OFFENSE

BYU hopes the finish of the 2010 season was the start of something big. With quarterback Jake Heaps and two other freshmen in starring roles offensively, the Cougars rolled past UTEP 52–24 in the New Mexico Bowl and launched themselves into a new era with some momentum.

This season, as BYU plays an independent schedule after leaving the Mountain West Conference, an offense now being coordinated by former Cougar quarterback Brandon Doman should keep improving. Heaps and the offense started slowly while he initially shared the position, but he led BYU to six wins in the last eight games, highlighted by his four-touchdown effort against UTEP. Heaps’ biggest challenge as a sophomore will be to increase his 57.2 completion percentage.

The other playmakers include receiver Cody Hoffman, who capped his freshman season with eight catches for 137 yards and three scores in the New Mexico Bowl, and running back Joshua Quezada, who also finished his first year in fine fashion with 101 yards against UTEP. Mix in the versatile JJ Di Luigi, a running back who led BYU with 45 receptions, and Doman will have plenty of options in his first season as a playcaller.

Devin Mahina should become more of a factor in the passing game, after none of BYU’s tight ends caught a touchdown pass in 2010.
It should help that the offensive line is seasoned. Left tackle Matt Reynolds’ decision to return for his senior year rather than enter the NFL Draft was a big bonus, and he joins three other returning starters.
 

DEFENSE

From his perspective on the other side during spring drills, Doman says BYU’s defense is the school’s best in 10 years. Coach Bronco Mendenhall took over the defense last October, firing his coordinator after five games. The Cougars improved steadily from that point.

The line is active and athletic, led by Eathyn Manumaleuna and Matt Putnam. The linebackers in the 3-4 scheme should be productive. Kyle Van Noy ranked second on the team with 7.5 tackles for a loss as a part-time player, and Brandon Ogletree added five tackles for a loss. The player everyone talked about in the spring was USC transfer Uona Kaveinga, who earned a starting job after redshirting last season.

In the secondary, BYU will miss safety Andrew Rich, who led the team in tackles and interceptions. Free safety Travis Uale is the only returning starter, but Daniel Sorensen shows some of Rich’s qualities at strong safety, and Corby Eason and Robbie Buckner are capable cornerbacks.
 

SPECIALISTS

Mitch Payne departed as the school’s career scoring leader, but Justin Sorensen is back from an LDS Church mission to replace him as the kicker. Sorensen, who made a 62-yarder in high school, handled kickoffs for BYU in 2008. Riley Stephenson is a solid punter who averaged 42.0 yards per kick, and JD Falslev is proven returner of punts and kickoffs.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Piecing together a 2011 schedule after declaring its independence, BYU ended up with a demanding September slate of Ole Miss, Texas, Utah and UCF. How the Cougars handle those first four games will largely determine their success. The biggest question regarding last season is whether the Cougars truly improved in the second half, or if the schedule merely eased. The offense should be more settled and confident from the start with Heaps established as the quarterback, but the unit must prove itself against good competition.