I fully expect bradley to beat out johnson at the corner spot, with howard starting at the other corner. BYU needs the most athletic players at the corners spots and i think bradley is the guy. I personally would like to see pendelton at safty over fowler or tafuna i think he has much more potetial than those two, and is a much better athlete.

We have best corners in the league, hands down. Yewts will be busy drinking it up while our db's are getting takeaways all over the Utes! Go Cougars-

Whose side are you on??? :)

bronco is a men amongst boys in this league of coaches...the diff between him and kyle is astronomicle! jaime hill maybe the best assistant coach we have ever had cause he was workin miracles....ORANGE BOWL '09!

Coach Hill was the best recruit BYU ever signed. I remember a shoot out between BYU and Oregon years ago, when Oregon QB Bill Musgrave compared BYU's pass defense to a mild wind, which was in fact a compliment, I called them missing in action.
The Cougars had to out score decent offenses because the defense ala vs TCU (51-50) wasn't even going to get in the way.

RE: Will we dominate

Wow, now that fella is dillusional. The Utes had THE BEST PASS DEFENSE IN THE COUNTRY last year, and return 8 of the 9 players at those spots. The had 17 interceptions and only gave up 7 passing touchdowns. That secondary at BYU is getting better, but let's not go making retarded staments like that. Are they better? Maybe. They haven't even put on pads and hit yet, so we're a long way from finding out. Are they better than the Utah secondary? EXTREMELY doubtful! Please, I like BYU. And yes, I am a Ute, through and through. Let's try to be reasonable though...GO UTES!

Not so fast! According to BYU freshman WR Chambers, none of these promising DBs can cover him and once they all have pads on they will have no chance against him because of his great size and talent. At least that's what he told ESPN this week. I'm confused. If the DBs are looking so good and improved, is Chambers just an untested braggart bringing his Florida smack to the media before he's accomplished anything, or are the DBs really as pathetic as he seems to think they are? If I were one of these DBs, I would already be stalking Chambers in practice, salivating at every chance to de-clete him.

Obviously the same Ute troll and his mindless midnight blog.

-----------------------

Jamie has done a great job coaching a defense with limited resources. Now that he's getting some depth to work with, watch out!

I fully expect to see more picks and knocked down passes this year than Cougar fans have seen in a long time.

I love Coach Hill. Everything from his game strategy to his personal philosophy. The perfect storm combined to land him at BYU, innovating the best coaching strategy based on players at BYU.

Now if only we could bring back Coach Grimes...

hey buddy, have you ever heard of coverage sacks? do you know what football even is? right now i found it doubtful. Anyway, will use small words so you are sure to understand. When team A has a good or TALENTED defensive line, it makes the SECONDARY look really good, often BETTER then they REALLY are. call the bookie and bet the farm, utah's pass defense will drop drastically. why? because when your sub par defensive line is getting man handled offenses will have a field day on your so TALENTED secondary. delusional yewt fans never change!

Sadly, I highly doubt "we will dominate" is a Ute troll. Unfortunately, this is how most BYU fans think: that each of their players is the best in the conference and perhaps nation. Very few of their fans watch football outside of Provo so they're not aware of the other talented players across the country.

It's a shame because the SEC is by far the most entertaining football to watch. Those games are much more physical and fast. Anyway, good look to BYU and its fan base.

You're right seeing SEC teams lose to sun belt conference teams is entertaining. Sure hope Bama can beat Louisiana Monroe this year.

I think the O'Neil line is the perfect answer for what BYU is under Mendenhall, and why we should expect another pretty good team.

Mendenhall is about assignment football. That is why last years secondary, all walk-ons by the end of the year, did as well as they did. They didn't need to be world class athletes as long as they played their assignment on the field.

Let's take O'Neil and his resume as accurate. Let's presume that he is a far superior athlete to all of the other receivers and defensive backs. What is more important? Athletic ability or assignment football? With Mendenhall it's assignment football. Once O'Neil understands the assignments and how the receiver fits into the whole offense, he will get playing time. Until then, less gifted receivers who know exactly where to be, when and why will play ahead of him.

And this same assignment football plays out in defensive backfield.

Utah likely has a better defensive backfield. As long as our D-backs make their assignments our defenseive backfield should be good enough.

Both BYU and Utah have a chance to bust the BCS, they will have to go undefeated to do it.

Go BYU!

