BYU Blue in Germany | 4:28 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Can this Washington QB really be faster than anyone on our side of the ball??? I hope Mendenhall was being complimentary and kind... If this QB is faster than Collie or JJ or some of our secondary, then I say we have a VERY slow team.
Re: BYU Blue in Germany | 7:55 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
You do have a VERY slow team.
Josh | 8:10 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
We might be slow, but we're OLD! Oh wait, that's bad too....
Comments continue below
Speed | 8:16 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
We have some players faster than Locker but Mendenhall is doing the right thing by building the kid up. He is a great athlete but we have some dbs and receivers who could definitely keep up with him. Jan Jorgenson is a very fast DE and I think we will see him chase Locker down a few times. And as good as Collie is - he is not our fastest player or even receiver. He is strong and has great hands and good speed but he is not a burner. I think our overall team speed is not as bad as some think. Especially for positions like O-line and TE we have better than average speed. We historically have slower than average receivers and dbs but this season we have 3 or 4 very fast dbs who can hang with most any receiver.
Think About It... | 8:31 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Even though he can (possibly) be faster than many of the BYU defense, he has to leave to pocket to run.

SOLUTION: Keep him locked in the pocket.
JJ | 8:52 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Question.. Is FUI going to play Saturday?
JMT | 8:53 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
If everyone plays their assignments speed is not important. I remember the New York Giants played a starting cornerback who could only run a 4.7/40. And they were pretty open about it. And opposing receivers would talk about it. The reason he not only played in the NFL but started is because he was so incredibly solid in his assignments. He played the game exactly how he was suppose to and because of it he consistently covered buys who could run a 4.2/40.

When BYU plays this kind of assignment football they are great. And with Locker the assignment is to keep him in the pocket. I watched the Washington/Oregon game and locker did not seem to be a pocket passer. He loved getting out of the pocket and scrambling around. And when he scrambles not only is he fast but throws very accurate. I've said it before but Steve Young type of accurate.

If we don't play strict assignments Locker will do some great things. Overall though Washington does not seem that disciplined. Their defense seemed unwilling to cover the holes.

We will score on this defense. The question remains whether or not we can stop Locker.
Gman | 9:02 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Yes, Fui is going to play Saturday-and right we have some fast players on our team as well.
About Extra point | 9:17 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
is it me or was the stats about Max Hall in the extra point expecially random? 8300 games, 80% passing on first down for more than 11 yards. Kind of sounds like the Bob Euker Major League baseball stats. Who cares and how random is someone to figure that out.

I bet I hold an obscure record like that as the only one in the history of college football to sit in section 41 while watching Air Force beat BYU on a Saturday where the temperature was a spectacular 75. Stats
Stats | 10:05 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Max Hall is also the world record holder for fastest time from Max Hall's first class to Max Hall's second class while wearing Max Hall's shoes.

But that's not what the extra point is about. It's basically saying he did something that's hard to do. It's easier to complete 80 percent if you throw less than 40 passes (like 9 of 11 or 18 of 21); it's easier to complete 80 percent if you're throwing to the check-down receiver every time for 5 yards (thus averaging less than 11 yards per attempt); and it's easier to average more than 11 yards per attempt when you throw 15 passes and two of them go for big plays.
Re: About Extra point | 10:14 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Ha Ha Ha Ha! That was awesome. I am laughing out loud. Thanks for the good humor.

The funniest part is the dates: "between 2001 and 2006..."

Didn't Hall play last week in TWO THOUSAND EIGHT?!
Seattle Coug | 10:31 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Yes, Locker IS that fast. Watch some game film like Bronco did, and you'll see that this kid is amazing and exciting to watch. It's just too bad he has no other help on offense. I think the Cougs will win, but I'm hoping for some exciting plays from Locker.
Why? | 10:31 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
So who in teh MWC office thought it was a good idea to give the Player of the Week hnors to Brian Johnson. Without Louis the Yewts would have lsot 25-12. If you can't get your team in the end zone, you're not doing your job.
JZ | 11:02 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Why is it so unbelievable that Locker would be faster than everyone on the BYU team? He is really fast. If he is faster than most of the players on his team, then he certainly could be faster than most, if not everyone, on BYU.
COUGAR FAN IN ALL CAPS | 11:58 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008
TO WIN BYU IS GOING TO HAVE TO CONTROLE THE CLOCK. MINIMISE HOW MUCH TIME WASHINTONS OFFENCE GETS THE BALL. THIS MEANS BYU WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A RUNNING GAME. AS OF YET THAT�S NOT TO BE SEEN. WITH LOCKERS SPEED BYU WILL WANT TO DO ALL IT CAN TO KEEP PRESURE ON THE QB POSITION. THIS INCLUDES CONTAINMENT WITH A FEW WELL PLACED BLITZES.
tj | 12:04 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Jake Locker is the real deal and he is one of the most talented players in the nation. The only problem is that his team is not that talented. If he were to play on a better team he would be on everyone's Heisman list but his team is terrible but he is the real deal.
JD | 12:11 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
I would like to see Collie returning kick offs again and would Chambers to learn to NOT call a fair catch on the three yard line! Go Cougs!
Hmmm... | 12:33 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
JD | 12:11 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
"I would like to see Collie returning kick offs again and would Chambers to learn to NOT call a fair catch on the three yard line! Go Cougs!"

