Deseret News | Coaches must tackle very stressful, hectic schedules

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Dick Harmon: Coaches must tackle very stressful, hectic schedules

Coach Ray (X's and O's) not time | 12:01 a.m. Nov. 1, 2009

BYU's defensive game plan has been the same for the past few years. They simply do NOT put enough pressure on the QB. They rarely send five guys, usually four, its a stretch to ever see six, which is required to truly call it "pressure." Unless, of course you have four DL's who can get the job done--BYU employs the three-four defense, so they MUST at times send six, play 1/4 in the secondary with a "spy" in the middle to watch the QB's eyes and movement.(Rotate who you blitz and who is your spy)
BYU's offense is well-coached. However, they need to diversify. Grab Covey and allow him (or someone like him) to run the Wildcat, or Shot-Gun Spread Option, 10-15 times a game. (This will force D-coordinators to spend time preparing for it.) Employ 2-3 trick plays in the off-season, practice them weekly, and insert them as needed. (Which, for BYU fans understanding sake, is not necessarily in times of desperation, or every game) Employ the counter run. Employ a QB counter pass. Employ a fake FB trap, 28/29 HB pitch.

Coach Ray part 2 | 12:35 a.m. Nov. 1, 2009

I agree that more time doesn't mean more wins--whew, don't I know that! However, when you do the same things over and over again, it's easy to scout and counter what you are doing.
This is especially true against a defense. For BYU's defense, It's not about blitzing more, just blitzing at odd times, and with enough coming to get to the QB. BYU rarely gets to the QB. Hence, fans wonder about coaches' time game-planning.
I have yet to see the QB who is very accurate under pressure--especially in college. Blitzing should be 6-7, not 4-5, and blitzing should come from somewhere other than the C or outside gap, and other than your outside LB's. Twist your DL's into coverage and bring your Outside LB's.
Plays I recommend to to insert; (BYU coaches know and have these, but have yet to use them): 27/ 28 counter; (They use a FB trap) but not a fake FB trap-28/29 HB pitch (Pitch to the HB); 27/28 counter drag pass; Wild Cat or Spread Option; 28 counter, QB Bootleg.
BYU recruiting is just fine.

Rick | 7:20 a.m. Nov. 1, 2009

I agree with both of the prior commentators about BYU needing to mix up the defensive/offensive plays some more. That's really one of our biggest weaknesses--we're predictable.

I also agree that working ridiculous hours will not bring more wins. It just wears people down so they can't make good decisions.

Comments continue below

Cougar and Mtn Wester | 9:24 a.m. Nov. 1, 2009

Great Job Bronco. Coaches deserve a life at home too.
I believe all of us, coaches included, can have a clearer mind to think if we aren't burning the midnight oil all the time. I agree with much of what Coach Ray said too.

Boise BYU Fan | 10:34 a.m. Nov. 1, 2009

I wish we had a coach like Urban Meyer. We would be undefeated right now. BYU needs to step up and pay out whatever it costs to bring a great coach to Provo. How can BYU expect to take it to the next level when they don't pay enought to bring a great coach.

Anonymous | 4:50 p.m. Nov. 1, 2009

Urban Meyer is the kind of person who truly believes that a coach should leave a program with a solid foundation. That's exactly what he did at Utah. His finger print will always be on the Utes' success. Whittingham has picked up where Meyer left off and has enhanced the national attention of the MWC.

Good to Great and Bronco/BYU | 5:54 a.m. Nov. 2, 2009

Bronco is spot on with what he is doing and the way he is doing it. The comments in the article are spot on about leaders within any organization who know that they will spend 12 - 14 hr days at the office. The leaders don't get nearly as much done. Efficiency can and does make a difference. I know from my time in command of a Cavalry Troop. We went a little later than others, but just enough to get what needed to be done. It wasn't a question of how long we spent, it was a question of did we get everything we needed to get done, done? And we did. And we were preparing for REAL combat, not football! Armchair fans love to make comparisons, there isn't one. Football is fun and is a freedom we enjoy, it’s not combat. Kids don't die based on what the coaches do or fail to do. Fans need to remember that! Bronco, keep up the Great Work. We have moved from bad to good, now we just need to I.D. what will move us from Good to Great... Thanks for keeping priorities straight!

P.S.Good to Great and Bronco/BYU | 6:11 a.m. Nov. 2, 2009

"The truest form of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result". Problem, BYU needs: a pass rush and more speed on defense. With the constraints of BYU's admissions, honor code, etc., it’s not going to get more speed. THAT's OK! BYU should not lower standards. There IS A WAY for the coaches to get more pass rush and speed onto the field with what they have, it's called the old Mississippi State 5-1-5 defense. The defense was a conscious decision to add more pass rushers and replace most of the line backers with defensive backs who were able to tackle. The defense did not make any player run faster than he did before. It just replaced bigger players with smaller ones and mitigated risk by doings so with players that could tackle. Bronco knows this defense better than anyone. It's a derivative of his 3-3-5. The difference would be that BYU would have to play the defense conventionally, not with the mad blitzing from all over the field like before. We all saw that doing so killed position mastery. This addresses the problems.

Anonymous | 8:49 a.m. Nov. 2, 2009

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that our coaches are working hard enough. Question is, are our players? Do they have the same level of motivation we saw with Beck, Collie and other greats from past teams?

As for some wishing we had "a coach like Urban Meyer" - please, no! Bronco's a terrific fit at BYU.

Productivity | 10:09 a.m. Nov. 2, 2009

I'm glad you all feel that a balance between your job and your home life is necessary. I get it, the average person isn't as productive at work in their 13th hour as they are in their 3rd hour. The problem is, that some people are still doing good work at that time. And, if you are getting paid a million or so dollars a year, you are expected to put in some very, very long hours. Even making a six figure salary like most of the other members in the coaching staff calls for a 60-80 hour work week in the rest of the work force. If you aren't productive after 10 hours of work, guess what, you work in a profession where there are plenty of guys who ARE.

Bronco 2nd Choice | 10:55 a.m. Nov. 2, 2009

Facts are facts. Bronco was BYU's second choice, and it shows.

BYU will be 7-5 this year.

Re: Bronco 2nd Choice | 10:55 | 8:21 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009

...and BYU's first choice will have 11-1 regular season this year...

3rd Choice | 6:59 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Actually BYU tried to get Andy Reid, then Kyle Wittinham and settled for Bronco. I think that makes him the 3rd choice.

BIg Salary = Big Commitment | 2:38 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Kyle and Bronco both make in excess of 500k per year. That is about 5 times a professors salary. If you make the big bucks you are expected to put in the time - extra time if needed - to win. That's the job and commitment they signed on to. This is NOT a 9-5 job.

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Dick Harmon: Coaches must tackle very stressful, hectic schedules