BYU Football: Deep passes hurting Cougars

Provo » Those who have watched BYU play its last three football games know that the Cougars have been susceptible to deep passes lately.

And although Saturday's opponent, Wyoming, doesn't figure to have the deep receiving threats that UNLV, San Diego State and TCU have, BYU coaches are expecting the Cowboys to take some shots downfield.

"We haven't discouraged the last two teams from doing that, because they've had success," Bronco Mendenhall said. "So I would assume that somewhere in their plan, they will be in running formations and use those players to block and throw some balls downfield."

Mendenhall said teams have been "max protecting" against the Cougars and sending out only a couple of receivers with the expectations that those receivers will eventually get open against BYU's zone coverages because the quarterbacks will have time to throw.

San Diego State used max protection especially effectively until late in the game.

"It is funny, each season, we play a similar style of defense and have been pretty effective," Mendenhall said. "But in each season, there is something that kind of hits us and we have to catch up with and solve before we can move forward. And right now, [max protection] seems to be what the last two teams have chosen to do."

 

Thompson's time

Having missed four games with a hamstring injury, receiver

McKay Jacobson is expected to play against the Cowboys Saturday. Freshman Brett Thompson , who will depart on a mission to Louisville, Ky., in February, caught five passes in four games as Jacobson's replacement, and has six catches for 95 yards this season.

But Mendenhall doesn't expect Thompson to be relegated to the bench now that the team's top receiver is back.

"I don't really see [Thompson's] role changing as much because we like the fresh bodies and the distribution," Mendenhall said.

Thompson, from the same high school in California (Oak Ridge) as former Cougar receiving grea t Austin Collie , said he worked hard to be ready to play as a freshman and isn't surprised quarterback Max Hall trusted him enough to get him the ball.

"I got here early in the summer and started building a relationship with Max, and learned how he wants me to run routes," Thompson said. "It was a goal of mine to be ready if the opportunity came."

Thompson acknowledges his playing time will probably decrease, but said, "we need McKay in there. We need him back."

 

Leaving early?

Speaking of Collie, he turned pro after his junior season in 2008 and is enjoying a fantastic rookie year with the Indianapolis Colts. The most likely candidate to take that route after this season is junior running back Harvey Unga , the MWC's leading rusher.

But Unga said Wednesday that he isn't thinking about that with four regular-season games remaining.

"I would love to play in the [NFL], but the possibility of me leaving after this season is kind of like finding a needle in a haystack. ... I can't put all my eggs in one basket. As far as I am concerned, I have to focus on what is happening right now. And then when the time comes to decide, I will do that."

 

Briefly

Linebacker Matt Bauman , defensive back Scott Johnson and defensive end Brett Denney made the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Team.