Quarterbacks

I love to watch Max Hall play. I honestly think he is the funnest guy to watch play the position at BYU since Jim McMahon played. That is saying a lot since great ones like Young, Detmer, Bosco, Beck, Sarkisian and Doman have lit up the scoreboard in that timeframe. The reason why I love to watch him is the tremendous competitive fire he brings. It often comes across as being very cocky and I love my QB to be that way. When you combine great confidence and competitive fire with talent and ability, you get a great QB with the intangibles to carry a team to greatness and tick off all the opponents in the process.

Max has really improved his accuracy since he started his first game 13 months ago. He is also much improved in his ability to read defenses both before the snap and during the play. I do think he can improve his timing on some of the sideline passes and deeper passes still. Some of this is probably due to watching Beck fire those passes with his cannon. I realize Hall will never be able to nail the deep comebacks like Beck because of arm strength but he needs to deliver thoses passes a little quicker at times. That said, I think Beck would be experiencing a lot more success in the NFL if he had Hall's fire. I truly hope Max gets a chance to play in the NFL. I know his size and arm strength will limit his opportunities but he has the intangibles to be very successful if someone will just give him a chance.

Brendan Gaskins is a big step down from Hall but I do think Gaskins would start for several MWC teams. I think he throws a very good ball and seems to have good poise in the pocket. I'm very glad he has gotten a few reps in games with the 1st string offense. That could be very big if he ever has to step in due to injury. If Hall goes down, I don't think BYU can run the table but I do think Gaskins would lead them to another 10 win season.

Kurt McKuen didn't impress me a lot in his brief time against Wyoming but I really don't think it is fair to offer much analysis on him due to some very limited mop-up duty.

Running Backs

Harvey Unga is a perfect fit for our offense. He is a very effective runner with great vision, power, desire and quick feet. He doesn't have breakaway speed although he is faster than he looks. The thing that puts him over the top is his ability to catch the ball. He has such soft hands and has the ability to catch while moving so he can get YAC. I know some people don't think Harvey will have an impact in the NFL but I disagree. I remember Lorenzo Neal being a great tailback at Fresno St. and then became a great fullback. I also watch Le'Ron McClain at Baltimore run. I think Harvey could be utilized as either player in the NFL and be very effective for a long time.

Fui Vakapuna's career hasn't gone the way most thought it would but he is still a very vital cog in the BYU offensive machine. Fui doesn't have the quickness he used to have but he is much bigger and has become a devastating blocker. Fui still has decent feet for a RB but he has still has a big problem. He wants to bounce every run outside and he doesn't have the speed to do it consistently. It is too bad he can't seem to understand his strength is finding safeties and cornerbacks in the secondary and making them hurt severely for trying to tackle him. Fui has improved in his pass catching abilities but I doubt it will be used a lot as he still isn't anywhere near the level of Manase Tonga as a receiver.

Wayne Latu showes occasional glimpses of greatness. He has decent size and good speed. I don't think he has the greatest vision in the world but he is a threat to pop a big play. I would hope he can step up and play a little bit more over the next few weeks so that Harvey can be fresh at the end of the year.

J.J. Diluigi is a victim of his own hype. He has had such high expectations that it seems as if he has been very disappointing. I think he will be fine as he gets more reps. He is easily the most elusive of our backs. I think he will start to shine as he sees success and his confidence grows.

Brian Karyia is a great luxury. A walk-on with some ability. I look for him to end up playing a role as a 3rd down FB as his career goes on. I also think he will get occasional carries and receptions like Joe Semanoff but he has more ability to make a play than Semanoff did.

I have already talked about Pritchard and Friel earlier so I won't rehash that here.

Wide Receivers

I truly hope Austin Collie comes back for his senior year. I would really like to see him at full health just dominate. Right now, he has to be in the discussion of best receivers in BYU history, but I can't help but think it wouldn't be much of a discussion if he could just be totally healthy. Austin normally runs very crisp routes and he is very smooth with above average speed. He also has good size for a receiver with good strength and feistiness. You can also add good vision and ability to run after the catch. The thing that just seems to be missing is the explosion that was seen as a freshman and at times last year. I have to think that is a product of the pre-season injury. It would be so fun to see him operate at full throttle but can anyone really complain about the AC that we do get week to week.

Michael Reed may go down as possibly the most underrated receiver in BYU history. I think he is one of the best blocking receivers we have ever had and he is a fabulous possession receiver. He runs great routes. He uses his body well to block out DBs and he has really improved his after catch running ability this year. He has decent speed but is not a huge deep threat which is probably the big reason he is underappreciated. That said, he has typically made a couple of big plays downfield each year too. I think his value was really on display against Wyoming as he was out with the injury. The offensive balance was missing and it was very noticeable. Hopefully, he can heal quickly and be back for TCU and not show a considerable amount of rust.

