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Miami • When BYU's Christian Stewart looks across the line of scrimmage during Monday's Miami Beach Bowl, he won't see any familiar faces.
But the Cougars' senior quarterback will see a familiar scheme.
Memphis' 3-4 defense is almost identical to what BYU runs, and there's a partial reason for that. Memphis defensive coordinator Barry Odom reached out to BYU defensive coordinator Nick Howell in the offseason for a few tips on zone blitzes and pressuring offenses out of nickel formations. Howell obliged, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said Friday.
"If you watch them play, they are very similar to us defensively," Mendenhall said. "They have had a good year. I think they gave up only 17 points a game. It looks like that scheme has been beneficial to them."
Of course, it takes talented players to make it work — as BYU found this year when it struggled defensively in October against the better teams on its schedule — and Memphis has a lot of those. Linebacker Tank Jakes shared the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year award and leads the Tigers with 83 tackles and six sacks. Senior defensive end Martin Ifedi has returned from an injury with a vengeance and will be hunting down the pass-happy Stewart.
"Watching film, they are a great defense — very similar to ours, as far as their schemes," Stewart said. "But here is the thing: We are very confident right now on offense, and we have a lot of momentum, and we know that we can score against anybody if we focus on the things we need to do."
Mendenhall and offensive coordinator Robert Anae said after the Cougars practiced Friday at Florida International University's stadium that Memphis has a better defense than any team they have faced this season.
"Well, hopefully we block people and we secure the football. I do believe that is what is at stake in a really tough, close bowl game," Anae said. "The fundamentals usually show on the scoreboard. So the team that does that the best, at the highest level, I do believe will be victorious."
Memphis is 22nd in the country in total defense, allowing just 343.3 yards per game, and No. 5 in scoring defense, giving up just 17.1 points per game. Strong safety Fritz Etienne and middle linebacker Charles Harris are the second and third-leading tacklers.
"Their defensive line is really athletic," said BYU freshman center Tejan Koroma, who has made four true freshman All-America teams. "They are not as big as other defensive lines, but they make up for it with athleticism. Their linebackers will come and hit you, so it will be a good game. We will have to play our best."
Stewart compared Memphis' defense to Boise State's in terms of athleticism and scheme. He also said it is similar to Central Florida, which tied Memphis and Cincinnati for the AAC championship but didn't face the Tigers.
Offensively, Memphis is above average, too, ranking 50th in the country by putting up 422.7 yards per game, and 28th in scoring offense, at 34.7 points per game. The Tigers enter on a six-game winning streak, and two of their three losses were against teams ranked at the time — 42-35 to UCLA and 24-3 to Ole Miss.
Paxton Lynch, Memphis' 6-foot-7 quarterback, completed 235 of 367 passes for 2,725 yards and 18 touchdowns.
"He looks really good on film," said BYU linebacker Mike Alisa. "He's really fast, and he does break a lot of long runs. He's a really good athlete, and he's a good passer as well. He puts the ball right where it needs to be."
Twitter: @drewjay —
Miami Beach Bowl
O BYU vs. Memphis, Monday, noon
TV • ESPN —
Tiger-tough
Where Memphis' defense ranks nationally:
Category Stat NCAA Rank
Total defense 343.3 ypg. 22nd
Pass defense 218.0 ypg. 48th
Rush defense 1235.3 ypg. 24th
Scoring defense 17.1 ppg. 5th
Tackles for loss 6.8 pg. 27th
Sacks 2.33 44th