- Offensive play calls need to arrive and the team get set up faster. A recurring issue all year has been the offense not getting set up until there are >5 seconds left on the play clock, resulting in either a delay of game penalty or a timeout being called. It seems that the team has burned at least 2 timeouts in every game due to an inability to get set quickly enough to get the play off in time or make proper audibles, etc. I don't know if this is an issue with ARod not calling plays quickly enough, Retzlaff not communicating effectively with the offense or reading the defense quickly enough, players not having assignments memorized, or another issue, but it needs correction before it bites us in the butt!

- On a similar note, Kalani et al need to be more judicious in how they use said timeouts to avoid delay of game penalties. There was one 3rd and 13 where we were deep on our own side of the field where a timeout was called to avoid a delay of game penalty. This was early in the 3rd quarter and lost us a valuable timeout for the entire half, just to avoid an extra 5 yards on a down that was already low probability. Furthermore, I think that the timeout actually helped Utah's defense because it likely allowed Whitt and Scalley to remind the defense to stay disciplined and be on the lookout for non-standard plays like the screen pass BYU ended up running.

In my opinion, this was a very unwise timeout and nearly came back to bite us. Imagine if BYU had a timeout to spare on the first set of downs on their final drive; Utah was dominating our offensive line every single down, and a BYU timeout could have given the O-line a rest-and-reset and given Keim's (third-string) backup a chance to get on the same page. A second timeout on that drive could have also allowed BYU to push the ball a bit further on their last drive and set up a more favorable field goal. Obviously, the (correct) holding call, a couple of clutch offensive plays, and an excellent Ferrin kick allowed things to work out; yet, while miraculous lightning might strike a third time for this team, I'd obviously rather they not act like the 5 foolish versions and keep some proverbial oil in their lamps to increase the probability of success on any future game-winning drives.

- BYU should have anticipated Utah's slow-sub tactic and adjusted accordingly. Again, this falls on the coaches, especially during a BYE week; it was a known tactic of Utah's defense that they would intentionally slow-walk their defensive subs off the field to burn play clock (and game clock in applicable situations, such as both of our offensive drives at the end of each half). While it's definitely a sleazy tactic and one that should definitely be corrected by the NCAA over the off-season, BYU should have anticipated it and ensured that play calls and substitutions were made especially early in the play clock cycle.

- BYU is extremely fortunate that poor clock management is not the story of the game. From burning timeouts to avoid delay-of-game, to allowing Utah to wind the clock by slow-subbing, to a botched spike play resulting in a runoff and the end of the 1st half (when we were in Ferrous-balls Ferrin field goal range!), BYU's clock management lost them multiple opportunities to score points, use timeouts in critical situations, or prevent Utah's offense from running clock. Once again, were it not for a miraculous series of events on BYU's final offensive drive (shades of '00 and '07, definitely), Cougarborad would be saturated right now with calls for Kalani and ARod's head over the horrendous clock management (that even the announcers mocked during the game).

Obviously, I'm grateful for the win, and the coaches did do some excellent things this game (shoutout in particular to JHIll who made some excellent halftime adjustments and allowed Utah zero points in the second half - not even a field goal - despite three (!) separate instances where they began a drive within spitting distance of midfield.

Hopefully these issues are brought up to the team and the coaches and addressed quickly this next week! Kansas, Houston, and ASU will not be gimmes by any means, and BYU needs to correct these small but impactful issues if they want to maximize their chances at a run in the playoffs! Anyways, cheers to an undefeated team; Go Cougs!!