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Brigham Young running back LJ Martin scores a touchdown during game against Kansas Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Lawrence, Kan. | Charlie Riedel, Associated Press
Football can quickly turn into a game of inches, but for BYU’s new offensive line coach and run game coordinator TJ Woods, it’s always been about yards — and he wants four every time a Cougar gets a carry this fall.
“You have to be multiple (faceted) and do things differently to keep the defense off guard, but I also believe in being able to line up and run something successfully or at least efficient and efficient to us is a gain of four yards or gain a first down, based on the situation,” Woods told the “Y’s Guys” podcast. “You need to have something to hang your hat on when you can say, ‘Listen, here it comes. This is what we are doing, and we are still going to go get four yards.’”
Those words reflect an attitude that has been missing from the trenches at BYU since running back Tyler Allgeier left school early for the NFL after the 2021 season. The Cougars averaged 5.1 yards per carry during Allgeier’s record-setting run, including a 46% success rate on third downs and 62% on fourth downs.
Last year, with Aidan Robbins playing hurt, BYU struggled to get 3.5 yards per carry. The first-down conversion rates on third down dropped to 28% and to 50% on fourth down. Except for Oklahoma, when a healthy Robbins ran for 182 yards, the ground game was grounded.
The goal of four yards per carry might not sound like a lot, but on third and short, the ability to move the pile can become the difference between a touchdown or a field goal, extending a drive or sending in the punt team.
BYU punted 68 times last year compared to 40 when Allgeier and the offensive line were punishing the likes of Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, Virginia, USC,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/byu-o-line-coach-wants-010050410.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2024-04-14 01:00:50
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