Reader comments
BYU football: Offensive linemen Mulitalo and Tautu verbally commit

Anonymous | 2:37 a.m. June 30, 2009

Can't wait for football season to begin!

Speculation | 7:21 a.m. June 30, 2009

is so much fun. it is so awesome that BYU and Utah and soon to be Utah State have such great programs. With Utah's recent success this decade and the Cougars' decades of success, tradition and honor the state of Utah is becoming a football state to acknowledge. now if we could only get rid of the BSC and install a 16 team playoff system to cover every major conference champion and truly prove who is the best like basketball does.

doctor-doctor | 7:54 a.m. June 30, 2009

do we need more Linebackers or should we maybe start focusing on top RB's and DB's???? I think we have enough LB's in the cupboard, but no DB's worth keeping. they are more like food storage that are 25 years old. Time to throw them out!

Comments continue below

BlueBoy | 8:18 a.m. June 30, 2009

Speed.

Need speed.

Gotta have speed.

Woooosh! That's the sound of Oklahoma's players going by BYU's this Fall. On both offense and defense.

Patter.

Pitter patter.

That's the sound BYU's RBs won't be making much as a certain clueless offensive coach succumbs to the airways with an interception prone QB.

Look off.

Need to look off.

Gotta have a QB that knows how to look off defensive players. Doubt that's changed.

I predict BYU will have 4-5 losses this year.

Hope I'm wrong about all that, but this is what happened last year, and most of the offending cast hasn't changed. Still feeling the sour grapes of last year's finish.

Recruiting, on the other hand, bodes well for BYU's future. What SHOULD have been happening years ago is starting to happen now---getting the top LDS athletes to want to come to BYU because it's THEIR school.

Zac | 8:23 a.m. June 30, 2009

Re: Doctor. Yes we need better LBs. When our D was good in 2006 and 2007, our DBs were probably even slower than they are now, but we had amazing LBs like Jensen, Kehl, Poppinga, Nixon, Staffieri, Bolden, etc. They were good enough to stop the run and short passes, which gave our D line an opportunity to get to the QB instead of worrying about other things.

Not excited yet | 8:57 a.m. June 30, 2009

As a cougar fan I will not be excited till they start getting secondary players, cornerbacks and safeties of the same caliber. BYU and Utah both lost out to this Badger kid who was just changed his pledge from Stanford and opted to commit to an offer from Notre Dame instead. So yeah, BYU can get all the talent it can in all the other positions, we'll never achieve the kind of success Utah has until we can get some speed and talent back in the secondary..until then, it will forever be the Achilles heal for BYU and any other good passing team will certainly exploit that weakness.

re:speculation | 9:11 a.m. June 30, 2009

We shouldn't wish for the BCS to change. While Utah and BYU could beat most teams one time, neither would be able to beat four top teams four weeks in a row to win a playoff. People don't realize this, but we benefit in some ways from the BCS.

Anonymous | 9:15 a.m. June 30, 2009

re: not excited yet
firstly there is no need to get excited about recruiting because it is high school talent that is at best projected potential, however it is an indicator. secondly, i doubt you truly are a byu fan or you would realize that byu signed the better of the two safties in the timpview defensive backfield last year when they signed bills. he is as good as badger and is faster.

Re: re speculation | 9:36 a.m. June 30, 2009

What are you talking about? You only have to beat a team once in a single elimination tournament. I would rather have the opportunity to go to the tournament and go 0-1, 1-1 most years than to never have the chance. Just like the Utes were happy for the opportunity to go to the big dance last year and lose in the first round.

the ty | 9:50 a.m. June 30, 2009

this article is about 9 days too late

Brian | 9:51 a.m. June 30, 2009

Re: 9:11am - Although I agree BYU might have a better shot at a NC with the BCS in place for the reasons you mentioned... I still want the sport to have a TRUE National Champion through a playoff system that includes the champions of ALL conferences. Without a playoff, and without including all conference champions in the playoff, the system is unfair.

BYU is good, But how good? | 11:24 a.m. June 30, 2009

BYU Defensive corners average height is 5'10". Oklahomas receivers average height is 6'1". You do the math.

