USU Lays It All Out but Offers No Serious Challenge to No. 6 Boise St.

Coach A postgame

Diondre Borel postgame

Bobby Wagner Postgame

Michael Smith Postgame

Today in the Football segment of the Bull Horn, we three amigos identified a few keys to the BSU-USU football game.

1. Win the turnover battle
2. Control the lines
3. Limit the BSU big plays
4. Score on every opportunity

For 25 minutes, Utah State did almost all of those and looked every bit as good as the Boise State Broncos they and every other WAC team seeks to emulate. Although USU turned the ball over twice, the Aggies matched the Broncos score for score through 25 minutes of football. Then reality set in and it all came crashing down when Boise State took a three TD lead on three scores in roughly six minutes.

The first score of that three TD lead came after Moore finally connected on one his many longball attempts. Moore launched a 52-yard bomb to Titus Young, who caught the ball on the USU 2-yard line even though Rajric Coleman was guilty of pass interference. Doug Martin walked in the score on the next play. The score, while unfortunate, was not demoralizing to the Aggies, as USU had equalized the score of the game twice to that point. Demoralization came on the next USU series.

Diondre Borel and the Ags started their drive on their own 20. On 1st and 10, Borel was sacked for a 9-yard loss by BSU's Shea McClellin. On 2nd and 18, Borel and Robert Turbin miscommunicated on the handoff, the ball came out, and Boise recovered on the USU 9. One play later, USU found itself down by two TDs.

Desperate to score and bring the margin down to seven, the Aggies started their drive, but got to midfield and stalled. Peter Caldwell kept the Broncos honest, putting the ball on the BSU 17-yard line. Caldwell's efforts were in vain, however. Boise marched 85 yards in 1:28 and took a 35-14 lead.

Boise wasted no time in the third. They marched and scored on their first drive, widening the lead to 28. USU managed to drive and score one later in the quarter, but a 52-yarder from Kyle Brotzman again widened the margin to four scores.

Going into the fourth, USU had one option - produce the same type of quarter BSU produced in the 2nd or roll over like a dead rag doll. The first possession by the Aggies was not encouraging. USU moved the ball about 40 yards and was forced to punt. BSU scored on the next possession. I would write more from here, but I don't want to rub any more salt into the senior-night wound.

The first 25 minutes were encouraging. USU showed a lot of spunk, character, fire, desire, and will to win. After the fumble on the USU nine, USU folded like a house of cards in a poker tournament. The final result was 52-21 for the Broncos.

On a more positive note, Michael Smith converted two 4th down plays on fake punts, and Turbin scored on a TD run. Borel didn't do too bad, but would have done better if he knew how to throw the ball away once in a while.

Well, that's football. USU is on the road next week to wind up the season against a team the Aggies steamrolled last year. The Idaho Vandals definitely appear to be on the right track this year though. They are a bowl team, after all. If USU wins next week, we will have won four games this year, which is one more than the Aggies managed last year.

Best of luck on the road and on the recruiting trail. I guess there's always next year...
-LMH

USU Football Pre-Nevada coverage

USU will be looking right the ship against a very, very difficult Nevada team.

I only wish they could have righted the ship against a slightly (actually, significantly) less dangerous NMSU team, but they couldn't.

Here's what Coach Andersen had to say about that NMSU game and what he plans on doing for the USU-Nevada game ahead.



Likewise, here's what team captain Robert Turbin, who had a career yardage day against NMSU had to say about the NMSU game, and what he hopes to do against Nevada.

Thoughts on the NMSU loss last weekend

USU dropped what I would definitely call a marquee, program-defining loss Saturday night.

After watching the game and almost ripping my hair out, I have come down to a couple of key items that anyone who watched that game can identify, I'm certain.

First of all, USU committed too many penalties at all the wrong times. Two 40+ yard runs were negated by holding calls. Game changing plays - excellent runs by Turbin and Borel in the second half - were called back because some idiot on the offensive line pulled a man to the ground. The offensive line continues to be a black hole that sucks big plays away. This team, any team, can go nowhere forward when they go backwards like USU did Saturday. Bottom line, winning teams are disciplined enough to not commit 12 penalties for 130 yards.

Secondly, what on earth is wrong with USU special teams and why don't they ever improve? The punting game was absolutely wretched! On the second punt return of that game, USU coughed up the ball and then NMSU drove for the score. On the game-winning drive, USU gave up roughly (I don't have the stats) a 60-yard return to put NMSU in field goal range. Bottom line, winning teams make stops on special teams because they know that special teams are just as crucial as the offense and defense.

