The BYU Cougars are a day away from their season-opener against the Southern Illinois Salukis inside LaVell Edwards Stadium and Jake Hatch explained what he expects to see from Kalani Sitake and the BYU football program as they hope to change perceptions of the team and it will require them getting off to a fast start against SIU and leave no doubt in anyone's mind.
Jake then talked with BYU offensive lineman Weylin Lapuaho as the pair discussed how good it feels to be on the doorstep of the season, what the expectations are for the BYU O-line this fall, his improvements as a player since arriving at Brigham Young University (BYU) and what he believes the Cougars are capable of doing this fall in the Big 12 Conference.
Finally, the show wrapped up with our weekly listener question and answer segment as Jake addressed queries on the efforts BYU has made in nutrition and strength and conditioning inside the football program, what success looks like vs. SIU, what his prediction for the season-opener is and making some picks of big college football games taking place this weekend.
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It's the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Five-hour energy shots give you the feeling of alertness and energy you need to get in the zone and get things done. With zero sugar, a convenient portable size and coming in several flavors like watermelon tropical burst or my personal favorite grape, it's exactly what you need to get through the day. If you're looking to refinance or get a loan right now, let me tell you about Intercap Lending. Intercap Lending is one of the largest independent lenders in the country. They are hyper-responsive, they embrace change and their borrower experience is absolutely fabulous. At Lockdown, we have our own personal loan officer, Intercap Lending. His name is Steve Carter and if you call him and tell him you're locked on, you get the corporate discount. But more than that, what's so great about Steve Carter is the reviews at Lockdown that we continually get about Steve. Mike Curtis emailed me to say, "I just wanted to thank you for your network. We just refied with Steve Carter. It was so incredibly easy. I can attest to it. I got my loan done with Steve Carter. Who else?" Richard Gordon emailed me and said, "Thank you so much for promoting Intercap Lending. We used them earlier this year. Steve was amazing and Steve is amazing. Call him at 385-885-385885-28, tell him to lock down and send you. Intercap Lending, NMLS number 19-0-465. For more information, visit intercaplending.com. It is game day eve in Provo, Utah. The BYU football program is ready in itself to take on the southern Illinois Saluki's Tomorrow Night at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Are the Cougars in any danger of being on Upset Watch? We're talking about it and breaking it down on today's show. You are locked on Cougars. Your daily podcast on the BYU Cougars. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team, every day. What's up, everybody? I'm Jake Hatch, your host here on Locked On Cougars, resident BYU insider. Thank you for making Locked On Cougars your first listen and/or view of the day and a big thank you to all of you who are every day with us right here on your original daily podcast focus on the BYU Cougars. Today's show is brought to my friends over at 5-hour Energy. 5-hour Energy fixes tired fast with zero sugar and a convenient portable size is the perfect pick-me-up for getting stuff done. Go to 5hourenergy.com and use the promo code LockedOnCFP to receive 20% off your order. Go to 5hourenergy.com today to take advantage of that offer. Alright, let's dive right in on today's show, the BYU Football program. They are a day away from kicking it off. It's been a long time coming, everybody. The last time we saw BYU on the field was last November. It's crazy to think it's been that long since we've been able to take in the BYU football game in person or just watch them play in general. And I for one cannot wait to see what they look like on the field tomorrow night. I mentioned in the open of today's show is BYU Endangered being an upset alert. The more I have studied about Southern Illinois, I think BYU's going to dominate this game. I'll get hot take right out of the chute. I think BYU's going to want to know, I don't think this is going to be necessarily all that close. Now, I will add the caveat that crazy things happen in the sport of football. It's an oddly shaped ball that bounces weird ways. BYU screws around, turns the ball over a bunch, and just horses around thinking they're just going to steamroll this opponent. Yeah, they can find themselves on Upset Watch. What I am expecting from BYU though is a concerted, focused effort from Kalani Satake's program as they go out there and try and show that they have learned from some of the missteps they had a season ago in the big 12 conference. Yes, this is an FCS game. Yes, it's a team you're supposed to overmatch. But the Salukis are a proud program. They're going to the second