ESPN.com - Expect plenty of points in Provo

ESPN.com: College Football

Thursday, August 29, 2002
Expect plenty of points in Provo

By Kirk Herbstreit
Special to ESPN.com

PROVO, Utah -- It's a new year and like so many teams in college football, Syracuse and BYU have a lot of holes to fill from last year. BYU's offense last year was just amazing. It led the nation is scoring (46.8 ppg) and total offense (542.8 ypg). RB Luke Staley won the Doak Walker Award and Brandon Doman is was a threat throwing and running the ball. Somehow, the Cougars have to replace them.

	Syracuse at BYU
	Kirk Herbstreit joins Mike Tirico and Lee Corso in Provo for tonight's 7:30 p.m. ET battle between Syracuse and BYU on ESPN. Herbstreit's Thursday Night Lights will appear weekly and breakdown the Thursday night game.

Meanwhile, Syracuse lost one of the nation's best defensive players in DE Dwight Freeney, who set an NCAA record with 17.5 sacks last year. Not only did the Orangemen lose their best pass rusher, but also two starters in the secondary.

So, both have plenty of questions and it's ironic the biggest questions will face off against each other when the the Syracuse defense is on the field against the BYU offense.

Scouting BYU
When you think about BYU, you think about a team having a lot of success spreading you out and throwing the football. Last year, the Cougars were dynamic both passing and running. It was split down the middle. A lot of that can be credited to Doman, who passed, ran the option, scrambled and created big play after big play. And then he'd hand off to Staley. They'd throw it enough to keep you honest, but also made it difficult to defend the run.

	Spotlight Player
	BYU RB Marcus Whalen. The 5-11, 205 pound sophomore is a little quicker than Staley and while he can get to the outside, what coaches love most about Whalen is how hard he runs up into the middle. Coach Gary Crowton is really high on running the ball and Whalen is a perfect fit. He has the speed to turn the corner and make the big run, but also can rip it up the middle.

The Cougars are now in the hands of junior Bret Engemann. Engemann, who redshirted last year after suffering a shoulder injury on Sept. 30, 2000 against, of all teams, Syracuse, is back. He knows the offense inside out and, after nearly two years, is finally confident in his arm. At 6-foot-5, 238 pounds, he's a big, prototypical dropback QB and while he can't do some of the things Doman did, the coaches will adjust and find ways to create playmaking ability, meaning they'll likely use Engemann and the passing game to create versatility in the offense.

On defense, the Cougars must improve. Last year, BYU was like a sieve. It was 102nd in total defense and allowed 30.5 points per game. Whether they were banged up with injuries or just lack of personnel, the Cougars just didn't have it and were forced to play very conservatively. This season, Cougar coaches have made a conscious effort to get better in the secondary and bigger up front. BYU is determined to stop the run and will do whatever it takes to get it done.

Unfortunately for the Cougars, though, it will be tough as three key players -- DL C.J. Ah You and John Denny and DB Jernaro Gilford -- are out for the game. Ah You is done for the season. It's tough because the Cougars are thinking this is the year they turn it around and then all of a sudden three of their best players are out. Athletically, they're still a notch above last year, but the Cougars are inexperienced and it will be interesting to see how they respond.

One more note: Denny was also the long snapper. Everyone who watches college football knows special teams in the first week or two can be a concern. And that's the nice way to phrase. When you lose a starting snapper and have to throw in a guy who's never done it and then has to face an athletic team like Syracuse, well, here's guessing Gary Crowton is a little concerned. Syracuse could possibly catch a break with a poor snap or a blocked punt.

Scouting Syracuse
The biggest question for the Orangemen is how the defense will play. One solid answer is LB Clifton Smith. An All-Big East pick the last two years, the 6-3, 251-pounder gives Syracuse a playmaker on defense they'll need in Freeney's absence. The tough part is replacing Freeney. Josh Thomas, a starter last year, is a guy to watch. He has the power and technique to step in and be the guy the Orangemen need. Add in Julian Pollard, who actually takes over at Freeney's spot, Tommy Harris and lightning quick Ryan LaCasse and this collectively might be a better group than last year's. Remember, Syracuse has always been athletic on the interior. It was before Dwight Freeney and it will be after Dwight Freeney.

In the secondary, Syracuse might have another Donovin Darius in O'Neil Scott. The 6-1, 197-pound DB comes from the same high school as the former Syracuse All-American and is very physical. If he isn't too aggressive, he can be an intimidating force in he secondary.

On offense, the reason Syracuse was successful last year was simply because it was smart on offense. It's no coincidence it won 10 of its last 11 with R.J. Anderson at QB. He protected the ball and guided the Orangemen to a plus-15 turnover ratio. It's not a dynamic offense, but Syracuse plays smart.

The Orangemen have some opportunities with the passing game tonight. They have more big play weapons now than they've had the last three or four year. David Tyree is an experienced wideout who averages 16.8 yards per catch and Johnnie Morant led the team in receiving yards and looks poised for a big season.

But the Orangemen will need to run the ball and watch freshman Damien Rhodes. At 6-1, 193-pounds, Rhodes gives the Orangemen something in the backfield they haven't had in a long time -- a game breaker. Look for him tonight.

While the Orangemen are breaking in nine new starters tonight, that is a bit misleading. Yes, Anderson and C Nick Romeo are the only starters back from last year, but many of the starters tonight played plenty of snaps last season.

The Bottom Line
I expect to see points tonight. If you like offense, you'll enjoy this game. I think Syracuse is one of the surprise teams in the Big East and a lot of people are overlooking them. The players are united and they are feeding off this lack of respect. They're eager to show they are better than what's been said and written about them. Morant, Tyree and Jamel Riddle give them big play ability on outside and with an experienced QB in Anderson, we'll see some big plays from the Syracuse passing game tonight.

I think natural tendency when someone from the Mountain West loses so many great players on offense, especially when it was one of the best offenses in the country, you think they'll fall back down. But after meeting with BYU coach Gary Crowton, I'm a bigger believer in him as a coach than I ever have been. Even with a lack of big play weapons, they will reload. Engemann will have a heck of a year and there are weapons all around. The biggest thing is Crowton has a philosophy that is very difficult to defend and he always seems to have an answer. Gary Crowton is one of the best offensive minds in the country. BYU may not attack in the same way it did last year, but it will find ways to put points on board.

Kirk Herbstreit is an analyst for ESPN's College GameDay.