Thirdly, this team needs to change it's attitude. It's clear to me now that the loss the team suffered at Utah, A&M and BYU has got them on the same mental track they've been on for the last 15 years - losing is OK. This team will say up and down that they believe they can win, but after losing against NMSU, I'm not sure I believe they can win anymore. It's almost like they feel out the opponent, figure out just what they need to do in order to win, and then purposefully underachieve.

Anyway, having seen the Aggie team through 6 weeks of the season, I'm revising my picks for the remainder of the year. Here they are:

USU-Nevada: Loss
USU-LaTech: Win
USU-Fresno: Loss
USU-Hawai'i: Win
USU-SJSU: Win
USU-BSU: Loss
USU-Idaho: Loss

Idaho is for real, Hawai'i stinks, and unless USU can learn to stuff the run and get pressure on a QB, there's no way they'll beat Nevada. USU may have wanted a bowl berth, but there's no way it'll get it.

Here's the USU athletic department's recap.

BYU - USU: 2009 Edition

Before reading on, check out the preview I wrote in August and see if it was accurate. Had USU managed to get one more TD, I would have pinned the score on the dot. Personally satisfying, for sure!

Utah State came into Provo Friday Night with a dream - beat BYU and get their first win in Provo in more than 30 years. Nope. Didn't happen. They lost, 35-17.

For all intents and purposes, the game ended at the 13:09 mark in the 4th quarter. USU, faced with a crucial 4th and 1 in their own territory, went for it. At that point, USU needed to advance the ball and try to close an 11 point gap that widened with each tick off the clock. Turbin got the handoff, had space, looked to turn upfield, but didn't follow his blocker and was taken down two yards short of the 1st down marker. One 30-yard Harvey Unga run later, and BYU found itself inside the five. They sealed the deal on the next play; who else to do it but Harvey Unga? Unga ran 10 yards all over the Aggie D and BYU widened its lead to 28-10.

And then, just to rub salt in the wound, Riley Nelson came in for a single play and ran 15 yards up USU's gut late in the game. Max Hall immediately returned to the game after Nelson's run. Oooooh, Riley Nelson. I hate you, Riley Nelson. I hate you.

However... wait for it... Did USU quit? NO. With 2.6 seconds remaining, Borel tossed a 16-yard TD pass, his only of the game, to Xavier Bowman and closed the game out strong for USU. Indeed, strong finishes are a quality that seems to be a good trend for USU's football future.

Loads of hype surrounded the USU offense coming into the game. USU boasted Turbin's three-game streak of 100+ rushing yards, and Diondre Borel had put up over 300 yards of total offense in the previous two games. The hype was mostly made of the same material as dreams. However, the happenings of the first five minutes of the first quarter would lead one to believe otherwise.

No. 20 BYU came into this game a huge favorite, but it would be USU's offense that would score first off what has become known as a typical BYU turnover.

USU took possession after BYU fumbled at the 45-yard line. Diondre Borel and led his troops to the end zone in less than 3 minutes to give USU a very quick lead over their rivals from Provo. BYU then soaked up the first quarter in a very, very long scoring drive that took over 8 minutes off the first quarter clock. That locked the score at 7 apiece.

The most notable statistic in the first quarter was that Robert Turbin only managed to earn 6 yards rushing, and USU as a team only obtained 17 rushing yards, which was quite a step backward from last week's 600+ yard outing against SUU. BYU, on the other hand, racked up 69 yards rushing in their drive, and earned 111 yards of total offense to USU's 43.

USU then got the ball, went 3-and-out, and BYU found the seam in the Aggie D. In less than two minutes, BYU scored. The final play of the drive was a 45-yard pass to Luke Ashworth, who walked unmolested to the end zone in the first minute of the second quarter.

USU didn't do much on the next two drives and gave it up to BYU, but didn't make it easy. Two times in succession, BYU had to drive out of their own endzone. On the first, USU contained BYU to a punt, but not on the second. BYU drove 50 yards and sucked a sizable amount of time off the clock. By the time USU recovered at their own 27, and then the unthinkable happened.

