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Statistical Analysis: Miami Beach Bowl BYU vs. Memphis

Zak Hicken takes a statistical look at BYU’s season-ending double overtime loss to the Memphis Tigers in the Miami Beach Bowl.

BYU Offense

Called Plays: 91; Called Passes: 57 (49 attempts, 6 scrambles, 2 sacks); Called Runs: 34

Read Option:

BYU ran the read option 27 times against Memphis. The team’s success was inconsistent, starting with a fumble on the read option playcall and only running it 6 times in the 2nd half when playing from behind. While Christian Stewart only kept it himself once for no gain, he did a great job distributing it through handoffs, pitches, and passes. The ball was handed off 21 times with Brown getting 14 carries for 49 yards with a long run of 12 yards. Lasike got the ball 5 times for 1 yard and fumbled on his first carry while Hine carried the ball twice for 1 yard. Christian pitched the ball twice, both coming in the first quarter and going to Mitch Mathews and Mitchell Juergens for no gain and a gain of 3, respectively. Passing, Stewart was 2/3 for 28 yards with completions going to Keanu Nelson for 9 yards and Paul Lasike for 19.

Number of read options (kept/given/pass/pitch):

1st: Give (Lasike -3 fumble), Give (Brown 8), Give (Lasike 0), Give (Brown 7), Pitch (Mathews 0), Pitch (Juergens 3)

2nd: Give (Brown 2), Give (Brown 3), Pass (complete Nelson 9), Give (Hine 0), Give (Brown 5), Give (Lasike 1), Give (Brown 3), Pass (incomplete Juergens), Give (Hine 1), Keep (0), Give (Brown 3), Give (Brown -1), Give (Brown 6)

3rd: Give (Brown 12), Give (Brown 0), Give (Brown 0)

4th: Give (Brown 4), Give (Lasike 1), Pass (complete Lasike 19), Give (Brown 3)

OT: Give (Lasike 2)

 

Time in the Pocket:

Christian Stewart’s time in pocket on passes:

1st Quarter: 3.3 seconds (49.5/15)

2nd Quarter: 3.53 seconds (38.8/11)

3rd Quarter: 3.63 seconds (14.5/4)

4th Quarter: 3.48 seconds (55.6/16)

OT: 4 seconds (8/2)

2 OT: 3.7 seconds

Game avg: 3.23

Result: 7.1 yards per completion

 

Christian Stewart’s time in pocket before scrambling:

1st Quarter: 3.45 seconds (13.8/4)

2nd Quarter: 3.4 seconds (6.8/2)

3rd Quarter: 3.5 seconds

4th Quarter: 3.8 seconds

OT: N/A

2 OT: N/A

Game avg: 3.49 seconds

Result: .25 yards per scramble

 

How many Memphis defenders rushed the QB?

On Christian Stewart passes:

1st Quarter: (4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+3+3+4+6+4+4+4+4)/15

2nd Quarter: (5+4+4+3+5+4+5+4+3+4)/10

3rd Quarter: (4+4+4+4)/4

4th Quarter: (3+5+5+5+4+4+4+4+3+4+5+4+4+3+3+3)/16

OT: (4+4)/2

2 OT: 5

Game avg: 4.02 man rush

 

On Christian Stewart scrambles:

1st Quarter: (4+3+4+6)/4

2nd Quarter: (4+4)/2

3rd Quarter: 4

4th Quarter: 3

OT: N/A

2 OT: N/A

Game avg: 4 man rush

 

Ball Distribution

1st Quarter: Christian Stewart: 10/15 passing for 181 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT, 4 carries for -6 yards; Algie Brown: 2 carries for 15 yards (1 target); Paul Lasike: 2 rushes for -3 yards, 1 fumble; Adam Hine: 1 rush for -1 yard; Mitch Mathews: 6 catches for 59 yards and 1 TD, 1 drop (7 targets); Mitchell Juergens: 2 catches for 80 yards and 1 TD (2 targets), 1 carry for 3 yards; Terenn Houk: 2 catches for 42 yards (2 targets); Devon Blackmon: 1 drop (1 target); Jordan Leslie: (1 target)

2nd Quarter: Christian Stewart: 7/10 passing for 65 yards, 1 TD, 3 carries -6 yards; Algie Brown: 9 carries for 33 yards, 1 catch for 7 yards (1 target); Paul Lasike: 2 carries for 4 yards, 1 TD; Adam Hine: 2 carries for 1 yard; Mitch Mathews: 1 catch for 6 yards (2 targets); Mitchell Juergens: 2 catches for 7 yards (3 targets); Jordan Leslie: 1 catch for 23 yards and 1 TD (2 targets); Devin Mahina: 1 catch for 13 yards (1 target); Keanu Nelson: 1 catch for 9 yards (1 target)

3rd Quarter: Christian Stewart: 1/4 passing for 5 yards and 1 INT, 2 carries for -3 yards; Algie Brown: 4 carries for 15 yards; Mitch Mathews: 1 catch for 5 yards, 1 drop (2 targets); Jordan Leslie: (1 target); Mitchell Juergens: (1 target)

