BYU v Utah – 2017

I just went back and watched the BYU v Utah game last year and there were a few things that jumped out at me. Watching it again, I remember thinking these things when I originally watched it, but it surprised me how so many things went wrong in that game so I wanted to share my thoughts.

1. Tyler Huntley was awesome – most of the time. He made some really, really good reads in the RPO, specifically when to throw it instead of run himself or hand it off. Another thing that popped out at me is that kid can throw in the middle of the field. Slants, deep posts, crossing routes. He has a great arm and is accurate inside the numbers.  He really thrives when the play breaks down because the defense has to pay attention to him sooooo much. There were a few times, the offensive line did nothing – literally nothing, and he would run and flick the ball to Carrington. 

The problem he had with that game, which people have talked about a lot, is when to hand the dang ball off in RPO. He made some absolutely terrible reads in the RPO. Times where if he gave it, they would’ve gained good yards and instead ran it himself and got good yardage, but took way too many hits. It felt like the RB was the secondary if the lane wasn’t open for him instead of vise versa. There were a few times it was a broken play that he gave to the RB so he didn’t have to take that loss of yards. Overall, he played a really good game, especially for being his 2nd ever start. I’m super excited for him this year.

2. Troy Taylor’s play calling was bad. His 3rd down plays were stupid and easy to defend. Just flicks out to Mccormick and then he’d get tackle after 2 yards. He called so many RPO’s it was hard to watch. Zack Moss felt non-existent which feels impossible given how he played last year. I think he ended the game with like 11 carries for 30 yards or something (just guessing there). If he would’ve called more traditional running plays, Moss would’ve destoryed and the game wouldn’t have been close because of the threat that he was. On the RPO’s they keyed on Huntley and he would keep it most of the time, it felt like. We would get in at rythym running it, and then he’d call some dumb play and it would change the entire drive and vise versa with the passing. We’d hit 4 straight passing plays for 8-15 yards, then run it with Mccormick in an RPO sweep for minimal game. Obviously Troy got better with experience, and next year I’m expecting a really good offense. We have the talent at every postition, including QB, to be a top offense in the Pac 12.

3. The Utes should’ve won this game 38-7. We had 3 TDs either called back by penalty or toes barely being on the line (where I think it was a TD to Mariner in the corner). Penalties absolutely killed us. Killed us. Took away at least 2 touchdowns on drives we didn’t score, let alone the one’s we did where penalites turned it from a TD to a FG. We were just better. Our athletes are bigger, faster, stronger. The execution was just poor on offense, specifically holding penalties, and the O-Line. Again, I don’t expect this to be a problem this year. 

Also, one last note. Jaylon Johnson was a beast. They couldn’t even throw to his side. He might be my favorite player on the Utes and if he plays to his potential is better than Sean Smith and will be a 1st round draft pick. He’s a stud.