First let me present to you the average plays per drive for Utah during their 0-4 losing streak.

Game Average Plays per Drive
Houston 5.00
TCU 4.21
ASU 7.40
AZ 5.83
Houston/ASU/AZ combined 4.97

Utah had four 10+ play drives against ASU. Utah only had four 10+ play drives in the AZ (3), TCU (0), and Houston (1) games COMBINED!

Against ASU, despite Rising playing with a messed up hand and a messed up leg/knee/ankle the entire game, they still averaged 2.43 more plays per drive - a ~50% increase, and as many 10 play drives as they got in the other 3 games in the losing streak.

The key here is this: it wasn't because of rising's throwing ability at all that Utah had 50% longer drives on average in the ASU game. He was awful throwing, including 3 picks, which if he doesn't make, they probably win this game. It was simply becuase of all the other things a quarterback has to do well. Checks, audibles, decision making, speed of decisions, etc.

It's hard for any true freshman to be good at making quick decisions, checks, audibles, knowing the nuances of the offense, etc. I'm no expert, but Ludwigs offense is more Old-School NFL, especially a lot more under center than most other college offenses. It's these things that Isaac Wilson has been struggling at the most, that makes the 50% drop off from the ASU game on average in the teams ability to sustain drives. When you struggle to make quick and accurate decisions, it doesn't matter how much arm talent you have - it'll look bad, and your team won't be effective at moving the ball, you'll turn it over, and you won't score consistently.

This has to be why Brandon Rose is starting Saturday. I don't think Rose is more talented than Isaac. He's pretty clearly not in Utah's coaches eyes either... But he's been at Utah for awhile now. Knows the offense better. Can make quicker, and more confident decisions. Higher level execution. Will it be a 50% increase? to the level of a hurt Cam rising vs ASU? I don't know, and I'd assume no. Will their drive sustainability increase? I predict that it aboslutely will Saturday, with Brandon rose at the helm. Watching the Houston game snaps he got, it's clear he was making faster decisions than Isaac. (one of which admittedly led to the eventual losing interception)

The reason Utah sustaining drives is so important for them is becuase of how well Utah's defense has been doing DESPITE their offense not staying on the field AT ALL. Utah's Defense, in light of what their offense (and special teams for that matter) has given them is honestly incredible. Utah's defense is legit. This is the best Defense we will face in the regular season, no question.

If BYU loses the game, even in a low scoring affair where Utah's offense doesn't score more than 2 scores of any type, I suspect it will be becuase they were able to sustain drives better becuase of Rose making quicker decisions than Isaac has the last few weeks, allowing their defense to perform at an even higher level than they have been.

That said... GO COUGS. Please blow them out. I'll take 42-10 please.


Here is the drive data for those intrested:

Game Plays Drive End
Houston 2 TD
Houston 6 Punt
Houston 3 TO
Houston 3 Punt
Houston 13 Missed FG
Houston 9 Missed FG
Houston 3 Punt
Houston 3 Punt
Houston 3 Punt
Houston 3 TD
Houston 8 Punt
Houston 3 Punt
Houston 6 TO
TCU 3 Punt
TCU 4 Punt
TCU 4 Punt
TCU 5 Punt
TCU 3 Punt
TCU 3 Punt
TCU 7 Punt
TCU 3 Punt
TCU 3 Punt
TCU 3 TD
TCU 4 Punt
TCU 5 Punt
TCU 7 TO
TCU 5 TO
ASU 12 FG
ASU 4 FG
ASU 3 Punt
ASU 7 TO
ASU 11 FG
ASU 4 TO
ASU 12 TD
ASU 10 TO
ASU 6 FG
ASU 5 TO
AZ 13 TO
AZ 10 TO
AZ 6 FG
AZ 3 Punt
AZ 7 Punt
AZ 4 Punt
AZ 1 TO
AZ 10 TO
AZ 6 TD
AZ 3 Punt
AZ 4 TO
AZ 3 TO