Seeing as though non-conference games have been our bane, I found myself thinking (worrying) a lot about our games with UCLA and Washington. So much so that I did a little research that calmed my nerves a little. Here is what I found.**

UCLA loses the following starters on Offense:

Split end (backup has 2 games starting experience)
Left guard (backup has no starting experience)
Center (backup has no starting experience)
Right Tackle (backup has no starting experience)
Tailback (backup has 5 games starting experience)
Flanker (backup has no starting experience)

UCLA loses the following starters on Defense:

Defensive Tackle (backup has no starting experience)
Right Defensive End (backup has no starting experience)
Middle Linebacker (backup has no starting experience)
Left Corner (backup has 1 game starting experience)
Strong Safety (backup has no starting experience)
Free Safety (backup has no starting experience)

Washington loses the following starters on Offense:
(I could not find the data for the backup's starting experience)

Split End
Flanker
Center
Right Guard
Right Tackle
Tight End
Tailback

Washington loses the following starters on Defense:

Right Defensive Tackle
Left Defensive Tackle
Right Defensive End
Left Outside linebacker
Left Inside Linbacker
Free Safety
Strong Safety
Right Corner

**Note: I got this off of the last game played for each team for the 2007 season (UCLA vs. BYU; Washington vs. Hawaii). I am assuming those are fairly accurate depth charts as they listed who was redshirting and injured etc.

There, don't you feel a little better? I do.

Finally, both teams begin spring practice April 3rd.

DevilPuncher wrote:

Seeing as though non-conference games have been our bane, I found myself thinking (worrying) a lot about our games with UCLA and Washington. So much so that I did a little research that calmed my nerves a little. Here is what I found.**

UCLA loses the following starters on Offense:

Split end (backup has 2 games starting experience)
Left guard (backup has no starting experience)
Center (backup has no starting experience)
Right Tackle (backup has mo starting experience)
Tailback (backup has 5 games starting experience)
Flanker (backup has no starting experience)

UCLA loses the following starters on Defense:

Defensive Tackle (backup has no starting experience)
Right Defensive End (backup has no starting experience)
Middle Linebacker (backup has no starting experience)
Left Corner (backup has 1 game starting experience)
Strong Safety (backup has no starting experience)
Free Safety (backup has no starting experience)

Washington loses the following starters on Offense:
(I could not find the data for the backup's starting experience)

Split End
Flanker
Center
Right Guard
Right Tackle
Tight End
Tailback

Washington loses the following starters on Defense:

Right Defensive Tackle
Left Defensive Tackle
Right Defensive End
Left Outside linebacker
Left Inside Linbacker
Free Safety
Strong Safety
Right Corner

**Note: I got this off of the last game played for each team for the 2007 season (UCLA vs. BYU; Washington vs. Hawaii). I am assuming those are fairly accurate depth charts as they listed who was redshirting and injured etc.

There, don't you feel a little better? I do.

Finally, both teams begin spring practice April 3rd.

Washington's fate will revolve almost exclusively on their QB and the ability of BYu to play well on the road.

UCLAs fate rests on our ability to improve quickly on defense, (the guys like g pittman, howard, bradley, etc. etc.) The beauty is that our dline is very solid (Dulan isn't going on a mission so we're very deep) and Ben Olson is not mobile in the slightest. Jorgenson is going to have a big
day. Bottom line vs UCLA, if we can run the ball against them and force Big Ben into long 3rd downs, I think we'll win by 25. If they can run and we see a lot of 3rd and shorts, Ben gets a little confidence, or Max finds ways to turn the ball over still, it will be tight.

Honestly, our toughest games this year will be Utah, Air Force, and TCU, if we can't beat washington or ucla, we'll probably drop one of those conference roadies too. Going undefeated will be a monumental task (which is why we've only done it once in our history) but we have the horses.

Karma for the research!

Just for perspective:

BYU offense loses:
Center
WR
FB

BYU defense loses:
2 MLBs
1 OLB
2 CBs
2 Safeties

wildeone wrote:

Karma for the research!:lol:

ditto!

The bad news is - The UCLA "backup" tailback, Kahlil Bell, was actually their initial starter. He went down with an injury after the first 5 games. In his start vs BYU in the first game, he got 79 yards on 16 carries with one 26 yd TD run. he may struggle a bit more while the o-line rebuilds though. I don't think they'll control the line of scrimmage on either side as well as last year.

UCLA will still have a strong, aggressive defense under DeWayne Walker but they may not be quite as successful. With the exception of Al Verner at CB, I think they lost their best talent and will have a hard time equalling last year.

I think they'll likely pick Ben Olson to start at QB, which will be a mistake for them. I think he's more talented than Cowan but less of a leader and more prone to mistakes under pressure.

BYU will have the disadvantage of going against a "new" offense but will have have two games worth of film to work with. UCLA will likely need to go all out vs Tennessee so there won't be too many surprises.

This will be BYU's game to win.