Although last week South Florida nearly upset the same Florida team that beat Utah, few college football fans would put the Bulls in the same category as teams like Baylor and Oregon.

But was South Florida’s run defense really that bad?

Consider the rushing numbers from BYU’s first three games:

• South Florida: 37 attempts, 314 yards, 3 TDs
• Baylor: 33 attempts, 83 yards, 1 TD
• Oregon: 24 attempts, 61 yards, 1 TD

One of these showings is certainly not like the others.

A team that wants to be balanced certainly can’t expect to win a lot of games when it struggles so mightily to move the ball on the ground, so there is no doubt that the Cougars are looking to improve.

“There are probably a bunch of things that factor into it,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said in Monday’s press teleconference. “There is lack of technique and missed assignments. But the guys are giving us the effort. We just need play more disciplined (and that’s in all three phases of the game). ”

Part of it was that both the Bears and the Ducks put extra emphasis on keeping the Cougar running backs hemmed in, according to what Cougar sophomore tight end Isaac Rex saw.

“It felt like they stacked the box pretty heavily,” Rex said. “They’re a good team. Oregon has good athletes on their defense but we’ll watch more film today. After watching it myself, we can definitely improve. Our offensive line is tough and experienced, so we’ll get this thing back on track.”

He said he is looking closely at what he personally needs to do to improve.

“I think it’s about just staying on blocks,” Rex said. “It’s working on getting hands inside and staying in front of guys. That’s pretty much our goal. We pride ourselves on running the ball at BYU and so we want to get better. We want to improve on that. We’ll get better this week at the on the run game.”

The Cougars are set to host a Wyoming team that has allowed 126.2 yards per game through its four games this year (No. 59 in the nation), but is coming off a good showing against one of the best run teams in the country as the Cowboys held the Falcons to 171 yards on the ground and no touchdowns.

The reality is that BYU had a chance to make another big statement Oregon and didn’t get the job done. But it can’t allow that disappointment — individually or collectively — to derail its progress.

“From a personal standpoint, I think I have to just double down on all the things that got me to where I am today,” Cougar freshman wide receiver Kody Epps said. “From a team standpoint, I think we just continue to focus on our values, continue to be true to who we are as a team, and just move forward with that. I don’t think a loss really defines us as a group. We know what we need to focus on and we know what we can do better. I think we’ll come out next week and do what we usually do.”

It would certainly help BYU if it is able to get some of the injured players healthy. There is no doubt the Cougars missed the talents of wide receivers Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney, of defensive linemen Tyler Batty and Earl Tuioti-Mariner, and of defensive back Kaleb Hayes.

“We’re hopeful we’ll get Tyler and Earl back,” Sitake said. “I don’t know what the right wording would be, but probable would be the best one. I feel good about possibly getting Gunner and Puka back too, so we’ll see. But I felt this way a couple of weeks ago too, so I have no idea anymore. We’re going to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. As of today, I think Tyler is closer than everyone. We’ll find out more today. We will get more evaluation and have probably more info after tonight or tomorrow.”

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