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Todd Christensen: Defense has been key to BYU's success |
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JaredCowley | Monday, November 6, 2006, 7:28 am
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Todd Christensen
DAILY HERALD
You did not have to be Bill Belichick to realize at the onset of the 2006 football season that BYU was not going to have difficulty scoring points.
With the return of John Beck, Curtis Brown and Jonny Harline — the leading passer, rusher and receiver, respectively, on the team — it was clear that PlayStation statistics were just a post pattern away. And with the return of a number of experienced offensive linemen and a coterie of young, promising skill players — most notably Fui Vakapuna — the Cougar faithful were not to be in wont of those that could move the sticks.
No, the problem was on the other side of the ball. To watch BYU play defense in 2005 was akin to the child that goes to the movies to watch the horror film — he covers his eyes with his hands only peeking through the fingers periodically to view the carnage. The “high risk-high reward” 3-3-5 was considerably more of the former than the latter. Unless there was a turnover or a sack, the other team was rarely stopped and big plays made by the opposing offenses were in frightening abundance.
The numbers bear that out as BYU gave up a whopping 417 yards per game as well as a charitable 29.2 points per contest.
Henry David Thoreau mentions how man “... can elevate his life through a conscious act.” Despite the unconventional defense being head coach Bronco Mendenhall’s calling card, he altered his thinking and went to a more conservative 3-4 approach this season. The defense featured a collection of athletic linebackers and conservative zone coverages, forcing teams to travel the length of the field and to be better in their execution than the defense was in theirs.
To say that this has been successful is to say that gas prices are high. Since the Boston College game, the Cougars have never trailed and the results have been teams that continually are playing from behind are not only making mistakes in execution, but turning the ball over as well. The relationship has been a symbiotic one between the offense and defense, where pressure is exerted on one side of the ball and the benefits are seen on the other.
Many have referred to this new style as the “bend-but-don’t-break,” but last Saturday it emerged as more “scratch-but-don’t-score.” With the offense not at its typical level of fine-tuned machinery, the defense put together its best effort of the year. Colorado State rushed for 26 yards on 23 carries and, while in fairness to Sonny Lubick’s charges, there has been a considerable amount of injuries on the offensive line and at running back, the reality is that if you go on the road and hold a running team to 1 yard per carry, you are dominating.
Caleb Hanie, the Ram quarterback, had been the second-leading signal caller in the conference. But in this game, he was held to more than 100 yards below his average. The total of 151 yards of total offense and three points in the game for the Rams reveals a level of acumen not seen from that side of the ball in quite some time.
Interestingly enough, a look at the conference individual defensive statistics, such as tackles, sacks, interceptions and fumble recoveries, will not find any blue-and-white defenders at, or near, the top of the list. This is reminiscent of the 1972 Dolphins, a potent group but one devoid of stars — hence, the moniker “No-Name Defense.” There is a wealth of quality players but truly, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” BYU is now giving up less than half of the points the Cougars gave up per tilt in ’05.
The vision quest for the Provo Gridders is clear. Win the remaining three games, all three are in the Beehive State, and thus become the Mountain West Conference champion with double-digit wins. The courtroom of public opinion has already bestowed its blessing upon the squad, but the trial becomes the requisite focus and intensity to render unquestioned judgment upon the playing field.
Then, and only then, will the defense rest.
Todd Christensen, a former BYU running back and All-Pro tight end for the Oakland Raiders, lives in Highland. He writes a weekly column for the Daily Herald. Contact him at
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