round of the playoffs the season ago. Their history suggests that they are going to be in this game as well. The past two seasons, they have upset an FPS team. They beat Northern Illinois last year, and then the year before that, they beat a Power Four team in Northwestern as well. So Southern Illinois is going to come in here showing zero fear when it comes to facing off against BYU. But my good friend, Hans Olson, who I work with on a daily basis over the KSL Sports Zone, he put out a tweet, I think on Thursday, I might have been on Wednesday, that the more I have studied the Southern Illinois team, this is not the same Saluki squad that I would be more terrified of than usual. Let me explain. He's put out this tweet speaking of Hans saying this, he says BYU will beat Southern Illinois by 21 plus points. He points this out. The Salukis have lost the number one quarterback from the season to go in Nick Baker, the number one running back row Elliot, number two running back Justin Strong, number one wide receiver Isaiah Hardub, number three wide receiver down take Cox, number one tackler PGA Jules, number two tackler Branson Combs, the number four tackler in Dune Smith, the number one sack artist in Tim Varga, number two in sacks Cam Baudry, and number one in interceptions in Mark Davis and also added the number two in interceptions DJ Johnson and the number one center. Jacob Kago, I think I got that one right. So here's the deal. Southern Illinois is it a bit of a reloading situation. Yes, I know that they are ranked 11th in the preseason FCS poll and that's more of a mark of a gesture of a team that, hey, they went deep in the playoffs the season to go, they were just a couple of plays away from making it to the FCS semifinals, but this is hardly the team that I think beat Southern beat Northern Illinois last season speaking of Southern Illinois and Northwestern in the previous season. The biggest thing for BYU in this game is to go out there and handle their business. I want to see BYU run the ball down this team's throat, but at the same time, if it is Jake Redslof as I expect to be BYU starting quarterback, I want to see him go deep. I wanted to see him like first play of the game, set something up, Aaron Roderick, send a guy, let's say like JoJo Phillips, whoever, at wide receiver, send a guy on a go route and let Jake uncork a deep one and see what he's capable of. This is a game that I think BYU needs to put to bed early. Go out there, run rough shot and put this one to bed by halftime. Do exactly what the University of Utah did last night to Southern Utah. It was not a game about midway through the first quarter it felt like. This is more what you expect from an FCS opponent. Southern Illinois and Southern Utah are in two different planes when it comes to their standing in FCS football right now, but BYU I think understands the assignment. This is not a game that you want to go out and have a performance like you did a season to go in your opener against Sam Houston State, 14, nothing. I don't think that engendered any type of confidence in this BYU team. I think it kind of portended what we ultimately saw with that five and seven record a season to go. You can point back to 2017 when BYU struggled against Portland State. Obviously it ultimately ended with a four and nine record that year. BYU needs to go out there and put on a performance that's going to make Cougar fans think, okay, this team has learned there less and this team's tuned up and they're ready to roll. None of these slow starts, not a game where you want to fall behind early or allow a team to stick around speaking of Southern Illinois, go out there, lay the hammer down and make it a lacquer. That is the goal for BYU in this game. There's no if and or but about it. This is a game that BYU needs to dominate thoroughly from start to finish. If they go out there and have another slow start, another poor performance, there's going to be the Boo Birds at LaVell Edwards Stadium. I know it's the season opener and Hope Springs Eternal when it comes to your football program, but there's been a lot of negative angst around this football program all off season long, particularly from the fan base. I'm not saying it's a bad thing because the way that the season ended a season to go for the Cougars, it did not leave a good taste in anybody's mouth. Tonight or speaking of tomorrow night, I should say, it depends on when you watch this, you may watch this on Saturday in the lead up to the game, but this is a game for you to go out there and kind of rewrite what the perception is of this football program. Jake Retsloff can make people think, okay, maybe he's got something in the tank. A guy like L.J. Martin can go out there and really wow people and we'll see how much he actually plays, but I would like to see this where this is a game that Jake Retsloff, L.J. Martin, some of the starters from BYU, they're done by halftime. That is the ideal scenario in this game. I am still fully expecting, even if Jake Retsloff starts to see Gary Bohannon play in this