For an explanation of what this is, click here
Round 3 Recap
3.1 Jan Jorgensen (drafted by Jay Drew)
All hail the greatest BYU player to have a girl’s name. When I think back on the Jan Jorgensen era, I begin to wonder if it was two centuries ago, so great has been our inadequacy on the defensive line these last many years. Jan single-handedly recorded 14 sacks in 2007. Our top three sackers last season combined for 6.
3.2 James Dye (drafted by BRoyalBlueCoug)
Tax Commissioner Danny named his team after James Dye, so you can imagine the wailing that took place on his end when his favorite player was gobbled up two spots before his next pick. While The Rock holds the title of “The most electrifying man in sports entertainment!!”, Dye will forever hold the title of “most electrifying return man in BYU history.” But the most important play of his career? It was this catch and post-catch strut.
One other note: remember when I thought Trey Dye would be as good as his dad? Yikes.
3.3 Mitch Mathews (drafted by Cousin Newt)
I don’t know what my deal with Mitch Mathews was, but something about him just rubbed me the wrong way. I don’t know if it was how he always touched the side of his pants when he scored, like he needed to check his phone, or maybe it was the BYUSN radio show always trying to tout him as an elite superstar. Let's investigate.
The pros: he was durable, and quite the expert at plucking balls from the sky. Also, he was to Utah State what Freddy Kruger was to Elm Street. Shield your eyes if you're an Aggie fan.
at USU in 2013 – 5 rec, 112 yds, 3 TDs
Home to USU in 2014 – 9 rec, 117 yds, 1 TDs
at USU in 2015 – 6 rec, 158 yds, 2 TDs
That’s an average of 7 catches, 129 yards, and 2 TDs per meeting. It reminds me of when Austin Collie put up a combined 23-296-5 in 3 career matchups against UCLA. Except those came against UCLA.
On the con side, Mitch went over 100 yards in a game only three other times besides the USU clobberings. As a senior against Utah he posted a 2 catch, 8 yard performance. Against Michigan that same year … 1 catch, 4 yards. He was frequently neutralized by superior defensive backs, but then again, so are most of BYU’s WRs.
By the way, now that a few years have passed, are we allowed to laugh at all the times Anae tried to use Mitch Mathews on the inside WR screens? Who in the history of calling plays ever thought using a Too-Tall in that role would be smart?
3.4 Omarr Morgan (Drafted by Tax Commissioner Danny)
I’m not sure if any win will ever mean more to me than the 1996 Cotton Bowl. That was my first season of watching BYU and I was full of the childlike faith that is so highly spoken of in scripture. I just didn’t believe BYU could lose. Not with the KO Punch at WR and the Hurdler at TE and You Punt You Dye fielding kicks and especially not after the BYU-hating Alliance Committee conspired to keep us out of one of the Big 4 bowls. So to Omarr Morgan I say thank you. I kicked a hole in my door when BYU got hosed on the back-to-back pass interferences gone ignored. My dad was so stunned he couldn't speak. And then Omarr Morgan saved the day.
3.5 Jamal Willis (drafted by me)
Here is how I (and most everyone for that matter) break down the top six BYU running backs.
Tier 1: Luke, Harvey, Jamaal
Tier 2: Willis, Pete Van Valkenburg, Curtis Brown, Ronney Jenkins
At this point in the draft everyone was long gone from tier 1 and Jenkins was gone from tier 2. The choice at running back came down to Curtis Brown or Jamal Willis. Of the two, I watched lots and lots of Curtis Brown, little and littler of Jamal Willis. Who was better? I’ve asked this question a lot and over time the response has been Jamal in a landslide. But isn’t Curtis top 10 in receptions in BYU history as a running back? Didn’t Curtis deliver one of the greatest touchdown runs ever? Didn’t he outgain Jamal in both receiving yards and rushing yards over his career? Yes, but only barely.
These two are as close statistically as can be. One averaged a career 5 yards per carry, the other 5.05. One averaged 90 rushing/receiving yards per game, one averaged 88. Even their senior seasons are similar: Brown gained 1,577 yards and 14 TDs in 2005, while Willis gained 1,567 yards and 14 TDs in 1994. So what’s the difference maker when the statistical profiles are this close?
