-Its pretty incredible how much the team has gotten better from last year with largely the same cast. The similarities between this team and last year's basketball team are a bit uncanny. Largely the same team, picked at the bottom of the conference, breaking everyone's expectations, and had players that many thought didn't deserve a place on the roster that is developed into major contributors (Waterman v Etienne and Retzlaff).

-Keelan Marion either returns kicks to the 15-20 yard line....or he scores it. I dont think there is any in-between. Once he breaks the 35-40 yard line, he's gone. He's had 2 KOR TDs. Announcers are saying "The kickoff is up, and its a returnable ball for the dangerous return man, Marion." Dangerous return man. I'll take "Thing I never thought I'd hear describing a BYU player" for $1000 Ken. (I never got to see Dye or Sikahema) Plus, he's become a legit good weapon on offense for sweeps and sideline catches. He had a great game against Utah overall.

-Ferrin is just....cold blooded. Smiling before the game winning kick. Smirking right after the ball leaves his foot. 2 off-seasons ago, we were having kicker battles in camp and everyone was afraid we just wouldnt kick the ball ever. Ferrin won the battle and we've never looked back. He lines up on the left hash and I just assume its going in, it could be a 60 yarder and I'm assuming its going in.

-While the running isnt perfect, Ropati and Martin are much better than last year, and have really shown up in some games. We'll lose Ropati and Moa will fill in the gap easily, and Haunga even had some flashes early on.

- Roberts and Lassiter are a great 1-2 punch. Marion/Kingston/Phillips look ready to take the torch for next year. I've seen enough of them to have some high hopes. Fesi is doing a fantastic job, and at this point I'd give him the reigns for OC if ever Arod is no longer with the team.

-TJ Woods man. We've been down to 3rd string centers/guards, pulled the backup LT and plugged him into RT and we've STILL had a solid line. Pass blocking is great, run blocking is improved. Accountability is up. Bruce Campbell never played a snap as a center in his life and comes in and is getting the job done. Etienne doesnt even look like the same player. Still a lot of improvement can be done, but he's using roughly the same cast as last year, and we havent even seen his recruits start to get up and going yet. Great hire.

-When Bywater went out, I was pretty worried for linebackers. Outside of Bywater, I knew Taggert had a lot of promise, and Esera looked good, but I had no idea how the young and new players would play. Taggert-Glaskier-Kelly are going into the linebacker-trio top lineup lists. Glaskier's coverage, Kelly's closing speed, Taggert's help D and tackle finishing. Such a good group. And the youth behind them are all getting a taste of the action too.

-Go ahead and give Gilford a lifetime coaching contract for the cornerbacks. Robinson is stellar, Collins has made some of the best pass deflections I've ever seen a BYU player make since Kai Nacua. Bamba and Johnson are gonna be great and are getting up to speed. We have SO many interceptions and pass deflections this year.

-Jay Hill man. What a transformation for this defense. We saw shades of it last year, and now its all coming together. I hope his health continues to do well, and I extremely selfishly hope that this heart attacks scare is enough for him to deflect from potential future HC gigs if he's comfortable with the stress-level, job security, and compensation from BYU. That being said, if another team comes calling and he leaves, I wish nothing for the best for him and his family. I just really hope he doesn't.

-I've thought about what the perfect QB amalgamation would be, if you looked at the history of BYU greats. Something like, the best BYU QB would have Zach's arm talent, Taysom's running ability, McMahon's mentality, etc etc. And that would be a fun exercise for another time. And while I love Retzlaff, he isnt going to be up there with many of those categories except for maybe one attribute. Guts. His short memory and ability to just clutch-time deliver has been pretty stunning this year. When we needed him to do something, more often than not, he's done it. (again not always, but hey, no one perfect.) The drive this past Utah game. The drive against OSU. The rushing scrambles for a 1st down that Arod's offense needs the fact he that ISNT run happy (so many times last game he had plenty of field to run, but he kept the play going and got a bigger play with his arm). That option-pitch to Miles Davis in the Baylor game when the DE was so close he could have licked Jake's facemask, and Jake just stood there and delivered the perfect pitch (if "option-pitch" was characteristic in this perfect qb concept, Jake could have an argument). He's taken some hits, but he's no coward with a defender in his face. When Oklahoma State scored, and the Cut showed him on the sideline, grabbed his helmet and rallied the offense "Lets go Score!". He's complimentary of his teammates, his coaches, of BYU and the church, the fans. Dude has such a good attitude, and just has guts.

-Kalani is still Kalani. But what Kalani is is a lovable coach, who loves his team, whose team trusts him. He gutsy to a fault at times, and makes some really questionable time management decisions. He's calm and passionate, and when he's pissed off, you know its not about nothing. He's respected across the conference and in the media. He's the face of the football team, and acts like how the church would want someone to act with that exposure.

Love this team.