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BYU football 2008 recap

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Gretzky | 8:44 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
you hit the head on nail with the "favorable" schedule...Utah had TCU and BYU at home with home town refs. just ask TCU. BYU had both on the road. next year is opposite but don't look for TCU to be any worse despite losing a senior QB. Their WR could run all day on most teams. Utah could show some surprises depending on how the backup QB looks. BYU might have to let Gaskins throw the ball. BYU might take a lesson from other teams and get a QB that can run as well as throw....
running QB | 10:06 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
yeah I completely agree we need a running QB....wait we already have one. steve covey! he is an incredible athlete. they are talking about moving him to corner cuz of his speed and athleticism. they were saying all season how much of a playmaker he was on the scout team. I was bugged we never used him, especially when we were blowing people out or getting blown out. hopefully he gets some snaps next year. he has a cannon arm and like 4.5 speed.
re: Gretzky | 10:13 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
You should check your facts, TCU does not loose a senior QB, but will have their sophomore QB returning for his junior season. TCU will be a force to reckon with. Also, Utah has landed a stand out junior college QB transfer so expect the turn around to be much quicker than in the past.
Comments continue below
HSFAN | 1:10 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Time for Bronco to get real about Max Hall!!!!!!.....with Riley Nelson home from his Mission, its time to send Max Hall packing! Nelson is the real deal, a flatout winner! Hall is not 1/10 the player Nelson is....IF BRONCO DOESN'T SEE IT, HE COULD FIND HIMSELF LOOKING FOR A coaching JOB!
Blue Man | 1:51 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Get off Hall's back. Max Hall is a terrific QB. To say otherwise is incredible blindness and ignoring the facts. Look at the stats! Look at the number of times that Max pulled out the game with a last minute drive. Pull you head out! He has a combined 21-5 as a starter. That pretty much defines WINNER. Max had two bad games (TCU and Utah this year) and still the offense scored 24 against Utah.

The problem this year was (listen up HSFAN) "defense" not offense. With any help at all from the defense BYU rampages the conference.

BYU needs help all over the defense. Pass rush was non-existant. Linebackers were slow. Secondary had serious trouble with man to man coverage. But the main problem was the pass rush. We got one sack against AZ and that was on a blitz. I suspect that even HSFAN could complete passes with as much time as opposing QB's had.

So don't just run your mouth. Think before you write. Fortunatly for BYU, Bronco is running the show and he actually knows what he is doing.
QB Play | 2:38 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I like Hall as well, and think he is a good quarterback. But He sure didn't look good the last three games. I wonder how well Coach Doman is helping the QBs on this team. He failed to help Hall make adjustments when he got rattled especially in the Utah game.
0-3 Quest | 3:50 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Hall had a turnover problem in the big games this year. Each loss can be attributed directly to his poor play so wise up blue boy!

Hall has shown an inability to find secondary receivers. This made Pitta an early star and Collie look like an early pro prospect, but he and Anae were predictable and error prone. One need look no further than these two for the reason for the failure of "the Quest."
Play calling | 4:21 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
BYU's talent on offense was easily the best in the MWC---with Hall, Collie, Pitta, Unga, and a huge offensive line. Robert Anae was never able to make the adjustments needed when facing good defenses. A great offensive coordinator would have taken this team to a whole other level.
SoCalTrueBlue | 4:29 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
The success of the 2009 season turns entirely on how well BYU can replace 4 of 5 offensive linemen. 2008 was supposed to be the best offensive line ever, but I respectfully suggest they did not live of to their true potential. I agree with comments above that the true weakness on the 2008 team was the defense, mostly the secondary, which made the coaches reluctant to blitz the linebackers, and allowed offensives to gang up on Jorgensen. BYU usually is deep on the offensive line, so I'm predicting 2009 will be a better year than 2008. Max Hall is already very good and in 2009 will be outstanding if the offensive line will protect him adequately.
CrushedCougar | 11:27 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
The real problem with the defense is the lack of pressure on the QB not the players! Rushing only 3 lineman and at times only 2 will never get the job done. No corner should be expected to stay with their receiver for 5+ seconds. Until Bronco changes his approach on defense and comes with more pressure the Cougs will continue to struggle!

As for the Offense Max Hall needs to step up and take care of the football. If his poor decision making is evident in the early part of the 09 season Bronco needs to strongly consider replacing him. If Mad-Max doesn't turn the ball over in the three big games this year BYU would have had a chance to win late in each game.

Welcome ladies! | 8:35 a.m. Dec. 27, 2008
I'd like to be the first to welcome Mrs. Gaskins, Mrs. Covey, and Mrs. Riley to the posting boards. We can see that you are all so very, very proud of your sons!
Hall Is Not That Good - Yet | 9:50 a.m. Dec. 27, 2008
I like Hall. But he is not nearly as good as his stats suggest. He had fantastic playmakers around him and was usually given all day to throw. But every time we faced a team that really challenged him he not only folded but literally played terribly. He really seemed to digress as we [layed real competition.

He seems to be a great guy. I'm sure he is a good husband and he works hard and is competitive. But let your eyes be the guide folks. When he was put under duress he simply did not come through. I hope that is something he can change over he summer. He is facing a senior season very similar to John Beck's - a lot of gaudy numbers but still needing to prove he can deliver when the heat is on.
Tonga, Jacobsen and Riley | 10:02 a.m. Dec. 27, 2008
Forget all the talented skill players coming back. We know they will be fantastic. The keys to a great rather than another good season are these:

1. Tonga - Fui rose to the occassion and played like his sophomore season while putting the team first with less carries. But Tonga is simply a phenominal talent. I'm hoping his time away motivated him to get even better. He is a fantastic package of blocking, running, and receiving. He will allow Unga to really run again rather than tiptoe through the line like he did the last half of 08'.

2. McKay Jacobsen - Speed, speed and more speed. BYU lacks it and he brings it. With him as a threat across the field from Collie, Pitta and George up the middle, and Unga and Tonga out of the backfield - Hall had better learn to check down 5 or 6 receivers this summer cause all of them could go pro.

3. Riley - No he won't replace Hall. But Hall could use a good, fiery young talent pushing him and making plays in camp. Hall needs to improve for BYU to be great and good competition could help.
Hey! HSFAN | 1:10 p.m. | 2:52 p.m. Dec. 27, 2008
Get Real. You were probably one who was calling for Beck's head before his senior year and then you were sing his praises, as he lead BYU to an 11-2 season. While Nelson will be good, the kid WILL have to learn the system and HAVE to get his body back in shape. I for one expect great thing next year and when it is all SAID and DONE Max WILL be looking at a 33-5 record for his career!

Roaring back to the Top 2009! Go Max and Go Cougars!
are you the coach? | 6:58 p.m. Dec. 27, 2008
get real with some of these comments, I love how people think they know how to run an orginization. Bronco does an AMAZING job and runs the BYU program the way it should be. Don't give any suggestions or I think's because it really means nothing coming from some randome person who know maybe 1/100th of what Bronco knows. Show some respect to the man who has given life back to this program.

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