Provo » BYU quarterback Max Hall was a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate in mid-October last year. Then came TCU.
The nephew of former Dallas Cowboys great Danny White wasn't so great in Texas, throwing two interceptions and getting sacked six times in a 32-7 loss. His Heisman dreams were dashed.
A subpar performance against Florida State probably destroyed Hall's 2009 Heisman hopes, too, but how the senior plays Saturday night against the No. 10 Horned Frogs in Provo (5:30 p.m., Versus) very well could determine the defining game of his career.
"I am excited about how our team is playing right now," Hall said. "I think the offense is being consistent and playing well. ... So I think it is going to be a fun day, Saturday."
Last year's debacle against TCU certainly wasn't all Hall's fault -- he was running from TCU's Jerry Hughes and others on practically every passing play -- but he has watched the film "tons of times" and determined that BYU's offensive scheme was flawed.
"We had a lot of downfield, longer throws, where I was trying to launch the ball too long, and they were able to get to me," he said. "This year, we have done a really good job of getting the ball out of my hands quick, and doing smart, efficient things down the field, and then taking shots every once in a while."
Unfortunately for the Cougars, TCU's defense looks every bit as good as it was last year. The Frogs are No. 4 in the country in total defense (238 yards per game) and No. 9 in passing defense (156 ypg).
While agreeing with Hall's assessment that some of last year's plays took too long to develop against a pass rush as ferocious as TCU's, Cougars offensive coordinator Robert Anae said BYU won't alter its approach that much.
"We don't look so much to what happened in years past. We just try to prepare ourselves for this year, and make sure of our approach going into it," he said. "So far this year, we have been able to maintain that approach by playing hard and playing physical."
Anae said it will come down to execution, not scheme or play calling.
"That's not a very efficient offense, if someone is not blocking on every play," he said. "It is not an efficient offense if we are not securing the football on every play. And this year, that has been our focus. And this game is no different."
Hall is hot
If there is a positive sign for BYU, it is that Hall has been playing his best football of the season the past two games. Against UNLV and San Diego State, he threw for 666 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions.
" I don't know if I would say I am peaking, but I have done some good things," Hall said. "I don't think UNLV's defense was the best. I thought San Diego State had a pretty good defense, and we were able to play well. So I think I am being consistent; I think I am showing some improvement and doing some things very well just as far as managing the offense, taking what they give me, and putting our team in a position to win."
Shuttling runners
No fewer than 14 TCU players carried the ball Saturday in the Frogs' 44-6 win over Colorado State, causing BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall to think of his own team, but in a different way.
"We share a similar philosophy in us throwing to many different receivers. They use the same philosophy in running with many different ball carriers. And it makes it more difficult.
"Who exactly do you key on? And there are different styles of running. And so difficult to keep up with inside runner, outside runner, spin runner, shake runner, vertical runner, and the different speeds and tempos you get," he said.
Twelve players have caught passes for BYU this season, and eight have caught at least 10 passes, including McKay Jacobson , who has missed the last three games with a hamstring pull. Jacobson remains "possible" for the TCU game, Mendenhall said.
