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Provo • Long passes, a lucky break here or there and some last-second heroics got the job done against Nebraska and Boise State, while a fourth-quarter scoring explosion fueled by momentum-altering defensive plays helped BYU hold off UConn's upset bid.
What has been lacking in the Cougars' five games to date, a big reason why they are 3-2 with three less-than-convincing wins?
Missing from the attack being forged without star quarterback Taysom Hill, injured in the season opener, are long, sustained touchdown drives in which the offensive line takes control of the contest and imposes its will on a defense while freshman quarterback Tanner Mangum develops. In fact, the inability to finish drives cost BYU a chance to knock off UCLA in that 24-23 loss three weeks ago, and the inability to even start them kept the Cougars from scoring at all in the 31-0 beatdown suffered at Michigan in late September.
"In order for you to be successful, at any level, the offensive line has got to be great," BYU offensive line coach Garett Tujague said earlier this week. "And when the O-line plays well, you have a chance to win the game, regardless of what is going on outside. So, [I am] not happy at all, for the most part."
With a shootout expected on Saturday when the Cougars play host to explosive East Carolina (3-2) at LaVell Edwards Stadium, the onus is on BYU's offensive line to win the battle in the trenches, protect Mangum and get some sort of rushing attack established, Tujague acknowledged.
"We will have to lean on those guys a lot," he said, declining to use Mangum's inexperience, guard Kyle Johnson's balky back, or a rash of injuries to the running backs as an excuse. "That is where [the offense] is most experienced."
Johnson, whose streak of 17 straight starts was broken against UConn, is expected to be back this week, and running back Algie Brown said the knee issues that kept him out of the UCLA and Michigan games and limited his effectiveness last Friday are a thing of the past. Adam Hine is still a few weeks away from returning, but freshman Francis Bernard has filled in admirably and the receivers look confident again after laying that egg against the Wolverines. In other words, BYU's offense should be ready to roll, if the offensive line can live up to its preseason billing.
"The UConn game was a start," said center Tejan Koroma. "The sky is the limit for the offense and we will keep getting better each week, and hopefully [people] will notice that."
Finishing drives would help.
The Cougars have scored 14 touchdowns this season, but one was defensive (safety Kai Nacua's interception return) and six were on plays that covered more than 20 yards. Rarely since Hill directed touchdown drives of 99 and 75 yards against the Huskers have the Cougars taken the ball from their own side of the 50 and punched the ball into the end zone. It has happened just four times under Mangum.
Mangum directed an 87-yard TD drive in the first quarter against UConn; other promising drives ended in turnovers and missed field goals. The Cougars produced a season-high 539 yards, but just 30 points.
"We moved the ball," Mangum said. "Obviously we want to eliminate those turnovers and be able to finish drives."
Field goals won't cut it against the Pirates, who have two capable quarterbacks with different skill sets that helped them almost upset undefeated and No. 11-ranked Florida and defeat Virginia Tech, the program's fifth straight win over an ACC team. East Carolina leads the country in third-down conversions, clicking at 55 percent.
Junior Blake Kemp has started all five games and is more of a pocket passer; James Summers is a dual-threat QB who tore up Virginia Tech and SMU in relief of Kemp with both his arm and his legs. Coach Ruffin McNeill hasn't said who will start, but has said both will play.
"It gives us the best opportunity [to succeed] as a team," McNeill said.
East Carolina at BYU
O At LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo
Kickoff • Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
TV • ESPNU
Radio • 1160 AM, 102.7 FM and Sirius XM 143
2015 records • BYU (3-2), East Carolina (3-2, 1-1 AAC)
Series history • First meeting
About the Cougars • They are 9-1 in the sixth game of the season under coach Bronco Mendenhall, who has a 93-41 overall record. … They have seven scoring drives of two minutes or less, including six touchdowns. … Quarterback Tanner Mangum completed 35 passes in last week's 30-13 win over UConn, the most completions in the country by a freshman this season.
About the Pirates • They have won 25 of their last 29 games when scoring 30 or more points. … They have won 25 straight games when leading at halftime. … They held SMU to just 67 yards in the second half in last week's 49-23 win over the Mustangs, and they scored 42 unanswered points after falling behind 23-7 in the first quarter. —
East Carolina at BYU
Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
TV: ESPNU