BYU quarterback Max Hall talks UNLV, early success

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

BYU quarterback Max Hall looks to pass against Oklahoma, on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, in Arlington, Texas.

By Rob Miech (contact)

Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 | 3:40 p.m.

With 25 victories to his credit, BYU quarterback Max Hall is second on the Cougars’ career list. Ty Detmer, who threw from 1988-91, has 30 wins.

Hall, a 6-foot-1 senior from Mesa, Ariz., who transferred from Arizona State, takes on the brittle defense of UNLV (2-3, 0-1 in the Mountain West Conference) Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.

The Cougars (4-1, 1-0) are ranked 18th in the country.

Hall is ninth in the country with 1,403 passing yards, and his 9.17 yards per attempt are better than all of those other eight throwers except for Greg Alexander of Hawaii. Hall has 11 touchdown passes, and 10 of his passes have been intercepted this season.

Tuesday afternoon, Hall took some time to answer questions from several reporters. Here is the question-and-answer session:

Question: On the tape of UNLV’s game with UNR, what opportunities did you see on the Rebels’ defense that you and your offense can take advantage of?

Answer: “Obviously, watching tape, you find things you want to do, things that work well with our offense. I don’t think the outcome of that game does justice to UNLV. A lot of those points happened late in the game. UNR did expose some things on UNLV’s defense. One thing I’ve noticed, everyone we’ve played, except for Oklahoma, played us differently than they usually play. Last year, UNLV played a ‘cover two’ zone with a little man on the goalline. We just have to prepare for everything. There are a few things we can take advantage of, and will want to, in our game plan.”

Q: Do you think UNLV might blitz often?

A: “I don’t know. I have a hard time answering that question because of all the different looks teams are giving us right now. Last year, with their ‘Tampa Two,’ they tried to defend the pass. They also did a lot of things to stop the run game, like bringing safeties in the box. I do expect them to play zone, with a little man. For sure, they’ll put guys back to stop the pass.”

Q: Have teams been blitzing you more?

A: “Not this year. They did, a lot, last year. I think I got pretty good picking it up and realizing where it’s coming from. This year, teams are dropping more into coverage and trying to stop us that way, and hoping the front four gets pressure on me to force passes. I don’t know what to expect. I think there will be more coverage than blitzes, but I have to prepare for everything.”

Q: Is it less distracting not being so spotlighted in the Heisman race?

A: “Last year, I was kind of in that spotlight. This year, I haven’t paid as much attention to it. I’m having a blast playing football and playing with this team. For some reason, we’re closer together. I just feel like we’re out there playing for, and with, each other. It’s fun to go out on Friday nights or Saturday afternoons and playing … not focusing on national attention as much or what everyone is saying. I’m really enjoying the experience of being a senior and being with my teammates.”

Q: BYU is a regular in the Las Vegas Bowl and has many fans here, so does Sam Boyd Stadium feel like a second home?

A: “I hope so. We have a large following in Nevada. The Hall family is from Nevada, so I have a lot of family there. And, hopefully, there will be a lot of blue shirts there. We’ve played there a bunch. Hopefully, we’re comfortable in that stadium. I’m looking forward to getting back there and playing UNLV.”

Q: How much will not having receiver McKay Jacobson, who is out with a hamstring, affect your offense Saturday?

A: “Well, McKay was a guy who was capable of making big plays for us. He’s fast, and he has good hands. He’s able to stretch the defense a little bit better than Luke (Ashworth) and O’Neill (Chambers). I think Luke and O’Neill do a fine job. I thought Luke had a great game Friday night. We’ll still be able to stretch the defense, but we’ll miss McKay however long he’s out. The sooner we get him back the better, but I think we’ll be fine with the guys we have.”

Q: How have you held up, physically, this season?

A: “I feel great, man. This year, I’ve focused more on trying to keep my body in shape. I’ve continued lifting and staying in good shape. Last year, I kind of stopped doing that. I think that hurt toward the end of last season. Now I make sure I’m eating right and doing the right things.”

Q: What does senior running back Manase Tonga, who sat out 2008 to make up academic work, bring to the team?

A: “We are a totally different team with No. 11 on the field. I don’t think there’s any question about the energy, excitement and physical nature he brings to the offense. He does a great job lead blocking and running, and catching. He gives us that spark we need. I talked to him this morning. I said, ‘I can’t say how happy I am that you did what you needed to do to get back out on the field.’ We’re blessed to have him, and thankful.’

Q: What about your offensive line?

A: “They’re studs. I think they’re the surprise of the team. No one expected those guys to come in and play how they have. They’re not only protecting me but they’re powering the run game. They’re physical. They get after people, and they have fun. Man, I like being behind those guys. I feel 100 percent confident. R.J. (Willing) is doing a great job directing traffic. Terence Brown brings excitement. They’re knocking guys down. They have a competition each week; who has the most knockdowns. It’s just a fun group of guys to be around.”

Q: What did the loss to Florida State teach the Cougars?

A: “We learned there might be a game where teams match us every score, or we have to be good on every series on offense ... I think we got out of ourselves. We tried throwing downfield, out of rhythm, and that caused turnovers. We learned some valuable lessons. I think it was a good thing we learned those lessons early in the year, to get better for later in the year. The defense has played better. If they play like they did Friday night and have fun, we’ll be OK.”