What has happened to BYU’s once-explosive offense?

Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) is hit by Kansas Jayhawks defensive tackle Caleb Taylor (53) as he passes the ball as they play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday Nov. 16, 2024. Kansas won 17-13. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Remember when that rocket was launched at nearby Cape Canaveral just as Jake Retzlaff was throwing a 1-yard touchdown pass to Mata’ava Ta’ase at the Bounce House in Orlando to give BYU a 31-10 lead over UCF midway through the third quarter of an eventual 37-24 victory?

The Cougars’ offense, especially in the red zone, has pretty much been a dud ever since.

The attack that propelled BYU into the upper echelons of college football, coupled with one of its best defenses in years, has disappeared as quickly as the vapor trail left behind by the Space X rocket.

“It just doesn’t seem like it was clicking. A lot of mistakes. … The run game was working pretty nicely, then the turnover at the end of the half cost us. Settling for field goals isn’t going to work, either. … We gotta score more points to win games.”

BYU coach Kalani Sitake

To say that it crashed and burned is a stretch, but to say the offense’s inability to score touchdowns when it is inside an opponent’s 20-yard-line the past two games has led to one close win and one close loss certainly isn’t.

The inefficiency in the red zone was masked by BYU’s thrilling 22-21 come-from-behind win over the Utes, and written off due to Utah’s standing as the best defense in the Big 12. Then Utah got steamrolled by Colorado’s offense and fell 49-24 to the Buffaloes in Boulder on Saturday, leaving more doubt about BYU’s offense.

Of course, failure to score in the red zone ultimately cost BYU (9-1, 6-1) its perfect season, as Retzlaff and company faltered at the end of both halves, and the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/happened-byu-once-explosive-offense-002724892.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2024-11-18 00:27:24

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