BYU's defense is looking to take the sting out of the Yellow Jackets


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PROVO — The tradition of Homecoming is all about greeting old friends and reliving the past, and this year's Homecoming football game is no different.

BYU welcomes familiar foe Georgia Tech to LaVell Edwards Stadium this Saturday -- a team the Cougars rolled 41-17 last season in Atlanta -- and looks to continue its tradition, spirit, and honor of stifling option attacks.

"I think we know what we're doing, and coach Mendenhall knows what he's doing, and it's from experience," said defensive coordinator Nick Howell after team practice Wednesday evening. "We put a lot of time, a ton of time, into preparing for the option, so we're all on the same page and have a good system [to defend] it."

Georgia Tech averaged 311 yards rushing and 441 yards overall per game in 2012, but BYU's stout defense held the Ramblin' Wreck to a meager 117 rush yards, 157 total yards, and three offensive points (the other 14 were scored on defense and special teams) when the teams clashed last season. Cougar players and coaches enjoy the challenge the option presents and look forward to repeating last year's performance.

"I think the players look forward to the challenge," said inside linebackers coach Paul Tidwell. "Once you get a few plays under your belt and see the speed of it, you can settle in and just play, and we like that challenge."

"[Georgia Tech] averages 300 yards a game; we want to keep them under that," said lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna. "Our goal is to keep every team under 100 [yards] every game, and to shut down their scheme, shutting down the run is our main goal."

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Option schemes rely on both timing and deception, and even though the Georgia Tech attack traditionally stays on the ground, it has shown the ability to beat teams with unexpected passes over the top as well. Sophomore quarterback Vad Lee has already thrown for 625 yards and 7 touchdowns this season -- three more than BYU quarterback Taysom Hill.

"The thing about an option team is that they are always going to come out with something new -- a little wrinkle that you've never seen," said Howell. "You've got to be in the right spot; that's for dang sure. If you're wrong, they'll gash you."

Georgia Tech's pace of play also opposes the Cougars mantra of "go fast, go hard." The run-based scheme is very effective at slowing down the game, tiring the defense, and keeping the opposing offense off the field. It's important BYU gets off to a quick start and early lead to force the Yellow Jackets to play from behind and speed up the game.

"There are a few things needed to beat the option," said Howell. "Clock management, playing with a lead, and everyone doing their jobs. That will give you a chance."

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Linebacker Austen Jorgensen is coming off one of his best performances of the season after recording seven tackles in the Cougars' 31-14 victory over Utah State last week in Logan. Despite the great game, Jorgensen's BYU career hasn't gone according to his expectations since joining the team in 2007. A string of three shoulder surgeries and two knee surgeries in just four years almost caused him to hang up the pads for good last season.

"I've had injuries throughout my career here," said Jorgensen, "and it was a tough choice to come back, but it's paid off so far."

A suspension to Spencer Hadley and injuries to Tyler Beck have pushed Jorgensen into a prominent role at buck linebacker this fall. The fifth-year senior has seized the opportunity by contributing 27 tackles through the first five games of his final season.

"It's been huge," said Jorgensen. "It's been a good experience so far, and this is what I always hoped for my senior year."

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You can listen to post-practice audio from Nick Howell, Paul Tidwell, Eathyn Manumaleuna and Austen Jorgensen by clicking on the links in "Cougar Cuts," above left.

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Jason Ludlow is a KSL Newsradio BYU intern

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