This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Landover, Md. • Kalani Sitake says his team, especially his offense, has to improve, all around.

Ty Detmer says his offensive line "hasn't played terrible" — not exactly a ringing endorsement — and that he's simplifying his game plan, dropping the whole thing down a couple of notches for a fifth-year senior quarterback who was supposed to be the heart and soul of the offense, an offense that languishes near the bottom of national rankings in multiple categories.

Taysom Hill says within the same uttered paragraph the blame for the troubled attack is his, but it's everybody else's, too.

Receivers coach Ben Cahoon says if he were an opposing defensive coordinator, he would press BYU's receivers because they haven't handled that coverage well, and on the occasions when they have, they've caught passes as though they were wearing boxing gloves.

OK, he didn't actually say that last part, but he might as well have.

Going into Saturday's game against West Virginia at FedEx Field, BYU is in need of a bounce. After losing two straight games by a total of four points, a bit more acceleration would be useful about now. BYU currently ranks 119th in scoring and, for an offense like Detmer's, that doesn't work.

If that offense had played within shouting distance of the defense, BYU might be 3-0.

West Virginia's defense seems vulnerable, more to the run than the pass, and that would be something the Cougars could take advantage of — if it weren't for that less-than-terrible-but-terrible-enough offensive front. Maybe those guys can gather themselves and come around. If Detmer is going to scale back the offense, he should fire up his big'uns and schedule in some runs for Hill, who is — used to be, anyway — a better runner than thrower. The solid combo-pack of both leg and arm that Hill exhibited so routinely, back when he played as though his hair were ablaze, before his last injury, has yet to be displayed this season.

It's to the point now where worrying about Hill's health should be shoved to the background. Let the man run free. It's time to find out if he really is, like he says, as fast as he ever was, which, to most observers, looks doubtful. Jamaal Williams should get more work, as well. And, then, the Cougars must throw the ball down the field, at least to a medium range, instead of chucking everything in front of the defense for five yards a pop. Explosive plays are badly needed for this reason — sustained drives have been rare. Too often, there's been a mistake — a dropped pass, a penalty, a turnover, a missed block — that has killed chip-and-chuck drives.

Basically, Detmer's offense has looked like a cartoon in which the opposing defense is extending out its long arm and big hand, holding BYU's head and torso in place as its feet churn ridiculously around in a whirl, stirring dirt and getting nowhere.

That stationary place now has a name — it's called Desperation.

If the Cougars don't beat West Virginia, they skid into a run in coming weeks of facing Michigan State on the road, Mississippi State at home, and Boise State in Boise. Before that, even Toledo, at home, will look like a hurdle, the Rockets having beaten and outscored its three weaker opponents so far by the combined total of 128-30.

What if the Cougars lose to Toledo at LaVell's Place? What then?

Better not to ask.

Either way, if BYU falls short over that span, its offense unable to waken, its defense unable to win games throughout the middle of the schedule, what real difference and meaning will the season's final four games against lesser foes make and have? The whole exercise could descend into extended practices and window-dressing for future seasons, and, at best, a tumble toward squeaking into the Poinsettia Bowl.

More patience than anticipated would be required.

Saturday's game is that important, then, a potential positive pivot point, a chance for the Cougars to bump and jump out of their scoring skid and onto a decent vibe heading into the remaining P5-team challenges, with a stronger-than-you-think Toledo mixed in. For BYU coaches, players and fans, this is essentially either a built foundation for new hope moving forward at 2-2 — or the opening of a deep hole at 1-3 dug by disappointing results beneath what had been hoped for not so very long ago.

GORDON MONSON hosts "The Big Show" with Spence Checketts weekdays from 3-7 p.m. on the Zone Sports Network's 97.5 FM and 1280 AM. Twitter: @GordonMonson.