BYU has developed.

Here's hoping that some day soon the Husker and Cougar Nations can enjoy a home and home series that could become the envy of many.

Nice! A doubleheader on Sat, first the Utes over the 'verines and the Cougars over N IA.

RE: Jello

We eat jello because it's not viewed as one of the deadly sins.

Why is everyone saying that if Utah beats Michigan its going to be an upset? Utah is a much stronger team this year and Michigan is in a rebuilding state. Michigan is a great football progam but this year they're just going to be average at best. Im just hoping that Utah and BYU go undefeated until the matchup in Salt Lake. Go COUGS!