The defensive philosophy against Dennis Pitta is evolving quickly.
So far, it's just not having much of an effect.
The BYU tight end might be the biggest breakout star of the young season, piling up yardage against every sort of coverage -- ranking second nationally in yards per game and perhaps first in sleepless nights for defensive coordinators.
Wyoming will get its turn against Pitta on Saturday, and there's probably not much the Cowboys can learn from the way the Cougars' first three opponents played him.
"I think the way defenses were playing us the first couple games, we made them pay," Pitta said. "I mean, against UCLA we saw them play a little more press-man with safeties and cover guys over the top of me.
"But you know what, we've got too many weapons on offense. So if they're going to double the inside guys, we've got guys on the outside that can make plays. It's kind of a lose-lose for defenses right now."
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The Bruins had the hardest time so far last week, not only losing on the road against No. 14 BYU but getting humiliated in the process.
UCLA actually held Pitta to his lowest output of the season with 47 yards, but the starters weren't needed for long in the 59-0 rout -- and the junior still scored two touchdowns.
Pitta hasn't exactly come out of nowhere to lead BYU's talented stable of targets, but considering that he came to Provo as a walk-on, his rise among the nation's elite is still eye-opening.
"I thought that would happen over time, I didn't know it would happen as quickly as it did," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "Dennis came to our program as a walk-on, he was only about 190, under 195 pounds out of high school.
"His development has been faster than what we'd expected, but we did see signs of athleticism and play-making similar to what (2006 All-America) Jonny (Harline) was doing, but again, I would say he was ahead of schedule."
So far, that production has helped BYU stay on pace for a possible BCS bid.
Pitta might have also moved up the timetable on Max Hall's Heisman Trophy candidacy, making it even easier for the quarterback to find a reliable option downfield and more difficult for defenses to stop it.
"With Northern Iowa, even their coach said after the game they focused on doubling Austin (Collie) and doubling Harvey (Unga), and that just gave Dennis one-on-one situations," Hall said. "Then with that big game (213 yards), I think Washington noticed Dennis and even tried to double him but he was still able to get open.
"Then you see other guys getting the ball, so I think defenses are kind of struggling right now to figure out what to do against us."
Last season the Cowboys tried to slow them down with a variety of blitzes and some zone pressure, generally avoiding big gains and trying to force Hall into shorter throws.
That scheme at least slowed down the BYU offense, but it also funnelled four balls to Pitta for 58 yards and a touchdown.
"Wyoming is a little different in that their history, I'm not saying they'll do it in this game, but their history has been zone pressure," Mendenhall said. "They're very effective at it and have played very good defense the past three years.
"And in terms of (Pitta's) start, it really has a lot to do with what the defenses that we've played have done. Many, probably even our own coaching staff, have underestimated what he could do to change a game."
Based on the increase in attention, opposing coaching staffs apparently no longer fit in that category.
So far, it's just not having much of an effect.
The BYU tight end might be the biggest breakout star of the young season, piling up yardage against every sort of coverage -- ranking second nationally in yards per game and perhaps first in sleepless nights for defensive coordinators.
Wyoming will get its turn against Pitta on Saturday, and there's probably not much the Cowboys can learn from the way the Cougars' first three opponents played him.
"I think the way defenses were playing us the first couple games, we made them pay," Pitta said. "I mean, against UCLA we saw them play a little more press-man with safeties and cover guys over the top of me.
"But you know what, we've got too many weapons on offense. So if they're going to double the inside guys, we've got guys on the outside that can make plays. It's kind of a lose-lose for defenses right now."
*
The Bruins had the hardest time so far last week, not only losing on the road against No. 14 BYU but getting humiliated in the process.
UCLA actually held Pitta to his lowest output of the season with 47 yards, but the starters weren't needed for long in the 59-0 rout -- and the junior still scored two touchdowns.
Pitta hasn't exactly come out of nowhere to lead BYU's talented stable of targets, but considering that he came to Provo as a walk-on, his rise among the nation's elite is still eye-opening.
"I thought that would happen over time, I didn't know it would happen as quickly as it did," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "Dennis came to our program as a walk-on, he was only about 190, under 195 pounds out of high school.
"His development has been faster than what we'd expected, but we did see signs of athleticism and play-making similar to what (2006 All-America) Jonny (Harline) was doing, but again, I would say he was ahead of schedule."
So far, that production has helped BYU stay on pace for a possible BCS bid.
Pitta might have also moved up the timetable on Max Hall's Heisman Trophy candidacy, making it even easier for the quarterback to find a reliable option downfield and more difficult for defenses to stop it.
"With Northern Iowa, even their coach said after the game they focused on doubling Austin (Collie) and doubling Harvey (Unga), and that just gave Dennis one-on-one situations," Hall said. "Then with that big game (213 yards), I think Washington noticed Dennis and even tried to double him but he was still able to get open.
"Then you see other guys getting the ball, so I think defenses are kind of struggling right now to figure out what to do against us."
Last season the Cowboys tried to slow them down with a variety of blitzes and some zone pressure, generally avoiding big gains and trying to force Hall into shorter throws.
That scheme at least slowed down the BYU offense, but it also funnelled four balls to Pitta for 58 yards and a touchdown.
"Wyoming is a little different in that their history, I'm not saying they'll do it in this game, but their history has been zone pressure," Mendenhall said. "They're very effective at it and have played very good defense the past three years.
"And in terms of (Pitta's) start, it really has a lot to do with what the defenses that we've played have done. Many, probably even our own coaching staff, have underestimated what he could do to change a game."
Based on the increase in attention, opposing coaching staffs apparently no longer fit in that category.
