Yzzazz wrote:

Nice breakdown, but I have to disagree about the defensive assessments. While I expect to see improvements at D-line, the LBs and the Secondary are surely question marks and it is not realistic to expect those two squads to be BETTER than last year. They might be pretty good, because last year's squads were none too shabby, so being slightly less successful than the '07 unit doesn't mean you're lousy.

That said, it may not matter at all.

The Doman-Staley would very likely have gone undefeated without Luke and Brandon getting injured at the last, and they did so in spite of serious defensive weaknesses. This year's offense might be similarly overpowering to its opponents.

Even if the defense is weaker this year than last year, it might be that BYU is able to simply outrun all it opponents as long as the defense is simply serviceable. The Detmer years proved that you can't have just one half of the team, so the defense will need to be at least something you'd call good.

But with the D-line likely to show improvement over last year, that might be all it takes.

That's why I'd say this year will be special, because the offense is likely to be so good, even a mediocre defense could create a third consecutive conference title--not to mention a possible BCS appearance.

well we will have to agree on disagreeing because though i agree their is question marks we do know that we will have increased speed at LBer since both Doman and Baumer are faster then Poppinga and stafferri. We also know Nixon is fast thre only spot likely to lose speed and likely not by much will be Kehls replacement. LBer have always been a stregnth and we rotate them so ofetn that most of the LBers that will likely start have already seen some valuable playing time. some thought we would drop some after we lost the General after 2006 but we were better. yes there are ? but we know we have more speed and more athleticism and they do bring experience just not starting experience.

As far as CB's go I think it very realistic to expect more. We lackexperience and that does mean something but there is no doubt we increase our speed in the secondary by leaps and same with pure athleticism. hill has shown he can take a average squad and make them a viable strong secondary. Just look at the difference between 2005 secondary and 2006 secondary. He now has a squad full of quick DB's instead of walk-ons and I fully expext them to be a step up.

you are correct if they are a step down they'll still be good.

I do agree with your fina assessment.

Hipsdamann wrote:

How can you not mention JAN JORGENSONon the Defensive Line. I am so excited to see what he will accomplish this coming season. He will be crazy good!

Here's to looking at what might be one of the best teams to ever play at BYU!

Go Cougs

Sorry Jan jorgenson is the d-line. but we are solid across the board but Jan will dominate and make a lot of noise you can bank on that.

treck wrote:

Thinking the same thing while reading it.

Another thing that jumped out at me was your RB section. Why would you lead off with Fui, then Tonga and be generous to give Unga a short sentence. Unga dominated last year and will dominate this year. Stronger, Faster, meaner! I haven't been this excited about a running back at BYU since Jamal Willis.

And I still don't get why this board loves FUI so much? He hasn't done much. I know, I know, he has been hurt and very limited...but 'just wait..' Problem is, that is all we do. I hope he truly is 100% healthy and ready to give another punch to the backfield. I don't want anymore mini-hakas after two yard runs. Truthfully, I would like to see Fui in the LB rotation somehow and bringing pain to opposing offenses.[/quote]

Sorry what needs to be said about Unga? He is a stud we all know it and I lead with Fui since he was the disappointing backfield player last year.

A strong fui makes our backfield unstoppable. He is a bruiser when he is in form. Unga is the all around back we have he is the one that takes the majority of snaps but we need astrong Fui to releave Unga. Duliggi may provide that as well, but having a RB that can soften up the LB'er is huge. Most of Unga's mistake ie fumbles came when he was over taxed and needed a rest that was not quite their to be given. it isn't that Fi is so great it is that having him play to form makes the back field that much better. ever see a teams LB's get soft? If not watch BSU in some of their games and all the yards they allowed in their run defense. The differecne is they started out soft but they are a good example of what a LBer crew looks like after being softened up by a bruising back.

Fui at LB is interesting.

treck wrote:

And I still don't get why this board loves FUI so much? He hasn't done much. I know, I know, he has been hurt and very limited...but 'just wait..' Problem is, that is all we do. I hope he truly is 100% healthy and ready to give another punch to the backfield. I don't want anymore mini-hakas after two yard runs. Truthfully, I would like to see Fui in the LB rotation somehow and bringing pain to opposing offenses.

Fui really needs to show his stuff in spring practice and then be dominant in the first 2-3 games of the season. If he can't, I worry that his career is all but over... Too many RBs get tentative after an injury and stop hitting *first*. If Fui can get in his mind to move North-South and deliver the initial impact, he'll be fine. Otherwist, he may be another Stacey Corley.

dlz wrote:

I can't wait for the new football season to begin. Off football topic for a question. Who will take Burgess and Murdocks place next season in basketball. Those two have become great players and leaders. who will step up?

As far as the makeup of our team, it really hinges on whether or not Trent comes back or takes bad advice and leaves early. With a summer left to improve, I'd love to see Miles and Plaisted in the same lineup at times next year; with Lee playing the 2, JT at the 3 and Jimmer running some point. That lineup would kill on D and the glass. We know Miles can defend and rebound. Trent could play help defense and JT and Lee would do their thing without ever having to guard oversized players.

If Trent comes back; we're a top 15 team to start next season and likely favored in nearly every game we'd play. If Trent gets sucked into the quick money, then Miles has to improve dramatically and we'll be relying heavily on outside shooting next season.

As far as replacement for Murdock and Burgess, we should be in good shape:
Lamont Morgan/Michael Lloyd at the 1

Jimmer at the 2

I don't expect any dropoff from those positions next year; in fact teams will have to respect our point because Morgan and Lloyd both know how to get to the hole and can shoot a little. Murdock is an abominable offensive player. He's a solid defender that doesn't make a lot of mistakes, but smart teams know to game plan for that.

I truly wish that Brad Garrett had come to the Y (he chose OSU) and that we hadn't signed Archie Rose(Rose is just not a cerebral D1 hoopster). Garrett would have been the ideal 6'5"-6'6" 2-3 to spell Cummard and Burgess and would have made a big impact for our team next season off the bench. Garrett can shoot the lights out. As it stands, Garrett hardly gets garbage minutes at Oklahoma State and had 3 to play 3, which meant he could play the 3 when Lee was gone. He had already redshirted, so unless Coach Sutton plans to boot him off the squad, Garrett is wasting a year on the bench there. He would have been our 1st option off the bench to spell Cummard.
http://www.okstate.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=1466&SPID=145&DB_OEM_ID=200&ATCLID=1065047&Q_SEASON=2007
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=36253
http://www.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=59553

GO COUGARS!