BYU linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi, left, brings down Utah wide receiver Jaylen Dixon at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. Kaufusi says BYU’s defense will try to get more sacks in 2020, thus creating more havoc for opposing offenses. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Cougars were among the worst teams in college football at getting sacks in 2019, but were among the nation’s leaders in getting interceptions, forcing fumbles
PROVO — When all was said and done, BYU’s defense in 2019 was mostly mediocre, perhaps slightly above average.
The Cougars ranked 68th national in total defense, allowing 393.5 yards per game, and 48th in scoring defense, giving up 25.5 points per game.
They were among the better defenses in the country at coming up with interceptions and turnovers, finishing tied for 13th with 15 picks and tied for 23rd in turnovers gained. They added seven fumble recoveries to the 15 interceptions for 22 turnovers forced.
The big weakness, in most observers’ minds, was getting sacks. The Cougars took down opposing quarterbacks in the backfield only 17 times, or 1.31 times per game. That ranked them 117th in the country in that category.
It is no wonder, then, when spring practices began Monday, that head coach Kalani Sitake and defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki fielded plenty of questions about how the Cougars plan to create more havoc for opposing offenses.
The coaches didn’t have a lot of answers, saying only that they are aware of their defensive shortcomings last season and are working on it. They only lost four key defenders to graduation: safety Austin Lee, cornerback Dayan Ghanwoloku and defensive linemen Trajan Pili and JJ Nwigwe.
Sitake hinted in several post-Hawaii Bowl interviews, after the Cougars gave up 38 points and 495 yards to the Rainbow Warriors, that there would be some coaching assignment changes in 2020.
But during Monday’s media-viewing portion of practice, it didn’t appear that any assignments had changed. Sitake did spend a lot of time with the defense, according to some observers who watched the entire practice.
Asked after the practice to outline those changes, Sitake played coy.
“We are doing a lot of different things (in all three phases),” he said. “I will let you guys know more as we go along. That’s one thing I can do to hold over you guys’ heads (and not divulge).”
Sitake said coaches will “have to do some things to help our guys create more havoc and get more big plays and turnovers,” but didn’t provide specifics.
“I believe we have the right players, and I believe we have the right minds (coaching them),” he said. “We have just got to put it all together, get the best 11 on the field, depending on the circumstance and situation, and create all kinds of havoc. I think we are good at that.”
Some players are being tried at different positions in an attempt to make that happen, Tuiaki said.
For instance, linebackers Max Tooley and Zayne Anderson (who missed most of 2019 with a shoulder injury) have lost about 10-15 pounds apiece and are playing safety now. Anderson, listed at 200 pounds on the printed roster distributed Monday, is even playing some cornerback in practice.
Walk-on Hayden Livingston, who started at safety in the opener last fall against Utah, is getting some work at cornerback. Sophomore George Udo got some reps at safety on Monday.
“All the havoc that we are talking about, all the things we are doing to create more production on the defensive side, has been driven by Kalani and what he wants to see,” said Tuiaki, when asked if Sitake will be more involved with the defense this year.
Against Hawaii, Tuiaki often dropped eight players into coverage, and rushed just three. It worked at times, but UH quarterback Cole McDonald chewed the formation up to the tune of 493 passing yards.
Tuiaki said he will continue to employ a combination of defensive fronts — 4-3 and 3-4 — which is what almost every program in college football does.
“There has been a lot of movement as far as trying guys out,” Tuiaki said. “It is obvious what Kalani wants and we are fully behind what his vision is and how he wants to see guys moving around.”
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Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
The search continues for a big-time pass rusher, but Tuiaki said he doesn’t believe the Cougars need to find one in the transfer portal. Linebacker Payton Wilgar added 10 pounds to get to 245 and is a possibility there.
“You know, I really like our guys. I feel good about them,” Tuiaki said. “I think that (sacks) will come when we are ahead in games, when teams have to drive to score and beat us. Those are when sacks come. In the middle of the game, you may have four or five opportunities for sacks is all. Teams are smart. They do a good job protecting the ball.”
Tuiaki said he has leaned on Sitake and athletic director Tom Holmoe, a former head coach at Cal who has “a wealth of knowledge” to figure out ways to create more disruption on defense.
Senior linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi said the loss to Hawaii “kind of fueled a lot of guys’ fires and so we are really pumped up to get back” and make the necessary changes to become a more disruptive defense.
“I think we are going to try to mix it up more, get great pressure and really rush the quarterback and bring a lot of blitzes and try to create mismatches,” Kaufusi said. “Execution will be the biggest thing as we try to expose young quarterbacks and create turnovers.”
BYU’s defense in select categories in 2019
Scoring defense: 48th (25.50 ppg.)
Rushing defense: 78th (167.5 ypg.)
Total defense: 68th (393.5 ypg.)
Team sacks: 117th (1.31 spg.)
Turnovers gained: T23rd (15 ints., 7 fumbles)
Team tackles for loss : 117th (4.7 tfl per game)
Interceptions: T13th (15 ints.)
Passing yards allowed: 65th (226 ypg.)
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