Postgame Drive: BYU 41, Southern Illinois 13

welcome on into the cougar tracks podcast powered by KSL sports.com I am your BYU Insider Mitch Harper leaving lavel Edwards Stadium parking lot for the first time in the 2024 football season it's 11:36 p.m. on this Saturday night in Provo if you're new to this every home game game I recap the game on my postgame Drive hands are on the steering wheel microphone clip to my shirt and I'll share with you my thoughts on the BYU football game that just took place and tonight BYU takes down Southern Illinois 41-13 the Cougars open the 2024 season at 1 and0 and it was a solid performance from this BYU team so I will share my thoughts on this game and understand some of the stats and and numbers might not be exact because I'm focusing on the road driving home so keep that in mind cougs get it done 41 to 13 my initial takeaway is that Jake red had a really strong performance I was very impressed with what Jake did for BYU on Saturday night redl had 348 passing yards three touchdowns no interceptions he was 20 of 30 had only three drops he looked really good I thought red SLA was impressive and we had all the talk about who's the quarterback going to be it ends up being Jake r the guy that we all thought it would be coming out of Spring ball and you know Gary Bohanan pushed a bit but you know Jake retzl maintained the pole position and stays in that qb1 spot and what's noteworthy is that he closed any discussion about quarterback roulette going into week two and I know that Aaron rodri said know we've got a clear-cut starter this quarterback is going to be our guy but there was still that element of if he didn't perform against Southern Illinois there'd be a little bit of Doubt going in SMU Jake redl left no doubt he's your qb1 for now for the foreseeable future and what's good for Jake redl is he got his first win you know you didn't want to for his sake have that losing streak linger into this year BYU ends a five-game losing streak dating back to last season their first win since Texas Tech last October so to just simply get a win I think was an accomplishment for this BYU football team in particular Jake Greta he was really good through the air again 348 yards he had about eight big plays of 15 yards or more through the air and BYU's offense at large was very good on Saturday night against the Salukis and you know going into the matchup Southern Illinois their play-by-play man Luke Martin who is a great interview he is a fantastic play-by-play man he noted that this year the Salukis are probably going to be better on offense than they are on defense because I've I've told you that the Salukis lost a ton of players they lost so so many guys that it was hard to imagine they were going to be the fourth best you know Rush Total Defense once again in the FCS rings and BYU gashed them 348 in the air I think about 180 on the ground 179 I believe first performance for BYU's offense with more than 400 yards in their big 12 era can you believe that BYU last season the season high in total yards was 394 against Southern Utah that was week two they did an eclipse 400 yards all of last season that's why when I tell people you know the low expectations that were coming into this season the offense was not good at all that was historically bad to not have one game of 400 or more in yards it was a real struggle and tonight it was never in doubt the game and the offense thrived and Jake rettle was the Catalyst behind it all and you know in the postgame locker room uh press conference I asked him if this was validation of the progress that this offense has made and you know he said that it wasn't validation for them they've always believed in their abilities it was more validation for the media I you know and I I understand Jake's sentiment there's always been that belief that's why they stayed together this team it's a group that's had continuity and they never bailed on one another and it's one of the reasons why they believe they can be a a surprise team in the Big 12 this year but but come on I mean it was it was important for this group to come out and execute even Aaron rodri said as much they had to perform in games and against an FCS team in southern Illinois who is not great but they're okay BYU handled them and it was never end out and that has to be commended for BYU because a year ago they weren't doing this they didn't make it look easy at times there were drives where uh the offense sputtered a bit and I'm sure there's some passes that Jake would have loved to have back I think back to that fourth down attempt where he kind of threw it into the turf in the second quarter there was a few throws he kind of forced the issue a little bit he's a Riverboat Gambler at times in many respects he he noted that as much he's always been a guy that wants to stretch the field that's why Aaron Rodrick and his staff really liked him when they were signing him out of the JC ranks but he had a really good game and Gary bannan came in late and in mop-up Duty nothing salacious about that it was just mop-up Duty and he got a nice Applause too I thought that was kind of interesting how cougar fans gave him a loud roar you know there was a kind of a feeling where cougar fans wanted Gary Bohanan I it felt like I I'm not I'm not for sure I'm not speaking for the entire fan base but it felt like there was a a big segment of cougar fans that that wanted Bohanan and maybe they were