With Big 12 home opener looming, is there reason to believe BYU’s run game really is fixable?

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Three turnovers that led to a pair of defensive touchdowns by Kansas gave BYU coach Kalani Sitake plenty to think about heading into a short week and Friday’s game against Cincinnati. It will be the first Big 12 game in Provo.

Also, BYU has a huge challenge in fixing its run attack, which is currently one of the worst in the country. The 3-1 Cougars will face a 2-2 Bearcats team that is defensive-minded led by an extremely talented front defensive seven. Sitake told reporters on Monday BYU’s woes with the run are absolutely fixable.

Cougar Insider predictions

Question of the week: Is BYU’s run game really fixable? 

Jay Drew: To me, BYU’s run game is not fixable. As the popular expression goes, ‘It is what it is.’ The sample size is large enough. The competition has ran the gamut from ultra-tough — Arkansas and Kansas on the road — to fairly easy. And BYU was unable to run the ball against any of them.

I think it is a talent problem. The Cougars have good enough pass blockers, but run blocking is a different skill and in that case the current group just isn’t getting the job done. I don’t see that changing, especially not this week against Cincinnati. Having the game at LaVell Edwards Stadium will help, but the Cougars will be without Aidan Robbins and are asking a freshman, LJ Martin, to carry the load. That just isn’t sustainable. Kedon Slovis will have to win Friday night’s game on his own — and I think he will.

Predicted score: BYU 24, Cincinnati 17

Dick Harmon: I think Arkansas and Kansas had outstanding defensive fronts. But as you note, BYU struggled to run the ball in wins over SUU and Sam Houston. I’m not sure this group of linemen are bruising run blockers and certainly their collective timing is off, perhaps still developing. After starting Oklahoma State transfer Caleb Etienne the first three games, Brayden Keim has replaced him at right tackle. That’s kind of like starting over with the timing issue.

If BYU were to fix this, which the head coach claims can be fixed, this group needs more simple schemes and freshman LJ Martin and Colorado transfer Deion Smith need to make the proper reads.

I think the tight ends own a piece of it too, as do the receivers. BYU simply has not been able to put all the pieces together and that might be a season-long challenge. I think it’s fixable, but the Cougars may run out of time with Oklahoma, TCU and Texas on the horizon.

Cincinnati won’t be an opponent to experiment with fixes on a scale that’s easy. The Cougars need Parker Kingston back for the jet sweep, and should probably add the old toss sweep, a staple of the Norm Chow era. It was used the same as the jet sweep to force linebackers and safeties to cover the sidelines and move away from the ball when hiked.

So far I haven’t seen BYU’s offensive line really move defenders, move the pile, dominate, and that’s a concern. To say it is fixable soon may be wishful thinking. O-coordinator Aaron Roderick might need to create run yardage and challenge defenses with some concepts made famous by Oregon and the late Mike Leach and Hal Mumme.

This means Roderick creates formations with five receivers (tight ends). That would force the defense to account for the routes. The run game would then be a less featured aspect of the offense, still used, but not depended upon. It would be weird to see BYU pass on third- or fourth-and-2, but the Cougars may have to start setting up the run with the pass and have Kedon Slovis attempt 50 a game.

Predicted score: BYU 27, Cincinnati 24

Cougar tales

BYU women’s soccer got its initial Big 12 win with a 4-0 decision over Baylor and then defeated Texas 3-2 on Monday.

Here is our coverage of BYU’s historic initial Big 12 football game at Kansas:

• What former Cougars thought of loss to Kansas (Brandon Judd)

• Why WR Darius Lassiter won’t forget Kansas game (Jay Drew)

• Turnovers doomed BYU’s chances in Big 12 opener (Dick Harmon)

• Analysis: One-dimensional attack limits BYU in loss (Jay Drew)

• Highlights, photos from BYU’s trip to Kansas (Brandon Judd)

• BYU depth to be tested against Bearcats (Jay Drew)

From the archives

Related

• BYU’s Jewish quarterback is balancing football with High Holy Days observances this month

• Maybe there’s a silver lining to transfer portal madness

From the X-verse

• BYU’s run game unfixable says ESPN, former Cougar (@BYUSportsNation)

• Fourth worst rushing through 4 games (@BYUstatsMAN)

• PFF grades on BYU’s O-linemen (@jaromjordan)

Extra points

• BYU releases Big 12 hoop schedule (KSL Sports)

• What’s secret to BYU’s high octane soccer? (Deseret News)

• Bowl with BYU versus Prime (Colorado)? (Deseret News)

Fanalyst

Comments from Deseret News readers:

— GridironCamper

— Kamelon

— Mabramso

Up next

• Sept. 28 | TBA | Men’s tennis | ITA Mountain Regional Championship | @ Air Force Academy, Colorado

• Sept. 28 | 7 p.m. | Women’s volleyball | Texas | @ Austin, Texas

• Sept. 28 | 7 p.m. | Women’s soccer | Cincinnati | @ Provo

• Sept. 29 | TBA | Women’s tennis | Cal Invitational | @ Berkeley, California

• Sept. 29 | 8:15 p.m. | Football | Cincinnati | @ Provo