Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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36 OCT. 8, 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: BYU BYU ran for 314 yards as a team against South Florida but then only amassed 83 yards on the ground against Baylor and 61 against Oregon. Surely, Freeman and Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden have noticed how to attack BYU's other- wise impressive offense: stop the run. BYU averaged 187.4 rushing yards per game in 2021. In its 10 wins, the Cou- gars ran for 205.9 yards per game. In the three losses, they only went for 125.7. The blueprint is out there. Freeman and Golden don't have to go far to find it. "There are probably a bunch of things that factor into it," Sitake said. "Lack of technique, missed assignments. The guys are giving the effort. We just need to be more disciplined in all three phases. I don't think we are disciplined enough as a team. I need to do a better job of making sure our guys are playing correctly." Losing Allgeier hurt but bringing back fifth-year quarterback and second-year starter Jaren Hall did not. Through three games, Hall completed 77 of 112 passes for 827 yards with 5 touchdowns and 1 interception, plus ran 23 times for 67 yards. Hall is one of 18 starters who re- turned from the 2021 roster. BYU went into the year ranked second in ESPN an- alyst Bill Connelly's returning produc- tion metric even with the loss of Allgeier. Hall's pass catchers are highlighted by former Washington wideout Puca Nacua, who missed Week 2 and Week 3 with a right ankle injury, and Gunner Romney, who did not make his season debut through the first three weeks because of an injury of his own. They should both be healthy for the Notre Dame game barring other injuries. Senior running back Christopher Brooks, a graduate transfer from California, had 1,928 career yards rushing through Week 3 of this season. PHOTO BY JAREN WILKEY/COURTESY BYU "I don't think we are disciplined enough as a team. I need to do a better job of making sure our guys are playing correctly." BYU HEAD COACH KALANI SITAKE