Im not holding my breath. BYU will be a good team this year. But im not sure if they will be able to take on the likes of Oklahoma, Florida St, TCU and maybe Utah. And lets not over look Air Force this year, who had a building year last year and placed 4th in the MTN. BYU has a very very hard schedual this year.

cant wait, cant wait, cant wait | 11:38 a.m. June 30, 2009

I cant wait for Football season to roll around. this is getting so borring having to wait. all im left with is watching reruns on the Mtn.

The tdS will lose... | 1:40 p.m. June 30, 2009

...to Oklahoma in their season opener. But not because they lack speed in the secondary. Folks, Oklahoma and the Big XII is not known for their speed. Speed has been the calling card for the SEC and ACC. The Big XII has sound fundamentals, and are an Offensive conference. The SEC is a Defensive conference. The tdS just has to match up well vs. Oklahoma's Offense. Which they won't, because they don't have the caliber of players even on the Sooner's bench. Which is why they'll lose.

Well, that and the fact that this is a big game. The tdS can't win the big game. But look out San Diego St.

BigYFan | 1:45 p.m. June 30, 2009

Win or Lose, Hopefully more W's, BYU football will be fun to watch this fall. Excited about the new grass on the field; it will look really good on the HDTV.

The new grass | 2:18 p.m. June 30, 2009

The new turf on BYU's field is going to look great stuffed in the Uties face masks.

BYU | 4:52 p.m. June 30, 2009

The storm is comin!! The great players are lining up. It's just going to get bigger and bigger.

The storm? | 5:15 p.m. June 30, 2009

Yeah, the storm sure is coming? BYU will still embarrass horrible teams in LES and get embarrassed by good teams. Great storm.

wow | 5:16 p.m. June 30, 2009

Great job DesNews, way to keep up with current events! I only found out about these guys like a week and a half ago.

About DB recruits, as for as the most MOST recent recruits we haven't landed any, at least not "rated" high school DB's. But consider this.

At the Safety spot we've landed some decent players. Shiloah Te'o is good and he could start as soon as 2010. This year we recruited Craig Bills and Jray Galea'i who are both top 25 safties nationally. So we're good at the safety spot for a while. Currently we have Scott Johnson who held is own at corner which is a harder position, and will be starting at safety this year. Andrew Rich was a JC All-American, and Mike Hague back from a mission should move back to safety.

At corner, have you forgotten Lee Aguirre, Brian Logan, and Corby Eason? Those guys will be immediate impact players. There's also freshman Trevor Bateman coming in. On the roster there's already Brandon Bradley, Garrett Nicholson, and Robbie Buckner is back from a mission.

We're better off at DB than you might think.

2010 | 5:17 p.m. June 30, 2009

This is the recruiting class for 2010. We're not recruiting for 2009 anymore. Therefore comments about how BYU will do this year kind of don't have anything to do with the article...

You might be a loser if-- | 5:30 p.m. June 30, 2009

-- you refer to your favorite team as "We".

say good by to your keester Mr | 6:08 p.m. June 30, 2009

WEEEE are going to kick some royal red but this coming fall!!!

doctor-doctor | 6:44 p.m. June 30, 2009

Wow and Zac, way to keep the kool aid pouring. I am not worried about short passes I am worried about our DB's stopping the run and stopping ANY receiver. They are pathetic and there is no need to defend them. It is common knowledge that they are our WEAKNESS. The bend not break mentallity is a joke. Lets adopt USC's mentallity and Break the other time all the while never bending!!!

Go Cougars | 7:14 p.m. June 30, 2009

Im a huge Cougar fan. thats why i know they need some help at corner back. other than that, the offence is tight.

Cougars Fan | 10:21 p.m. June 30, 2009

All this talk about the secondary but no one mentions the biggest concern on defense and thats getting pressure on the QB. we were way to passive and didn't do nearly enough of that last season. I dont care who you have in the secondary, if you cant get to the QB your secondary is gonna suffer big time.
On the other hand a good pass rush can make an average secondary look good. Yes, we need DB's and we have recruited some recently, but it starts with the front seven, they have to get after the QB. If they can do that it makes the job for the secondary a whole lot easier.

