By Dick Harmon of the
Deseret Morning News
PROVO ? Matt Berry's comeback is nearly complete.
Today, it's expected BYU coach Gary Crowton will name Berry his starting quarterback for Saturday's excursion to Laramie, where the Cougars will battle an old nemesis, the University of Wyoming.
This is a perfect re-entry for Berry, who broke his hand against New Mexico a month ago, had surgery and has been on the mend. He started throwing wobbly passes a week ago and has worked extremely hard to get velocity on his throws. Berry's not perfect, but the sophomore is improving daily. This should be enough for Crowton to pull the trigger because John Beck is available, and as Crowton pointed out Tuesday, he too will play.
But, let's go back to the scene of a perfect setting.
Well, the stage at War Memorial Stadium may not be the ideal venue because of hostilities between these two schools. But after the Cougars dropped three in a row at LaVell Edwards Stadium, you get the picture ? the road is good.
Here's a list of why this Saturday is a good setup for Berry:
1. It's a road game. Like efforts at USC, New Mexico and San Diego State, it's almost scientific that the Cougars are more focused, feel less pressure and are more eager to get after it on the road living out of suitcases than in Provo.
2. Berry's return will be against the league's worst defense. The Pokes are susceptible to both the run and pass ? they are no respecter of how they give away yards and points.
3. Berry will be fairly protected. Wyoming's defensive rush is last in the league, registering just five sacks in six games. This is perfect for a nonscrambling pocket quarterback to find a rhythm and keep drives alive. He won't be pressed into third-and-long situations.
4. Berry will benefit because of right tackle Brandon Stephens' return to his spot after taking last week off due to illness.
5. Berry isn't the only former starter using the Wyoming game for a return to full duty. Tight end Justin Jory is back from a broken leg and is further along than a week ago when he caught a touchdown pass against Colorado State. Running back Fui Vakapuna, who has missed about the same time Berry has, returns to shore up a power run attack that's lacked cylinders and punch.
6. Berry will benefit from Wyoming's struggles to stop the run. If the Cougars can pull the trigger on a run attack against the Cowboys, it will take pressure off BYU's one-dimensional-itis on offense, allow more play-action, short-yard conversions and simple consistency.
7. Berry's entry is part of a wake-up call week. In the Cougar camp, certain muscles are clinched pretty tight right now. Players have responded to last week's humiliation on ESPN and are hungry for a win. This has shown in drills where there is greater concentration on execution than ever before. This may erase some of the drops, late-hit penalties, misjudgment on sideline first-down markers, etc. At least you'd hope so.
8. Crowton's play-calling will now revert back to his high-percentage attack you saw against Georgia Tech, USC and New Mexico ? and it will work.
9. Berry deserves a comeback.
10. Crowton needs a comeback.
So, what does it all mean? "Opportunity," said the squirrel facing a pile of nuts.
The predictions:
BYU 28, WYOMING 24: You must respect Wyoming passer Casey Bramlett ?- he's simply a stud. So, conceding that he's going to make some plays, it still remains the work of the Cougar defense to win this game by limiting his successes while Berry tries to cement his comeback. Look for turnovers to prove huge in this contest. How do the Cougars play with backs to the barn? They'll respond.
COLORADO STATE 27, AIR FORCE 21: Bradlee Van Pelt will be the difference in this showdown between two MWC leaders. The Rams are feeling it, and the Falcons are about to be exposed on defense. Sonny Lubick's boys have all the tools to put the Falcons on their heels defensively, and that's how you defeat AFA, by keeping the flyboy offense on the sidelines.
UTAH 24, UNLV 3: Kyle Whittingham's defense may register a shutout over the Rebels in this crucial visit to Las Vegas for Urban Meyer. The UNLV offense is nothing to brag about, and Utah's offense is consistent enough to wear down a very good Rebel defense. That leaves UNLV's offense as the trump card, and John Robison's boys simply don't have the firepower to play anything but defensive football and hope for a winning field goal. Not in this game.
SAN DIEGO STATE 21, NEW MEXICO 17: Adam Hall is experienced enough to pull of a victory at home against a solid but not great Lobo squad. The Aztecs lead this series 20-9 and have a good enough defense to hold it over the visitors. Lynell Hamilton is good enough to give the Aztecs diversity and allow Hall to complete a few big passes.