hoping hey show some life show some show some spark to make this thing still a debate but there there's no debate you know Jake Retta for now is is that guy and look things can change in a hurry if you don't perform well against SMU maybe you recalibrate things but uh tonight you've got a qb1 now BYU it's it's Jake redl and he's going to be your guy going forward the weapons around him though stood out in a big way for BYU offensively as well LJ Martin he silenced any doubters that he wasn't going to play his shoulder is fine and he looked good and you could still tell there was a little bit of rust Factor because I think there's another gear to LJ Martin than what was shown in that game but I thought he looked pretty dang solid for his first game back coming you know back from offseason surgery and an injury that you know left a little bit of Doubt into his availability game one he did split the carries with Hinkley roati and they each got about I think it was 12 13 carries a piece each of them so good balance between the two eventually over the course of the year when LJ's back to just full speed his usual self he will be the Lion Share car Ball Carrier he's going to be the number one guy it's just his feel and instincts you just it it's it's immense his talent is big time he is going to to be a very good player for BYU and it was good to see that early sign of that in game one the wide receivers no Darius lter due to an NCAA transfer waiver issue as a byproduct of him coming back and getting a waiver he had to sit out one game and it just so happened to be this game against Southern Illinois he'll be ready to go against SMU but the the other play did great Chase Roberts I thought was outstanding seven catches I think it was about 105 yards this was the first game where I come away feeling like Chase Roberts was an NFL wide receiver Chase Roberts was excellent you know he's added some extra weight to his frame he is a physical receiver and I talked about that in Spring ball and during fall camp that one of the big focuses for Chase is to be be able to fend off Defenders at the line of scrimmage That Man Press that's given many BYU receivers headaches for years and chased in an outstanding job tonight and him and Jake clearly have some chemistry and and it was working and Roberts is that number one guy there was no debate and that's why again when you know earlier this week with the depth chart breakdown there there was no concern about Chase Rob Roberts on the dep chart you know he he's BYU just did the or thing just because they tend to always do like I wouldn't be surprised on Monday if we see the next depth chart and it's or or or or again for whatever reason it'll probably stay that way but it is what it is about Josiah Phillips he had some big plays through the air as well Keen Maran had a big grab the depth was on display you even saw a little bit of Cody Hagen you know 10 different guys caught passes for BYU that's BYU passing of old where you have go into a game and eight nine 10 guys haul in receptions that is BYU to its core and you know it was a good passing game for BYU through the air I thought the offensive line showed well too they did give up a sack Braden Kim gave up one and that wasn't the the best moment for for Kim and he's going to have to break down the film and look at that but uh the early returns of TJ Woods The Run game coordinator the offensive line coach pretty good pretty good A a solid I'd say B I wouldn't give it anything more than that because you got to factor in the opponent but again this same opponent people were saying hey watch out it could be dicey for BYU I told you all along that by was going to win this ball game it was just a matter of his BYU going to be BYU and take care of business and they did and they rolled to a comfortable Victory let's go to the defensive side of the ball the defense was solid and holding anyone to 13 points you love that and we we got to address Jay Hill too I'd be remiss to to not dive into uh Jay Hill oddly enough I'm driving past right now uh tonog Hospital off eth North such a scary story with Jay Hill I was leaving I was calling a high school football game on Friday night Farmington and Oram for KSL Sports rewind and I'm getting text about hey Mitch have you heard about Jay Hill having a heart attack and you know getting multiple people coming with info and it it just kind of blew my mind because you on Friday nights on Thursday nights be in a game week you'll hear Buzz of maybe a late scratch potentially on Personnel guys that are not going to be available that's common but to hear a uh someone had a heart attack and someone like Jay Hill who's who's only 49 years old my gosh your heart sinks and then you're just Fe fearing that he's okay and and just hoping that his life is is all right because the hill family has gone through so much I mean it's well documented his wife Sarah battled cancer you know you just you feared that the worst and when you when you hear about a heart attack and I'm so glad Jay Hill is is healthy he's doing okay he's going to have a full recovery I was blown away on on Saturday night in the post game colani said Jay's going to be back on Monday full full full speed and you know Hill was of course there at the game on Saturday night he was in the Press bucks he had a headset he was communicating with all the coaches uh the coach toplayer communication was actually handled by Justin enna on