game, and I would expect that if they have the type of game that they envisioned going for them, the guy like Jake Retsloff maybe plays the first half and then they have a big enough lead that they feel like, okay, Gary, get in there and show us what you're capable of. That, I think, is the ideal scenario for BYU, but could be the simple case, the BYU feels like, hey, we're going to let the starters ride a little bit longer, maybe into the third quarter before handing it off to the reserves. But this is a really, really important game, even though it is an FCS game. You guys know my history, if you're a longtime listener of this podcast that I am no fan of these FCS games, quite frankly, I think FCS games should be what the new spring game should be in college football, where you spend your spring period doing your 15 practices and then cap it off with a game against an FCS opponent. You pay them the money they're looking for, you get a legitimate game to end spring, have your fans feeling good about themselves going into the summer months, but then you play a full slate of actual FBS, power for football come the actual season. That is my ideal scenario. Until that happens, if it ever does happen, you have to deal with stuff like this. So I want to see BYU hammer, hammer the Salukis, and it's nothing personal against Southern Illinois. Go out there, handle your business, keys to victory for me real quick, speaking of BYU. Number one, I want to see BYU push over 400 yards in offense at minimum. I'd like to see a balance, 200 yards rushing, 200 yards passing, I think it'd be a fantastic performance. Number two, I want to see BYU be able to stop the run and just really make Southern Illinois a one-dimensional team. Now the Southern Illinois squad, I'm expecting in their quarterback position because they have a QB battle, they have not announced the starting quarterback for, I think you're going to see both quarterbacks for Southern Illinois, but the bigger thing is, I think DJ Williams is likely the guy that they're going to ride most of this game. He's a former all-conference freshman of the year coming from Murray State now to join at Southern Illinois. We'll see what happens. They also have size at wide receiver, they've got two transfer receivers who reportedly stand 6-1 and 6-2 last I saw on depth charts, Akiantez Lewis is one of them, and then the other one also, Vincent Davis is the receptions leader from a year ago, he's back for SIU. And then they also have Nishan Hezekiah, 6-2 and then Kiantez Lewis, 6-1 from Wisconsin. They're a size at that wide receiver position. You got to make them one-dimensional and obviously expect the guys like Jacob Robinson, Mark Collins, etc. at cornerback hold up in pass coverage, but make them one-dimensional, slow down that rushing tack, show that this defensive line is a better defensive line than I have given them credit for literally all off season long. I have been quite down on BYU's D-line, I'd like to see them shut me up in this game. Final thing I want to see in terms of Kiante's victory in this one, turnover margin, win the turnover battle, make them cough it up. You don't cough it up. Like I said, in the open, if BYU screws around, it turns the ball over a bunch in this game, but yeah, that's the recipe for finding yourself on upset alert. Handle your business, control the action, control the line of scrimmage, and BYU should be just fine in this game because I don't think this is the same Southern Illinois squad that we've seen the last couple of years when they've gotten those FBS upsets. I think this is a team that's a bit in flux speaking of Southern Illinois, but BYU has to handle their end of the bargain and make sure that it's nowhere near what Southern Illinois would envision. They would take for them to notch an upset in Provo. All right, a guy that's going to have a big role in the rushing attack for BYU tomorrow night is an offensive guard. Whelen Lopuahoe started, I think he's only started 10 games in season to go, if I recall correctly. Elbert, left guard for the BYU football program, has been entrenched to that spot since he arrived on campus in Provo. What does he expect from BYU and this opener against Southern Illinois? What does he expect overall from the upcoming season? And how has he improved as an offensive lineman to date? We're talking about all that with him one-on-one, coming up next, right here on Lockdown Cougars. Today's show is about to you by our friends over at Factor Mills. 