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BYU sophomore quarterback Jaren Hall scores a touchdown during the 38-24 Cougar loss to Baylor in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. (Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo)

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BYU quarterback Jaren Hall throws a pass during the 26-17 Cougar loss to Boise State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. (Courtesy BYU Photo)

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BYU sophomore quarterback Jaren Hall runs the ball during the 27-17 Cougar win over Arizona State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (Marcia Harris, Special to the Daily Herald)

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BYU sophomore quarterback Jaren Hall gets tackled during the 27-17 Cougar win over Arizona State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (Marcia Harris, Special to the Daily Herald)

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BYU quarterback Jaren Hall throws a pass during the 26-17 Cougar win over the Utes at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Marci Harris, Herald correspondent)

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BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said a pair of plays from last week’s loss at Baylor have haunted him all week.

“We got sacked in the first half,” Roderick said during Wednesday’s teleconference. “It actually wasn’t a sack. It was a quarterback draw with a run-pass option. It looked like a sack on a pass play but it made a field goal more difficult. We lost yards and missed the field goal.

“The sack-fumble was a really unfortunate play as well. It wasn’t even a blitz. We just didn’t execute on that as well. We were right there in scoring range with a chance to either kick a field goal if we don’t convert or have a new set of downs in the red zone. Instead we turn the ball over and they end up getting points. Offensively, the game hinged on those two plays. We make those two plays and it’s a very, very different game.”

What has been the bright spot for the Cougar offense, according to Roderick, is what it was able to do threw the air.

“We also learned that we can really throw the ball down the field when we need to,” Roderick said. “I don’t think anybody’s throwing the ball on that defense like that in a couple years.”

Much of the credit for that goes to BYU sophomore quarterback Jaren Hall, who finished the game 22-of-31 for 342 yards with a touchdown. He also had a 56-yard touchdown run.

“We are improving every week in the passing game,” Roderick said. “Jaren Hall is playing really, really well. I was really happy with him throwing the ball down the field. He made great decisions and was very accurate. He was super-aggressive at finding his guys down the field and we’ve obviously got some guys who can go get it.”

For his part, Hall said he is seeing progression in his game.

“I just feel like the game slows down week by week,” Hall said. “You also build more chemistry over the season with the receivers and I think that’s a little bit of what goes into that. At the end of the day it comes down those guys getting open and making plays like they do.”

Although Hall has had career highs in passing the last two weeks, he indicated he would prefer to have more games where running the ball makes sense.

“We’re a very balanced offense,” Hall said. “We can do everything as far as passing and running the ball. In the last two weeks, it just called for more passing. We’ve got to get ahead. We’ve got to score more points early so we can run the ball more. Whenever we haven’t been able to run the ball as well, I think it’s been because we’re playing from behind.”

He believes his biggest area of improvement has been in how he manages the game.

“Taking care of the ball is something we pride ourselves on as a team and so I just try to play my 1/11 as a quarterback,” Hall said. “You touch the ball every single play, so that’s the most important thing for me. That’s how I secure my job and help our team win. Then it is getting the ball into our guys’ hands. I think that just gets better every weekend.”

Roderick said that while Hall has tremendous athleticism and can throw the ball all over, the characteristic that makes him so successful is his decision-making.

“I’ve learned how smart he is as a player,” Roderick said. “He takes great care of the football. He’s playing at a really high level for a guy who has played five complete games. He’s up there with some of the best who have played here and we’re seeing growth in every game. He is nowhere near his ceiling. You’re going to see him continue to grow as a player and do more good things. We are lucky to have him.”

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