I'm still trying to figure out why Luke Ashworth has not used a redshirt year yet. When I watch him play, I see potential to be an above average receiver but, to this point, he just doesn't seem to be great at getting open and Max doesn't seem to look to him often. It just seems kind of weird that a guy with so little production still has his redshirt year to use.

I really like what I have seen from Spencer Hafoka in his brief playing time. He has a receiver body and seems to have a good burst. I'm anticipating that he will really blossom next year when he gets rid of the missionary legs and Michael Reed is gone.

I really hope O'Neill Chambers can mentally conquer his responsibilities because physically, he is incredibly gifted. To this point, he shows his youth and lack of maturity but I'm convinced that if he matures, he may become Collie like or better. I really love his aggressiveness. I think he will be a supreme blocker and we can already tell he has good running ability with the ball. I love how he uses his hands to catch the ball. Right now, he just has to get the offense down and show that he can run precise routes and not get too amped up and get penalties. I think he will do this. Of course, if not, he will likely transfer but I think he gets along well with Bronco and he will become one of the leaders of the team by the time he leaves.

It is easy to see why Reed White and Tyler Koslowski are walk-on receivers as they don't have the typical physical characteristics. That said, I have been impressed by both of them. They run good routes and know how to get open in seams of the defense. You can tell both have worked their tails off and that is impressive since both are sons of NFL players and could have easily felt entitled.

Tight Ends

Dennis Pitta is the best receiving TE in the nation. I know this is an arguable point as Gresham from Oklahoma and Coffman from Missouri are very good also. The reason why I like Pitta is his incredible hands. Pitta has very soft hands and he has one of the quickest transitions from catch to tuck away that I have ever seen, especially when he is in the air. This allows him to absorb hits and still maintain possession. When you combine this trait with his ability to get open and run after the catch, he becomes numero uno. Pitta is also an underrated blocker. I believe he has become much better than Harline ever was at blocking. This should help to make sure he gets drafted and can stick in the NFL.

Most teams would love to have an Andrew George at TE. He is very talented, both as a blocker and a receiver. He gets overshadowed by Pitta's immense contribution but George is a vital cog in the BYU machine.

Kaneakua Friel hasn't had to play much this year. He looks like a prototype TE but it is early to know anything for sure. He didn't establish himself in his plays as the FB but that probably isn't very telling in his future at TE. Hopefully, he will continue to develop and be ready to step into the starter's role in 2010.

Offensive Line

Dallas Reynolds is one of the best Centers in the nation. That is an amazing fact considering he has only played the position for a month. With the exception of a few low shotgun snaps, it is hard to find any fault with his performance through 4 games. He has been outstanding in pass protection and usually can be found moving the entire defensive line one way or the other on running plays. His incredible versatility should make him a very attractive player to the NFL. I would be disappointed if he isn't taken on the 1st day next April. IMO he should go in the 1st round.

Rey Feinga has been the closest thing to a disappointment on our OL and that is only because he has been hampered by injury a little bit. Every team should be so lucky to have that kind of "disappointment". Feinga can be completely dominant and there have been times when he has looked "merely way above average". Feinga has the type of talent that could have John Madden raving about him for the next 15 years.

Travis Bright has been the best OL on the team so far this year, IMO, and that is saying something. What makes it even more impressive is that he is coming off a severe leg injury that could have kept him out this year. Bright's strength is often evident as he drives opponents down the field. When you combine his nasty streak, it becomes a lethal combination. I'm guessing that Bright will fall in the draft because of his injuries but he will be a steal for someone later in the draft and should start for most of the 2010s.

David Oswald has been the biggest surprise for me. Last year, I thought R.J. Willing often outperformed him. This year, Oswald has been so good, that Willing is never needed. Oswald doesn't have the raw talent that the other 4 starters have but he is so sound and that has allowed him to become a way above average right tackle. I actually think he has a chance to make the NFL now too and make it so all 5 of our current starters are in the league.

Matt Reynolds has a chance to pass John Tait as the best OT I have seen pass through the program. His performance this year has been supreme. With the exception of the one gaffe against UNI, he hasn't been beaten at all in pass protection. That is amazing for a 5th year senior, yet alone a RS Freshman. It was a risky move to allow Max Hall's blind side fall in the hands of the younger Reynolds but it looks like that move may have been a stroke of genius.

R.J. Willing has seen the reps of backup Center. I would guess 80% of the country would be starting a player as good as R.J. Willing. He may be one of the best 10 OL in the conference and he can't start for us. I truly hope he has a huge year next year because I think he has NFL talent.

Garrett Reden has come back from his injury well. He is smaller than most BYU linemen but he is still very effective. I have to think that he is also a very hard worker and very smart to be so high in the OL rotation given the incredible talent in the program.

Jason Speredon has to be one of the most talented backup OGs in the country. He was a little undersized last year but that isn't a problem now. He has great athleticism and should be outstanding next year taking over for Bright.