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If you've not checked it out already, it's your time to get caught up on everything going on in the college football units with the Glocked On College Football Podcast. My dear friend Spencer McLaughlin, fresh off calling that game for Southern Utah last night at Utah. He is the host of Lockdown College Football, get caught up on everything going on in the sport by checking it out wherever you get your podcasts available on YouTube as well. Of course, it is proud to be part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team, every day. All right. I had great chance earlier this week to catch up with BYU offensive lineman Waylon Lapuahoe. I wasn't 100% certain what to expect going into this interview with Waylon. Now, he's a guy who's more of a reserved individual when it comes to the BYU football program. He's not been one of the guys out front and center talking to the media a lot, but I'm not going to lie, very, very impressed with this young man. He had some really, really good thoughts on what to expect from the BYU football program this fall, going into this opener tomorrow night at LaVell Edwards Stadium, and a whole lot more. So without further ado, here you go. Waylon Lapuahoe with myself right here on Lockdown Cougars. How excited are you to have Game Week here and just be ready to rock and roll? I can't wait. I can't wait to get back into LES, get back to see the fans, and just feel the atmosphere again. It's going to be a good one. So I can't wait. Do you guys, title fans, they anticipated the countdown days and everything. Do you do the same thing as players? Not really, because the countdown is still, I mean, if you look back at it three months ago, the countdown's 90 days. So you really just want to take one day at a time and make that day worth it and just go one day at a time. I'm going to really count it. Just let it come as it does. Now Connor's been a regular on this podcast, talking about how you as an offensive line, he believes you guys have improved. You concur with his assessment. Yeah, for sure. 100%. I feel like we've improved at all five positions, just knowing the game and ball a little bit more and getting a lot of reps together and being cohesive. How much of a, I guess a testament is that to the work of TJ Woods, is your line catch? Oh, a lot. It's a lot. He definitely has a big piece in where we're at right now. So yeah, he's a big piece. What has he worked on the most with you guys? Everything. I mean, just the concept of a lot of things, just breaking it down, not just toning it us where to go, but why we go there and how to do it and like, you know, just for like zone schemes, he's just, he's teaching you what the play is, like what the, what the purpose of the play is, like what we're trying to achieve. So he breaks it down in a lot of, a lot of different ways to do. So he didn't bring like the philosophy of the whole, like, you know, okay, and then having the philosophy, you're knowing where everyone else is going to. So it's going to help you out to help you play fast. Now the left side of that offensive line is pretty veteran because you had Caleb outside of you, you, you were obviously a starter each season, you got Connor to your right. You just feel like that left side is quote unquote the strong side to use this expression. No, no, hey, on my right side, they, they ballers too. But yeah, we strong side on the left side, but they can say the same thing about their side is we're both solid on either side. What excites you most about playing at LaVell Edwards Stadium once again? Man, I, there's too much to say. I would say the first thing he was playing in front of all my family being a Utah boy and playing for a home, home state team, it's, it's huge for me and, I mean, just the energy and the crowd, LES is, it's, it's, it's pretty nice. I mean, I, I played at Alabama and that game, that game atmosphere was pretty good too. But, you know, I still take LaVell Edwards over them. So. So be where you over spam them. We got, okay. I said it. I played there. So I mean, you can, you can, and then we have, we're getting the lights this year too. So that's going to add the little specialty into the touchdown. Yeah. Well, when we've seen those lights from different stadiums and whatnot, do you like stuff like that, the aesthetic stuff? I think it's awesome. I think it's like, I think playing on Saturdays is like an, it's entertainment. So why not make it entertaining and do all that flashy stuff? I like it personally. Now, looking at Southern Illinois, they've got a very strong defensive reputation. What do you see on tape from the, you, you see from your perspective? A bunch of 11 guys that fly to the ball and they play hard and they, they know what they're doing and they do it. So they, a solid defense. Are they a defense that like, so you've got a, a bunch of experience playing different teams. Do they compare to anybody you've played in the past, maybe? Um, I'll compare them like, uh, Sam Houston last year. Okay. They move around a lot. They, uh, like to give you a lot of different fronts and, and, uh, slam a lot of different places. So, you know, you got to stay on your toes and make sure you don't lunge at people and fall on your face. A lot of stunts, a lot of twists, that type of stuff. Now how difficult is that for you as a guard? So how do you go to pass off guys all the time? Because you got to go outside of you and guy inside of you. So how difficult is that? You have to communicate pretty well on that. Yeah. So everyone's got to be on the, on the same page for sure. Um, if