USU fumbled once again on a bad pitch from Borel to Turbin. BYU recovered at USU's 30-yard-line, and threw a 26-yard-pass to Dennis Pitta. With less than 30 seconds on the clock, BYU's Manase Tonga scored it up the middle and widened the gap on the Aggies. 21-7. Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers...

In the third, the turnover monster reared its ugly head against BYU, but USU was unable to capitalize. After grabbing a pick in BYU territory, USU only managed to get to the BYU 2 and kicked a field goal. A second pick came on the ensuing BYU drive, but USU's offense stalled at midfield, and the Aggies were forced to punt again. USU's offense was stifled. Through three quarters, Turbin only managed to rack up 36 yards. Quite the different story from last Saturday...

Credit must be given to the USU defense. It squeezed out two more picks from Max in the third, and held BYU near midfield on their third offensive attempt of the third quarter. USU managed to claw its way a bit closer to BYU.

And then the 4th and 1 happened, and as quickly as USU momentum came, it was gone. USU fell short again on their next drive, once again giving it up on 4th down, and allowing BYU to score again before retaking the ball with next to nothing on the clock and driving for their final score.

USU is now going to start their conference season. This is where we'll see really where this team is.

Riley Nelson.... the cougar...

Great article on Riley Nelson and how he USED to play for USU. He now backs up Max Hall on BYU's sidelines, and is in prime position to take over the BYU QB job next year.

Check it out

Oh, Riley! Why???

What a turn of events....

LaGarrete Blount may be off the hot seat. Oregon Coach Chip Kelley said today he has provided a way for Senior RB Blount to earn his way back, but the way won't be easy.

You can find ESPN's breaking coverage of it here

I think Blount should be given an opportunity to return. The guy was being taunted by the idiots that live in Boise. Man, I hate Boise State.

BYU upsets Oklahoma

At the risk of being lynched by those who read this, I am going to make a quick comment about the BYU upset that went down in the inaugural edition of the Cowboy Classic in Arlington, Texas.

What a game.

This, if anything, helps USU because it now increases their strength of schedule. The biggest upset of week one makes the showdown that's going to be played in a month in Provo that much more of a big deal for USU. A win against what could possibly be a top-10 team at that point would not only be huge for USU, but for the entire WAC. It would validate the entire program and make the Aggies a true talking point for contention in the WAC, especially because Boise State is going to be playing USU in Romney Stadium in November. This is a big deal not only for BYU and everyone that will play them for the rest of the year, but also for the entire state of Utah. No one can deny that there are definite flaws in the BCS system now. Two Mtn West teams have struck gold against legitimate, powerful, historic programs within a two-game stretch. Both were games that were on ESPN, on national TV. BYU not only just validated the MTN west, but also the WAC, the state of Utah, and every non-BCS conference team in the country.

It's a big deal.

View the ESPN recap here

View what SI has to say about it.

I would also like to give a wag of my finger to ESPN's coverage of the game. They are discounting this win because Bradford was injured at the end of the 1st half and didn't return. I would imagine as well that most of the nation's media and coaches, not having watched this game, will also discount this win because of the Bradford injury. That will hurt their ranking. I think it's very important to give credit where credit is due.

Now, USU and Oklahoma do not play the same type of game. USU does not have the weight of Oklahoma, but they also do not play the same type of defense that USU plays. USU plays a man, speed-intensive defense. I certainly still think that USU can stand a chance against BYU, especially if they work harder than BYU leading into that game. BYU is not faster than USU.

That being said, all the questions about BYU's O-line and defense were answered tonight. That spells problems for any opponent barring any injury to BYU, and I don't think in a rebuilding year USU will be able to get the penetration that USU will need to rush Max Hall.

That's about the only bright spot for a USU fan that I can see coming out of this game - if USU somehow manages to pressure Hall, they can make him err. When he was pressured by Oklahoma's line, he threw riskier passes, was sacked aplenty, and threw two interceptions. That really is the key to beating BYU, pressuring Hall into making mistakes.

Also, I would like to eat my words. I went down on the record as saying the USU was more likely to cover the spread than BYU was. Now, both covered the 21-point spread, but I did not think that BYU was going to be within three touchdowns of Oklahoma. I thought their defense would be slower, the injuries in camp would weaken them too much, and the offensive line would give away too much only because of their inexperience.

Bottom line, BYU beat Oklahoma. Western football just got that much better. The nation should recognize

What a USU win tonight in SLC means

The USU Athletic Department sent out an email entailing what a win against the Utes tonight would mean, in the remote chance that USU actually does win.

