BYU Cougars: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
BYU Cougars: Key To The 2022 Offense
Keep getting out to hot starts.
That’s easier said than done, but there were games when the Cougars came out, ripped off a few big scoring drives, and everything fell into place form there.
It would’ve been nice at times to keep the momentum going, but there’s no complaining with 262 first half points – the Cougars outscored teams 114-50 in the first quarter.
All that in the previous section about the defense needing to be better is true – it had problems in the second quarters – but the stats are a tad misleading. Teams had to bomb away and crank things up to get in games. As long as BYU can keep setting the tone early, everything will be fine.
BYU Cougars: Key To The 2022 Defense
Stop teams on third downs.
Two issues go hand-in-hand here. There wasn’t much of a pass rush – there was a rough run of five sacks in eight games over the second half of the year – and there wasn’t much happening on third downs.
The time of possession battle wasn’t that big a deal, but it hurt when the D just couldn’t get off the field.
UAB converted third down after third down – hitting at a 65% clip – in the bowl win. Washington State lost, but it connected on 64% of its tries, and every FBS team on the slate over the last ten games converted 40% or more of their chances.
The 43% of third down tries allowed were the most by any BYU team in over a decade.
BYU Cougars: Key Player To The 2022 Season
OG Campbell Barrington, Soph.
There isn’t that much of a concern on the offensive line that should be fantastic thanks to the left side and big Connor Pay at center, but it would be a big help if Barrington settled in at right guard after working at times at right tackle.
He got six starts last year, and there are other options, but if he’s great, there’s no need for any shuffling or reworking the front five because …
BYU Cougars: Key Transfer
RB Christopher Brooks, Sr.
Okay, okay, the real transfer star of the bunch is Oregon OT Kingsley Suamataia, a 5-star talent who could’ve been a starting tackle this year for any team in the country – that includes Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State.
However, it’s Brooks who has to play the big role to take over for Tyler Allgeier and become the lead back for the attack that needs one. There will be a rotation at times, but Brooks will push for well past 1,500 yards if all goes right with the offense.
BYU Key Game To The 2022 Season
Baylor, Sept. 10
Oh sure, going to Oregon will be big, hosting Arkansas will be a moment, and dealing with Notre Dame in Las Vegas will be entertaining, but Baylor is the big hairy deal as 1) the first big game of the season and 2) to make a statement for next year.
Baylor is fantastic. It should be almost as good as the 2021 version that won the Big 12 Championship, and now it’s up to BYU to flex and tell the guys in the new league that it’s on next year.
It’s the only game on the slate against a Big 12 team, and with a trip to Oregon to follow, it might be a must win to avoid a possible 1-2 start.
BYU Cougars: 2021 Fun Stats
– Interceptions Thrown: Opponents 15 – BYU 5
– 1st Quarter Scoring: BYU 114 – Opponents 50
– 3rd Quarter Scoring: Opponents 84 – BYU 70
O, D Breakdown | Season Prediction, What Will Happen
BYU Top 10 Players | BYU Schedule