Know Thy Enemy: BYU Preseason outlook

Welcome to the return of our ever-so-popular “Know Thy Enemy” series. That’s right, it’s your chance to get some inside information from the best bloggers and beat writers around the country. However, since we are still a few weeks away from games being played we are checking in now to see how things are going in fall camps of all of our opponents.

Consider this your chance to bone up on the enemies we’ll face this season and to outsmart your friends. Helping us accomplish that feat today is Matt Brown, the Interim Managing Editor of SB Nation’s BYU site – Vanquish the Foe.

We’ll be talking QB’s, Kyle Van Noy, and oh so much more, so make sure to check out the site as the season goes on for all the BYU info you can handle. You can also check them out on Twitter @VanquishTheFoe.

Without further delay, let’s get right into our first look at a 2013 opponent, shall we?

MadTownBadgers: QB has been a bit of a sore spot for this team over the past two seasons, at least watching from afar. In 2013 it seems that Taysom Hill is expected to be the starter. How has he looked in camp and what is the confidence level in him?

Matt Brown: Taysom Hill is unquestionably going to be the starter, and a lot of BYU’s hopes this season rest on him. According to stats maven Bill Connelly, BYU had an adjusted average of 38 points per game during the short stint that Hill QB’d the team before he got hurt. Hill’s athleticism and explosiveness  are not questioned. His ability to avoid taking big hits and staying on the field IS, especially since BYU doesn’t have stupendous QB depth behind him. That’s been a major focus of camp.

MTB: Outside of Hill, who else should Bucky fans get to know before our game? Who is stepping it up the most in fall camp?

Matt Brown: Fans should absolutely know wideout Cody Hoffman. Despite playing with a terrible QB situation last year, and a freshman at running back, Hoffman wracked up 1248 yards on 100 catches. He’s a very smart player and has superior hands, and is absolutely in the mix for All-American honors this season. Hoffman would start for every school in the Big Ten, including Wisconsin (OVER Aberdaris). Secondary pass catching options Ross Apo and JD Faslev round out what should be a very deep pass catching corps, which should help Hill’s transition.

BYU fans are also optimistic about sophomore running Jamaal Williams, who ran for 775 yards as a true freshman. He’s not a physically dominant back, but he’s shifty and could get 1,000 yards this season.

MTB: Defensively everyone should know the name of Kyle Van Noy (and if you aren’t aware of him as a Badger fan, you will be shortly), but outside of him what is the feeling about this defense? Who is making a name for himself in camp?

Matt Brown: Kyle Van Noy is a monster, but this defense, especially their front, brings more to the table. Defensive end Bronson Kaufusi could pick up close to where now Detroit Lion Ziggy Ansah left off in anchoring what should be an excellent unit, and Eathyn Manumaleuna is coming back after missing most of last season due to injury. Spencer Hadley will be a good wingman for Van Noy as well. Their front seven is going to be about as physical and disciplined as a Michigan State or Ohio State will be, even if they may lack some of that top line speed.

The major concern is going to be in the secondary, which already had weaker depth and has been ravaged by injuries.

MTB: What is the offensive style of this team? It seems as if the thing that hurt this team the most is a lack of a true identity over the past few years.

Matt Brown: They’re going to match their personnel. I know the BYU teams of yore threw the ball all over the field a zillion times a game, but if you’ve got a solid running back and a very mobile QB, you’re going to see more read-options, more of a spread-rushing game, and a more physical attack. The biggest change from last season should be a dramatically increased pace. One way or another, the team is going to try and find ways to get the ball into Hill’s and Hoffman’s hands, as those are the two big playmakers for this team.

MTB: Finish this sentence: 2013 is a success if…..

Matt Brown: Two things need to happen. First, this team HAS to beat Utah. The BYU/Utah rivalry is underrated, especially here in the midwest, and there is some genuine personal animosity that doesn’t really exist in other rivalries. BYU has had the better team but let Utah get the better of them recently, and with the Cougars likely to have the talent advantage again this season, they must close the deal. 10 wins and a loss to Utah will likely not be seen as successful.

Second, BYU needs a quality win. They have Texas, Boise State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech on the schedule, and in order to continue to command national respect, they’re going to need to scalp at least one of those teams (and if that team is Ga Tech, maybe two). BYU likely doesn’t have the horses to make a BCS bowl either way, but winning a marquee game would go a long ways towards building their program reputation to where they want it. a 7-5 season where their biggest win is a rebuilding Utah team, or somebody like Nevada, would not be successful.