I'd rather have Collie in there than Reed White. But Chambers was exciting. I think his return to midfield and several other exciting returns pretty much negated that fair catch. He'll learn. I don't doubt he'll make good on his promise to Bronco that he'd take a kickoff for a TD this year. My guess is Utah State or San Diego State.

I do worry about BYU containing Jake Locker, but if he is the only offensive weapon, BYU is in good hands. He isn't a very accurate passer historically, so if BYU can make him throw, maybe they can create some turnovers.
Slow | 12:40 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Just ask the UNI receiveers if they thought the BYU DB's were slow. I bet they would say yes. Luckily BYU has some of the best D lineman to make them look much, much better than they really are. Look what happened last year when BYU didn't get pressure on the QB, Tulsa put up 50+. When they put pressure on the QB, the other teams don't have time to run those long routes. That is how BYU has been successful defensively the last two years. If BYU had fast DB's, they wouldn't have to line up 15 yards off the ball every play.
Turnovers are the key | 1:07 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Locker is a concern. Speed is a concern. Running the ball is a concern.

But, the biggest concern BYU must worry about in Seattle is turnovers.

If BYU is -1 to +1 in turnovers, they have a very good chance of winning. BYU's offense can match anything Locker can generate.

If BYU is +2 in turnovers, they're nearly a lock to win.

If BYU is -2 in turnovers, they'll probably lose.

If BYU is -3 in turnovers, the Quest is over, and the Cougars will have to switch attention to goal #2, winning another MWC championship and another Top 25 finish.
Locker is Tebow of the West | 1:08 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Jake Locker will run all over BYU im calling it. 17-7 U Dub pulls the upset.
Fearless... | 1:23 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
and clueless prediction.

Washington doesn't have the defense to hold BYU to 7 points. The Huskies will have to score alot more than 17 points to beat BYU.
Bubba | 1:33 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Yes Jake Locker is the Tebow of the west. Unfortunately Washington is the Syracuse of the West
Doubter | 1:38 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
RE: Tebow of the West

Didn't Oregon win 44-10? Where was Mr. "Tebow of the West?" He ran for 57 yards. The Huskies will test BYU's defense , but the Huskie defense will also be put to a severe test in this one. BYU wins for the first time in your stadium.
to Why? | 1:41 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
I agree 110%- Brian Johnson only threw for ~300 yds, and their entire team only had ~30 yds of total offense in the entire 2nd half. Utah had a great win but it wasn't because of their offense. Give Sakoda the special teams award and someone on defense an award, but to give Johnson the offensive award is a joke. Pitta had almost as many receiving yards as Johnson had total yards, and Hall had almost 200 more yds of offense, and is 2nd in the country in total offense this week (and yet that's not good enough to get player of the week in his own conference). What a farce this conference and it's commissioner are.

Not to diminish the fact that Utah won in Michigan, but I think that in a few weeks we'll all see that Michigan isn't that great and would probably struggle against some of the other MWC teams as well.
UW | 2:12 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
BYU and their fans better not count any chickens before they are hatched. I will start to believe the preseason hype once we win a BCS game on the road. 0-3 vs. Washington all time in Seattle is not a good record. I hope the players are not over confident like they have been the last two years going into the Arizona and the Tulsa game. This is a must win game for the Cougars and should be treated as such. If they lose this game I could see them losing the following game to a much improved UCLA team, and stating 1-2 again. Stay humble bring your a game, don't make stupid mistakes like the UCLA bowl game, and get out of Seattle with a win!!! Go Cougars
BlueCoug | 2:16 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Brian Johnson got the Player of the Week award because of WHO Utah was playing. Stats are secondary.

