Tight Ends are getting a lot of play
Through two games BYU has run 147 offensive plays. Tight ends have played a combined total of 214 snaps, meaning on average each play we run has 1.5 tight ends involved. In contrast, our WR group has played 373 snaps, suggesting on average each snap we run features 2.5 receivers.
This one surprised me a little. Given our talent at wide receiver, and our lack of talent (or experience) at tight end, I expected to see us running more 3 and 4 wide receiver sets this year. So far that doesn't appear to be the case. But also maybe the math here is skewed by goal line or 4th down situations where we roll out 3 TEs in a heavy package.
I'm also sad to say we've given 214 snaps to tight ends and only two of them have gone to Ryner Swanson. We want the freshman!
Sneaky Mata'ava Ta'ase
More tight end talk! The book on Ta'ase is that he is a blocking tight end. During his time at BYU Ta'ase has blocked on 75% of his snaps and run a passing route only 25% of the time.
Arod and Retzlaff have surprised defenses by targeting Ta'ase three times already this year (he was targeted twice the entirety of the 2023 season). I'm curious what this means: is it just a random, small sample size thing? Or a dedicated effort to catch defenses off guard by throwing at the blocking tight end instead of just the receiving tight end (Keanu Hill)?
On the Keanu Hill front, I was surprised to see that despite his ho-hum start to the season, he's actually been targeted an above average amount. Retzlaff has thrown at him 8 times (2nd most on the team), but boy have those 8 throws been unproductive, generating only 15 yards. (the two point conversion was clutch though)
It's gotta be a tricky adjustment for Hill. He's not just moving from the slot to tight end, he's moving from being a true sideline-hugging wide receiver to tight end. We new his alignment would drastically change with his new position, but check out how much his route running area of the field has changed too.
Where in the past he was a deep target, catching passes 15 yards down the field, now he's a short-yardage specialist.
Is the middle of the field back?
Through two games the answer is very much yes. PFF has Retzlaff throwing 20% of his passes into the middle of the field -- defined as passes longer than 10 yards, shorter than 20, in the central part of the field -- which is the 10th highest in the country.
That's quite an increase compared to some recent QBs; senior Jaren Hall threw 12% of his passes to this area of the field and senior Zach Wilson targeted this area 13% of the time.
I don't know if targeting the middle of the field is as valuable as we Cougar fans make it out to be, but it has been productive for Retzlaff so far. It's the quadrant that has netted the most yards, completions, and TDs for him so far this year.
Perhaps surprisingly, of the 9 completions in this area only two have been to tight ends, both to Ta'ase.
Something encouraging about Retzlaff
It's only been two games so all of this should be taken with the requisite sprinkling of salt but Retzlaff has been money when under pressure this year. He is 5th in the country in pass completion percentage (at 73%!) when under pressure. Last year he completed 31% of his passes which means either this is ...
Is the middle of the field back?
Through two games the answer is very much yes. PFF has Retzlaff throwing 20% of his passes into the middle of the field -- defined as passes longer than 10 yards, shorter than 20, in the central part of the field -- which is the 10th highest in the country.
That's quite an increase compared to some recent QBs; senior Jaren Hall threw 12% of his passes to this area of the field and senior Zach Wilson targeted this area 13% of the time.
I don't know if targeting the middle of the field is as valuable as we Cougar fans make it out to be, but it has been productive for Retzlaff so far. It's the quadrant that has netted the most yards, completions, and TDs for him so far this year.
Perhaps surprisingly, of the 9 completions in this area only two have been to tight ends, both to Ta'ase.
Something encouraging about Retzlaff
It's only been two games so all of this should be taken with the requisite sprinkling of salt but Retzlaff has been money when under pressure this year. He is 5th in the country in pass completion percentage (at 73%!) when under pressure. Last year he completed 31% of his passes which means either this is ...
a) another small sample quirk
b) an area he specifically improved in the offseason
c) a result of taking easier throws when under pressure
How do we explain point c? Last year when under pressure Jake's average throw traveled 14 yards downfield; this year it's only going 9. Those numbers suggest he is being a bit more patient this year and taking occasional checkdowns rather than going for the home run.
Freshman Defensive Back Snap Watch
Young Tommy leads the group in week 2.
If you believe in Chase Roberts ... throw at him
During the summer PFF gave us reason to believe in Chase Roberts to a high degree, clocking him allegedly as the fastest receiver in the entire Big 12. Yes, I was skeptical too but ultimately it caught me hook line and sinker.
There are 94 players in college football who have been thrown at more than Chase. If he's as talented as I hope -- and as fast as PFF claims -- that cannot continue to be the case. Austin Collie says put the ball in your best players hands. When my favorite player speaks, coaches best listen.
Freshman Defensive Back Snap Watch
Young Tommy leads the group in week 2.
Tommy "Kiss my" Prassas - 15 snaps
Tre Alexander - 4 snaps
Jonathan Kabeya - 3 snaps
Faletau Satuala - 0 snaps (injured?)
Tre Alexander - 4 snaps
Jonathan Kabeya - 3 snaps
Faletau Satuala - 0 snaps (injured?)
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