What follows is a quote from that email

A USU WIN WOULD...
• Give Gary Andersen a win in his debut as USU head coach, becoming the first new Aggie head coach to win in his debut since Phil Krueger in 1973, as his eight predecessors all lost their debuts.
• Give Utah State its first road win since 2007, after losing all six road contests last season.
• Be the Aggies’ first win over the Utes since 1997.
• Snap USU’s 11-game losing streak to Utah, as the Aggies have lost 19 of the last 21, 22 of the last 25 and 25 of the last 29 meetings between the two schools.
• Be the Aggies’ first win over a top 25 team since 1991, snapping a 23-game losing streak.
• Give USU its first season-opening win since 1997, which was also at Utah, snapping a five-game season-opener vs. Utah losing skid.
• Break the Aggies’ two-game losing streak in Sept. 3 season-openers, and even their ledger on the date for first games of the season to 2-2.
• Be USU’s first win over a ranked Utah squad in three tries, as they are 0-2 vs. the Utes with a national ranking.
• Snap the Aggies’ 12-game non-Saturday losing skein, giving USU its first win on a non-Saturday since 1997.
• Break Utah State’s five-game losing streak at Salt Lake City as the Aggies’ last win on the Utes’ turf was Aug. 30, 1997.
• Give USU its first victory over a Mountain West Conference team since 2005, snapping a nine-game MWC losing skein.
• Turn the “A” Blue.

A USU LOSS WOULD...
• Be USU’s 12th loss in a row in the series.
• Deal the Aggies their seventh road loss in a row overall.
• Move Utah State’s losing skid to Utah at Salt Lake City to six straight.
• Give USU a 10-game losing streak vs. MWC teams.
• Be the Aggies’ third straight loss on Sept. 3.
• Give USU its third loss in as many tries when facing a ranked UofU squad.
• Mark the 12th-straight season that’s opened with a loss.
• As always, be not as good as a win.


So, as we can see, a win from the Aggies would be a whole lot more important than a loss against Utah. Utah actually takes quite the risk in playing this game, and after reviewing the depth chart again, I found something interesting.

Freshman Jordan Wynn is listed as the starting QB for Utah. This is the first time in... well, as long as I can remember ... that Utah is starting a freshman at QB to start the season off. What does that mean? Unless this kid is the next Joe Montana, Utah is going to rely on Matt Asiata to produce for the Ute Offense, which means that the Aggie Run Defense is going to be tested.

Given the schemes that Andersen has the Aggies running, I would bet that such a game would give USU their best chance of winning.

Logan is full of electricity at the hopes that USU can at least be competitive.

I'll see you on the sidelines tonight, Utah. You'll know it's me because I'll be decked out in blue from top to bottom.

Part 4 of 4 - The Stretch - USU football

And so it comes to this...

USU football's fourth quarter of action in the 2009 season. To this point we stand with 3 wins and 6 losses. Close losses, but still... losses. If USU wants to get to a bowl game, they must win the final three games of the season. Likely? No... You'll see why in a moment.

But anything is possible - even miracles.

Opponent #10: San Jose State University Spartans

Prediction: USU 14-10 SJSU

This game, more than anything, will be a defensive battle. SJSU's defense is pretty efficient against the pass. Last season, they were a top-10 defense against the pass and 21st overall in total defense. USU will bring a new, revamped defense coached by the defensive wizard, Gary Andersen, to bear against a mediocre passing game with an offensive line that allowed 2 sacks a game on average last year and had a hard time coming back.

If USU manages to get a two touchdown lead in this game at anytime in the second half, put it in your book as a win for the Aggies.

That, however, I don't believe will happen. USU by this point could be overlooking SJSU and have their eyes on a somewhat bigger prize, Boise State. They will play Boise the week after in the first nationally televised game in Romney Stadium in years (if at all). But I digress...

SJSU is a team that did very very well in 2006. They had a bowl game win and won nine games in the second year of their head coach's tenure. Since then, they've wallowed in mediocrity. If USU is able to come in to this game with four wins on their sheet, they have a very good chance of winning this one, especially since it's in Logan.

Watch the lines in this game. If USU can penetrate and run the ball well on offense, they'll do well. USU's defense needs to focus on the run as SJSU doesn't have a solid quarterback and finds itself embroiled in the middle of a in-house competition for QB. We all know what that means - both suck.