Re: Cougars Fan | 12:52 a.m. July 1, 2009

You have a good point. See that's the funny thing is that's actually Utah's soft spot is in the middle with the linebackers. They overemphasize DB's and recently they've got a strong D-Line but really their linebackers are the weak spot. Having great DB's and a good D-Line helps their linebackers look better. The same way with the BYU Defense in 2007. The DB's were all walk ons but they actually looked pretty good with stellar linebackers and a fairly solid D-line.

Having a good front seven makes bad DB's look better and vice versa. The real key is to have all 11 defenders look good.

Don't fear it though. Every position has been recruited well. The only thing is we may lack depth in certain areas. We've recruited great LB's and great D-lineman. I hate to say it. . .but the problem with 08, and hopefully not this year but possibly this year, is the existing front seven. Besides Jan Jorgensen, and potentially Jordan Pendleton and Coleby Clawson. . .the front 7 leaves a lot to be desired. Hopefully they'll be much improved this year.

RE: BlueBoy | 8:56 a.m. July 1, 2009

You can't predict a range! If you want to predict number of losses that's fine, but think a bit and make an actual prediction. I predict 0-12 losses this year. It just doesn't make sense man!

I have BYU OU tickets!

Blue Psycho | 11:40 a.m. July 1, 2009

Is it just me or is anyone else really worried about the Cougar defense this fall. First, we lose Howard. Why? Nobody seems to know. He wasn't my favorite corner, but he could have been much improved his senior year. Next we lose Tialavea. Missions are great, but timing can sure mess up a football team. Finally we lose speedy and athletic DE Afutiti to academics. (Football players seem to get academic breaks everywhere but BYU) The offense had better be good cause the D will start out with many inexperienced players.

RE: Blue Boy | 4:39 p.m. July 1, 2009

We know the cougs are jealous of the YEWTS! Now that we have our grass for sale, just watch the Cougs start selling their grass too.

Be original!!!!

RE: RE: Blue Boy | 6:55 p.m. July 1, 2009

Ohh speaking about being original, i believe that Boise State sold their football field as well

WSU Cougar | 7:30 p.m. July 1, 2009

Blue Psycho "Football players seem to get academic breaks everywhere but BYU".

If you REALLY believe that's true, you have NO CLUE about BYU football! BYU doesn't treat their players any differently academically than anyone else, except the Service Academies.

BYU allows athletes lower admittance standards if the Coach wants them and doesn't hold them to higher standards then other NCAA schools.

green derby | 10:16 p.m. July 2, 2009

Need info to understand blogs what exactly are td's other than touchdowns?

Shorts | 10:23 p.m. July 3, 2009

green derby: TDS is "Team Down South"

TDS | 2:38 p.m. July 5, 2009

TDS is an overused phrase that has been used for decades in college football rivalries that Urban Meyer copied and now Utah uses it.

Give it a rest it's getting really old. Be original, Ute fans.

Sparks | 4:36 a.m. July 6, 2009

If there is one thing that Anae needs to get in his head that he still refuses to accept is that the Run will never replace the pass at BYU. The best strategy should be like it always has been at BYU. The run is only used to set up the pass. Until Anae gets over his obsession with the run and concentrates on using the run to setup multiple passing options then he will never be a great coach. BYU is not the place to be trying to develop the run as the spearpoint of the offense. BYU's recruiting program just does not attract the needed high caliber running backs in consistant numbers year after year. Since BYU has never been able to also attract the high quality Defensive secondary safties and conerbacks on a consistant basis then it will remain a team that must rely on an overwhelming highscoring offense. The more runs you try to encorporate into the BYU offense the less effective you become as an overwelming high scoring offense. Anae just hasn't caught on to that reality yet. He'll continue to be just a mediocre Offensive Coordinator until he does.

Re;re;cougars fan | 1:27 p.m. July 6, 2009

I'm not sure you could really refer to Utahs linebackers as the soft spot on the team this year. Sylvester and Wright both have a good chance at being first team all conference players this year.

re: 1:27 p.m. | 2:50 p.m. July 7, 2009

Hm, you're right.

I guess the soft spots of the defense should be around the edges now that Paul Kruger, Sean Smith and Brice McCain are gone.

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