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Miami • There were a lot of reasons why BYU struggled on defense in October, but one of the most visible was the lack of a bonafide pass rush.
Opposing quarterbacks such as Utah State's Darell Garretson and Boise State's Grant Hedrick had all day to throw, and posted gaudy statistics against the Cougars. The Cougars solved that, partly, by acknowledging that linebacker Bronson Kaufusi wasn't good in pass coverage or sealing the edge, and returned the junior during some plays to the position he played as a sophomore — defensive end.
Kaufusi said Thursday the position he plays in Monday's Miami Beach Bowl against Memphis (noon MST, ESPN) will depend largely upon what the Tigers are doing.
"I haven't really known the last few weeks where I will play," Kaufusi said. "During practice I do half and half. I am ready for both."
Coach Bronco Mendenhall acknowledged Friday that the experiment to move Kaufusi to outside linebacker didn't go as well as he would have liked.
"Defensive end seems to be where he is more natural," Mendenhall said. "We haven't eliminated the outside 'backer spot for him. But right now, defensive end is where he is more productive."
Kaufusi missed two games with a sprained ankle, but was still BYU's seventh-leading tackler with 39 stops. He had six sacks, two more than any other player on the team.
His father, defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi, said he would love to get Bronson back on the line full-time in 2015.
"He was one of our better pass rushers. So it was more like, 'what are we doing dropping him [into] coverage? Let's find ways to get him more ways to put his hand down and into situations where we can get him pass rushing and going after the quarterback instead of dropping," Steve Kaufusi said last week. "I mean, you have to do those things and mix that up, but mainly we need him to do more pass rushing. You only have so many guys that are able to do that. We need to put him out there and put him in situations where he can be more successful, not only for him, but for us as a defense."
Red-zone success
Failure to convert drives into touchdowns was a season-long problem for the Cougars in 2013, and was especially evident in the 31-16 loss to Washington in the Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco. Memphis is giving up just 17 points per game, so the Cougars believe a big key to the game will be red-zone play.
"We have gotten a little better at it," offensive coordinator Robert Anae said. "I think the guys have a better grasp on their roles. We as a staff have done a better job of doing things that guys do well. So, best players doing their best stuff. We are closer to that than we were a year ago."
Not many chances
Because of the aforementioned success in the red zone, BYU kicker Trevor Samson has attempted just 12 field goals all season, making 10. He has kicked two — both against Savannah State — since missing his only attempt against Nevada on Oct. 18. Special teams coach Kelly Poppinga said the senior will be ready when his number is called Monday.
"We have practiced it like crazy. He has gotten a ton of reps in practice," Poppinga said. "We have been going for it a lot on fourth down as well. I am very confident in Trevor and in Andrew Mikkelsen as well. I am confident and know that they are going to do the job when their number is called."
Twitter: @drewjay —
Miami Beach Bowl
Monday, Marlins Park, Miami, Fla.
BYU vs. Memphis, noon MST
TV: ESPN