Jesse Taufi needs a big year next year too. I think he has it in him. I'm just not sure where he will play yet. What a great situation to wonder where to find such a talent actual time on the field.

Nick Alletto is one of my favorites. A lot of that is because he is from my stake but he is also a very good, talented player. I think he is more talented than Oswald but is young and there is no rush for him to play yet. He very well may be the guy that protects Riley Nelson's backside in the future and I think he will be stellar at doing the job.

This OL is amazing. They do lose 4 guys but I can already see a deep, talented line next year even when the 4 seniors depart. People always point to the lack of depth in non-BCS teams. That always bugs me but especially in this case. I think almost every team in the country would die for the OL depth that BYU has.

Defensive Tackles

It is nice to have Russell Tialavea back. I think he is still shaking some rust off from being out last year but he definitely has all of the skills required to be the 1st line of defense. I don't know that he has lived up to the pre-season hype so far but I think that hype was unjustified for a NT coming of knee surgery. Tialavea has the strength to require double teams on running plays and as a bonus he has good quicks to actually penetrate the backfield and make plays. He hasn't made a lot of big plays yet but I suspect that by the end of the year he will be come a monster and play a lot like he did against Oregon in '06.

Mosese Foketi has improved a lot since early '07. Early last year, he seemed to be on roller skates when teams would run up the middle. He has become a lot more stout in the middle now. That said, power running teams will be sure to attack him when he is in as he just isn't big enough to be entrenched like a big tree trunk. Foketi is good at getting penetration when he is called upon to do that and is the most likely NT we have to pressure the QB on 1st down and 2nd and short to go.

Rick Wolfley is a big boy. It doesn't look to me like he is any quicker than last year but he does seem to be more confident and decisive when he plays. He is a nonfactor as a pass rusher unless the QB happens to run right into his arms but he is easily the best option we have in short yardage situations. As long as he stays low, he won't be moved. BYU has great options behind Russell T. because Wolfley is great against the run and Foketi is good against the pass. If you could somehow combine the 2 you would have a top 5 NFL pick someday.

Tevita Hola has only played a little bit. Not enough to really have an opinion really. He does look a little out of shape and I imagine that is why he is running 4th.

Overall, I think the DL has been solid this year. That is a little disappointing to me since they were supposed to be the unit to carry the defense and I don't think they have played up to their potential yet. I do, however, believe that they are on the verge of becoming a dominant unit and I look for big things the rest of the year.

Defensive Ends

Jan Jorgensen will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the great DEs in BYU history and should easily be the all-time leader in sacks in the MWC when he leaves Provo. (Hopefully, Kruger won't break that record 1 year later) Jan has a great knack for making the big play and the defense really does look to him as the leader of the defense. So far, this year, I think he is still getting used to the constant double teaming he is getting. Jorgensen's biggest strength is his incredible motor but it isn't as effective against a double team. I would really like for him to develop some more countermoves in his rushing so can beat the double team more often. Also, Jorgensen is sound against the run but isn't spectacular. He can still improve his ability at the point of attack.

It has surprised me that we haven't seen Brett Denney in on more big plays. I thought he was playing really well at the end of '07 and I expected him to pick up where he left off and maybe even look improved. So far, I think he has taken a step back. He hasn't been as stout against the run as I expect him to be and he hasn't put on a lot of QB pressure yet. Don't get me wrong, he has still been a solid player, I just expected more and I think he needs to pick it up if he plans on joining his brothers in the League.

Ian Dulan, IMO, has been the most consistent DE on the team so far. He looks much quicker than in the past and he has really benefited from the Jorgensen double teams. I also like how well he has played at NT on passing downs. His quickness has bothered the interior linemen and he holds up well if they decide to run too.

Matt Putnam looks like he may be a star in the future. So far, he has displayed a great ability to rush the passer. I don't know if he has near the motor that Jan has but he seems to have a bigger variety of moves to use to get to the passer and I am really impressed with his aggression. Obviously, his height is a big plus on passing downs but I've been impressed with his burst and overall athleticism as well. He will probably always struggle a little bit against runs right at him but he is better than I thought he would be from reports I'd heard and he should only improve as he continues to add some bulk to his frame. It would not surprise me to see him become a better NFL prospect than Jorgensen by the time he graduates.

Brock Richardson has seen a lot of time the last 2 weeks. It is apparent that he lacks the talent of the other 4 talked about and, as a senior, may not contribute a lot in many more games. That said, he does a serviceable job when he is in there. He has not been overmatched and is a testament to how far the program has come. Early in this decade, he would probably have been a starter for us. Now, he provides great depth and I'm sure is a great asset to the scout team. I would think he is as good as what a lot of the teams in the conference roll out on Saturdays and BYU has the luxury of using him more for game prep than needing him in the games.