Cougars have running back 'problem'

[IE]

Some college football teams around these parts are searching for a running back.

On Saturday at UCLA, BYU had so many backs available with the return of Manase Tonga, they kind of neglected using Mountain West Conference player of the week Harvey Unga, who got just two touches in the first half when the Cougars trailed 20-3.

BYU fans wondered if offensive coordinator Robert Anae either hid, protected or held Unga back as part of his game plan.

"We didn't forget about Harvey," said running backs coach Lance Reynolds. "We were using some specific sets and personnel and when we noticed he wasn't getting as involved as he should have been, we made the adjustment."

When asked if he'd have liked to have seen Unga receive more work against the Bruins, head coach Bronco Mendenhall said what transpired with Unga wasn't by design.

"I'd say it was an oversight," said Mendenhall. "A lot of the runs we have are checked (calls) at the line of scrimmage and it can go either way in our two-back set. It wasn't our intention on our part to only get him one touch in the first quarter, but that's how it worked out. We have defined things more clearly in that way."

Unga averaged 4.5 yards a carry and 14.5 yards per reception in the Arizona game while gaining 194 all-purpose yards on 24 touches ? 8.4 yards per touch. Against UCLA, Unga had one-third the touches (8 for 71 yards) but still averaged 8.87 yards per play, including BYU's longest run from scrimmage (24 yards). Today, he ranks fourth in the conference in all-purpose yards and No. 2 in receiving yards per game.

Anae sketched in Tonga on Saturday after the junior missed the Arizona game due to a suspension. Mendenhall said because of UCLA's pressure defense, BYU's offensive staff had specific protection plans in place at the start of the game.

The biggest weakness in Unga's game, according to the coach, is picking up blitzes as a blocker.

"Most touches right now will go to Harvey, based on performance the last two games," said Mendenhall. "Manase will have a similar role as last year with Curtis (Brown) carrying the ball and Fui (Vakapuna) carrying the ball ... "

Unga said he's good with whatever BYU's offensive coaches decide to do with him. He wasn't surprised at getting just two touches.

"I didn't think I'd have another blowout game," Unga said. "I trust coach Anae and what he does. I trust our staff and our players. Whatever they decide is for the good of the team and you have to just go with the punches."

Unga said one thing he definitely noticed is he isn't close to being as sore after UCLA as he was following the Arizona game, when he scored two touchdowns.

In other words, he'll be totally fresh for Tulsa on Saturday.

Mendenhall said a review of game film underscored what he thought on Saturday. The big contributors to BYU's loss to the Bruins were field position in the punting game, ball-security issues (three turnovers) and penalties. He opened up punting competition between Brian Smith and two-game starter C.J. Santiago.

"We will construct it the best we can and hopefully there will be improved performance," said the coach.

The Cougars were called for 11 penalties to UCLA's four in the Rose Bowl. The PAC-10 uses its own officiating crews for all nonconference games.

When asked if he favored officiating crews that are comprised of "mixed crews" from different conferences for nonconference games, Mendenhall said: "I'd like to see it every chance we get."

 

[Roger Baltrey]

Nice problem to have.

 

[IE]

BYU notes: Kick returners' jobs on the line


Austin Collie and Bryce Mahuika remained on the field for nearly 30 minutes after Monday's practice fielding kicks from the JUGS machine.
The Brigham Young football program has reopened the competition on special teams after poor performances in its first two games.
BYU's punting ranks No. 75 in the nation with a 33.77-yard average while its return team ranks No. 100 on punts (3.67 yards) and No. 50 on kickoffs (22.67).
"Whoever is going to be the best guy is the one who needs to be back there," Mahuika said. "That is how it should be. If someone is not getting the job done, they shouldn't be returning kicks."
During BYU's loss to UCLA on Saturday, Mahuika fumbled a punt and Collie fumbled a kickoff. Both recovered the ball, but the miscues didn't go unnoticed by the coaching staff.
"It's a new thing for us, having been so solid in ball security the past couple years," coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "Now we have to address it at a higher level and be more effective than we have to this point."
The punting was more of a known question mark heading into the season. BYU recruited kicker C.J. Santiago specifically to handle the punting duties, but the junior hasn't performed as hoped and there are not many options remaining.
"It would be nice if there were personnel to change with," Mendenhall said. "We have Brian Smith


and we will open that up to competition this week. Those are the two players that we have, and so we will construct it the best we can and hopefully there will be an improved performance."

A forgotten man

On the heels of his big performance against Arizona, freshman running back Harvey Unga carried the ball only one time for a loss of two yards in the first half against UCLA. But Mendenhall said it wasn't by design.
"You might say it was an oversight," Mendenhall said. "A lot of the runs that we have are checked at the line of scrimmage and our two-back sets can go either way, and it wasn't an intention on our part to get him one touch in the first half. That is how it worked out, so we will have to design something more clearly that way."
Unga wasn't upset by his lack of carries, just BYU's loss.
"I am still the young guy. I am not trying to get all the attention and get all the reps," said Unga, who finished with five carries for 30 yards.

Quick hits

A Pacific-10 Conference officiating crew was on the field and in the replay booth during the loss to UCLA, a game in which several critical calls went against BYU. A mixed crew worked BYU's opener against Arizona, and Mendenhall's preference for the mixed crew was clear. "I'd like to see it every chance we get," he said. . . . Freshman G Pittman suffered a hip flexor injury against UCLA, and his return status is unknown.