After being ambushed by TCU a few weeks ago, the BYU COugars came into Colorado Springs to take on the high-flying 8-2 Air Force Academy, and took advantage of a 21-point 3rd quarter blitz to likely improve on their #16 national ranking. We will not be dwelling on the PP-level players for the Air Force Academy--and they have a few--as a result of their military commitment. This was a very exciting ballgame for the fans, as the Falcons had a chance to tie the game a couple times down just 31-24 late, but couldn't quite get the job finished. BYU simply had too much offensive firepower for the Air Force defense, despite the efforts of wild man LB Chris Thomas.


SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Brigham Young Conference: Mountain West Columnist: Brett Walker

Dallas Reynolds 65 6' 5.0" 328 0.00 OT 2009: Is playing center, and has ideal size for the position. Not real quick off the snap, but handles the ball OK. Keeps his enemies closer than his friends. Shuffles and slides laterally pretty well. Versatility is a big plus. Stays with his run blocks. Not overly fast or agile. Can play well enough to be a backup year one at both ROT and C, but you may not have to draft him. GRADE: Neutral

Dennis Pitta 32 6' 5.0" 230 0.00 TE 2010: Without question one of the nation's better pure pass-catching TEs. Looks thicker and heavier than the listed 230. Finds the seams. Really understands the opponent's defensive schemes and understands how to exploit their weaknesses. Actually blocked a few times, and it is obvious he will never be a blocking TE at the next level. Had a bunch of catches, and would have to be the offensive MVP. Air Force simply had no answer for Pitta. GRADE: Slightly positive

Austin Collie 9 6' 2.0" 212 0.00 WR 2010: The next Ricky Proehl. Same type of hands and speed. Makes the finger tip grab (indeed had a beautiful one on a long pass for a TD.) Productive and pressure-tested. Has another year, but doesn't really need it as far as NFL readiness is concerned. Nice crisp routes. Takes a hit. Took a direct snap and ran a couple other times. Versatile. Not fast. No game-breaking threat. Strictly a 3rd-down guy. Very productive. GRADE: Positive

Max Hall 15 6' 1.0" 200 0.00 QB 2010: Another in a long line of productive BYU QBs, but has limited pro-translatable skills. Doesn't spread and spray the ball like the Detmers, or run anywhere near as well as Ty did. Doesn't possess the pro size potential and intangibles of John Beck. Average arm. Excellent game manager. Can throw strikes. Forces some throws. Sacked too often and doesn't seem to know when it's time to throw it away. Accuracy and management skills give him a shot, but he'll have to have a lights-out senior season next year to be drafted with his limitations. GRADE: Neutral

Jan Jorgensen 84 6' 3.0" 260 0.00 DE 2010: Try hard guy with a good motor. Dedicated. Wants it. Lost 15 pounds and is quicker than in the past, and seems to hold the point as well--most of the time. Can be run at. Gets caught in trash and doesn't disengage all that well. Doesn't protect his legs, and a cut-blocking team like Air Force really exposes a weakness like that. Wish he were a couple inches taller so he could put that 15 pounds back on. Borderline 2010 draftable, because of heart and desire. GRADE: Neutral

Fui Vakapuna 1 6' 1.0" 245 4.70 FB 2009: Dual threat FB who is a decent blocker but very good runner for a FB. Has a shot (if he is sub 4.70) of being a feature back--at least a bacup feature back in a one-back offense. Would have been a terror in the age of the John Rigginses of the world. Running style reminds me of Antoine Smith. Runs a bit upright, but gets away with it because he is so powerful. Can catch. I'd grab him late, for sure! GRADE: Positive

Ray Feinga 76 6' 4.0" 348 5.25 OG 2009: Played a few snaps and then was replaced for the rest of the game when he was racked by back spasms. Has some solid RBing skills, but backs are a very dicey thing to mess around with, and you never know if/when a guy will ever get back to 100%. GRADE: Incomplete

Travis Bright 74 6' 4.0" 313 5.20 OG 2009: I thought he stepped up his game a little when Feinga went out. Buries people in the running game. Gets good position and seals. Shows some straight ahead speed. Straight-linish and a bit mechanical though. Swivels his whole body in PP, instead of just his head. Not that athletic, but gives an honest day's work. GRADE: Neutral

Kellen Fowler 16 5' 11.0" 187 4.60 S 2009: A fighter. Willing tackler who is limited as a run supporter due to his size. Not a lights out tackler. Not a great pass defender. Camp fodder...maybe...GRADE: Slightly negative, though he gets an A for effort

David Tafuna 23 6' 1.0" 211 4.55 S 2009: Playing banged up. Was not around the ball much early, but seemed to get some of the rust out as the game went on. Solid contributions in the second half in run support. Air Force doesn't give you much of a chance to judge safeties in pass defense. Over-ran a play in the 4th, and missed the tackle. Looks like a guy you'd want to look at when healthy. GRADE: Neutral


OTHER NOTES:

BYU: #88 Andrew George, a junior TE is actually a better all-around TE than Pitta, but that won't make a difference in today's NFL.

#70 Matt Reynold filled in at RT today with his older brother at center, and caught my eye. A bright future for this young man.

#51 Matt Ah You (any relation to C.J., Brett?) got his first start at OLB and looked really solid. Made a ton of plays for a first-start game.


Air Force:

PPs (were the eligible) include:

#25 Todd Newell...a typical running service-academy FB.

#8 Reggie Rembert a solid young CB who is also a good punt returner.

#34 Chris Thomas a crazy LB who plays with passion and abandon...Defensive game ball performance in this one. Looks undersized though.

#88 Travis Dekker, solid collegiate TE.


College: Air Force Conference: Mountain West Columnist: Brett Walker

NONE.

Thanks Steve. Informative writeup.

I was down for 24 hours because I spilt a glass of ice tea on my mouse and ruined it.

That's funny. Here in northern Maine, our mice love iced tea.

They never break down over it, unless it's the Long Island version...

I can't see BYU making a BCS game even if they do beat Utah because of that one loss. Tough to make them go undefeated in a pretty good conference to get to a BCS game, but I think thats the sad truth.

My spies indicate that Pitta is now in the 248 range and still around 4.71, I agree on Collie, Vakapuna has apparently been times as low as 4.66, I also like Rembert tiny but so fast, UDFA? And Thomas is 204, could he be a SS?