Opponent #11: The Boise State Broncos.... uggghhh...

Prediction: USU 10-49 BSU

Given my deep-seeded hatred for Bull **** University (BSU, people, come on. I think Idaho houses more cows than people, anyway. I've been there before.) it is awfully painful to have to say that the enemy from up north is going to come in to our house and humiliate us once again, but I have to.

Even Gary Andersen knows that we're way, way behind the broncos - this quote pretty much sums it all up.

"We're probably not even nipping at their heels. We're a puppy running 10 yards behind them."

Coach Andersen said the preceding at the WAC media day in SLC about the Broncos.

The question here is this: How do you stop a team which has only two conference losses in the last seven years, one of them to a BCS team, in your own house on national television?

When we find the answer to that question, I drive to Boise and burn a big block A into the smurf-turf! Who's with me?!

Shoot. I hate Boise State almost as much as I hate the University of Utah.

Opponent #12: The Vandals of the University of Idaho

Prediction: USU 49-10 Idaho

After getting beat up by one Idaho team, it will be a fresh relief to pound on the red-headed step child of the Idaho System of Higher Education. I mean, they play their basketball games at the same place they play their football games, and the stadium is indoors! Hilarious, much? Yes. Yes, it is.

This game should be a cake walk for the Aggies. They beat Idaho in each of the last two seasons, last year by about 30 points. They can't pass, they can't run, their lines stink, their defense is worse, and their return teams are much less than worthy. USU should be able to run their socks off with the dual-threat quarterback Borel, unless (Heaven Forbid) Borel and Turin get injured... But let's not worry about such things until they happen.

Epilogue

So, what have we learned here?

USU is going to have a record year this year! 5 wins! Something to celebrate?! Absolutely! Especially after having the abysmal years of 1- and 2-win seasons behind us.

I have spoken with several sources around the football team. There's a new energy here that hasn't been seen in the program for a long time and a new sense of optimism that will stay. This team understands that the winning process takes time, and the team's goals are clearly outlined in stone. This team wants to hunt down Boise State and eventually win a WAC title. I believe that Gary Andersen has the stuff to do it in five years. He can be the man to bring this team out from the doldrums and back into the national spotlight that it was in 50 years ago. It is very difficult, but it is possible.

I think, when all is said and done, we must try to retain, always retain, a positive vibe about the possibilities of this season. Remember, only a fool would hope for more than six wins, but six is possible, even if it is unlikely.

By the way, if we do get six wins this year, I vote we rename 1000 North in Logan, Andersen Avenue. That's just me, though.

Post your feedback below.

Koa Misi goes down

UPDATE on Utah Football - Koa Misi, a Utah defensive lineman, is out with injury! This greatly weakens Utah's defense and forces Utah to rely on it's depth.

You can check out Koa Misi's profile and some statistics here and can also check out the article detailing what went down at practice here and here. Personally, I prefer the first of the two - the Salt Lake Tribune pays a lot more attention to Utah Football than the Deseret News does... I think it has to do with the fact that the Deseret News loves BYU and the SL Tribune loves Utah.

Regardless, 1320 KFAN in SLC has some good sound bytes from Kyle Whittingham on Koa Misi. You can hear them here.

So, the question: How does this affect USU and game one of the season.

This is one more in a long line of injuries that is coming out of Salt Lake City and Provo during training camp. I, for one, am somewhat stunned to hear that all this is going down. All it does is help USU and give our boys a better chance of winning.

Taking a closer look at Koa Misi, it's obvious to see that he is a pretty valuable player on that Ute Defensive line. He's a 6'3", 263 pound senior on the end of that line. Over the last two years at Utah after transferring from a California Junior College, Misi has amassed 135 tackles, 60 of which have been unassisted, and 65 of which have been tackles for a loss. In other words, almost half of every time this guy gets to your ball carrier, he's going to get to him behind your line of scrimmage. Over the course of the last two years, he's got 28 sacks. That's an average of more than one per game.

You can see where I'm getting at.

Sure, Utah has a formidable line, but it is extremely difficult to replace that kind of talent. Utah is now forced to play with untested underclassmen who, according to Whittingham, will be rotating in and out of that position every few plays. It is plainly obvious that this loss is really a loss, despite Utah's depth.

Look for USU's offense to shine that much more, especially if the O-line has a good game. The likelihood of USU winning just went up.