Camp Cougar, Day 4


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BYU linebacker Colby Jorgensen underwent roughly five hours of surgery on Tuesday to repair a fracture-dislocation of his cervical spine, an injury suffered during practice earlier in the day.

On Wednesday, head coach Bronco Mendenhall referenced the season-ending injury, saying "I'm much more sensitive to that (type of situation) than I ever was."

"It's really hard on me and hard on the staff and hard on the team and families," said Mendenhall. "I don't think anyone understood when it happened the severity of it, so it was just 'move the drill and keep going.' It wasn't until last night that they realized it was pretty significant."

"Watching the film (of the hit that caused the injury), you get a little feeling in your stomach, like 'that's not good,'" said linebacker Fred Warner. "It hurts. It hurts a lot. Colby is a big guy for our team, he was moving his way up the depth chart...and to see that happen to a guy, especially a neck injury like that, where it could be worse than it was, it was hard to see. But the next guy has to step up."

Warner said team members plan to visit Jorgensen on Wednesday evening. He says despite the severity of the injury, football demands a single-minded approach.

"You can never slow down, with the way we're going right now," Warner says. "We're taking steps forward, and we've got to keep going forward as fast as we can."

Mendenhall acknowledged that after four days of training camp, "injuries are starting to mount up, and that's to be expected, based on how physical it has been."

On Wednesday, BYU lost cornerback Garrett Juergens for the immediate future with a fractured clavicle. Receiver Mitch Mathews, cornerback Micah Hannemann and offensive lineman Tuni Kanuch have yet to take part in practice while recovering from pre-camp injuries.

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Wednesday morning's session was again open to the public; the team will close practices on Thursday and Friday before welcoming fans to LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday morning for the first scrimmage of camp.

"I'm encouraged by what I've seen," said Mendenhall of the team's progress through four days of work, "but certainly it's still a work in progress. The next target for a big day is Saturday's scrimmage."

Mendenhall said the Saturday goal is simply to "assess where our team is. I'm just looking for a great indicator of where we are currently as a team to then set practice and our planning for the future."

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On Wednesday, the early 11-on-11 work featured quarterback Taysom Hill making long connections with wide receiver Nick Kurtz (50 yards, leading to an Algie Brown touchdown run) and Mitchell Juergens (70-yard TD-scoring run-and-catch). Later in the scrimmage, the defense got the better of play, keeping the offense from launching any sustained drives.

"I've really seen it as kind of inconsistent on both sides," said Mendenhall of the balance between offensive and defensive impact. "There are stretches where the ball moves really quickly and in big chunks offensively, and there are stretches where it doesn't move so fast."

"I think we have really good talent offensively. I love our scheme and consistency right now is really what our focus is on, on both sides--just putting series and numbers of plays together with cleaner play and fewer mistakes and more productivity."

Offensive coordinator Robert Anae said "we'd like to do better, but regardless of the result, the guys are working hard, and that's noticeable."

"We're pushing the tempo. It's hot and there are a lot of things (the players are) fighting through. They're still hurting a little and trying to get used to that practice tempo."

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Kickers and punters had a generally positive day on Wednesday, with Trevor Samson and Austin Brasher proving reliable in field-goal attempts up to 40 yards on Wednesday. Samson made his one try from 48 yards, while Brasher missed from 49.

Mendenhall said when it comes to charting and assessing the place-kicking competition, "We're just kind of on the tip of the iceberg on that."

Punters Jonny Linehan and Rhett Almond improved after a couple of down days, with Linehan in particular booming a handful of rugby-style kicks.

Mendenhall called the punt performance "a mixed bag so far, from what I've seen in camp. Two good days, two inconsistent days."

As for impact of the decision to forego a traditional punting approach for rugby-style alignments and kicks, Mendenhall said "time will tell on that."

"It's a huge decision," Mendenhall said Wednesday "Field position is at stake, which means wins are at stake. We'll be watching that closely."

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Also being watched closely are position battles on the defensive side of the ball, where a number of top players have been identified, but few players designated clear-cut starters.

On the defensive line, ends Logan Taele and Bronson Kaufusi are essentially solidified in their spots, with Moses Kaumatule the next man in. At nose tackle, Travis Tuiloma is being pressed by Kesni Tausinga. Ends Remington Peck, Graham Rowley and Tomasi Laulile provide the next depth options.

Referencing Kaufusi's switch back to the line after a season of experimentation at linebacker, Mendenhall said "he's more natural with his hand down, especially in our scheme. He looks more at home, and he's playing it really well, currently."

Mendenhall tabbed Kaufusi and linebacker Sione Takitaki as BYU's top two pass rushers. Takitaki is one of a number of players in the mix at outside linebacker, where on Wednesday, Warner and Sae Tautu occupied to the top spots, with Jheremmya Leuta-Douyere and Manoa Pikula playing alongside one another inside. Harvey Langi, Adam Pulsipher and Butch Pau'u were also getting reps at ILB, with Austin Heder sitting out.

In the secondary, minus the injured Hannemann, the top three corners have been Michael Davis, Michael Shelton and Jordan Preator. Mendenhall said Davis "has done a really nice job, and Michael Shelton. Between those three (including Preator), because Micah Hannemann hasn't practiced yet, I like what I've seen."

As for Hannemann, a presumptive starter after spring ball, Mendenhall observed that "I don't think it will take him a long time to be back and competing, but the other three are playing well, so it's not just a given that he'll go back at number one."

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On the offensive side of the ball, the receiving corps is looking particularly deep with veterans Mitchell Juergens, Colby Pearson, Kurt Henderson and Terenn Houk leading a group awaiting the return of Mathews to the mix. In his absence, returned-missionary freshmen Moroni Laulu-Pututau and Josh Weeks have shined.

"Moroni is way ahead," said Anae. "He seems like a seasoned vet in there."

Devon Blackmon has had his moments in camp, but has also dropped a few balls he would have expected to catch. Rickey Shumway and Travis Frey are backups to have made plays in the first four days.

Tight ends are not currently a featured part of the offense; Anae says "the jury is still out to see how effective we truly can be" at that position, relative to downfield threat.

On the offensive line, seven players are being used in five spots, with Ryker Mathews and Kyle Johnson at left tackle, Johnson and Jaterrius Gulley at left guard, Tejan Koroma and Parker Dawe at center, Ului Lapuaho and Dawe at right guard, Austin Hoyt and Lapuaho at right tackle.

Gulley moved over from his nose tackle position since last season, and Anae says "he's still kind of figuring out that (guard) spot."

"Really good offensive lines, the vets, the dudes who know what they're doing...they talk to the (new) guy in real concise buzz words and then the guys picks it up and he's every bit as productive. We're still going through that with Jaterrius."

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Personnel notes: Mendenhall said running-back recruit Charles West could still at some point join the BYU program. West has been dealing with legal issues arising from a pair of offseason incidents in Texas, but Mendenhall said Wednesday that "we're hopeful Charles could join us, pending everything getting cleared up--and it looks like that has happened--in January. We'd like to consider him for next season."

Offensive lineman Figgs Hofheins and linebacker Ryan Jensen have been added to the 105-man camp roster.

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You can hear post-practice interviews from Wednesday in "Cougar Cuts," below.

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Greg Wrubell

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