Last week: 2-2. Overall: 32-13
Deseret Morning News
PROVO ? Matt Berry's comeback is nearly complete.
Today, it's expected BYU coach Gary Crowton will name Berry his starting quarterback for Saturday's excursion to Laramie, where the Cougars will battle an old nemesis, the University of Wyoming.
This is a perfect re-entry for Berry, who broke his hand against New Mexico a month ago, had surgery and has been on the mend. He started throwing wobbly passes a week ago and has worked extremely hard to get velocity on his throws. Berry's not perfect, but the sophomore is improving daily. This should be enough for Crowton to pull the trigger because John Beck is available, and as Crowton pointed out Tuesday, he too will play.
But, let's go back to the scene of a perfect setting.
Well, the stage at War Memorial Stadium may not be the ideal venue because of hostilities between these two schools. But after the Cougars dropped three in a row at LaVell Edwards Stadium, you get the picture ? the road is good.
Here's a list of why this Saturday is a good setup for Berry:
1. It's a road game. Like efforts at USC, New Mexico and San Diego State, it's almost scientific that the Cougars are more focused, feel less pressure and are more eager to get after it on the road living out of suitcases than in Provo.
2. Berry's return will be against the league's worst defense. The Pokes are susceptible to both the run and pass ? they are no respecter of how they give away yards and points.
3. Berry will be fairly protected. Wyoming's defensive rush is last in the league, registering just five sacks in six games. This is perfect for a nonscrambling pocket quarterback to find a rhythm and keep drives alive. He won't be pressed into third-and-long situations.
4. Berry will benefit because of right tackle Brandon Stephens' return to his spot after taking last week off due to illness.
5. Berry isn't the only former starter using the Wyoming game for a return to full duty. Tight end Justin Jory is back from a broken leg and is further along than a week ago when he caught a touchdown pass against Colorado State. Running back Fui Vakapuna, who has missed about the same time Berry has, returns to shore up a power run attack that's lacked cylinders and punch.
6. Berry will benefit from Wyoming's struggles to stop the run. If the Cougars can pull the trigger on a run attack against the Cowboys, it will take pressure off BYU's one-dimensional-itis on offense, allow more play-action, short-yard conversions and simple consistency.
7. Berry's entry is part of a wake-up call week. In the Cougar camp, certain muscles are clinched pretty tight right now. Players have responded to last week's humiliation on ESPN and are hungry for a win. This has shown in drills where there is greater concentration on execution than ever before. This may erase some of the drops, late-hit penalties, misjudgment on sideline first-down markers, etc. At least you'd hope so.
8. Crowton's play-calling will now revert back to his high-percentage attack you saw against Georgia Tech, USC and New Mexico ? and it will work.
9. Berry deserves a comeback.
10. Crowton needs a comeback.
So, what does it all mean? "Opportunity," said the squirrel facing a pile of nuts.
The predictions:
BYU 28, WYOMING 24: You must respect Wyoming passer Casey Bramlett ?- he's simply a stud. So, conceding that he's going to make some plays, it still remains the work of the Cougar defense to win this game by limiting his successes while Berry tries to cement his comeback. Look for turnovers to prove huge in this contest. How do the Cougars play with backs to the barn? They'll respond.
COLORADO STATE 27, AIR FORCE 21: Bradlee Van Pelt will be the difference in this showdown between two MWC leaders. The Rams are feeling it, and the Falcons are about to be exposed on defense. Sonny Lubick's boys have all the tools to put the Falcons on their heels defensively, and that's how you defeat AFA, by keeping the flyboy offense on the sidelines.
UTAH 24, UNLV 3: Kyle Whittingham's defense may register a shutout over the Rebels in this crucial visit to Las Vegas for Urban Meyer. The UNLV offense is nothing to brag about, and Utah's offense is consistent enough to wear down a very good Rebel defense. That leaves UNLV's offense as the trump card, and John Robison's boys simply don't have the firepower to play anything but defensive football and hope for a winning field goal. Not in this game.
SAN DIEGO STATE 21, NEW MEXICO 17: Adam Hall is experienced enough to pull of a victory at home against a solid but not great Lobo squad. The Aztecs lead this series 20-9 and have a good enough defense to hold it over the visitors. Lynell Hamilton is good enough to give the Aztecs diversity and allow Hall to complete a few big passes.
Last week: 2-2. Overall: 32-13