Saturday uh you know that's typically Jay Hill's responsibility but because coach Hill was gone he just went with the linebacker coach because that voice was familiar for Harrison taggard and SE Sarah and those Mike linebackers who are competing at that spot but so happy Jay Hill's doing okay and it just my heart goes out to him and his family and I just I I hope nothing but the best and I hope that he doesn't have to go through this again and I brought this up on Cougar Sports Saturday when I got wind of this news on Friday night and you want to be very delicate with that sort sort of information because you know in that moment when you're getting that Intel you know it's you're you're feeling about lot it's lives it's such a delicate thing and my thought was back to Tuesday when Jay spoke to the media and before he held his media scrum he said hey if any of you could I just want to mention happy birthday to my wife Sarah because I don't get the chance to to really celebrate her birthday much because it's always during the football season it's always usually game week and it's just one of the busiest times of the year but you know he just said he loved her and wished her happy birthday and I just thought man this this job these coaches get paid well no doubt about it they they make a nice living they they get paid very well and BYU pays well too but the stresses and the demands it is immense and we can only even imagine what these guys go through and the stresses and I mean it is a lot because you're you're you're overseeing so many young people young adults and if they make one slip up one mistake off away from the field that reflects negatively on you and you're worried sick at night I mean it's it's just an ongoing deal it it's it's nonstop so as someone right now out on I-15 north just speeds by at about 120 mph holy cow that was fast um but yeah again I I'm I'm so glad Jay Hill is doing okay and just he's a great guy love talking to him and just a good good dude and you could tell it was an emotional thing for Kanani because they have such a great relationship and these players too they care a lot about Jay Hill but back to the field the defense played solid I I'm sure Jay Hill is breaking down the film and already looking at it and probably feeling like there were left opportunities for his defense you know one thing that just kind of stands jumps off the page only two sacks he take two sacks you times that by 12 that's 24 and you take that but only two against an FCS usually these are the games where you can kind of pad those numbers right uh so that kind of stood out and then one takeaway Jacob Robinson makes a nice play but the the quarterback threw a terrible ball too and then it lands in the hands of Jacob Robinson but uh a bunch of guys got tackles in this game I mean there were a lot of freshmen a lot of young players getting game snaps and that's what you want from a game against an FCS team and Kanani satake and his crew were able to achieve that by getting a lot of young players some actual game snaps I thought the defense Jack Kelly was very impressive his speed and size that combination not many guys have been like that he is built but he plays Lightning Fast I mean some of the when he was coming in on some blitzes that speed man when he finishes the job uh it's a sight to see I did like the quarterback hurries the pressures I thought Blake mang son had a awesome hit a Blindside hit that DJ WIlliams for Southern Illinois did not see coming uh mangon had a really good game John Nelson had a good game he had a sack one of the two you know it was solid performance but I'm not going to say that this was oh you know that changed the maybe The Narrative of Buu's defense it was just a a solid start to the season for the BYU defense they did what they were supposed to could have had some opportunities for more but it was solid didn't see much from from Tyler baty defensive in his snaps were kind of limited a little bit he he didn't finish with a with a tackle he only had one quarterback hurry so that'll be something to monitor with with Tyler baddy but you know BYU's defense played pretty well and you know they were without Mory bomba who was in a boot uh no David latu on the interior he had a knee brace on his right knee you know they they already had some shorthanded Personnel uh but they Rose the occasion I thought Mark Collins had a really nice game you knew Mark Collins would step up and he was working his way back fall Camp he kind of paced himself a bit but he's a stud he looked really good I thought for BYU and you know they got opportunities for other quarterbacks too and it gave a chance for Jacob Robinson to play a little bit of nickel at times we did see Micah Harper his first game action on Saturday night since 2022 um B counts solid night for BYU on the Special Teams a little bit of a mixed bag you know Mi Miss field goal by will faren he did boot a 50 yard so that's positive and look fen's a good kicker he probably was like what happened on that kick maybe it was just a little bit of nerves first kick of the Season who knows but uh you know he bounced back and didn't let that turn in to one miss turn to two but I thought some of the muffs on the return game were a little bit concerning I memory serves me i' have to I'm going to watch the game on Sunday but by my count it was about three muffed uh kicks that can't happen guys you know and then there were if they were