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Offensive coordinator Robert Anae has said in the past that the Cougars want to average around 100 plays per game with his so-called "go hard, go fast" offense.

That isn't happening this year.

The Cougars are averaging only 73 plays per game and not just because they ran only 50 against Michigan. They had 72 against Nebraska, 68 against Boise State, 88 against UCLA, 95 against UConn, 81 against East Carolina, 61 against Cincinnati and 69 against Wagner.

Anae addressed the media on Tuesday morning after BYU's practice, and I asked him why they aren't going as fast this year.

"We are doing a lot more personnel rotations," he said. "So that does take time. And we have had couple of third quarters where we are running huddle-type, run-the-clock deals. So I think all of it together, you look at the overall thing, and we have had some games where we have not converted on third down. And that also has attributed to it. So I think all of it together has given the overall [slowdown]. When we are getting a lot of plays, we are converting on third down. So that is what it used to look like. We are working hard. There is nothing strategically or coach-wise that we are doing to manipulate that. We are trying to go fast and we are trying to play hard, and we are trying to convert on third down."

BYU is 61st in the country in third-down conversion percentage (40.7 percent), converting on 48 of 118 opportunities.

It wouldn't be an Anae interview without something to chuckle about. Tuesday, laughter came after Anae brought up RB Algie Brown's collision with the cannon during the Wagner game.

"You know, Algie, for all the hoopla and how much he got beat up by the George Q. Cannon, uh, he's back and he seems to be the healthiest guy. So, geez, I am glad he didn't hurt the cannon. That's my thing. I am all for the cannon."

Anae's offense should get RB Riley Burt (hamstring pull) back this week, but might be without senior RB Adam Hine (ankle) for at least another week. Anae said Hine hasn't practiced yet this week, despite coach Bronco Mendenhall saying on Monday that Hine was ready to return. Anae also spoke as if the injured offensive linemen — Ryker Mathews, Kyle Johnson and Lui Lapuaho — haven't practiced and won't play against SJSU.

Regarding the young OLs such as JJ Nwigwe and Jaterius Gulley and Jacob Jiminez, Anae said they "need to be better."

"We are not redshirting them," he said. "They are playing and practicing. And yeah, so if they are healthy, they will be playing on Friday night. So they are coming along, sheesh, what can I say? Every day is a step forward … They are no longer considered freshmen. That's my deal. After midseason, the true freshman thing does not apply to you anymore. They should be guys that get reps and expect playing time and expect to do really good things."

The biggest development with the offense, lately, has been the move of defensive end Remington Peck to tight end. You can read more about that here. Peck said Tuesday he will practice full time with the offense, but still play 15-20 plays a game with the defense.

"It is fun to see that he has the skill to play some tight end," linebacker Fred Warner said Monday. "He has good hands, runs solid routes, and he is a really good run blocker. So he looks pretty good over there."

Said receiver Mitch Mathews: "Rem has great hands, man. That guy, we love him over here. He has great hands, he's big, he's really physical and he's really smart. Plus, it is like me. It is his homestretch too, for BYU, and he wants to make an impact and be a guy who gets in the end zone, and be able to say you played on both sides of the ball. We love him on offense. He's got great hands and made a great catch today in practice, which was sweet to see. It has been fun having him. We like him a lot."

Quarterback Tanner Mangum said Peck will provide him with another big target, although it should be mentioned that a tight end has not caught a pass yet this season. Obviously, that doesn't count Terenn Houk, who sometimes lines up in the tight end slot and has caught 34 passes.

"It is awesome. Rem is tearing it up," Mangum said. "He's a natural. He just kinda came right in and he is doing a great job, working hard to learn the offense and making some big plays in practice. So we are hoping we can incorporate that into the games. He was kinda keeping it under wraps. But once he got the chance he has shown the coaches that he has those tight end skills. So it should be fun."