Virginia vs. BYU: Game Grades, Analysis for Cougars
Zach Gilliland@@ZachGilliland93
Featured ColumnistSeptember 21, 2014
Virginia led BYU in many different offensive categories, but the Cougars led in the one that mattered, beating the Cavaliers 41-33 on Saturday.
Virginia held the ball for 40 minutes, 55 seconds compared to 19:05 for BYU. The Cougars made the most of their time on the field though, with quarterback Taysom Hill totaling 269 total yards.
It was a solid effort from both teams, and Virginia quarterback Matt Johns did well in relief for the injured Greyson Lambert, throwing for 139 yards.
You can find the box score here, courtesy of NCAA.com.
| Game Grades for BYU Cougars | ||
| Position Unit | First-Half Grade | Final Grade |
| Passing Offense | B | B |
| Rushing Offense | C | B |
| Pass Defense | C | B |
| Run Defense | C | B |
| Special Teams | A | A |
| Coaching | C | B |
| vs. Virginia Week 4 | ||
Passing Offense
The numbers for BYU aren’t going to be eye-popping because the Cougars only held the ball for a little more than 19 minutes in the game. The passing offense played well though, with Hill making some big connections. He finished with 187 yards on 13 completions and also had two touchdowns with no interceptions.
Rushing Offense
The rushing game was also solid for the Cougars, with Hill and Jamaal Williams both going over 60 yards. Hill broke off some strong carries and finished with 72 yards and one touchdown on the ground, while Williams finished with 68 yards and one touchdown.
Pass Defense
The pass defense could have played better for the Cougars, but the interception from Robertson Daniel gave them momentum in the first half. They allowed Lambert to throw for 188 yards and Johns to throw for 139, but it wasn’t as bad as the numbers appear.
Lambert was able to find open holes in the secondary in the first half, but the Cougars made plays when they needed to. BYU will need to improve in the secondary, but overall, it was a good performance.
Run Defense
The rushing defense didn’t play bad in this one either. Lambert had 49 yards on the ground, but he got 37 of those on one play in the first half.
Khalek Shepherd performed well for Virginia with 73 yards on 14 carries, but the Cougars defense made plays when it mattered. The linebackers from BYU made some big stops against the run in this one.
Special Teams
This unit played very well for the Cougars. Punter Scott Arellano averaged 55 yards per punt and booted four punts inside the 20-yard line.
This allowed BYU to set up Virginia with some poor field position at times, and the kicking game was solid as well. Kicker Trevor Samson was 2-of-2 on his field goals.
Also, we can't forget the big play in the fourth quarter by Adam Hine on the kick return for a touchdown. That play shifted momentum and was probably one of the biggest moments of the game.
Coaching
Virginia outcoached BYU in the first half and found ways to contain Hill. The Cavaliers were able to sustain drives and got pressure on the quarterback.
In the second half, the Cougars had a much better game plan. Offensive coordinator Robert Anae found ways to get Hill going, and the defense was able to make stops when it needed to.