Can BYU stop the run in Kelly Poppinga’s first season as defensive coordinator?
· Yahoo Sports
After BYU’s defense was riddled for a lot of yards and points by its offense in the Cougars’ first scrimmage of preseason training camp last Saturday, head coach Kalani Sitake said the defensive coaches were “more angry” and “always mad” and suggested they spend the remainder of the weekend relaxing and going to church.
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No word yet on whether that prescription worked, other than the hint from new defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga that the entire group was sufficiently humbled enough to make sure the next scrimmage turns out differently.
In particular, BYU’s defense needs to stop the run to be effective in 2026, Poppinga said. That’s the antidote the defense used the past two seasons under the departed Jay Hill (now at Michigan) to become one of the better defenses in the country.
After the 2023 season, BYU’s first in the Big 12 and his first in Provo, Hill said stopping the run would be his defense’s No. 1 priority in 2024, and he delivered.
Poppinga plans to continue the tradition.
“To me, good defense always starts with the run game and being able to hold that number under 3 yards (per carry),” Poppinga said. “So if a (scheme or play call) is not holding opponents to 3 yards or less in the run game, there’s something either we have to fix or something we have to get rid of.”
Poppinga said that number is more important to him than number of sacks, turnovers forced, or the like.
“Usually, if you don’t stop the run, you don’t win,” he said last spring when discussing his defensive philosophy. “It all starts there.”
Last year, the Cougars were No. 30 in the country in fewest yards allowed per rushing attempt, 3.73 yards per carry. In 2024, when BYU had what Poppinga called “one of the best defenses in the country,” it allowed 3.8 yards per rush, ranking No. 33 in the nation.
Obviously, those are winning numbers, as BYU went 23-4 overall the past two seasons.
Poppinga said BYU’s pass and rush defense are in similar spots right now — trending upward, but with room for improvement.
“I think we’ve been really stout some days and at times in the run game, and I think we’ve been really sticky in coverage at times, too, and executed our coverage as well,” he said.
“With Bear (Bachmeier), you’re gonna get exposed if you’re not really sticky in coverage. … There’s little things here and there we got to clean up, but I feel really good.”
He continued: “I think our back end guys are very good players, all experienced, and I think our rush is as good as it’s been. We have more guys to pressure the quarterback this year than we’ve had in the past, so I just feel like the balance of that has been really good to be able to stop the run and be able to stop the pass.”
Who’s on the BYU interior defensive line?
Stopping the run takes a total team effort, but most of the onus is on the interior defensive line. Not only do those guys plug gaps, but they also swallow up blocks and allow linebackers to roam free and make tackles.
If experience matters, BYU should be in great shape because projected starters in the three interior line positions are all seniors: Bodie Schoonover (non-rushing defensive end), Keanu Tanuvasa (defensive tackle) and Justin Kirkland (nose tackle).
The primary backups are junior Viliami Po’uha, senior Anisi Purcell and freshman Ulavai Fetuli.
“Everybody on the defensive line is an outstanding player, I am just going to say that,” Kirkland said. “It goes through the whole room. You can’t help but to be impressed.”
The primary rush ends, who are in the group coached by Chad Kauha’aha’a, are sophomore Nusi Taumoepeau and junior Tausili Akana.
Tanuvasa has said the front seven is so loaded this year that it should get “around 50 sacks,” a boast that drew a chuckle from Poppinga.
“That’s a lot of sacks. … Anything in the 40s is exceptional,” he said. “If you are in the 50s, that’s record-breaking right there.”
BYU had 30 sacks last year, No. 62 in the nation in that category. Almost every key contributor from the 2025 defensive line returns, with the exception of John Taumoepeau and Logan Lutui.
Kirkland said one of the big reasons why no top defensive linemen went into the transfer portal is defensive line coach Sione Po’uha and senior defensive analyst Gary Andersen.
“I love them. They are phenomenal coaches,” Kirkland said. “Not only at football, but just life in general and being a better man. … Coach Po’uha is a big mentor of mine, and just watching how he reacts to everything, how he moves through life, and the situations he goes through, he just pours love into us.
“That makes it really easy and encouraging for us to do the same thing with our teammates. We stay humble and hungry and lead with love.”
Regarding the defensive line, Poppinga said there are six or seven guys who would be starters at other schools, and the plan is to rotate frequently to keep fresh bodies on the field.
“We can be pretty stout, but we are also pretty athletic at the same time,” he said. “With the experience they got last year, Bodie and Vili are going to bring another level of experience, but also quickness and athleticism.
“We need to own the line of scrimmage. If we can do that, we will be good.”
And be able to stop the run — just like his predecessor did.