Camp Cougar, Day 16


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Wednesday marked the informal end of BYU football training camp, with a final day of two-a-days signalling a transition from the practice grind to the installation of a game plan for the season opener at Nebraska on September 7.

Head coach Bronco Mendenhall said Wednesday morning's session was his "favorite practice of fall camp...we just looked really good offensively and defensively, really competitive."

"The ball was swinging back and forth," said Mendenhall, "(with) healthy players looking fast and a sense of optimism going into Nebraska. I really liked what I just saw."

Mendenhall originally planned for a scaled-down scrimmage on Wednesday afternoon, but said he no longer saw the need for a third such exercise in camp, "based on our evaluation of where our team is."

"I liked what I saw," said Mendenhall. "We're healthy, we're fast, we look physical, so it doesn't seem like there's a reason to (hold a third scrimmage)."

Quarterback Taysom Hill echoed his coach's sentiments, noting that "the scrimmages are more for the younger guys who haven't been in the stadium, haven't been live or had full contact."

"There is certainly a lot of value to it," said Hill of scrimmaging, "but for the guys who have been here for a number of years, the grind and all the work has taken place on the practice field. I would say that's where we're making the biggest strides."

After two and a half weeks of August practices, Hill pronounced this year's preseason regimen "the best fall camp that I've been a part of."

"Maybe I'm a little biased because I'm a senior," Hill said Wednesday, "but I love our team. I think we're extremely unified and we battle hard, but instead of allowing those battles on the field to carry over off the field we've allowed it to unify us and there is mutual respect from everybody."

"I think everybody is looking forward to next week and playing Nebraska."

Asked about his season-opening foe, Mendenhall said that "I don't know anything right now. I've put zero time in. My staff has done initial background work, but I work much better focusing on our own team first."

"Tomorrow, I'll look (at Nebraska)."

When Mendenhall starts to dive into game prep, he'll anticipate schemes that he has seen before from Nebraska head coach Mike Riley and coordinators Danny Langsdorf (offense) and Mark Banker (defense). Those three were together at Oregon State when BYU and the Beavers faced off three times between 2009 and 2012, with the Cougars winning two of the three meetings.

"That will be one of the reference points that we'll use," Mendenhall said, "and I'm sure they will as well--the Oregon State/BYU games. We played three times with these staff members, so I look forward to it. There might be some differences, but (it's) a good starting point."

Asked about what he anticipates in Lincoln, Hill said of Nebraska, "I think they're going to be big and physical, and it's tough to beat a team like that on the road, but...I think we're very capable of it and we know what we have ahead of us. We've been preparing for it."

Mendenhall said for the time being, he's less concerned with the Cornhuskers than he is his own team.

"Whenever you make a mistake," Mendenhall observed, "it's to focus too much on your opponent. The first game is still mostly about us and how we execute. I don't think the game plan is really what controls the opener--it's usually how well you've prepared your own team."

To that end, Mendenhall says training camp work has been as effective as during any camp over which he has presided in Provo.

"The team was more prepared," said Mendenhall. "We could go faster, harder, longer, and that was because of our Human Performance staff. They did a really good job. We got more done in less time."

Asked to compare the relative health of his squad at the stage of camp compared to previous versions, Mendenhall said "I think we're healthier."

"I don't have any of the numbers right now to say 'these are the comparisons,' but I think it's overwhelmingly so."

*******

Mendenhall said the game-week depth chart will be released on Monday, with two-deep position battles still taking place at "receiver, running back, linebacker, secondary...even the defensive line."

"It's almost every position right now other than quarterback, which is a good thing."

Mendenhall said position coaches will submit their depth choices at each spot, noting that "I have the final say, but they get their first shot."

Among the players to make considerable movement in camp is freshman running back Francis Bernard. The Herriman High School product has captured the attention of Mendenhall and Hill throughout August practices.

"One of the biggest surprises in terms of a young player is Francis Bernard," said Mendenhall on Wednesday. "I really like what he has done from a freshman perspective."

"I think Francis Bernard has stepped up," Hill says. "He's one of those guys who has earned playing time. I fully expect that he'll play next week."

"He's a big physical back, a guy who doesn't shy away from contact. He can catch, he can run, and he can also be a lead blocker. I'd say he and Algie (Brown) are very similar; both are really big, physical backs. They come up and they punish you."

*******

Camp notes:

Mendenhall said that team captains should be selected by Thursday evening.

In the depth-chart tussles at punter, punt-returner and kickoff-return tandem, winners have yet to be declared. Mendenhall said Jonny Linehan and Rhett Almond remain in competition to win the starter's job at punter; he said the assessment "is not all the way solid, but solidifying." The coach said Mitchell Juergens, Eric Takenaka and Micah Hannmann are the finalists to return punts. At kickoff return, Adam Hine is a solid starter, but his running mate has yet to be determined. Mendenhall said pairing Takenaka with Hine could "possibly" happen.

Offensive lineman Kyle Johnson was not observed with the first-string offense during Wednesday morning's brief observation period. Mendenhall said Johnson "has a little bit of a back injury, but everything's good."

The projected starting lineup on the front five would consist of Ryker Mathews (LT), Johnson (LG), Tejan Koroma (C), Tuni Kanuch (RG), Ului Lapuaho (RT); Lapuaho was practicing at right tackle on Wednesday, having spent most of camp at right guard, while Kanuch recovered from injury. Hill said Kanuch has looked good the last couple of days. "For the most part, we're pretty solidified up there," said Hill about the projected front five.

WR Mitch Mathews is back on the field and catching passes in 11-on-11 periods.

Hill, asked about the opening month of the season, featuring trips to Nebraska, UCLA and Michigan, and a home game with Boise State, said "we're very capable of competing and beating all of these teams. I look at it as a lot of opportunity for us as a football program, and me individually."

*******

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

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Greg Wrubell

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