Long is a straight shooter almost to a fault, but he pretty much has to say that. He is considered coach Bronco Mendenhall's mentor, BYU is a conference rival, and the Lobos (3-3) play the 5-0 Cougars today at LaVell Edwards Stadium (4 p.m., the mtn.), so he's not about to crank out the overrated tag like some Utah State fans did last week.

Certainly, though, there is both national and local curiosity regarding this particular BYU team's strength after it struggled for three quarters against woeful USU (1-4), and especially because the five teams it has defeated are a miserable 8-18.

Some computer rankings say the Cougars have played the second-weakest schedule in the country.

Really, how good are these guys?

Anyone who has followed BYU football the past four years knows Mendenhall is not going to touch that one, although he hinted at his weekly news conference Monday that he is "far from content" with his team "when you consider measuring us against our potential and our capability."

The coach even said the national rankings "have no value" until after the sixth week or so and that most are based too much on history and don't reflect how teams are currently playing this year.

The Cougs play their sixth game today, and although they might not be pushed to the limit by the injury-depleted Lobos, a 23-point underdog, it will give the country a better idea of where BYU stands at the midway point, and before Thursday's test at 5-1 TCU.

"I think each and every game we play, [the polls] will get closer and closer [to being accurate], and then Week 12 we will know," he said.

But some want to know now, and for that kind of an assessment it never hurts to turn to someone who has been with the program for 30 years (four as a player, 26 as a coach), assistant head coach and running backs coach Lance Reynolds.

"Obviously, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize we are pretty good," Reynolds said. "When I say that, it [sounds] bad. But that's the truth of it. We are pretty good. But you still have to play. You still have to line up and execute and overcome the challenges that every opponent brings."

Reynolds, who has two sons on the offensive line - senior center Dallas and freshman left tackle Matt - said the elements that set this team apart are talent and experience.

"Anytime you get those two things together, you have a shot to be good," he said, while declining to say how this team stacks up against the 1984 team that went 13-0 and won the national championship, the 1996 team that went 14-1 and won the Cotton Bowl or the past two teams that have gone 11-2 each year and beat Pac-10 opponents in bowl games. "We just have a lot of guys who have seen a lot of football, so it is difficult to screw them up too much."

Asked how the Cougars would fare against the SEC and Big 12 teams one sees on television with speed to burn and phenomenal athletes at every position, Reynolds compared it to a pickup basketball game.

"You take some good high school players, and you put them against these old guys that used to be good," he said. "The old guys will give them a hard time - not because they are as good, but because they have been around the block a few times. They will push off, box out, set picks, etc.

"So the point is, there is an execution-based element there that can equalize speed," he said.

Combine that ability to execute on a consistent basis with talent and experience, he said, "and you can probably call yourselves one of the better teams in the country."

drew@sltrib.com

The schedule

Team Record Comment

Northern Iowa 3-2 Only former opponent with a winning record

Washington 0-5 Best chance for a win was against BYU

UCLA 2-3 At least Bruins aren't as bad as Washington schools

Wyoming 2-4 No touchdowns in three MWC games

Utah State 1-4 Outscored the Cougs 14-10 last three quarters

Note: New Mexico is 3-3