BYU Football: How will modified schedule affect Cougars in 2020?
By Zach Bigalke
BYU returns a solid, if unspectacular, defense
It wasn’t as though BYU was bad on defense during the 2019 season. The Cougars gave up 40 points only once, in their 45-19 loss at home against Washington. They gave up 30 or more points only three total times, including that Huskies defeat. In general, the defense gave the team a chance to win in pretty much every contest they played, allowing an average of 25.5 points per game and holding teams scoreless on one out of every five trips to the red zone.
Where BYU was not so great, though, was in creating real havoc as a defense at the point of attack. The front seven ranked 117th nationally in both sacks and total tackles for loss. The Cougars managed to recover only seven fumbles, putting them 72nd in the FBS in that category. Opponents converted more than 40 percent of their third downs to move the chains and keep the defense on the field.
The secondary was the brightest spot for BYU last season, as the unit nabbed 15 interceptions and conceded an average of 226 yards per game through the air. Maintaining that level of play will be tough with Dayan Ghanwoloku and Austin Lee gone from the defensive backfield, but players like D’Angelo Mandel, Chris Wilcox, and Isiah Herron have a chance to step up and maintain that level of quality in 2020.
Focusing on the BYU linebackers
The biggest position of strength for the Cougars on defense is undoubtedly their linebacking corps. All four starters are back for a position group that dominated the defensive stats for BYU last season, and that group has a real chance to make an even bigger difference in 2020.
Chaz Ah You will line up at one outside spot after leading the team with 5.5 tackles for loss last year. Bookending the level is Isaiah Kaufusi, who tied for the team lead with four takeaways generated (two interceptions, two fumble recoveries). At the interior positions, top tackler Kavika Fonua lines up alongside Payton Wilgar — who led the team with three interceptions from his inside linebacker position.
If BYU is going to have real success disrupting opposing offenses in 2020, they will need this unit to take up the mantle of leadership for the defense.