BYU football: Cougars' defense continues to dominate

PROVO ? Over the past nine quarters, including Friday's 47-0 shutout of Hawaii, BYU's defense has not allowed an opposing team to score a single point.

The last time the Cougar "D" yielded any points was late in the third quarter at Utah ? and that came on a 39-yard touchdown pass one play after a BYU turnover.

"Defensively, these guys just keep rolling along and playing consistently, and it's hard to score on them," said coach Bronco Mendenhall, who also serves as the Cougars' defensive coordinator. "As long as they do that, even the games we dropped this year, we had a chance right to the very end, last play. I think that's the way the rest of the season could be, based on the more difficult opponents that we play."

Indeed, things could get tougher starting next Friday (8:15 p.m. MDT, ESPN), when the Cougars host Utah State.

For now, BYU has allowed just four touchdown drives this season, two against Weber State (77 and 75 yards) and two against Utah (17 and 39 yards). The offenses for Washington State, Boise State and Hawaii never reached the end zone. While those offenses have struggled this season, they are coached by brilliant offensive minds ? Mike Leach, Chris Petersen and Norm Chow, respectively.

Can the BYU defense keep on rolling?

"They can get better. I'll tell them they can get better, and they know that," Mendenhall said. "We have really high expectations. It's a fun group to be around, and we have good players. It's a fun group to coach because they're not only willing, but they have good ability."

"We're a good defense, but we know we could do a lot better," said defensive lineman Ezekiel Ansah, who recorded five tackles, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry against the Warriors. "We're not going to stop putting in extra effort. We're going to keep working hard."

It's been nearly two years since Mendenhall took over the reins of the defense after firing Jaime Hill in the wake of a 31-16 loss at Utah State ? and the results speak volumes about what that change has meant to the defense.

"I take great pride in it. It's what I like to do," Mendenhall said. "There's a lot of things, being the head coach, that maybe I'm not as much suited to. But I like coaching defense and I like coaching football ? being in the room with the players and sharing in their joys and successes. It reminds you why you're coaching in the meantime."

Source: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765607982/BYU-football-Cougars-defense-continues-to-dominate.html

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