{"id":103602,"date":"2022-10-21T08:52:10","date_gmt":"2022-10-21T08:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/byu-football-what-defensive-role-will-kalani-sitake-have-vs-liberty\/"},"modified":"2022-10-21T08:52:10","modified_gmt":"2022-10-21T08:52:10","slug":"byu-football-what-defensive-role-will-kalani-sitake-have-vs-liberty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/byu-football-what-defensive-role-will-kalani-sitake-have-vs-liberty\/","title":{"rendered":"BYU football: What defensive role will Kalani Sitake have vs. Liberty?"},"content":{"rendered":"
This article was first published in the <\/i>Cougar Insiders newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Tuesday night.<\/i><\/p>\n
BYU will play its eighth game in a row when the 4-3 Cougars travel to Lynchburg, Virginia, to play the 6-1 Liberty Flames on Saturday. Head coach Kalani Sitake is working hard to see that he has a much better defense on this trip.<\/p>\n
After a disappointing loss to Arkansas in which the defense struggled against the SEC team, Sitake worked earlier this week to shore up the confidence of his defense. Part of the plan was to step in and take a bigger role himself and shake up some assignments with his staff. On Monday, he would not detail what changes he would make to the media.<\/p>\n
Predict the score of BYU vs. Liberty and explain your reasoning.<\/i><\/p>\n
Jay Drew:<\/b> At first glance, this would appear to be the trap game of all trap games for the Cougars. But because BYU has lost two straight games, the Cougars can’t afford to look past anybody, and they know it. <\/p>\n
The entire program is undergoing an intense self-evaluation this week after the Arkansas disaster, and emotions are high in Provo. For that reason, I think BYU will come up with one of its best games of the season on Saturday in faraway Lynchburg, Virginia.<\/p>\n
I also know that this is Liberty’s Super Bowl. The Flames and their former SEC coach Hugh Freeze aren’t hiding that fact. They have been preparing for this game for years \u2014 ever since almost knocking off BYU in Provo in 2019. Liberty is really capable of getting the win, and I wouldn’t even consider it a big upset if the Flames pull it off. Freeze is a big-time coach and they’ve got some big-time players. And BYU’s confidence is shaken, particularly on defense. The key for BYU is a fast start to keep Liberty’s crowd from becoming a factor. <\/p>\n
Prediction:<\/b> BYU 35, Liberty 31<\/p>\n
Dick Harmon:<\/b> I thought BYU should have beat Notre Dame but I underestimated the impact of Jaren Hall’s injury and the well-hidden news that he didn’t take a snap in practice that week. Arkansas was a three-point game twice in the third quarter until the dam broke. I look for Kalani Sitake to have a bigger role in the defense this week and inject some confidence into his players. This is a rally week and a wake-up call for the program and I expect some results.<\/p>\n
Liberty almost beat Wake Forest and is to be taken seriously. The Flames have a great defense and lead the nation in getting turnovers. I think Hall is getting healthier every week and the return of a 100% Puka Nacua and the emergence of Kody Epps will help. That BYU had two 75-yard scoring drives on Arkansas in the third quarter buoys up hope in Hall and his side of the ball. In order to win this game, BYU’s offense needs to execute at its best, put up points and build a lead to help its ailing defense. If the offense can do that, and I believe it can, then this is a key, needed win. <\/p>\n
Prediction: <\/b>BYU 34, Liberty 31<\/p>\ncougar tales<\/h3>\n
The Arkansas loss ended BYU’s independent schedule with P5 schools except for the season-ending game at Stanford. If anything, the losses to Oregon, Notre Dame and Arkansas exposed how far BYU needs to go to be competitive in the Big 12. Here is a list of stories from the Arkansas loss and Monday’s media availability.<\/p>\n
\nArkansas HC Sam Pittman on #BYU<\/a> in his opening statement after Saturday:<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to first talk about BYU and the hospitality that we received since we’ve been out here. Incredible people. Starts with the head football coach \u2014 incredible man \u2014 and it’s a hard place to play. (1\/3) pic.twitter.com\/DOauXteL8r<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Benjamin Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) October 17, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n1,067 BYU games<\/p>\n
5.6% BYU scored 53+
\u20222.2% BYU has allowed 52+
\u2022BYU scored 35 pt against ARK. BYU is 272-16-1 all-time when scoring 35+
BYU is 27-1 under Kalani when scoring at least 35<\/p>\nDon’t tell me it’s an#BYUFootball<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/9pJdigBupA<\/p>\n