catching the Fielding a kick or a punt running backwards and the return game was uh little bit underwhelming and that's got to get fixed no drops no running backwards get up field and pick up yards don't dance around take care of that football and get up field so that's one thing that should be an area of focus and I think K-pop Kelly pinga will probably gladly like to you know get back in lab and get those things fixed and that's honestly the good thing you you didn't want coming out of this game to have just a Flawless performance again I'm always just a big believer you don't want to peak in the first couple weeks of the Season you know BYU basketball last year they peaked in December I mean really they they peaked early in the year their best basketball was in non-conference you don't want to Peak right now want to get a win a solid win you got that but man you got so much to still work on and and that's a good thing for this BYU team as they continued to get better SMU is going to be an interesting test know SMU is a good football team and I know that they struggled against Nevada in week zero they were crushing Houston Baptist or Houston Christian excuse me in the first quarter they were up 28 zip I didn't really check into the game after that I just figured they're just going to blow him out but smu's Got Talent they got speed uh you know Southern Illinois didn't have speed there there was not much DJ WIlliams the quarterback he did a little bit he had some nice runs that touchdown run I think a 35 y was really nice good runner but but by all accounts that was not a football team with you know much speed and it was clear the scholarship advantage that BYU had very decisive and they dominated Souther in Illinois and that was a good performance by BYU huge step up going on the road and playing SMU and BYU hasn't won a road game in a while you got to go back to Arkansas last September to find the last time BYU won on the road so it'll be a good test for the Cougars as they get ready to take on the Mustangs in Dallas first time since 1997 but really good night it was a lot of fun being back in the stadium I thought there were some fun little tidbits uh from the game day atmosphere it's great to see the 1974 team caught up with Jeff blank the running back from that Squad saw Gary shidy had so much drip some so much swag rocking those gray shorts I loved it like just do you man like when I get older I'm just going to I'm not going to be you know all buttoned up all like dressing nice just G to be comfortable and do me that's what I want to be when I'm older because I feel like you got to wait a certain you know age threshold to do that you can't just do that right now in your 30s you got to got to you know dress up be a little bit more professional I just thought it was great seeing the 74 team and then seeing the Fiesta Bowl Representatives that was a nice touch seeing those bright yellow suits an underrated piece that I liked from the game couple things the field looked great I'm a big I'm big on that I love the field Dynamics you got to have a good field that looked like it was on point two the lighting was excellent looks so much brighter because BYU football games have been really Dim when you watch night games and the sun sets that lighting was the old lighting was dim it was not that bright it looked really good from the Press Box and then you got it into the fourth quarter with the new turbulence the blue lights the cosmo stunt with the blue lights I thought it look good you know BYU's game day atmosphere it's gotten so much better and I got to say BYU is best played at night BYU football home games it's just just that's where it's at at night it used to be daytime was when BYU football was defined in the home games was Day games not anymore they are a night team that's the best atmosphere it was a great decision to play that game at at 6:00 because with the ESPN plus games the school gets to pick the kick time they get to tell the Big 12 we want to play at this time I thought that was a good spot and it was just a good Atmosphere I Thought there was a lot to like and and Zack Wilson was there he always gets people fired up so just a fun night and college football is back and I'm pumped about that it's great to see college football back in action and seeing it take place once again because it was sorely sorely missed college football and we're now into the thick of it the the weeks will start stacking up this week felt like the longest week of Our Lives between the quarterback battle uh the the scary news of Jay Hill gosh there was so much to unpack this week and now a game is played we can unpack the game and move on with our lives and get ready for SMU lot of fun I had a blast a ton of coverage on KSL sports.com make sure to listen to First and 12 Sunday morning on KSL News radio and the KSL Sports Zone 10: to noon myself Alex Keri will break down Big 12 Football and then coming up on Tuesday not Monday that's Labor Day night Tuesday cougar Nation we'll take your phone call 6 to7 on KSL News radio and get your reaction to this BYU football win over the Southern Illinois Salukis and get you ready for BYU and SMU coming up on Friday it's not that far away it's going to be here in a hurry the cougs and the Mustangs next Friday 5:00 p.m. mountain time kick 6:00 p.m. central Time in Texas I'll talk to you next time here on the cougar tracks podcast and it's powered by KSL sports.com