"Very few of their fans watch football outside of Provo"

Really? So you've actually sat in the homes of thousands of Provo residents and actually seen what college football games they're watching?

The SEC is probably the best college football conference, but most competitive, does not necessarily mean most entertaining.

If talent level was the only criteria for being entertaining, college football would disappear from the air waves and we'd see nothing but non-stop NFL games and replays.

Jaime Hill is a fantastic coach. Unfortunately he will be grabbed up by a BCS team or the NFL soon.

Chambers is the typical receiver brimming with confidence who thinks he can beat every db out there. Some of the most brash comments in the NFL routinely come from receivers. Not a big deal - just not what Mendenhall wants from his kids. Chambers will learn when to say things but I hope he never loses that edge and level of confidence. And he has a point about returning players who are good and those who are just returning but shouldn't necessarily be on the team. Doesn't sound good to the returning player who shouldn't be on the team but it is reality with better and better young recruits coming to Provo like Chambers. Notice how Chambers and Ashworth immediately moved up the depth chart over returning players who just are not as good?

Also - Diluiji will have 5-600 all purpose yards this season to compliment Unga's power game. We have more offensive weapons than we know what to do with. But let's stay humble - the Utes have an EXCELLENT team. I hope we are both top 15.

You got it backwards, a coverage sack is when the secondary COVERS everyone so the QB doesnt have anywhere to throw the ball and gets sacked, hence the term "coverage sack". Its when the DB's make the pass rushers look good not the other way around. Dont you look foolish.

That's not what a coverage sack is you zoob.

And the Utah D-line is anything but sub par, Koa Misi and Paul Kruger may be the best DE combo in the conference and the DT's are very talented albiet inexperienced.

If you want to talk sub-par you should talk about max hall's passes at practice that these unathletic rookie byu corners keep getting their hands on. That would concern me if i were a byu fan.

how are these inexpereinced rookie corners getting their hands on so many of hall's passes. Hopefully, for cougar fans, it is an exageration because if those guys can ge their hands on them then the opposing CBs will surely get their hands on them.

Your corners are good.

Ute recievers will run circles aroud them.

Coug fans to be honest I am sick of hearing all this talk that you are going to bust through the BCS this year. It ain't happening. You just aren't there yet and the best part is. The Utes have already done it. How does it make you feel to know that Brigham Young Founded the University of Utah!!! I guess you will always be the annoying little brother.

Best defensive ends in the conference?!?!? im sure you didn't mean to type that because you sound like a blabbing little girl who should be playing with dolls. I dare say this is the best D-Line BYU has ever had! In its stout history! Yeah im sure your UTE Dlineman could have the same said about them if they were worthy enough to wear the white and blue...

to my fellow BYU fan: stop making us look stupid. Minerman is right about a coverage sack. The QB can't find an open man because THEY ARE COVERED; then the pocket collapses after 5 seconds and he is SACKED. Embarrassing.

"I am sick of hearing all this talk that you are going to bust through the BCS this year."

Get used to it, or stop reading sports blogs and find a good book and nice quiet place to read for the next 5 months.

Little brother still trying to pretend that a BCS invite is superior to a National Championship.

Ask fans from the BCS conferences which they would rather have, a BCS invite, or a National Championship. At first, they'll give you a strange look, like "are you crazy." Then they'll realize that you're a fan from one of those "other" conferences and that you've been suckered into believing that the bone that the BCS cartel threw at you is the true feast.

If you're tired of hearing all the talk about BYU busting the BCS, then stop reading articles about BYU!

As far as "not there yet," yes Utah beat the BCS, and BYU beat the BCS before there was a BCS. Difference being BYU ended up #1. One thing they both have in common, it's in the past. Can't wait for this year.

No, it doesn't bother us that Brigham Young started the U, I'm sure back then it was actually a reputable school with scholarly interests and good fans. The annoying little brother? That actually sounds more like your post.

Hey, BCS Busters. Looks like you are learning to cling to memories (2004) just like BYU fans cling to 1984 memories. My memory is short (2 game winning streak over Utah) and long (18 out of 20 wins over Utah between '73 and 92').

Talent is more than quickness and speed.

Great to hear the DB's got some moxy! Any good news out of Y camp jut kills the utes. They can't stand it. I laugh at these post, especially the efforts to shake the little bro label.