you have one guy off, he, the slide you might be thinking, you're passing a guy and your guys not coming. So that guy's unblocked. Mm hmm. So everyone's got to be on the same page and make sure we, uh, corner ID's it right. And me and my tackle, we're making sure we pass off things and make sure he's there and I'm there. So see, it's definitely a teamwork type of thing. No matter who's at quarterback, so I know you guys are keeping out on the wraps until game time. No matter who's back there, does that change anything for you? Nah. Uh, full, full, both of them, I'm happy with either one. I can, so ready to play. It doesn't matter to me. You just want to get out there and get after it. Yeah. And both of them are great quarterbacks too. So I trust both of them. What, what excites you most about the running back guy, running back crew? Uh, well, physical bunch and, and, and after deep, and then they, they run hard too. So I can't wait for us as online and running back crew, we had a lot of lots of proof. Now I know you were a newcomer last year alongside LJ, where have you seen him improve the most at running back? Um, his vision and, and just his understanding of the game, of ball, you know, he grew. He was just a young buck last year. I can attest to that, you know, playing young, you just play super fast and kind of just let your abilities do the thing. But this year I could definitely see him get more, I mean, even in the weight room and, and out here on the field, he's just dialed in, you know, like a veteran already. He, you know, he's already, already trying to, he's already stapled in. Well, you talk about you were a young player, because you got a lot of experience. You played this year, third year of college football and you've been a starter the almost the entire time you've been in college. How much has that helped you? I mean, it's a lot, the game, nothing simulates a game rep, so, uh, it's helped a lot. It helps me with my confidence and, you know, just having all those reps is definitely a game changer. Where have you improved the most, I guess, this offseason coming into 2024? Um, I just think in being in the right spot, okay, being in like a good positioning and, body, body demeanor, not kind of just flying all over the place and, and just out of, out of sorts, just toning in what I know, I know where to go, but sometimes I don't go there the right way. So just making sure my technique is dialed in to the team. Now you're two of the big 12, obviously the big 12 season will start to kick off a little bit later on, but what it sets you most about playing in the big 12 once again. It's just the competition week in, week out and, and the places we go and travel and see, it's going to be fun. Now I've gotten a sense from talking to different guys, con or coaches on a, that there's a quiet confidence with this bunch. Would you, is that kind of what you sense from this team is that they're looking forward? For sure. For sure. I mean, there's not much to say. It's just, it's football. We got to get out there and do it anyway. So, yeah. That is Waylon Lappuahoe. And folks, we have had Clark Barrington as our player guest via an NIL deal here on this show. The past two seasons, obviously upcoming as well with con or pay has been absolutely a delight to have him on the show, could we make it three for three with Waylon Lappuahoe as our next, a player co-host via an NIL contract? I'm really, really impressed with Waylon. He's got a lot of personality, was a delightful, delightful interview to hear from him, and I really enjoyed that. I guess that I did not know necessarily what to expect when I requested a chance to catch up with him, but hey, con or not to put you on the spot, but man, Waylon's coming for your spot, man, that was really, really fun to catch up with Waylon, and best of luck to him and his teammates this upcoming season. Waylon's got a lot to prove, but I've just put it this way. Talking with some people, not con or not anybody I mentioned on today's show, but people involved with the BYU Football program, they think Waylon Lappuahoe is going to take essentially kind of that next step and really make himself a bonafide NFL draft prospect this season. We'll see if it comes to fruition, but I really, really like that young man. I really appreciate him carving out some time to join us here on the podcast. All right, we'll finish up today's show with your questions. Our weekly mailbag edition, we'll get into what you guys want to talk about coming up next as we roll on right here on Lockdown Cougars. Today's show is brought to you by our friends over at Five Hour Energy. Now, if you're trying to avoid the mid-afternoon crash, five hour energy could be the option for you. Research shows that more than 70%, 7-0% of us reach the wall after lunch. Let a five hour energy shot help you get over that wall instead of crashing into it. 