It was not Barnum and Bailey, but rather (Eric) Weddle and (Casey) Evans, who were the ringleaders for a gimmick defense that picked its spots to frustrate -- and ultimately defeat -- BYU last year on the Cougars' home field.

Utah players and coach Kyle Whittingham were asked several times this week about the so-called circus defense they implemented during last year's rivalry game in Provo. Each time, a smirk seemed to come before an answer.

"I don't know if we'll be able to do anything like that again," Whittingham said. "We were able to do some things last year that no one had seen before, but they'd be ready for it this time."

The way the Utes stopped BYU in critical times of the 41-34 overtime win made unorthodox look normal. There were times Whittingham chose to send one player rushing at BYU quarterback John Beck. Meanwhile, there were times when 10 players covered throwing areas.

Result: An impatient and sometimes confused BYU offense, one which swung widely on highs and lows, hit its nadir by being impatient and failing to convert at critical times.

BYU players and coaches sound more confident about facing Utah's defense this year, and with good reason. Seen the scores latelyfi

"Their quarterback is playing lights out," Whittingham said of Beck.

The tricks that worked last year don't even seem feasible in 2006.

For instance, Utah essentially used defensive back Eric Weddle to shut down then-senior Todd Watkins, who had the reputation as the big game-breaker for the Cougars last year. Tall and fast, he was a weapon that few teams in the Mountain West Conference could contend with from a physical sense.

Whittingham took his top defensive player -- who was, and still is quite arguably the league's best -- and sicked him on one player all day.

Evans, a senior strong safety, was placed on tight end Jonny Harline.

The other nine players were mostly capable of matching up with whatever combination was thrown at them.

This yearfi The Utes readily acknowledge that BYU's much improved balance, and a variety of ways to attack, present a wider reaching tactical dilemma. It starts, however, with stopping Beck.

Weddle and Evans say as much.

"He's playing great," Evans said. "He's done a good job because they don't seem to have a go-to guy. But they are really confident with a number of players. I don't know if something like the circus defense would work as much. They'd be ready for it, I'd think."

The numbers themselves break down simple. The Cougars are the most prolific passing team in the MWC (311 yards per game in league contests); the Utes give up the most yards (221).

"We struggled a little, but now we're making plays," Weddle said. "I heard somewhere that we're 16-1 in our last 17 November games. We know how to finish seasons. We're playing like we need to at the end of the year. We're playing right now like we should've been all year."

The Utah edge, if anything, is mental -- and historical. Utah has won every meeting since 2002, and nine of the previous 13. Mendenhall conceded Monday he underestimated the "emotional component" of the game and was "taken back a little that we were caught up" in the psychological purging. The Utes jumped out to a 24-3 lead at halftime.

Mendenhall said more than last year, he has stressed execution in this game.

And his words convey the idea he doesn't expect another circus.

"Even though there was some variation last year to what they were doing it is very similar this year," Mendenhall said of Utah's defense. "The core of their defense has been the same for the majority of the snaps the entire year. Their defense is well established and it is something their head coach and defensive coordinator believe in. There might be a wrinkle or two, but there has been a wrinkle or two in every game that we have played."

Jason Franchuk can be reached at jfranchuk@heraldextra.com.

Get all your BYU sports news at CougarBlue.com

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C1.