As a BYU fan, you typically wouldn't think of a UNLV team as a challenge. However, this weeks match up brings with it the same set of challenges as the last two games. UNLV delivers a powerful run game, with the back pocket option to pass.
As the year has progressed, UNLV has seen its good games and bad games. While their record doesn't show a lot of consistency, there is no mistaking that Omar Clayton is getting better with each game he plays. Last week against New Mexico, he completed 19 of 30 passes for 251 yards, averages for a BYU quarterback, but pretty good numbers for the rest of the conference. His offensive counterpart big Frank Summers is a monster in and of himself. Clayton is really just a back up if Summers can't get the job done. Averaging almost 5 yards per carry, Summers is a force to be reckoned with.
The rebels are coming off a tough one point loss to Air Force. They are greedy for revenge. And with BYU losing last week they will be looking for blood this saturday.
The cougars haven't lost back to back conference games since 2005, but be careful because in 2005 the first of those two losses was to TCU.
Last week's defeat was difficult for BYU. Although they played tough, mistakes seemed to plague both the offense and defense. Multiple turnovers and missed opportunities kept the cougars to only 7 points on the board, while those same turnovers turned into points for TCU. I have no doubt that this weeks practice regime was not easy for the cougars. Bronco has said that the team simply wasn't prepared for TCU. I'm sure that won't be the case this week.
Keys to the Game
Run Defense
I keep saying this, but it keeps killing us. BYU has got to stop the run. Allowing teams like TCU and New Mexico to run, opened up pass opportunities that shouldn't have been available to them.
Get back to BYU
BYU has traditionally been a passing team. Harvey Unga has added a ground element to their attack this year. BYU can't leave it all on the shoulders of Harvey. He really is a secondary weapon to the BYU passing attack. BYU needs to come out and play like the BYU that clobbered UCLA.
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