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Be having some conversations and the upcoming season obviously during games and like. I think I have one on one interaction with myself via text message. Join the locked on Cougars insider group today. The link is in the show notes whether you're watching and or listening to this. Join us an opportunity to win BYU football and basketball tickets and the like. We got you covered top to bottom. Join us in the locked on Cougars insider group. 14 day free trial. Let's see if it's the right option for you and then just $5 a month afterwards. We've got a really really good group of people have joined this group and hope that many more of you will be joining in the coming days. If not right now pause the show join it and then we can move on along with the podcast. All right questions today come from a locked on Cougars insider group for the mailbag. First one comes in from our good friend Kent asked this I would like to know if the strength and conditioning with nutrition staff with nutrition is making a difference or we'll have to wait until the season is over to see. I don't think it's the way the entire season can to get a feel for that but I can tell you that BYU players have been absolutely giddy about how the strength and conditioning staff is overhauled the way they have gone about training this offseason position specific workouts a lot of stuff when it comes like offensive lineman aren't doing the same thing as wide receiver nor should they cornerbacks and defensive ends doing different things. The nice part is you have a full complement of strength and conditioning coaches five of them two sports scientists and Dr. Skyler Maine and the former BYU linebacker Colby Claus and a doctor in his own right they're doing really really good work on sports science side of things and then the nutrition team they're got I think is it 16 17 traitors literally cooking up hundreds of pounds of meat every single day they are taking care of these guys I don't think it's necessarily going to have to wait the entire season to see it show up but I can tell you right now the perception from the players is they absolutely love what's going on a similar question came in from our good friend Dennis he asked this what has the team done for improvement and conditioning and injury prevention be what you always seem to have injuries with key players most recently L.J. Martin that's a great point there but here's the deal BYU is looking at this closer and more deeply than ever before the players are wearing those trackers it's like a GPS tracker in their pads literally every single day they're out there practice they have to weigh themselves before and after practice every day to measure how much weight they lost in terms of water weight and the like this is being analyzed like I said at a deeper level than ever before a BYU they are managing workloads for guys more than ever and the biggest thing is I think they are understanding hey we need sometimes you need ease off on certain guys maybe there's a day that BYU just the players are overworked they've told the coaches hey back it off a little bit here we don't want to push these guys over the edge where they get into the zone where they might get themselves injured so you may consider that improvement maybe you think it's all bull junk as a coach prime would say but I think that is what they're looking at here the other thing is your take on the kicking game from Dennis specifically field goal distance and accuracy I think it's going to be absolutely electric because will Farron looks like he's the absolute truth at kicker for BYU kicking game question I've got is more about the punt game is Sam Vanderhardt or Landon Rico are they going to be able to kind of live up to the legacy that Ryan Rico leaves in his stead that's the big question I think they're on the kicking side of things Tyson has this a great question here what are the three must win conference games for BYU this year that are and what are two games the field BYU can make big upsets in the three must wins for me for BYU are the three that you have similar level of competition in people's eyes when it comes to these conference games speaking of Baylor Arizona State and Houston those are teams either right around or just above or below BYU in the projected standings in this conference if you want to go bowling beat the teams you're as good if not better them and those are the three that I think you absolutely have to win those are three must wins Baylor ASU and Houston you have to have those three the other two games you feel be what you can make a big upset in Arizona when they come to Provo that could be a big opportunity for BYU it's still a new staff and they got a star in Noah Fafida as well as Taterova McMillan at wide receiver but they're coming to Provo get a win upset Arizona I'm also keeping an eye on Kansas State Avery Johnson for everything that he is at Kansas State he has literally never played a road game as the starting quarterback at Kansas State his first career start on the road Provo Utah Lavelle Edward Stadium can you make his life a nightmare that night and get an upset win there you're really fun to see that but I