4th Quarter: Christian Stewart: 5/16 passing for 85 yards, 2 carries for 4 yards; Algie Brown: 3 carries for 15 yards (1 target); Paul Lasike: 2 carries for 8 yards and 1 TD, 1 catch for 19 yards (1 target); Adam Hine: 1 catch for 11 yards (1 target); Devin Mahina: 1 catch for 41 yards, 1 drop (2 targets); Devon Blackmon: 1 catch for 14 yards (1 target); Mitch Mathews: 1 catch for 12 yards (4 targets); Jordan Leslie: (3 targets); Mitchell Juergens: (1 target)

OT: Christian Stewart: 0/2 passing for 0 yards; Paul Lasike: 1 carry for 2 yards; Jordan Leslie: (2 targets)

2 OT: Christian Stewart: 0/1 passing for 0 yards, 1 INT; Algie Brown: 1 carry for 1 yard; Jordan Leslie: (1 target)

 

Overall Offensive Analysis:

BYU really struggled to establish the run game, only gaining 77 yards on 42 carries. I attribute this to Memphis having a great front 7 moreso than BYU struggling on the offensive line. Getting to the second level when blocking is something that BYU definitely could’ve improved as Memphis’ linebackers were all over the field making plays. BYU adjusted nicely though by attacking the secondary. Christian Stewart did a good job being mobile in the pocket, avoiding hits, and attacking downfield. There were a number of times that the seams were open because Memphis was running man coverage and BYU’s receivers were athletic and big enough to beat the DB’s one-on-one downfield. The offense stalled coming out of the locker room at halftime which has not been typical this year; Stewart only completed one pass for 5 yards in the third quarter, and only 5 of 16 in the fourth quarter. If it wasn’t for the team getting great field position because of the defense and Special Teams forcing turnovers, then BYU wouldn’t have made it to OT in this game. Overall, this was a fun offense to watch this season and they did a great job executing in year 2 of Anae 2.0. I expect a few more wrinkles to be added this offseason with the majority of contributors returning and the offense should be even better next year.

BYU Defense

Statistical Leaders:

Skye Povey: 9 (8 solo-1 assisted) tackles, 1 TFL for -1 yard, 1 PBU; Michael Davis: 8 solo tackles, 1 PBU; Logan Taele: 8 (4 solo-4 assisted) tackles, 1 QBH; Alani Fua: 5 solo tackles, 2 TFL for -4 yards, 1 INT; Bronson Kaufusi: 4 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL for -7 yards, 1 FF; Harvey Jackson: 4 (3 solo-1 assisted) tackles, 2 PBU, 1 QBH; Travis Tuiloma: 4 (3 solo-1 assisted) tackles, 2 TFL for -13 yards, Zac Stout: 4 (3 solo-1 assisted) tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD; Manoa Pikula: 3 (1 solo-2 assisted) tackles, 1 INT

Coverage Targets:

Robertson Daniel: 3/5, 1 TD, 1 PBU (incomplete, complete TD, complete, complete, PBU)

Harvey Jackson: 1/3, 2 PBU (complete zone, PBU, PBU)

Michael Davis: 4/9, 1 TD, 1 PBU (complete zone, incomplete, complete, incomplete, incomplete, complete zone, PBU, incomplete, complete TD)

Skye PoVey: 2/5, 1 TD, 1 PBU (incomplete, incomplete, complete TD, PBU, complete)

Manoa Pikula: 2/3, 1 INT (complete zone, INT, complete zone)

Zac Stout: 1/3, 1 INT (complete zone, INT, incomplete)

Michael Alisa: 0/1, 1 PBU (PBU)

Alani Fua: 1/2, 1 INT (INT, complete zone)

Kai Nacua: 1/2, 1 TD (incomplete, complete TD)

Harvey Langi: 0/1, 1 PBU (PBU)

Overall Defensive Analysis:

BYU’s defense started out the game sluggish, giving up 17 quick points in the first quarter. Following the trend of the rest of the season, BYU struggled with wrapping up in the backfield and broken coverage in the secondary. Things didn’t improve immediately in the second half, with the defense giving up one TD on a 5+ minute drive and another later in the quarter. The BYU D really buckled down in the fourth quarter forcing turnovers and giving the offense great field position, capped off with Zac Stout taking an INT to the house. Unfortunately, BYU struggled in its last drive of the game, allowing Memphis to convert on fourth down twice on its game-tying drive and missing multiple tackles on the QB in the backfield on the touchdown-scoring play. The first OT was emotional with two TFL’s, but the game was sent into a second OT where Memphis’ kicker connected on a 54-yard FG. The defense continued the up-and-down play in the second overtime, capped off with a TD due to broken coverage on Kai Nacua’s part. There’s a lot to look forward to with several key contributors returning on the defensive side of the ball for the 2015 campaign.