Loyal Cougars

Statistical Analysis: BYU vs. Middle Tennessee

BYU Offense

Called Plays: 84; Called Passes: 50 (45 attempts, 1 scramble, 1 bad snap, 3 sacks); Called Runs: 34

 

Read Option:

BYU ran the read option 23 times in the game against Middle Tennessee. The team struggled in the first half at executing the read option only gaining 32 yards, the majority coming from a 19 yard completion to Keanu Nelson. Jamaal Williams really stepped it up in the 3rd quarter with 25 yards on 5 carries. Overall, the ball was given 16 times with 11 of those carries going to Jamaal for 33 yards; Paul Lasike had 4 carries for 15 yards and a touchdown; and Hine had 1 read option carry for 2 yards. Christian kept the ball 3 times for 8 yards and a touchdown and attempted three passes, of which only one was completed.

1st: Give (Jamaal 1), Give (Jamaal 0), Keep (5), Give (Jamaal 2), Give (Jamaal 1), Give (Jamaal 3)

2nd: Pass (complete to Nelson 19), Give (Jamaal 1)

3rd: Give (Jamaal 9), Give (Jamaal 6), Pitch (Juergens 5), Give (Lasike 2), Give (Jamaal 3), Give (Jamaal 4), Give (Jamaal 3), Pass (incomplete Jamaal), Give (Lasike 6), Give (Lasike 2 TD)

4th: Give (Lasike 5), Pass (Mathews incomplete), Give (Hine 2), Keep (2), Keep (1 TD)

 

Time in the Pocket:

Christian Stewart’s time in pocket on passes:

1st Quarter: 3.26 seconds

2nd Quarter: 3.18 seconds

3rd Quarter: 3.21 seconds

4th Quarter: 3.45 seconds

Game avg: 3.24 seconds

Result: 11.29 yards per completion

 

Christian Stewart’s time in pocket before scrambling:

1st Quarter: 3.8 seconds

2nd Quarter: 4.25 seconds

3rd Quarter: N/A

4th Quarter: 3.5 seconds

Game avg: 3.95 seconds

Result: -.75 yards per scramble

 

How many Middle Tennessee defenders rushed the QB?

On all Christian Stewart passes:

1st Quarter: (4+4+4+4+4+4+5+5+4)/9

2nd Quarter: (4+4+5+5+4+3+4+4+4+5+4+5+4)/13

3rd Quarter: (4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+3+4+5+4+4)/17

4th Quarter: (4+4+5+3+4+5)/6

Game avg: 4.13 man rush

 

On Christian Stewart scrambles:

1st Quarter: 5

2nd Quarter: (3+4)/2

3rd Quarter: N/A

4th Quarter: (4+4)/2

Game avg: 4 man rush

 

Ball Distribution:

1st Quarter: Christian Stewart: 6/9 passing for 66 yards, 2 rushes for 13 yards; Jamaal Williams: 7 rushes for 13 yards, 1 reception for -4 yards (1 target); Colby Pearson: 1 reception for 37 yards, 1 TD (1 target); Terenn Houk: 1 reception for 16 yards (1 target): Mitch Mathews: 1 reception for 8 yards (2 targets): Jordan Leslie: 1 reception for 4 yards (2 targets); Paul Lasike: 1 reception for 5 yards (1 target)

2nd Quarter: Christian Stewart: 9/13 passing for 82 yards, 2 rushes for -7 yards; Jamaal Williams: 3 rushes for 12 yards; Mitch Mathews: 2 receptions for 20 yards (3 targets);  Paul Lasike: 2 receptions for 16 yards (2 targets); Devin Mahina: 2 receptions for 11 yards, 1 drop (3 targets); Keanu Nelson: 1 reception for 19 yards (2 targets); Terren Houk: 1 reception for 12 yards (1 target); Colby Pearson: 1 reception for 4 yards (1 target); Devon Blackmon: 1 drop (1 target)

3rd Quarter: Christian Stewart: 11/17 passing for 124 yards and 1 TD; Jamaal Williams: 6 rushes for 24 yards, 1 reception for 28 yards (2 targets); Paul Lasike: 3 rushes for 10 yards and 1 TD, 1 reception for 1 yards (1 target); Jordan Leslie: 2 receptions for 29 yards and 1 TD (3 targets); Devin Mahina: 2 receptions for 29 yards (2 targets); Mitch Mathews: 2 receptions for 21 yards (5 targets); Mitchell Juergens: 2 receptions for 12 yards, 1 rush for 5 yards, 1 drop (3 targets); Colby Pearson: 1 reception for 4 yards (1 target)

4th Quarter: Christian Stewart: 2/6 passing for 44 yards, 3 rushes for -1 yard and 1 TD; Nate Carter: 5 rushes for 24 yards; Adam Hine: 3 rushes for 25 yards; Paul Lasike: 2 rushes for 18 yards, 1 target; Kurt Henderson: 1 reception for 33 yards (2 targets); Mitch Mathews: 1 reception for 11 yards (2 targets); Mitchell Juergens: 1 drop (1 target)

 

Overall Offensive Analysis:

BYU’s offense struggled in the first half against a poor MTSU defense. The team followed the trend of starting slow and some great second half adjustments with Stewart at the helm. If I were to grade Stewart for this game I would give him a B-, kind of harsh for a guy who threw for 316 yards and 2 TD’s, but he made a handful of poor reads running the read option which if he were to tuck and run. There were also a number of times that he tried to force a throw after being flushed from the pocket which ended in an incompletion, if he were to scramble for a gain on the play he definitely could’ve gotten the first down with his legs. But not all was bad, there were a number of plays that he made by extending the play with his legs, one instance came on the completion to Jamaal in the third quarter, the OL gave him 5+ seconds of protection, he stepped up into the pocket and rolled out to avoid pressure, once Jamaal saw him scrambling he executed a great scramble drill by getting up the sideline and catching the ball. The OL struggled to set the tone on the run in the first half in which BYU only gained 31 yards on the ground. There were some great adjustments at half time where they were able to establish the run and march to a touchdown on their first drive of the half and continued to do well overall for the rest of the half.

 

BYU Defense

Statistical Leaders:

Skye PoVey: 8 (7 solo-1 assisted) tackles, 1 TFL for -2 yards; Zac Stout: 7 solo tackles; Bronson Kaufusi: 6 (5 solo-1 assisted) tackles, 1 TFL for -6 yards, 1 sack; Dallin Leavitt: 5 solo tackles; Teu Kautai: 3 solo tackles, 3 TFL for -23 yards, 3 sacks; Harvey Jackson: 3 solo tackles, 1 TFL for -1 yards; Jordan Preator: 2 solo tackles, 2 PBU, 1 INT, 1 FF; Tomasi Laulile: 2 solo tackles, 1 TFL for -3 yards, 1 QBH, 1 INT

Coverage Targets:

Skye PoVey: 3/5 (incomplete, complete, complete zone, complete zone, incomplete)

Robertson Daniel: 0/1, 1 PBU (PBU)

Jordan Preator: 2/6, 2 PBU, 1 TD, 1 INT (PBU, complete, complete TD, incomplete, PBU, INT)

Jherremya Leuta-Douyere: 1/1 (complete zone)

Michael Alisa: 0/1, 1 PBU (PBU)

Dallin Leavitt: 1/1 (complete)

Bronson Kaufusi: 1/1 (complete)

Tomasi Laulile: 0/1, 1 INT (INT)

Jackson: 1/2 (incomplete, complete zone)

 

Overall Defensive Analysis:

This was a solid defensive performance by BYU’s defense. There were some great, assignment sound plays. There was a huge difference in technique in execution as there less missed tackles than BYU fans had been accustomed to over recent weeks. The most astonishing improvement was by Jordan Preator who had been picked on last week by Boise State when they completed all 6 passes they attempted against him, this week he did a great job of getting his head around on passes and because of this small tweak in technique he was able to get 2 PBU’s and 1 INT. The one issue problem he had was giving up a TD where he gave up inside position on a route and was beat. The front 7 did a great job, noted statistically by Teu Kautai’s 3 sacks. One key to this was Bronson Kaufusi being moved to DE and eating up blockers, this was a huge help for Kautai getting to the QB. Bronson looked more comfortable in this position and ended with a sack and was able to pressure the QB a number of times, all 4 of BYU’s sacks against MTSU came when Bronson was lined up at DE. Because of this change BYU was able to run some line stunts and really create some havoc for the opposing OL. This was BY FAR BYU’s most innovative and diverse game when it came to defensive play calling, because of the movement of players in positions they were able to add a number of wrinkles to the playbook which were extremely effective. Something else that was extremely exciting was the number of plays Harvey Jackson got, he is arguably BYU’s best defensive athlete (could be challenged by Rob Daniel) but has had issues with understanding the scheme. Harvey was great in coverage and in recognizing play development which helped in his tackles for loss. Overall, BYU made some great adjustment coming off of a frustrating loss at Boise State and showed up after being run off the field in the previous 4 games.

One Comment

  1. ralphjenkins91

    November 8, 2014 at 3:58 am

    Sure took coaches forever to figure out what everyone else had been doubting since Fall Camp, that Bronson didn’t have the required athleticism to play OLB and cover in space and needed to be at DE.