BYU Football: Can Cougars avoid repeating last season’s disaster?

Defense

BYU was hampered far more by its offense than its defense in 2017. Ilaisi Tuiaki’s defense ranked in the top 50 in scoring defense nationally, giving up an average of fewer than 25 points per game. Opponents rarely got too much of an advantage, but the Cougars were just 4-3 in games where they gave up three touchdowns or less.

BYU was far better against the run than they were against the pass. The front seven held opponents under 150 yards per game on the ground. More importantly, they ranked 30th nationally in yards per carry allowed as they conceded only 3.7 yards per carry.

Fred Warner was the only player drafted from the defense, though several other key players graduated. Still, BYU returns one of the most veteran defenses in the country. The returning talent puts them among the top quartile in the country.

Focusing on the secondary

Passing defense was the weak link in the BYU defense last season. The Cougars finished 105th nationally in opponent passing efficiency. They gave up just 225 yards per game, but that was because teams looked to control the clock on the ground against a team that was outside the top 100 in time of possession.

Position changes will make things interesting. Two key cornerbacks, Troy Warner and Dayan Ghanwoloku, were taking reps instead at safety this spring. That leaves an opening for the emergence of others on the edges of the defensive backfield.

Their replacements at cornerback will likely come from among a trio of upperclassmen. Chris Wilcox, Michael Shelton, and Trevion Greene all enjoyed significant playing time this spring and looked good in pass coverage. Their development will determine how well a veteran defense performs this year in passing situations.