| | By Ed Graney
Special to ESPN.com
BYU Cougars
1999 record: 8-4, 5-2.
Coach: LaVell Edwards, 29th season, 251-95-3.
Starters returning: 12 (6 offense; 6 defense).
Outlook:
Tiny cracks appeared in BYU's foundation recently, giving reason to believe the tradition-rich program is losing its grip on the ladder's top few rungs. Consecutive embarrassing bowl losses and the fact Provo's quarterback factory enters camp with no proven name at the most critical position can't be good.
Offensive coordinator Norm Chow left for North Carolina State after 23 seasons, which means quarterbacks Bret Engemann (a 6-foot-4 sophomore) and Charlie
Peterson (a 6-2 junior) will learn the same system from assistants Lance Reynolds and Robbie Bosco. Edwards prefers to play just one quarterback, but he might have to alternate until consistency develops. Margin Hooks is an all-conference type at wideout, while tackles Ford Poston (6-6, 285) and Aaron McCubbins (6-4, 285) anchor the front.
Defense will keep BYU in most games, as five starters in the front seven return. One newcomer, senior Jeff Holtry, replaces All-American Rob Morris at middle linebacker. There is concern about inexperience at cornerback, but senior safety Jared Lee is good enough to clean up mistakes. Placekicker Owen Pochman is not 45 years old and entering his 20th season. It just seems that way.
Keep an eye on:
Sophomore running back Luke Staley. His health could be the difference between a championship or losing season. Offseason surgeries on his knee and shoulder appear healed, but coaches will limit him early in camp. A lack of balance offensively has hurt the Cougars, but Staley (432 yards rushing, 339 receiving as a freshman) is talented enough to make the ground game an actual threat.
It's a good season if:
BYU remains healthy during its brutal early start (vs. Florida State at Jacksonville, at Virginia, at Air Force, Mississippi State, at Syracuse) and is in the race come November. This could be Edwards' most challenging season ever, but the Cougars are good enough defensively to win the conference if -- how strange does this sound? -- the offense does its part.
Ed Graney covers college football for the San Diego Union Tribune. | |
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