BYU Needs To Run The Ball More Against Tennessee, Get Ty’Son Williams More Touches

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – In BYU’s loss to Utah for the ninth straight meeting, it’s clear that the Cougars need to run the ball more and should in their next game against Tennessee on Saturday.

In their 30-12 loss to the Utes, the Cougars ran the ball 22 times compared to Utah’s 48 attempts on the ground. BYU had just 92 yards, while Utah racked up 256 yards.

Graduate transfer running back Ty’Son Williams had a good performance even though he didn’t get enough touches, he finished with seven carries for 45 yards and one touchdown.

Former BYU linebacker David Nixon and Utah linebacker Stevenson Sylvester joined Jeremiah Jensen and Sam Farnsworth to break down film from the rivalry game.

Give Williams The Ball

Former South Carolina running back Williams was the new player for BYU that the Cougars were ready to showcase in the rivalry game and he had some good moments in his debut.

“He only had three carries in the first half,” Nixon said. “I think BYU fans are a little disgruntled that he didn’t get more carries throughout the game.”

Tennessee lost their season opener against Georgia State in a massive upset. BYU will travel to Knoxville to face the Volunteers on Saturday.

“Tennessee struggled against Georgia State in stopping the run,” Nixon stated. “So, feed Ty’Son Williams the rock.”

Zach Wilson Is Still A Young QB

BYU quarterback Zach Wilson threw two interceptions in the loss to Utah, both of which were returned for touchdowns by linebacker Francis Bernard in the second quarter and safety Julian Blackmon in the fourth period. His first pick was preventable according to Nixon.

BYU is now -13 in the turnover margin during this 8 (soon to be 9) game losing streak. Incredible.

— David Nixon (@D_Nixon) August 30, 2019

“Zach Wilson is going to be a fantastic quarterback but is still young,” Nixon said. “This is one of those plays where he was trying to create a little too much, he sees Ty’Son Williams in the flat and thinks that he can get the ball to him, but instead (Utah defensive end) Bradlee Anae did a fantastic job of coming around the edge and wraps Wilson around the legs and brings him down.”

As Wilson was throwing the ball to Williams, Anae barely reached the BYU QB’s feet, which led to a weaker throw and Bernard was able to intercept the pass.

“I like the initial read, he steps into the pocket and you see his eyes scanning the defense, but he needs to feel the defender around his legs and just needs to go down,” Nixon mentioned. “Just live to play another down, rather than put points on the board for the opposing team. This was a back breaker because this has been the story of the rivalry.”