Who's ready for a game of dumb comparison? Jaren Hall has connected on 4 of 12 passes that have traveled 20 or more yards downfield. Last year through three games Zach Wilson hit on an absurd 10 of 12 deep passes. We're not here to knock on Jaren Hall, who has been so superb that he's quarterbacked BYU to three straight P5 victories and back-to-back wins over ranked opponents. (Hello rarified air) But the deep attack has not quite connected yet and when compared to the magic of Zach's 2020 season -- in which at one point Zach was more likely to complete a deep bomb than professional basketball players were to make a freethrow -- it's standing out.
When compared to their 2021 peers BYU's deep attack is lacking as well. There are 67 quarterbacks who have completed more deep bombs than BYU has this season. Puka's drop in the corner endzone against ASU hurts this metric some, as does the fact that BYU has played two very solid pass defenses. So yes it's been a rough start but all told I think BYU has the quarterback and the weapons to see these numbers improve moving forward.
Speaking of deep passes, who has completed the most in the country? It's Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who BYU will face later in the season during the return of Bronco.
Comparing Jaren to Zach - The Good
Throwing a ball accurately when people are about to tackle you is hard. Almost all quarterbacks see their passing efficiency drop when they're under pressure. Take Zach last year. When he had a clean pocket PFF claims he completed passes at an adjusted rate of 84%. When pressured his completion percentage fell 22 points to 62%. That's a big drop. It's the difference between graduating college and working with the Utes at Maverick.
Again, variance like this when pressured is pretty normal.
What Jaren is doing this season is not. He's completed 67% of his passes when kept clean. And he's completed -- doublechecks notes -- 69% when pressured?!? What in the world? Cougarboard's favorite commentator Rod Gilmore has mentioned in each broadcast that Jaren throws more accurately when on the run, and the numbers look like they actually back that theory up. A quarterback who can navigate a crumbling pocket and complete passes is gold in college.
Speaking of deep passes, who has completed the most in the country? It's Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who BYU will face later in the season during the return of Bronco.
Comparing Jaren to Zach - The Good
Throwing a ball accurately when people are about to tackle you is hard. Almost all quarterbacks see their passing efficiency drop when they're under pressure. Take Zach last year. When he had a clean pocket PFF claims he completed passes at an adjusted rate of 84%. When pressured his completion percentage fell 22 points to 62%. That's a big drop. It's the difference between graduating college and working with the Utes at Maverick.
Again, variance like this when pressured is pretty normal.
What Jaren is doing this season is not. He's completed 67% of his passes when kept clean. And he's completed -- doublechecks notes -- 69% when pressured?!? What in the world? Cougarboard's favorite commentator Rod Gilmore has mentioned in each broadcast that Jaren throws more accurately when on the run, and the numbers look like they actually back that theory up. A quarterback who can navigate a crumbling pocket and complete passes is gold in college.
As one of my Ute friends put it, BYU didn't need an all-american quarterback and #2 overall pick to beat Utah; they just needed one who could scramble for three first downs at critical times. I don't agree with that premise entirely -- in fact I think Zach would have dropped a nuke on Utah had the Utes testacles not shrank last year -- but in college a guy who can make plays on the move like Jaren is just so hard to stop.
Tight End Usage on the Rise?
Isaac Rex ran the most passing routes against Arizona State with 25 (Pau'u was next with 22). Against Arizona Rex was fourth in the pecking order, and against Utah he was tied for third. It would appear the coaches noticed the disappearing tight ends and wanted to do something about it. The routes against ASU only yielded three targets and two catches, but one was the most important catch of the game.
Tight End Usage on the Rise?
Isaac Rex ran the most passing routes against Arizona State with 25 (Pau'u was next with 22). Against Arizona Rex was fourth in the pecking order, and against Utah he was tied for third. It would appear the coaches noticed the disappearing tight ends and wanted to do something about it. The routes against ASU only yielded three targets and two catches, but one was the most important catch of the game.
Holkermania meanwhile is finding more involvement. He was only on the field for 6 passing routes but he was targeted three times (getting passed the ball half the time you're available sounds like a receiver's dream). Collectively the duo caught four balls for 58 yards and two scores. Mission accomplished coaches!
Who Got Dem Snaps - OL Edition
Four of the five offensive line positions are solidified: Empey, LaChance, Barrington, and Freeland have their positions on lockdown. But the other guard spot has seen rotation between Connor Pay and Joe Tukuafu. Through weeks 1 and 2 Joe outsnapped Connor 38 to 26 against Arizona, and again versus Utah 47 to 31. And then in week 3 the roles reversed and Connor outsnapped Joe 63 to 6. Did Connor seemingly win the competition last week? Or is Joe just banged up?
Doubting Tylers no more
I was a little skeptical of the hype surrounding Tyler Allgeier and Tyler Batty because as much fun as last year was I couldn't tell if it was due to playing teams that hadn't practiced or were missing 8 dudes due to Covid or whatever other weirdness was going on in 2020. But through three games this year both Tylers are proving last year was not fluky.
Batty is tied for the team lead in pressures and has the most defensive stops of any of our linemen. Allgeier's stats aren't leaping off the screen in a Staley-esque way but he's been explosive (tied for 22nd nationally in runs of 10 yards or more), durable (tied for 8th nationally in number of snaps played), and now owns one of the greatest plays in BYU history.
Allgeier displayed a level of grit that I feel like I've seen only one other time, when Gordon Hayward did the double block against Boston despite playing in his third game in four nights and only a few days removed from a quadruple overtime game. Yes, I know I'm supposed to hate Gordon Hayward but I never did and I never will.
The Running Back Passing Game is AWOL
Through a quarter of the season Allgeier and Katoa have combined for 32 yards receiving. Last year those two combined for 470 receiving yards. I'm not sure if this is a Zach versus Jaren thing, or if this is a Grimes versus ARod thing. But I don't like it. Remember Tom Brady completing 14 passes to James White in the super bowl comeback of 2017? The Falcons do.
Puka Watch
Puka remains third on the team in targets despite the fact that six players have ran more routes than he has. Jaren obviously wants to get this guy the ball and I believe it's because he is elite at getting open. He's being consistently targeted deep down the field -- his average depth of target is 18 yards, which leads the team and is 33rd nationally. I feel like I'm getting ahead of myself but I think Puka could end up in some elite company. Without mentioning the name of the holy Austin Collie, let's just put it this way -- I'll be disappointed if Puka doesn't reach the Mahe-Drage-Hooks level of the BYU receiving pantheon.
Man, I love getting hyped about highly recruited receivers! I haven't been this enamored since my affair with Ross Apo. I'll always love you my 11th round fantasy pick!
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