Quiet but intentionally and effectively, Jaren Hall has a season of eternity as BYU starting quarterback.
Hall did some things that are quite unique and incredible to a BYU quarterback. The runner-up is the first in this elite QB club to win five games against Power Five opponents. He has played a huge part in setting a 4-0 record over Pac-12 schools this season after playing against all four.
He protected football with the greatest care in an offensive that attacked the defense deep in the field. The Cougars had four turnovers in one loss to Boise State but only three in the other eight games and ranked # 14 in the NCAA in losing turnovers.
The fact that the BYU are 5-1 against the P5 defense is noteworthy considering the BYU teams’ QBs who never did, or rather did not have the opportunity to play this type of game plan.
Previously, Gary Sheide, Gifford Nielsen, Jim McMahon, Marc Wilson, Steve Young, Robbie Bosco and Ty Detmer collected tons of NCAA records and posted gaudy numbers against defenses who, simply put, had no idea how to defend the pass. Do you remember Wilson’s first start in Colorado State when he threw an NCAA record of seven touchdown passes?
Back then, bulging defense at UTEP, New Mexico, and even Utah was a blood sport for BYU football. But it has gotten very difficult in the past two decades due to the influence of NFL coaching on college football. Today all college teams are much better equipped to defend, cover, build multiple fronts, apply pressure, and use and disguise confusing lightning schemes to disrupt the passing game.
They had to.
Just look at the defenses Hall has maneuvered against this season and who was behind the scenes trying to stop him with fixtures and highly rated talent.
In Utah, you have Kyle Whittingham’s vast experience adopting his father Fred’s philosophy as a seasoned NFL coach to develop the best Pac-12 defense over the past decade. It doesn’t hurt that former NFL defensive lineman Sione Po’uha, an eight-year-old NFL player for the New York Jets, coaches the defensive linemen.
In the state of Arizona, there are NFL faces throughout Herm Edwards’ staff. Edwards himself has been the former NFL head coach for the Jets and Chiefs for eight years and played in the league for 10 years. His chief assistant Marvin Lewis was NFL head coach for 16 years, including 25 years in the NFL with the Bengals, Washington, Steelers. Special Teams coach Shawn Slocum trained with the Green Bay Packers and has trained in three Pro Bowls and has a Super Bowl ring.
ASU’s defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez had the same position with the Minnesota Vikings, linebacker coach Chris Claiborne, a Hall of Fame linebacker at USC, won the Butkus Award and played eight seasons in the NFL with Detroit, Minnesota, St. Louis Rams and the New York giants.
Sun Devils Defensive Back Coach Donnie Henderson has trained eight NFL Pro Bowlers, has a Super Bowl ring and has served as Defensive Coordinator in the Big League, a career with the Ravens, Jets, Bengals, Jaguars, Cardinals and Bills.
In Arizona, the new staff on board includes defensive backs trainer Chuck Cecil, who trained this position and was defensive coordinator for the Rams and Titans in the NFL. He had once called up three players from the same NFL team to the Pro Bowl – something that had never happened before (2008, Titans) and was a Pro Bowl safety. Arizona’s linebacker coach Ricky Hunley trained in Super Bowls XXI and XXII with the Broncos and spent time with the Bengals, Raiders and Redskins.
Arizona Defensive Backs coach DeWayne Walker once trained at BYU. His NFL experience spans seven years with the Jaguars, Browns, Giants, Washington and New England.
Against Virginia, BYU didn’t encounter an NFL-skilled coaching staff, but the Cavaliers brought Bronco Mendenhall’s famous training, focus on positional mastery, accountability and unique lightning packages that many BYU fans long to be back at Provo. Hall helped score 66 points – the most ever against a Mendenhall defense or team.
Because of this, BYU’s offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick praised Hall this week, emphasizing that Hall isn’t getting the recognition he deserves – for doing his job quietly and his craft during the real first season of his college career, which he has played perfected numerous games in a row.
“His decision-making is as good as I’ve ever seen a quarterback. He doesn’t make mistakes and cares a lot about football. His deep ball throws are just so on the money, ”Roderick told reporters.
Some have wondered if Hall has the arm strength because some of his long passes fell short. Roderick said this was intentional and it takes skill to do so.
“The last thing we want is to dump our deep balls and that’s why he has a great sense of where, how to subdue them, how to shoulder them back, where to put them … it’s better than ever seen . “
With the Idaho game on Saturday and a week bye bye next week, Hall is expected to continue to heal from injuries sustained in the ASU game that kept him away from the South Florida game. That he will feel more comfortable using his legs to keep the defense in the dark is an added weapon. He has 247 yards this season.
College football has evolved over the decades, with the offenses exploding with the run-and-shoot, airstrike, and other concoctions. And the defense responded with similar adjustments, many of them from the NFL, as shown in the Pac-12.
In nine games, at 7-2, BYU averaged 440.4 yards per game with five P5 wins. Only BYU and No. 1 Georgia have that many P5 wins in week 10 of the season.
Here are the Pac-12’s seven best defenses this season
Team – YPG
Washington – 324.9
State of Arizona – 331.1
California – 365.9
Utah – 371.6
Arizona – 385.4
Oregon – 391.5
Washington – 392.7
Note: Teams in bold indicate teams that BYU has played this season.
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