Glad so many ute fans are experts about BYU. I wonder if they even know their own team is practicing.

"BCS Busters"

Wow, really, serious. Tell us agian. Tell us about the banner you hung in your stadium. The National championship trophy, the Heisman, the Doak walker, the Davy O'Briens and Outland Trophys. If you want, you can make that 45 minute drive and see some real hardware.

Did the Toastio's Fiseta bowl trophy look like a cool bowl of Nachos and Salsa?

"How does it make you feel to know that Brigham Young Founded the University of Utah!!!"

That makes me feel good. Every time I go to Utah, I look at where the statue of the founder once stood, and wonder "Why did the University of Utah remove Bro. Brigham's statue?"

The depths of the University of Utah's Jealousy runs deep my friends.

"how are these inexpereinced rookie corners getting their hands on so many of Hall's passes"

Is the defense good or the offense bad?

If the defense shuts down the offense, does that mean the offense is horrible?

If the offense proves unstoppable, does that mean we're in trouble defensively?

Relax......

During practice you want both the defense and the offense to excel so you're talking immovable object vs irresistable force.

Catch 22.

What's nice is that we're seeing good plays from both units. Nobody knows how good each unit is really going to be until they're pitted against another team.

re: To BCS Busters | 9:53 a.m

I will see my Brother Mahonri Moriancumer before the Cougars see a BCS Bowl.

I love it when Ute fans post comments on these articles. I've never read an article about the utes because I could care less about them. Obviously they're a little worried about BYU this year or maybe their inferiority complex is coming out because they're getting little attention. Who know's and who cares because they obviously aren't that good because their own fan base is too concerned about their rival.

BYU's BCS Busting talk will not end until January 5th, so buy some ear plugs or don't leave your house, cuz' it aint going away.

How does it feel Utah that your head coach played football for and graduated from BYU? ;)

BYU to the Fiesta Bowl!!

Just a few responses:

"'Bama": You are right about the SEC being the best college football conference. However, there's no way that its the most entertaining. Florida and LSU are the only team worth watching, and that's only because of the systems put in place by two former MWC coaches. The rest of the conference's offense consists of three yard runs and a cloud of dust (Its like watching Skyline High School). You need to broaden your football horizons.

"Minerman": I agree with your comments, and appreciate the fact that you aren't a whacked out Utah fan looking to incite self-righteous BYU fans (though it looks like that happened anyway). However, I do reserve the right to disagree with you if this BYU secondary ends up being the real deal come November. Was Utah's secondary really statistically the best secondary in the nation last year? If so...good for them doing the conference proud.

"BCS Busters": Do you honestly think I care which university Brigham Young founded? Why do my Utah friends always point this obvious fact out to me? Unless Brigham Young is a db that can run a 4.3 40, your comment seems a little irrelevant to the article.

that the BCS threw at the non-BCS conferences obviously worked with the Utah fans. They're happy and content that their undefeated team was assigned to play the worst BCS team EVER.

No serious complaints about being shut out of the National Championship feast. After a mild, questioning look at the feast being served at the big table, the Utes settled in to enjoying their P&J sandwiches at the rickety card table.

Utah's President is a BYU graduate and direct descendent of Brigham Young. BYU's President is a Utah graduate.

The only thing that really matters is that the U is once again left seeing red and that the Y is not blue after the game on November 22nd.

We have depth in the Defensive Backfield??? Wow, that is a first, it has always been our weak point in my mind.

"BYU's BCS Busting talk will not end until January 5th, so buy some ear plugs or don't leave your house, cuz' it aint going away."

Man, if there was just a way to get ESPN and the National Media to stop touting BYU as a BCS team, and a potential bid in the BCS NC title game.

But how to make the National Media stop?
It's all their fault.

Utes, let's all write letters...

Get out your crayons and here we go!!!

To all fellow BYU fans: We get all excited about getting invited to a BCS bowl while at the same time belittling Utah's 2004 BCS invite. We can't have it both ways. Please, let's win at least one non-conference road game (Washington) before we start talking BCS.

In answer to comments above, yes, Brigham Young and the LDS Church founded the UofU (and every other university in the region). The real question is why did the LDS Church then sell it to the state? Perhaps the educational "stock price" had peaked and it has only gone down from there? Good move.

Go Cougars!

