BYU football’s ‘chunk plays’ a critical measuring stick to success
Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Nick Kurtz celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Devon Blackmon in the second half of an NCAA football game between BYU and University of Cincinnati at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Wagner Seahawks linebacker Stephon Font-Toomer and defensive back Bruce Brittingham chase down Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Mitchell Juergens after he caught a long pass for the Cougars in the first half of an NCAA football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Brigham Young Cougars running back Algernon Brown runs the ball in the first half of an NCAA football game between BYU and University of Cincinnati at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
“My bad.”
It’s a common expression among athletes. It means, “I messed up.”
When it comes to big yardage plays allowed on defense, taking ownership of an error is one of the things BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall expects to hear from his players.
“I would really like the player who was responsible for the big play to tell his teammates, ‘That was on me,’ ” Mendenhall said. “So there’s a very clear message of, ‘This isn’t a dominant team or a play we don’t know how to defend. It was just simply me not doing my job.’ The rest of the guys know that. They know where to put that, what box to put it in their own head and we can move forward.”
Then he added, “Or if I make a bad call, I usually say it’s on me. I do that on occasion and they nod like they already knew.”
***
Those plays were once simply called “big plays.”
Maybe that wasn’t dramatic enough, or maybe statisticians got tired of that overused phrase, but there’s a new buzz word in football.
Are you ready?
Chunk plays.
By definition – at least, by definition of the “Live Stats” page on the BYU athletic website — chunk plays are running plays of more than 10 yards or passing plays of more than 15 yards.
Here’s a look at BYU’s “chunk plays” on offense over the past two seasons. All of these statistics are through eight games.
BYU Offense
2014
Rushing plays 10 yards or more: 56
Passing plays 15 yards or more: 32
2015
Rushing plays 10 yards or more: 38
Passing plays 15 yards or more: 42
It’s pretty apparent that BYU misses the big-play ability of running back Jamal Williams, who withdrew from school before the season began, and quarterback Taysom Hill, who was lost for the season due to an injury in the opener at Nebraska. Williams is the kind of player that can rip off a 15- or 20-yard run that fires up the offense. Hill was most dangerous when he had the run-pass option and the defense was unsure of what to do.
2014
Total plays of 10 yards or more: 120
Total plays of 20 yards or more: 32
2015
Total plays of 10 yards or more: 93
Total plays of 20 yards or more: 42
While BYU has more plays of 20 yards or more this season, the Cougars are making far fewer plays of 10 yards or more. Obviously, 10 yards or more usually means a first down, so it’s not a surprise that the Cougars are averaging about three fewer first downs this season.
“Those big plays help us in so many ways,” BYU freshman quarterback Tanner Mangum said. “We get momentum and it swings energy. Then not only does it inspire the offense, but it gives the defense energy. When the defense makes big plays or causes a turnover, we feed off of that as well.”
The Cougars often walk the line between a big-play offense and an offense that chews up clock on long drives.
Which is better?
“Those teams that are consistent and they march up and down the field, those are the teams that are winning the most,” BYU senior wide receiver Mitch Mathews said. “But I think those big plays have worked for us. I think we have those type of athletes who can make those kind of plays.”
Mangum said he wants to make big plays, but tries to be patient.
“You can’t be focusing on when you’re going to make big plays,” he said. “You take one play at a time. You receive the call, you go execute that play, then it’s on to the next. I do my best not to worry about what’s down the line, but just focus on the next down.”
Now, on to the defense and the “chunk plays” allowed.
BYU Defense
2014
Rushing plays 10 yards or more allowed: 22
Passing plays 15 yards or more allowed: 54
2015
Rushing plays 10 yards or more allowed: 38
Passing plays 15 yards or more allowed: 43
Last year’s defense – under secondary coach Nick Howell as coordinator — was much better in limiting opponents in the run game but gave up too many passing chunk plays. The 2015 version of the defense has given up a lot more rushing plays of 10 yards or more, but fewer pass plays of 15 yards or greater. Opposing coaches figure out what’s working and stick to those plays, so this year opponents have been running more on the Cougars.
2014
Total plays of 10 yards or more allowed: 113
Total plays of 20 yards or more allowed: 34
2015
Total plays of 10 yards or more allowed: 91
Total plays of 20 yards or more allowed: 40
While the Cougars have cut down the number of plays of 10 yards or greater, they are allowing a few more plays of 20 yards or more.
“First of all, I hope we don’t ever give up a big play, but we do on occasion,” Mendenhall said. “One of the things that I work hard to do – and I think it’s pretty noticeable — I’m not too high and I’m not too low on the sideline. I’m the same at practice. The intent and the message and the demeanor is that it’s simply the next play. It’s consistency, it’s resiliency and moving on is the way I’d like them to handle it.”
Limiting those big plays on first and second down allows Mendenhall to bring pressure and blitzes on obvious passing downs.
“Another thing we’ve been working on is being mentally tough, get out of that slump,” BYU sophomore linebacker Fred Warner said. “We want to be more consistent on first and second down so we can get after the passer on third down.”
Of course, it becomes difficult to compare apples to apples because BYU has played a much more difficult schedule in 2015. Every team is different and every game presents different scenarios.
Whatever you call them – big plays or chunk plays — they make an impact on every football game. Momentum and field position swings can turn defeat into victory, or victory into defeat. Chunk plays for touchdowns are magnified and shown on SportsCenter highlights. This season, BYU has more than doubled its opponents chunk plays for touchdowns (20 for BYU, 8 for opponents).
Those big plays,” said Mangum, who has made his fair share this season, “are the game changers.”