If Max Hall racks up only 300 yards vs UCLA and BYU wins the game, while Johnson gets 450 yards in a win over Utah State, who are you going to give the award to?
Re: Blue Coug | 2:35 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
I would give it to the TE that had over 200 yards receiving and averaged something like 19 yrds per catch.
Re: to Why? | 2:43 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Last week Michigan was going to walk all over Utah and this week, Michigan "would probably struggle against some of the other MWC teams as well". Which one is it? Please make up your mind.

No one is questioning that Hall and Pitta had great games. The player of the week is for players who exceed expectations in the face of adversity. The only adversity BYU had was themselves with blown reads and fumbles.

Boo hoo. BYU deserves this. Boo hoo BYU deserves that. If Bryan Johnson puts up 500 on Weber State, should he get the player of the week? No. That is not really exceeding expectations.
Honor Code Flunkie | 3:31 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
RE: Why

The Utes beat Michigan at Michigan and deserve the accolades they received. Like it or not the QB is always the glamor boy. Kickers just aren't seen as real football players although I agree with you that Sakoda may have been the MVP. I definitely feel the Utes deserved the recognition over the Cougar candidates that excelled playing a lesser foe. Hopefully it'll be the Cougars turn to shine against the Huskies and our guys will be recognized.
Jake is that FAST | 3:45 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
BYU has never faced a qb as fast as Locker. Marshall Faulk made the byu defense look stupid in Provo several years ago. Locker has that same possibility, so please don't get too happy about his poor performance against Oregon. It's wasn't entirely his fault.

UW has a very young team which should allow the Y to move the ball against. Locker doesn't have many offensive weapons to throw to either. If it's close, it will only give UW confidence. Could be a scary outing in Seattle again.
Interpretation | 4:16 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
In my interpretation of what Why? was saying was that Sakoda should have gotten all of the honors last week.
Mike B. | 4:27 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Jake Locker is good, but he may out run some guys on our team but not all. Did you see #4 CATCH UNI quaterback from behind and thier quaterback was not slow so we have team speed. Bronco is not dumb he will make this guy out to be somekind of a hulk. We have the best team speed that Bronco has had in four years, he has publicly said that. Are db's are more athletic than last years by far. I question starting Scott Johnson he is by far are slowest db. But maybe he does his assignments well. Who am I to question the coaches? If we lose to this team we have no business being mentioned in the BCS. This is by far the worst UW team I have seen. Please BYU don't let this happen or our season is a total bust!
haha | 5:08 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Marshall Faulk made BYU look slow "several" years ago. Dude you are old!! That was more than several ago. That was more than a decade ago. If you want to talk about this BYU defense you might want to talk about last game or last year not last decade.

Pretty sure Chambers is faster than Locker. I did enjoy watching him last week, but i hope he learned from the fair catch inside the 10. Thats a cardinal sin. What happened the next play? Oh yeah a defensive touchdown.

Thanks for the laugh whoever said BYU's CBs line up 15 yards from the line of scrimmage. I was wondering if i was the only person who noticed that...
Utah Man | 5:19 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
I remember Faulk kicking BYU around in the mid 80's. I bet Locker will do it again this weekend. No speed = no team.
manaen | 5:34 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
I'm a Cougar alum & fan who says let's give Utah their due. Winning @ Michigan is huge not just because of beating a BCS/B-10 team but because Michigan is one of those programs that has been granted a halo by the national sports press. Beating them *on their hallowed field* was more than a big win because it puntured their aura in the minds of the writers.
.
Maybe Rich Rodriguez should take a page from Bronco's turn-qround manual: Bronco assesed his players and decided to put his best 11 athletes on the field and create plays to use the strengths he had. Mr. Rodriguez seems to be following the more-common procrustean approach of installing the offense that he wants and asking the players he has to do the best they can with it, accepting mediocrity from skilled athletes until he recruits athletes with the skills that fit his system. Michigan's players aren't unskilled; their offense is mismatched to the skills they have.
Texas Cougar | 5:48 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Why are people saying that Utah played the tougher opponent last week? Did y'all watch the two games? With the exception of the offensive and defensive lines (where Michigan ruled supreme), UNI was better than Michigan at every position. If the two had been playing one another, UNI pretty much would have pulled the upset against Michigan as well last week.