Hey I didnt claim that misi and kruger could be the best DE combo in the conference, that is a consensus among the MWC media, coaches, and many college preview publications. Kruger is a 1st team DE on practically all of them and Misi is second team or honorable mention. The only BYU D-lineman is jorgenson on any first of second teams. You do the math.

..and BYU is ranked 17th and Utah is "others getting votes".

How's that for math?

Yes, Brigham Young founded the U -- and then realized he could do better and founded the Y.

Best BYU defensive line ever? I think the 1986 d-line with two first round draft picks, Shawn Knight, drafted 11th by New Orleans and Outland Trophy winner Jason Buck drafted 17th by Cincinnati would probably rate a little higher.

As a BYU alum does it bother me that Brigham Young founded the UofU? Yes, yes it does. But we have to remember that although I feel that Brigham Young was inspired, I also remember that he was human and therefore could make mistakes. But that is ok, it was just a learning experience, and the second time around he got it right in Provo.

So I guess you could go to "old and busted" UofU or go to "new hotness" at the Y. It's up to you, really.

Yes, Pres Young graduated from BYU, but he CHOSE to take the job at the U. Same with Coach Whit - he took the job at the U by CHOICE!

Pres. Samuelson was in a great position at the U Med School, but took the job at BYU because he was CALLED by the Church.

Go Utes!!

And over half of the 1st Team offense is from BYU, including almost all of the skill position players. Utah has one lone offensively lineman.

Bold prediction: BYU will have more than one 1st Team defensive player when the post-season awards are announced.

OFFENSE

WR Austin Collie** Jr. BYU
WR Ryan Wolfe Jr. UNLV
OL Nick Charles** Jr. Air Force
OL Ray Feinga* Sr. BYU
OL Dallas Reynolds* Sr. BYU
OL Blake Schlueter** Sr. TCU
OL Robert Conley** Sr. Utah
TE Dennis Pitta* Jr. BYU
QB Max Hall* Jr. BYU
RB Harvey Unga** So. BYU
RB Rodney Ferguson* Sr. New Mexico

DEFENSE

DL Jan Jorgensen* Jr. BYU
DL Paul Kruger So. Utah
DL John Fletcher** Jr. Wyoming
DL/LB Ryan Kemp Sr. Air Force
LB Ward Dobbs** Sr. Wyoming
LB Russell Allen Sr. San Diego State
LB Jason Phillips** Sr. TCU
DB Brice McCain** Sr. Utah
DB DeAndre Wright* Sr. New Mexico
DB Stephen Hodge** Sr. TCU
DB Robert Johnson Jr. Utah

And I'd have to rank the 1974 group up there with the best. Their team won the WAC in a day when Arizona and Arizona State were the conference powerhouses. The '74 lineman with Baker and Rivera were beasts.

The national championship team that yewts like to rundown had 15 players drafted. They must've had a little bit of talent...

first of all let me admit that what i wrote does sound like the most unintelligent post ever written on this board. I was in the middle of writing a ten page geography paper that was due today for class around 2 am none the less. As well i was on pain killers for muscle probs that i have been having...anyway, i haven't missed a game at LES since the miami upset and i doubt you could say the same. I DO happen to know what a coverage sack is and could easily explain it to someone when thinkin clearly. I would expect nothing less then 4 yewt fans to rip me cause its what they do. I am surprised that a byu fan would do the same...i hardly consider you a "fellow" byu fan...not to sound like a soap box speach so im done...btw my initial point was that Utahs D-line last year was very good and senior laden and with their excellent pass rush inflated the secondaries statistics...there, what i was thinkin actually came out on the key board! 33-31 17-10

Utah had the best D-backs in the league last year. That is why Max Hall picked them apart, dare I mention Austin Collie. If they return 8 of the 9 they are destined for middle of the pack.

Yes, and I graduated from the U, and CHOSE to be a BYU fan.

Go Cougars!

btw, Pres. Samuelson CHOSE to accept the BYU job. NOBODY in the church is forced to accept a calling. It just shows what a great honor it is to serve as president of either of these great institutions of higher learning that someone with Pres. Samuelson's credentials would willing leave such an esteemed school at the U to serve as President of BYU.

Is O'Neil Chambers related to Tom Chambers?

Dude, you blew it. When talking about your brother Mahonri -- you should have posted your name as Jared.

Silly, Ute honk with no real understanding of the scriptures.

From here on out, please post as: Alma the Unwiser.