2013 BYU Spring Football Analysis

2013 BYU Cougars ... Head Coach: Bronco Mendenhall

BYU Cougars

2013 Schedule
8/31 at Virginia
9/7 Texas
9/14 OPEN DATE
9/21 Utah
9/27 Middle Tenn
10/4 at Utah State
10/12 Georgia Tech
10/19 at Houston
10/26 Boise State
11/2 OPEN DATE
11/9 at Wisconsin
11/16 Idaho State
11/23 at Notre Dame
11/30 at Nevada

Why To Be Excited Last year the defense controlled the season, and this year it might be the offense. The attack wasn’t too bad, but it was painfully inconsistent and struggled mightily against any defense with a pulse. However, this time around, with eight returning starters including receivers Cody Hoffman, JD Falsev and Ross Apo, who should make life far easier for whoever works under center. The defense isn’t going to fall off the map with a good core returning including linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who might be on almost everyone’s list of preseason All-Americans. Four starters are back in the secondary.

Why To Be Grouchy All three starters on the defensive front are gone including high-rising, freak of nature end Ezekiel Ansah, who started to put it all together last year on the end along with big Romney Fuga on the nose and Russell Tialavea on the other side. Also gone is top tackler Brandon Ogletree, who didn’t get the pub of Van Noy because he wasn’t as spectacular, but was every big as effective. The two best players on the offensive line, center Braden Hansen and tackle Braden Brown, are done.

What Needs Working On Improving the quarterback situation. And the starting quarterback will be … ? This was supposed to be when super-recruit Jake Heaps was going to hit his stride, but instead he’s looking to be Charlie Weis’s starting quarterback at Kansas. Between Riley Nelson and James Lark, the situation was never really settled throughout last season, and now both of them are gone. With a new set of offensive assistant coaches looking to come up with steady production right away this spring, it’s looking more and more like it’s going to be part-time starter Taysom Hill, who looked like the next big thing – adding a rushing element to the equation - before suffering a knee injury. Meanwhile, Jason Munns is also in the mix and he’ll get every chance to grab the job by the horns.

Team Concerns For 2013: The Cougars have to do a better job in pass protection. The line wasn't miserable, but it was mediocre for the ground game and it got the quarterbacks popped way too often. Three starters are back up front, but star tackle Braden Brown and center Braden Hansen are gone. The defense has to replace all three starters up front from a superior run D that finished second in the nation. The quarterback situation will be under the microscope needing Taysom Hill to get back from a knee injury.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Defensive backs. It's a surprisingly mediocre class, even though Bronco Mendenhall is bringing in a ton of prospects sprayed all across the positions. The defensive front has a great one in JUCO transfer defensive tackle Maataua Brown, and offensive guard Braden Kearsley is by far the star of the class with tackle ability and the strength to play inside. The defensive backfield has more than its share of bodies with Dallin Leavitt an excellent safety out of Oregon and Kai Nacua a good one out of Nevada. JUCO transfer Trenton Trammell is going to push for a starting corner job right away, while fellow JUCO pickup Samuel Lee will see time right away somewhere in the secondary.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 63. That Class Was Heavy On ... After losing former super-recruit quarterback Jake Heaps to Kansas, BYU needed to find a new quarterback for the future. While there isn’t anyone coming in with Heaps’ hype, Tanner Mangum is highly regarded and could be in the starting hunt next year when Riley Nelson is done. The linebacking corps is getting the most talent, but overall the skill players should make the class.