Camp Cougar, Day 7


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On a sunny, hot Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium, the BYU football team ran through its first scrimmage of training camp--roughly 80 plays that head coach Bronco Mendenhall said gave him "a good assessment" of his players with opening day at Nebraska now three weeks away.

Asked what he learned on Saturday, Mendenhall said "I would say defensively the execution and assignments have taken a huge step forward in terms of preventing big plays and keeping points down."

"The first week," says Mendenhall "it had been kind of shifted more offensively, where big plays and balls were going over top of us and around us, and offensive points had been probably the strength of the week."

"It looks like the defense caught up today, to assignments and leverage, and getting an idea of Taysom...and good receivers. I think it shifted a little bit back today. I was still encourage by Taysom."

Hill directed the only two scoring drives of the day, and finished the scrimmage 13-for-20 passing for 194 yards and a touchdown (43 yards) pass to Nick Kurtz. On the first drive of the day, Kurtz bobbled and dropped what would have been a long scoring strike from Hill.

Backup Tanner Mangum was 4-for-10 through the air, for 47 yards, with two interceptions. A 62-yard scoring toss to Colby Pearson was wiped out by a holding call.

Quarterbacks Beau Hoge and Koy Detmer, Jr. accounted for three completions in nine attempts; overall, 14 players were responsible for the combined total of 20 receptions, with Kurtz (3 receptions, 60 yards, TD) and Terenn Houk (3 receptions, 40 yards) leading the way.

WR Mitch Mathews (hernia surgery) did not practice today; he expects to return to the field next week.

Held out for contingency purposes were center Tejan Koroma, running back Algie Brown and nose tackle Travis Tuiloma. Receiver Moroni Laulu-Pututau was sidelined for most of the day with soreness and was not observed taking any live snaps.

"Really a unique test for our offense today," said Mendenhall. "as we held out Tejan Koroma at center, so there was a huge emphasis to (see) what happens if Tejan is not in there, and what that looks like."

"There were a few protection issues...which could have contributed to the pass game also. The inside matchup we tried to make neutral (without Tuiloma)."

With Hill not running downfield and without both Brown and Koroma, the run game was not featured, as Adam Hine's 21 yards on three carries paced the running backs; Francis Bernard ran the ball five times for 22 yards. The offense gained 71 yards on 18 carries, an average of 3.9 yards per rush.

"I would like to see more run defense and more consistency in the run game, in terms of volume," Mendenhall said after the scrimmage. "That hasn't been our focus to this point. We're going to need a little bit more work in there and probably pretty quickly so (we minimize) dings and injuries before we play (Nebraska in the season opener). We need to get a little bit more physical."

The defense was physical to the tune of seven 'whistle' sacks, three pass break-ups and two picks. Mendenhall identified inside linebacker Manoa Pikula (two sacks, four tackles) and cornerback Michael Shelton (tackle, interception) as "emerging" standouts after one week of camp.

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Kickers had a generally positive day, with punters Jonny Linehan and Rhett Almond having shaken off some early-week jitters with a more consistently productive performance on Saturday. Both players punted using straight-back and rugby approaches. In the return game, Eric Takenaka, Devon Blackmon, Mitchell Juergens and Trey Dye all got reps catching punts; "Returners still need work," said Mendenhall.

Kickoffs got some scrimmage attention, with Almond and Austin Brasher handling the kick duties. Adam Hine and Takenaka were the kick-return tandem on the field Saturday.

Placekickers were busy, with Mendenhall observing that he "got a great chance to see the kicking game today."

"Trevor (Samson) continues to kick the field goals really well," Mendenhall said, "in terms of accuracy and percentage." Samson made all of his kicks, splitting the uprights from 26, 27, 28, 38 and 51 yards--with no misses, in addition to making his lone PAT attempt.

Brasher got three looks at a 51-yard FG, and made his third and final attempt.

*******

SCRIMMAGE QUOTES AND NOTES

Mendenhall on...

Sitting a handful of key players on Saturday:

"There are a few players on my team where current depth and impact (mean) the risk-reward wasn't worth it to me. It's probably the most plays we'll do with the most significant players, until we play (Nebraska). The closer we get, the fewer plays and fewer significant players will be live."

Absence of CB Micah Hannemann with an undisclosed medical situation:

"(He's out) not because of his health but because of more tests the (doctors) want to run, and correspondence between doctors. I still don't anticipate it being a big deal, even thought it has been a week. It's just a really unique circumstance with communication with different doctors wanting different tests and wanting to get a consensus."

One-game suspension for linebacker Sione Takitaki after on-campus theft charges:

"(Takitaki suspension) was maybe seven or ten days old. I'd really like to keep things private as much as possible, when I can, but also when it's time to announce it, or others find out or there are stories, then I try to just announce it and get through with it when the situation calls for it. I thought that was the case with Sione. He'll miss the Nebraska game, pending anything else that might happen before then."

Effect of Takitaki suspension on the team:

"It helps the team gain confidence in our system, our structure, our accountability and consistency. You have to do what you're supposed to do."

Balancing usage of permissible practice periods with need to remain healthy:

"We're going to do all that we're allowed, but (two-a-days) will be light. College two-a-days are long--the season is long, and the depth is limited. With all that, for most coaches, it just doesn't make a lot of sense. You have to modify it some way to keep your best players healthy and trained at the same time. You can't sustain (the grind)."

Coaching dynamic with defensive players:

"They're much more confident with me; they know now what to expect and how (the defense) is going to be run, and I'm getting to know them better, not only individually, but where to put each player and what they can and can't do...it's just a work in progress, but I'm more comfortable today then I have been."

How many defensive players should be expected in the top-line mix:

"I'm not ready to say how many players are going to play, but traditionally when I'm coaching a defense about 15 play significantly. I'm not sure it will be any different than that, but if it is, it might be up front, because there seem to be more linebackers and defensive linemen."

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In addition to Pikula and Shelton, Mendenhall singled out wide receiver Josh Weeks and quarterback Tanner Mangum for impressive opening weeks.

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Linebacker Butch Pau'u also intercepted Mangum, accounting for the defense's second pick on the day.

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Without Koroma, the offensive line depth on Saturday looked like this:

LT: Mathews, Nwigwe, Tanoa'i

LG: Gulley, Mulitalo, Hofheins

C: Johnson, Dawe, Jimenez

RG: Lapuaho, Denucci, Davis

RT: Wilcox, Hoyt, Rawlinson

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Defensive depth (without Tuiloma):

DE: Kaufusi, Rowley, Kaumatule, Savage

NT: Tausinga, Mounga, Andrus

DE: Taele, Peck, Laulile, Ingersoll

OLB (tandems): Kautai/Tautu, Warner/Lesatele, Huntsman/Takitaki, Sandlin/Cook

ILB (tandems): Pikula/Leuta-Douyere, Langi/Pulsipher, Niumatalolo/Pau'u

CB (tandems): Preator/Davis, Shelton/Powell, Simon/Brent

S (tandems): Takenaka/Nacua, Hadley/Jones, Wadsworth/Badger, also Anderson

*******

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

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Greg Wrubell

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