Rich Rodriguez seems to be a good guy. Here's to hoping that they stop the ship from sinking this year (which would make Utah's win look alot better).
How to beat UW | 6:01 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
"SEATTLE - The Oregon Ducks not only beat Washington on Saturday, but they also might have given future Huskies opponents a blueprint to follow.

Oregon pushed nine defenders up close to the line of scrimmage and asked its defensive backs to guard the Washington receivers with seemingly risky one-on-one coverage." -the olympian

Oregon crushed UW 44-10

BYU playes zone, so it will be interesting to see what both teams do.
Locker | 6:03 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Locker is athletic and fast but he is not close to a polished passer. 42% when you are also a threat to run is not good. Hall almost doubled that percentage. Max Hall could complete 42% with his left hand and he is not a threat to run. We will be able to stack the line. Our dbs can stay with Washington's young receivers for the most part. Even if they do burn us 2 or 3 times I think we will hold on to the ball, cut down on the penalties and score over 45. Prediction - BYU 48 UWA 24.
wYo8 | 6:35 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Yewtman, Faulk may have had his yards against the cougars in the eighties, But we all know who won the majority of the games wasn't marshall, and titles.
Long-time Husky fan | 7:21 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
FYI for you BYU fans:

I've been a fan of the Huskies for many years, and I have little hope for a Washington victory. The team is very, very young. Last year's defense was the worst in Washington history, and this year's defense has more youth than last year's. BYU should have no problem scoring a lot of points against them.

Locker is an incredible athlete, but he has yet to learn a good touch on his passes. And yes, he is fast and not easy to bring down. I'm sure you'll be impressed. He could probably play a lot of positions on the Washington squad. He was the state football and baseball player of the year in high school in Washington State. Unfortunately for Husky fans, he has no help at all with inexperience at the skill positions, and the offensive coordinator has no imagination. The play calling against Oregon was awful.

Yes, the Pac-10 is a step up in level for you guys, but Washington is one of the worst in the conference. Only overconfidence and some turnovers by your squad will give Washington a chance. The Huskies will definitely be fired up after last week's performance.
Slow | 8:00 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
I watched the Oregon/Washington game. Washington looked very slow. BYU should have an easy time of it. UCLA will be a tougher game.
Jason D | 8:28 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
I love BYU but some of you guys talk like you've never watched football outside of the Mountain West. If you don't think Locker can possibly be faster than anyone on BYU's team, maybe you should ask Jim Tressel and Pete Carroll what THEY thought when THEY went up against the Huskies last year. The BYU arrogance just cracks me up.
Prophet | 10:28 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
My prediction: Washington 55 BYU 3
Re: Texas Cougar | 10:58 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
I bet that UNI would win the National Championship too. Ha, your comments are laughable! All I can figure is that you are either blind or you got the two games confused. Maybe you can have some friends watch the games with you on Saturday to remind you which game you are watching.
Seattle | 11:02 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Even slow running quarterbacks give BYU a difficult time.

Just know that Locker will eat them alive if BYU doesnt keep him bottled up.

The problem with running the ball against quality teams is really disturbing. It goes hand in hand with BYU poor record of winning away games against nonconference teams.

If our line is as good as "hyped" up to be we should be able to run on Washington. Their defense is definetly not like UCLA's.

I will dare predict that if BYU doesnt have turnovers they might get a win. If not, they could easily lose.

How is that for being daring?
chew on this | 11:34 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
wait until Coleby Clawson knocks him out like he did UNI's quarterback last week. BAM- lights out for UW.

Tanner | 11:51 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008
Haha any comparison by BYU of Jake Locker to either Steven Covey or the NIU quarterback are laughable. He is both fast and very strong. Coach Mendenhall probably saw all the game tape of 170lb defensive backs chasing him from behind because they got beat. Or maybe the game last year vs. ASU where he dragged a defender from the 13yrd line into the endzone. Or against Boise st. where he dragged a pile of linebackers with him over the goaline....the list goes on. Be ready BYU!
Ridgerunner | 12:30 a.m. Sept. 4, 2008
When I was playing football, I played one game at running back. I was so slow I kept getting penalties for dely of game! lol Go cougars!
BYU suck | 2:20 a.m. Sept. 4, 2008
no matter how good BYU the huskies will win on saturday. The best high school team can't beat the worst college team plain and simple. Keep dreaming because it ain't happening. Huskies 35-21. just think why the spread is only -6 for a 15-rank team. Even vegas don't think BYU can win it easily.

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