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BYU-Colorado State gradebook |
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JaredCowley | Sunday, November 5, 2006, 8:57 am
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Darnell Dickson
DAILY HERALD
Following are the positional grades for BYU's 24-3 win over Colorado State:
Quarterback B
Can’t grade John Beck off too much for the interception — it was a great read by the CSU defender who came off his man to make the pick. Beck was accurate and kept the team moving. He made some great third down throws and, to use Bronco’s phrase, managed the game well. With a defense like BYU’s, sometimes that’s all it takes.
Running Back B
Fui Vakapuna continues to get into the end zone and run hard. Curtis Brown had 81 rushing yards and would have broken 100 if a penalty hadn’t taken away his last run. CSU made running difficult but BYU, unlike in year’s past, kept running and eventually, CSU wasn’t able to put as much pressure on Beck as it did earlier.
Offensive Line B-
Not this group’s best game. BYU ran the ball just enough but averaged only three yards per carry. Early in the game, CSU was able to get to Beck and sack him. As the game progressed, BYU’s physical play wore down CSU. But I would like to see this group be more dominant, especially going into the Wyoming game.
Wide Receiver/Tight End A-
Jonny Harline was Beck’s go-to guy most of the game. McKay Jacobson had his first 100-yard receiving game, including a gorgeous 52-yard bomb to set up a Jared McLaughlin field goal. Beck and Matt Allen were just off on a pass to the end zone. But hey, this group continues to catch everything throw their way.
Defensive Line A
CSU had no room to run and the line, especially Hala Paongo, put tons of pressure on Caleb Hanie. Russell Tialavea beat up CSU’s center all game long and Jan Jorgensen had his fair share of time in the CSU backfield, too. Maybe this group’s best game of the season.
Linebacker A
Cameron Jensen had his second great game in a row with nine tackles and two sacks. As the leader of the defense, Jensen is vocal but when he throws his body around the field like he did on Saturday, that has to inspire the troops. Bryan Kehl had only three tackles and one tackle for loss but several times he got in Hanie’s face and forced an incompletion.
Safety B+
Quinn Gooch had five tackles and Dustin Gabriel three. These two guys are really the iron men of the defense. They play most of the snaps and play the run and pass equally well.
Cornerback A
I really thought these guys would be tested against CSU, but thanks to the huge amounts of pressure put on by the defensive front, Hanie simply didn’t have the time to look deep. He completed one pass of 27 yards to Damon Morton, and that was it for downfield.
Special Teams C+
Derek McLaughlin is like a weekend golfer; one punt he drives beautifully (51 yards), the next one he shanks for 17 yards and CSU gets a field goal. He isn’t called upon to punt that much; he’s got to be more consistent. CSU did have a 35-yard kickoff return before half but it didn’t result in points.
Coaching A-
The offensive game plan could have been a little more daring; Beck threw deep downfield only once, and it was completed for 52 yards to McKay Jacobson. Defensively, though, the game plan was brilliant. BYU stopped CSU’s running game cold and when the Rams tried to pass, Hanie had little time to throw. |
