Cougars reworked defense after UH's romp last year

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	WHAT: College football, Hawai'i (1-0) vs. Brigham Young (1-0) WHEN: 1 p.m. tomorrow TV: ESPN live; OC-16, 7:30 p.m., delayed RADIO: 1420 AM, starting at noon

During last year's 72-45 football loss to Hawai'i at Aloha Stadium, Brigham Young coach Gary Crowton recalled, "I kicked the ground so many times my toenail came off. It was dead. I wasn't really happy."

That loss — the Cougars' only one in 13 regular-season games — led to a shakeup on defense and special teams that will be displayed when BYU hosts UH tomorrow in a nationally televised rematch.

"It opened up some eyes to places we were vulnerable," BYU tight end Spencer Neid said of the loss.

The Cougars' plodding linebackers could not keep up with the Warriors' quick receivers, and nobody could catch UH's Chad Owens, who scored on punt and kickoff returns.

"We needed to make some adjustments," Crowton said. "I don't know if they'll work. We'll have to see."

For tomorrow's game, the Cougars will assign as many as six starting position players on the punt and kick coverage teams. Running backs coach Paul Tidwell was put in charge of special teams soon after the 2001 season ended.

On defense, instead of the usual 4-3 scheme — in which the plays are funneled to the hefty middle linebacker — the Cougars will try to force the action, blitzing with their defensive ends, dropping down linemen into pass coverage and using the cornerbacks to press the wideouts at the line of scrimmage.

"Defensively, I think we're set up a lot better to play Hawai'i," Neid said. "I think Hawai'i took advantage of our big linebackers last year. They put faster guys in the slot positions, and put them on crossing routes. I don't think they'll be able to do that this year with the guys we have. Defensively, from what I know, I think we're very prepared to play Hawai'i."

The decision to change defensive schemes came shortly after the Dec. 8 game.

"We went through what we felt worked through the year," Crowton said. "We took out what we felt wasn't good and kept what we felt was good, then added to it."

After researching schemes used by other teams, Crowton implemented the new blitzing defense during spring practice.

"What I always go through at the end of the year is I try to find a couple of teams who I think have great defenses and offenses," Crowton said. "I send the coaches (to scout) or get as much film as I can on them."

Early in the summer, Crowton said, his coaches crafted a first draft of a plan to use against UH. The players began practicing the plan Saturday morning.

Cornerback Chad Barney said the Cougars passed the first defensive test in last week's victory over Syracuse.

"It's a fun defense," Barney said. "I love it."

The Cougars even have developed a rallying cry. "When we need a big play, we call out, 'Hammer time!' " Barney said. "That's something we'll be yelling out. 'Hammer time' means we have to step up and make a big play."

Crowton said the Cougars no longer dwell on last year's loss to UH.

"That game's over," he said. "I want to learn from our mistakes. I want to go into this game and execute."