Would you believe gut instinct? No? Ok.
Basically there were two things that pushed me in Jamal's direction. One, like I mentioned before, the people I know who watched both players almost universally give the nod to Jamal. I also once heard a fairly convincing argument that Jamal Willis is BYU's GOAT running back. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I've never heard a case like that for Brown.
And second, while researching Jamal highlights, whoa boy did these plays stand out as a testament to his athleticism. Plus he deserves tons of bonus points for this nonchalant celebration. Give me Jamal, if only by a hair.
3.6 Derwin Gray (drafted by Odyseuss)
I love me a good rah rah sports speech. I remember reading about Collie using one to rally the troops against Air Force in 2008. I’ve heard tale of Jim McMahon getting the vocal cords rolling in the Miracle Bowl. And of course there was Gordon B H telling the troops not to “muff it” in LaVell’s last home game. But when I think of BYU and when I think of goose-bump raising calls to action, Derwin Gray’s speech, delivered some 20 years after he hung up the jersey, is the one and only.
I’ve politely asked the wife if we can listen to this before uh … well, you know, but alas she’s not really into it.
3.7 Curtis Brown (drafted by Brian Henderson, he who once helped me get a ticket to the 59-0 UCLA game)
See commentary under Jamal Willis. WAIT! We have to at least link a video to Brown's dumptrucking of Tulsa. (also if you think Curtis Brown played in the 1950s based on the resolution of this video, well that's the Mountain network for you)
3.8 Chad Lewis (drafted by Andrew Metcalf)
There goes the Hurdler! Team owner Andrew Metcalf is our youngest participant at a mere 20 years of age, and yet even he knows the history of the walk-on turned turned all-conference tight end who later one-upped himself by transforming from an undrafted free agent into a NFL pro bowler. Lewis only recorded 1,376 yards in his BYU career but every time he caught a pass it seemed like it came at just the right time, didn’t it?
3.9 Bryan Kehl (drafted by Devon “Lasersheep” Smith)
When it comes to Bryan Kehl I have body envy. This guy has to be in the top 1 or 2 tiers when it comes to BYU athletic specimens. Remember how big and fast he was? Of course you do. And more importantly, remember when he murdered this dumb Ute? Of course you do. What might be foggy in the memory banks is just how great Kehl’s motor and instincts were. Feel free to watch the first 3 and a half minutes of this clip for a refresher.
3.10 Kyle Morrell (drafted by Magathisll)
Here's one thing I’ve really liked about Magathisll’s draft thus far. He’s made 4 picks and effectively grabbed a player from each of the 4 decades represented in this draft (Morrell from the 80s, Doman 90s11. Yes I'm aware that Doman's moments of glory occurred in 2000 and 20001, but he was on the team for '96, '98, and '99 so that's where I'm counting him., Coats 2000s, Williams 2010s). I like the diversity! I also like that he now owns the player with perhaps the most clutch defensive play in BYU history. Morrell was apparently more than just that one tackle against Hawaii though. He also scored an AP All-American nod in 1984 alongside Doug Flutie and Jack Del Rio. The proof of this almost has to be seen to be believed.
Parting Thoughts from Round 3
Thought #1
In my wishy-washy feelings about Mitch Mathews, let me not discount his Nebraska Hail Mary, which led to one of those moments were my soul exited my body and I screamed and jumped like it was Christmas morning. Those moments don’t happen enough, and when they do, I must tip my hat to those who orchestrate them. That catch put us in the college football spotlight for the entire first week of the season, and set us up perfectly for further magic and a top-25 ranking after beating Boise State. And it wasn't easy. Great play by Mitch.
Thought #2
The selection of Jan Jorgensen reminds me that there once existed a time when I expected our defensive lineman to not automatically get bulldozed; to not just defeat an offensive lineman; to not just create pressure; to not just make it into the backfield, but to actually sack the quarterback. Those were the days. Yes kids, believe it or not, BYU didn't always run a 3-down lineman, drop everyone, surrender-before-the-ball-is-even-hiked defense.
Round by Round Recap
No comments:
Post a Comment