Seven Takeaways from BYU's Win Over Cincinnati
For the first time in 13 years, BYU is in the conference win column. The atmosphere was electric, the end zones were blue, and now BYU is 4-1. Here is what I learned from BYU’s 35-27 win over Cincinnati.
1. Let's just run the 36-second offense from now on
I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what this BYU offense is. The Cincinnati game was just a further microcosm of BYU's season on offense. BYU opened the game with 38 total yards on their first 4 drives before unloading for 230 yards and 3 touchdowns on their next 3 drives. This offense is about as boom or bust as you can get. BYU is averaging 9.5 yards per play on their 20 touchdown drives this season and 2.4 yards per play on all other drives this season. It all happens in bunches too. BYU scored on three out of four drives against Arkansas, punted on four straight drives, and then scored on three straight. BYU didn’t score on their first four drives against Cincinnati, and then got in the end zone on four of their next five. BYU has the makings of an elite Power Five offense. They just need to find a way to run the 36-second offense every time.
Credit: BYU Photo
2. BYU's run game is breathing
BYU’s run game found a little bit of a pulse with the 1-2 punch of LJ Martin and Miles Davis. The tandem combined for 83 yards on 20 carries for a 4.2 average. That isn’t anywhere near where BYU wanted to be at this point in the season, but it’s a major sign of progress against the nations 25th best rush defense. Miles Davis was awesome. His speed around the edge was a nice change of pace from LJ Martin’s more patient, bruising style that led to two touchdowns on the ground. It’s unclear whether Davis will continue to be featured in the offense or if he was just a one week fill-in for Parker Kingston, but based on his performance, he earned reps against TCU.
3. Hello Tanner Wall
The safety position has been through the ringer this season after injuries to incumbent starters Micah Harper and Talan Alfrey and the struggles of Malik Moore. BYU has turned the back-end of their defense to three former walk-ons in Crew Wakely, Ethan Slade, and Tanner Wall. All three have had moments of solid play, but Tanner Wall has quietly been one of BYU’s best players on defense. Wall graded out as BYU’s best run defender and tackler against Cincinnati after recording five tackles and a crucial fouth-down stop that all but sealed the win for BYU. Jay Hill’s defense relies heavily on the safety position to make plays at all levels, and they may have found a playmaker in Tanner Wall.
4. Kedon Slovis: Still good
I might just start copying and pasting this paragraph from week to week, but when Kedon Slovis gets rolling, he is an absolute problem. After starting the game 1/7 for 2 yards, Slovis proceeded to connect on 8 of his next 9 passes for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns. Slovis continues to place the ball at an NFL level. His 13 yard, off-platform completion to Keelan Marion during the 4th quarter was my choice for his best throw of the night, and he makes that throw on a weekly basis. I’m no quarterback evaluator, but if he continues this trajectory, BYU is looking at a third straight Quarterback drafted into the NFL.
5. Chasing Chase
I’ll be honest, I didn’t think Chase Roberts had a 59-yard breakaway touchdown in him. I was waiting him to get caught at any moment on that run but he just kept pulling away until he was in the end zone. The sure-handed target has established himself as the clear WR1 with a team leading 24 catches , 358 yards and 3 touchdowns this season.
6. BYU's defense really struggles with mobile quarterbacks
While BYU’s defense is much improved, they have not figured out what to do against a shifty, mobile quarterback. The Cougars have given up 148 quarterback rushing yards on 23 carries over the last 2 weeks. That number would be worse if not for two sacks offsetting the total. BYU is still doing a great job getting the offense to third down. Cincinnati was forced into third down on 70% of their first downs, but Emory Jones found a way to break free whenever he had time to throw. I am still bullish on the BYU defense, but they won't be able to get to that next level until they can find a way to get opposing quarterbacks on the ground.
7. BYU will be the Big 12 team no one wants to play
There are 30 Power Five teams in the country that have a 4-1 record or better so far this season - BYU is one of them. Most Big 12 rankings I have seen have BYU slotted somewhere in the 5-6 range. That was the dream preseason scenario headed into the bye week. The counting stats don’t like BYU, and neither do most of the computer analytics, but who cares? BYU finds a way to win football games and did so convincingly in Friday’s case. BYU is pacing to be the toughest out in the Big 12. Opposing teams can outgain them 2-1 only to look up and find themselves down by two touchdowns. Is that sustainable? You wouldn’t think so, but we are five weeks into the season and BYU is sustaining it. I don’t necessarily see BYU ending up in Arlington at season's end, but they will be a problem for every team left on their schedule.
