From @RileyMcFerran
arkansas.rivals.com
As we will do throughout this football season, HawgBeat went behind enemy lines to gain insight on the BYU Cougars from Deseret News Sports Writer Jay Drew.
Here is what he had to say about Saturday's matchup between Arkansas and BYU, which is set to kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville...
Drew: "BYU's offense doesn't really have a name, but it closely resembles the old West Coast Offense that was popular years ago, along with some of the Air Raid Offense that late coach Mike Leach made a thing in the West. Really, it is a pro-set offense with a mixture of RPO and spread elements.
"BYU brought in Jay Hill from Weber State as its new defensive coordinator and plays a standard 4-3-4 scheme, but has used a lot of 4-2-5 this year to utilize some outstanding defensive backs."
Drew: "Quarterback Kedon Slovis was brought in from Pitt and is obviously the key Cougar this year. Receivers Chase Roberts and Keanu Hill are back and have been good so far; Another receiver, Kody Epps, missed the first two games with a hamstring injury but is expected to play Saturday. Defensively, the heart of the team are linebackers Max Tooley and Ben Bywater."
Drew: "BYU's offensive line has not been as good as advertised, and the Cougars have struggled to run the football effectively. Defensively, BYU lost both projected starting safeties -- Micah Harper and Talan Alfrey -- to injuries in fall camp and is a bit thin and inexperienced at that position."
Drew: "The obvious answer is they have to play better defense and contain KJ Jefferson a lot more than they did last year. Establishing a ground game will be important to eat the clock the keep Jefferson off the field."
Drew: "It should be fairly close for a half or so, but I expect Arkansas to pull away in the third quarter -- kind of like last year. It was a 3-point game late in the third quarter before Jefferson made a big play and then BYU committed a turnover after it became a two-score game. If the Cougars can take care of the ball all four quarters, they have a chance."
Score Prediction: Arkansas 35, BYU 24
HawgBeat - Know the Foe: Gaining BYU insight with Jay Drew
See what Desert News Sports Writer Jay Drew had to say about BYU ahead of its matchup with Arkansas.
arkansas.rivals.com
As we will do throughout this football season, HawgBeat went behind enemy lines to gain insight on the BYU Cougars from Deseret News Sports Writer Jay Drew.
Here is what he had to say about Saturday's matchup between Arkansas and BYU, which is set to kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville...
What style of offense and defense does BYU play?
Drew: "BYU's offense doesn't really have a name, but it closely resembles the old West Coast Offense that was popular years ago, along with some of the Air Raid Offense that late coach Mike Leach made a thing in the West. Really, it is a pro-set offense with a mixture of RPO and spread elements.
"BYU brought in Jay Hill from Weber State as its new defensive coordinator and plays a standard 4-3-4 scheme, but has used a lot of 4-2-5 this year to utilize some outstanding defensive backs."
Who are the key players for BYU?
Drew: "Quarterback Kedon Slovis was brought in from Pitt and is obviously the key Cougar this year. Receivers Chase Roberts and Keanu Hill are back and have been good so far; Another receiver, Kody Epps, missed the first two games with a hamstring injury but is expected to play Saturday. Defensively, the heart of the team are linebackers Max Tooley and Ben Bywater."
What are some flaws that opponents have exposed that Arkansas can expose?
Drew: "BYU's offensive line has not been as good as advertised, and the Cougars have struggled to run the football effectively. Defensively, BYU lost both projected starting safeties -- Micah Harper and Talan Alfrey -- to injuries in fall camp and is a bit thin and inexperienced at that position."
The Razorbacks and Cougars played last season, what will BYU have to do differently to win this year's matchup?
Drew: "The obvious answer is they have to play better defense and contain KJ Jefferson a lot more than they did last year. Establishing a ground game will be important to eat the clock the keep Jefferson off the field."
How do you think things will play out and what's your score prediction?
Drew: "It should be fairly close for a half or so, but I expect Arkansas to pull away in the third quarter -- kind of like last year. It was a 3-point game late in the third quarter before Jefferson made a big play and then BYU committed a turnover after it became a two-score game. If the Cougars can take care of the ball all four quarters, they have a chance."
Score Prediction: Arkansas 35, BYU 24