think there's a couple others out there I also look at Oklahoma State coming in on a Friday night who knows what happens in that game but those are the ones I'm looking at Tyson just in terms of what you're asking there Jaden Nastas is a rod speaking of Aaron Roderick saying is a clear cut starter increase your confidence in Jake's progress or is he simply talking to talk my understanding of what I know about Aaron Roderick he didn't necessarily like to talk to talk that's just not Aaron style typically I actually take it as he is got confidence that if it is Jake like I expected to be that he absolutely has fended off a really really admirable a bid to take a starting job away from Gary Bohannon Gary gave it everything he could in training camp and there was a period there where people I was talking to our practice in Saturday like to call him were telling me Jake the real realistic possibility at this point that Gary could be the starter come the season Jake did not back away from that battle in fact he came out and he pushed harder than ever and won that job back that should encourage you and now practice versus game two different things we all get that but I do think it is it's increased confidence in my opinion that Jake's progress is legitimate we'll see what happens Michael do you think be why you can realistically get to 35 point Saturday well heck I sure hope so this is an FCS game I know that 14 nothing last year in Sam Houston state has left some of you probably thinking hey they're gonna struggle in this game like I said the start of today's show be why you need to go out there and lay the hammer down on this opponent there will be boobers let's say it's like seven nothing at halftime you will have people booing BYU off the field I've got zero doubt about that BYU needs to put up a very very good performance so yeah I think they can realistically get to 35 points and I'll just say this they better that's the other part of that for you Michael all right let's see rolling on here question from Tyson here what is your single measure success in game one mine is whether the starters are on the field by the five-minute mark of the third quarter be always had a bad habit of taking too long to put bad teams away in recent years which requires them to put unnecessary mileage on starters which I believe it influenced injury risk as the season went on it's a very good point I said it'll earlier Tyson I'd like to see this game where be why you goes out there and like by halftime telling Jake hey you can go put your sweatpants on we're good here that's what I want to see from BYU I think the single measure success is yes you don't screw around with Southern Illinois make it just a walk in the park for lack of a better expression go out there handle your business and show this as a team as you mentioned that is not going to have a slow start that's easier said than done from a guy like me who's an analyst doing a podcast but BYU I think understands that they've got to show folks they mean business this year and you cannot have a slow start be really really disappointing to have that happen if it were to happen alright good question here from Brandon hey James listen to your podcast with regards to the quarterbacks and so forth the thing I've been thinking with Jake Redsloff as the starters that I look at the Oklahoma state and Oklahoma games which were big games other than the hundred yard interception return I thought speaking of Jake he played great not extraordinary but he moved the offense and got us in position to win both games the defense was not able to hold when they needed to Oklahoma State I thought he played great and improved dramatically and when it counted he got us right down the field and was a fumble by his own receivers actually tied in his Isaac Rex that ended that drive so I felt like he played the end of a very good friend personally he reminds me a lot on a John Beck obviously a different throwing motion that looks much improved from last year but his personality and growing pains remind me of John I could see him really growing this season I don't think that's a bad point by Brandon there now the career trajectory for John Beck is that he was a conference player the year and a second round draft pick in the NFL draft is that the arc that Jake Redsloff is on well he's gonna have to get it going very very quick if he wants to be at that level but remember John Beck is a guy who famously got roasted by opposing fan bases for crying because of his passion for BYU football and a loss and he was in no for when he did that John Beck ended up as one of the all-timers at BYU could Jake Redsloff a follow that same career arc maybe so but I think that proving you can do that starts tomorrow night against Southern Illinois final question here Jensen asked this actually I have two more questions I apologize there's two here Jensen asked us what are your thoughts on Colorado after tonight's game still very much a flawed team really really elite skilled players should or Sanders is elite Travis Hen or IQ the touchdown one of those the third touchdown he had of the three that that defender had him was draped all over him seemingly he didn't have any hands to catch the ball and he still finds a way to catch it they've got elite skill talent speaking of Colorado but they're still fatally flawed their trench play is still not where it needs to be so I've got questions about what the real efficacy long term is of Colorado but uh just kind of where I stand on that I don't think they're necessarily great but they're also not awful and the the Hail Mary from North Dakota State going only to the five-yard line when you know you need to throw it in the end zone eh you deal with it some good some bad but they got the win so I think that Colorado be happy about it as they move along but I just don't think Colorado is what some people are pumping them up to be I just I just don't see it but am I a hater am I going to be banned by coach prime for saying that maybe so but hey we'll move along and handle our business on that front by the way one of the thing real quick a couple of games this weekend in terms of just if you want to watch if you're a BYU fan other big games Clemson and Georgia tomorrow morning 10 a.m. number 14 versus number one Penn State in West Virginia big 12 conference mate Mountaineers hosting one of the big 10 powers out in Morgan town that's also a 10 a.m. kickoff if you want to tune into those give me a Clemson to cover the spread in that game and give me West Virginia upset Penn State I think West Virginia's got something cooked up for the nanny lines I'd love to see that happen a couple other games I'm going to be keeping an eye on because I'm just a college football junkie out there Notre Dame Texas A&M it's just a weird feel for this game I think that Notre Dame gets the win on the road but they're going to Kyle field it's a tough place to play down there in college station but I'm interested to see how they handle their business speaking of Notre Dame on the road and then also I'm looking at USC and LSU it's Sunday night at Lavelle and not Lavelle's ever seen a legion stadium in Las Vegas Trojans and Tigers a lot of turnover at the quarterback positions respectively obviously with both quarterbacks being taken in the first round I think the USC is going to be an interesting test case can Lincoln Riley actually get a defense that can do really anything TBD but until then give me LSU for the win in Las Vegas but it should be an interesting one I can USC where they have less travel obviously making this shorter trip up I I 15 quote unquote to Las Vegas whereas LSU's got to take a pretty lengthy a plane ride to Sin City a couple of games to keep an eye on it's just my kind of my picks for the week if you will on the podcast but I think it's going to be an interesting interesting weekend in college football I just I love sitting back and watching college games had a great time last night watching college football and plan to do that tonight and also tomorrow when I'm out there at La the KSL sports zone I really hear myself and Alex Keras BYU pre and post game coverage so tune in five o'clock on the pre game show live from Cafe Rio in Provo if you want to stop on by and say hi look see you guys give it fist bump and get you on your way over to watch the game and also post game will be out there at Cafe Rio as well breaking down whatever happens in this game and then once I'm done with radio we'll do a postcast edition of the podcast as well here for you guys so plenty plenty to cover alright that's a little bit of a super size edition of the podcast I just looked at the timer oops alright nonetheless a big thank you as always for you guys support of the podcast cannot thank you guys enough for everything that you do to support the show it really doesn't mean the world to me but enjoy football it's an incredible time it is back everybody and of course BYU real quick score prediction give me like BYU 41 Southern Illinois 13 how about that 41 13 that's my prediction and we will see what happens if it comes to fruition if you want to share your predictions drop them in the comments below or tweet at us or send us via social media let us know what you're expecting to see from BYU against SIU at La Vela Edwards Stadium tomorrow night alright that's it big thank you as once again to all of you for making your first view and or listen to the day and always a big thank it to all of you who are every day is with us right here on the locked on cougars podcast you've heard us talk a lot about fan duel America's number one sports book while we have something a little different for you now through September 22nd all fan duel customers can bet five dollars and get a three week free trial of NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV then with a YouTube TV based plan you'll be able to watch every regular season Sunday afternoon out of market game all you need is a Google account and current form of payment and you can cancel anytime just visit fan duel dot 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