Describe Their Offseason In Three Words: Offense Edition

I'm going to shamelessly steal an idea from ESPN (let's be honest, they shamelessly stole this idea from someone else). Today, the day following the Super Bowl, the Worldwide Leader released way-too-early power rankings for the next NFL season. The ranking itself is whatever, but for each team, they had a 'Describe This Offseason In Three Words' section and that's what I'm stealing today.

Let's go position-by-position now that Signing Day is over and describe each BYU position group's offseason in three words. Today we start with the offense.

Quarterback

Describe The Offseason In Three Words: Kill Mr. Hyde

In 2024, Jake Retzlaff did what most of us didn't believe he could do in 2023 - win football games in the Big 12 Conference. His moments of brilliance were brilliant. His performances in the clutch were (mostly) really positive. The final drive to beat Oklahoma State was near-perfect. The final drive against Utah will go down in BYU lore forever. The drive against SMU was exactly what he needed to do at the end of a game where he didn't have his best stuff working. Retzlaff did some great things for BYU and that should provide a ton of excitement and encouragement going forward. When Retzlaff is good, he's really good.

But there is another side of Retzlaff - an evil side that nobody wants to see. It's a side capable of going 12/21 for 151, 0 TDs, and 2 picks in a bowl game. Or a side that goes 18/28 for 192, 1 TD, and one of the worst attempts at an endzone fade since LaVell Edwards invented throwing the football. Retzlaff's bad is still very, very bad.

His primary objective this offseason has to be to find a way to unleash more Dr. Jeckyl and kill Mr. Hyde. If BYU is going to get to where they couldn't get last year - a Big 12 Championship - they need more consistency from Retzlaff.

He finished the year with just 12 big-time throws to 18 turnover-worthy plays. He finished with a completion percentage of 57.9%. That ratio and that completion percentage have to improve.

If he gets close to 18 big-time throws and 12 turnover-worthy plays then BYU will be a serious contender next season. Is that possible? Well, Kedon Slovis was 12:11 in '23, Jaren Hall was 22:12 in '22 and 21:7 in '21, and Zach Wilson was 31:4 in '20, 17:15 in '19, 13:7 in '18. It can be done at BYU. It has been done at BYU. In fact, it should probably be expected to be done at BYU. This is BYU for crying out loud.

So, death to Mr. Hyde. We only want to get to know the good doctor.

Running Back

Describe The Offseason In Three Words: Keep On Truckin'

BYU's running back going into last season had some question marks. LJ Martin was hurt and BYU didn't go to the portal to bring in new players. Fans looked at a depth chart with the oft-injured Hinckley Ropati, a true freshman Pokai Haunga, and some walk-on named Sione Moa and got really worried about running back production.

Once the season came, all of that worry was for naught. BYU's running backs were really good.

Martin is a star. He needs to stay healthy for a full season, but when he's on the field he's really good. Given the expectations that were placed on his shoulders, it's easy to forget that he was only in his second year at BYU last season. Tyler Allgeier was playing linebacker during his second season at BYU. Martin is still young and his best football is still ahead of him.

Moa emerged as a great option for BYU, showing burst and physicality that drew comparisons to guys like Paul Lasike from the past. Haunga was able to preserve his redshirt but he showed some burst and ability in the games he played that reminded some people of a really young Reno Mahe. Enoch Nawahine proved he could be productive. BYU has some really talented backs in the room. They're all young and they just need to keep getting better. If they do, BYU is in good shape.

The Cougars also beat out Wisconsin for Cale Breslin. Expectations should be tempered for a true freshman, but the Las Vegas native has a ton of talent.

Just keep on truckin', running backs.

Wide Receivers

Describe The Offseason In Three Words: Find A Breakout

We know what to expect from Chase Roberts. He is BYU's top dog at wide receiver and will be for another season. His only goal for the offseason is to get healthy and to stay healthy.

But who is behind him? Who is the definitive WR2 on next year's roster? Is it Keelan Marion sliding into a bigger role? Is it Jojo Phillips being the big play threat that Darius Lassiter was last season? Is it Cody Hagen and his immense amount of talent? Is it Parker Kingston's versatility? What about Lamason Waller making an instant impact? And Dom McKenzie isn't exactly a scrub either...

You get the point. Behind Roberts, the pecking order is unclear. In terms of depth, that's a good thing for BYU. But in terms of developing chemistry and game plans, you kind of want to know who your best guys are and how to get them on the field. Someone needs to break out this year.

For my dollar, it's Hagen who has the biggest opportunity in front of him. Phillips and Marion will absolutely have their role and Kingston will continue to be a big piece of what BYU does, but it's Hagen who could completely change the way the offense functions.

Either way, someone needs to step into the WR2 role and set the pace for the rest of the room.

Tight Ends

Describe The Offseason In Three Words: Show A Pulse

I'm a believer in Carsen Ryan. He has the tools to be the guy that brings tight ends back to BYU.

BUT JEFF... A-ROD DOESN'T USE TIGHT ENDS BECAUSE HE'S AN INCOMPETENT IDIOT THAT FORGETS THEY EXIST AND THAT'S ONE OF THE FORTY-EIGHT REASONS HE NEEDS TO BE FIRED!

If we breathe together, we're going to get through this section. *inhale*

Roderick will use tight ends when there are tight ends that are good enough in all phases of being a tight end to command reps. *exhale*

Don't say it! I already know Ryner Swanson was very good and I already know he looked good in the bowl game. He also had some injuries throughout the year and he also wasn't great as a blocker so early in his career. If I, a bald dude elbow-deep into a bag of chips on his couch, knew that the ball was going to #80 when he was on the field, surely opposing defensive coordinators did too. Swanson's potential is sky-high. In 2024, he was limited to a pass catcher. *inhale*

No other tight end deserved to be a focal point of the offense last year. But Ryan if changes that, you'll see tight end usage. It's really that simple. *exhale*

I believe he can. He's shown he's an athlete at UCLA. He's shown he can block as an in-line TE at Utah. He's shown he can catch at both places. Do I think he's going to be Brock Bowers? No. But I do think he's the best tight end that BYU has had in the last half-decade. *inhale*

If he and the rest of the tight end room can show a pulse, BYU fans will once again see the beloved tight end position in Provo. *exhale*

Offensive Line

Describe The Offseason In Three Words: Find Some Tackles

I think this one is pretty simple, really. BYU lost Caleb Etienne and Brayden Keim to graduation. BYU needs two players to replace them.

Batta bing, batta boom, newsletter over.

Okay... more context.

Andrew Gentry has to get healthy. If he's healthy, pencil him in as a starter. But, I couldn't count on that health happening in time for spring ball. Liz Frank, that harlot, is not someone that goes away easily. And neither are lisfranc injuries. Gentry has his work cut out for him.

Isaiah Jatta has to get healthy too. He seems like he's well on his way, but he needs reps. The former Colorado tackle played some last year, but he got hurt quickly. He really doesn't have too many reps at OT in his FBS career. Spring ball is important for him. As such, so is his health.

Austin Leausa is a better tackle than most realize. He's played something like 1200 snaps at tackle in college - mostly at SUU - and proved he can hang against Colorado. BYU seems to want to keep Leausa inside if they can swing it but he might have to be prepared to play outside.

After that, who steps up? Jake Griffin? Kaden Chidester? Are they ready after multiple years in the program? Ethan Thomason? Is he ready as a returned missionary? Joe Brown? Is he ready as a returned missionary coming off an additional ACL injury?

BYU has got to have more than three guys, especially if the top three guys are both coming off injuries and the third guy takes reps at guard.

BYU has gots to finds some tackles.