Different Year, (some of the) Same Questions

In the days leading up to camp in each of the last couple of seasons, I have compiled a list of ten questions to be answered or ten issues of interest during the ensuing three weeks of workouts.

In looking back at last season's pre-camp checklist, I found that many of the same things I mentioned in the summer of 2010 will be items of note again in 2011. Let's take a look at some of last year's "Ten Things I Am Interested To See In Camp" (besides the Heaps/Nelson QB battle, which grabbed all the headlines), and see how the same questions might be posed this summer.

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2010: "Who will emerge as the top tight end?"

2011: This remains a question, as no fewer than seven tight ends will compete for playing time. Last season, BYU had zero receiving TDs from the TE spot—an incredible stat, given BYU's tight end legacy. Devin Mahina and Austin Holt will be the top two hand-on-the-ground options in 2011, with Marcus Mathews serving as a valuable weapon as a flex-tight/WR hybrid. Kaneakua Friel (first year post-mission) and Colby Jorgensen (first year post-HS) will both be seeking to acclimate, while Richard Wilson seeks an opening.

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2010: How will the safety situation play out?"

2011: The safety position is once again a focal point. Last year, it was about finding a running mate for strong safety/KAT Andrew Rich. This season, it's about finding his replacement, to play alongside free safety favorite Travis Uale. RM Daniel Sorensen did a good job securing Rich's spot in spring, but Jray Galea'i and newcomer Joe Sampson will intensify the competition in the middle secondary.

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2010: "How will speedster Drew Phillips be used?"

2011: This year, the question is not how he'll be used, but whether he'll even see the field. During Media Day, Bronco Mendenhall said Phillips' academic issues cast his camp and season participation in doubt. Phillips remains an intriguing prospect as a speed back and return specialist, but up until now, he's been a no-show.

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2010: "Will we see the return of the slot receiver position?"

2011: The "return" of the slot never truly materialized in 2010, but in 2011, I think we'll see more use of the "H" receiver—whether the shifty and exciting J.D. Falslev or even a back like J.J. DiLuigi, used in slot deployments. Other slot receiving options are jack-of-all-trades McKay Jacobson (also an X and a Z),while Matt Marshall and walk- on Cody Raymond provide camp depth.

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2010: "How quickly will the first-string front seven come together?"

2011: There are certainly enough veterans back to make the front seven an area of strength for BYU, but there were just enough injuries last season, and there are just enough newcomers this season to make chemistry a prioritized item on the to-do list.

Plenty of familiar faces return in the front three and back four, but Ian Dulan is just back off a mission, Romney Fuga and Jordan Richardson are recovering from serious knee injuries, and while players like Travis Tuiloma and Loni Fangupo shore up the nose tackle spot, the end position could use a young player or two stepping up to give needed depth.

At inside linebacker, Uona Kaveinga has yet to play a down for BYU, but looks like an instant impact player at MLB. He and projected starting BLB Brandon Ogletree both possess ideal ILB mentalities, while the top outside guys comprise potentially one of the best groups BYU has seen, with Pendleton, Van Noy, and Frazier leading the way.

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2010: "Can WR Ross Apo live up to the hype?"

2011: One year later, it's a legitimate question. In some fans' minds, Apo is halfway to the Biletnikoff Award before he has even caught a single pass, but he has yet to take an offensive snap at the FBS level. A hand injury ended his true freshman campaign in the first game, but his 2010 summer camp had been one of promise and potential. He has the tools to step in and comfortably secure the starting Z receiver spot, but he has to prove it all over again after being sideline-bound last season.

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2010: "(Who will win) the position battle at center between Terence Brown and Houston Reynolds?"

2011: Brown won that battle last summer, and as an incumbent Rimington Trophy candidate this year, the only battle will likely be for his backup spot. As for Houston Reynolds, he's a great fall-back plan, but he'll be gunning for the open right guard spot vacated by Jason Speredon.

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2010: "Which true freshman will make the greatest immediate impact?"

2011: This is an annual question that last year was answered by Juice Quezada. The sturdy, explosive back scored six touchdowns in his rookie campaign, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 5.8 yards per reception. On defense, OLB Kyle Van Noy made his debut BYU season a memorable one, with 7.5 tackles for loss, and a touchdown on a fumble return. True freshman candidates as this year's breakout rookie are led by OL Ryker Mathews, who looked right at home filling in for Matt Reynolds at left tackle this past spring.

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2010: "How badly will the injury bug bite?"

2011: Again, this is one of those questions you ask and worry about every August. Last summer, while not newly injured, Jordan Pendleton was handled with kid gloves in camp after a significant should injury the previous season. Pendleton never quite regained his full-speed strength before new injuries cut short his 2010 schedule. Last year's camp was actually the healthiest of Mendenhall's tenure, and the relative lack of injury concerns was a positive storyline last August. In-season injuries were another issue altogether, as the Cougars lost multiple players to season-ending setbacks.

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That's nine questions from 2010 that retained their shelf life in 2011, with the only non-applicable query from last season dealing with then senior-to-be PK Mitch Payne. So, we need a new #10 for 2011, and I've decided to go with one winner and a couple of runners-up:

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"How sharp will new Offensive Coordinator Brandon Doman's offense look?"

The new OC got his play-calling feet wet in spring, working with an understudy-heavy offensive line while instituting his predominantly pro-set offense for the first time at the wheel. It was nice preview, but Doman wasn't working with a full arsenal, which he expects to have at his disposal for the next three weeks, and then the following three months. With sophomore QB Jake Heaps now serving as the unit's unquestioned leader, look for leaps and bounds after last summer's shaky start.

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Also in the mix:

"Who will be the starting right guard?"

Will it be one of the veteran dues-paying guards in Walter Kahaiali'i or Marco Thorson? Will it be versatile center/guard Houston Reynolds? Will Braden Hansen move over from LG to make room for freshman phenom Ryker Mathews? It'll be a fun battle to watch.

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"Which four players will make up the starting secondary on September 3rd?"

Corby Eason would appear to have the inside track on boundary corner, while Preston Hadley (who started in place of a recovering Eason at BC in spring) looked good enough to start somewhere during his introduction to Mendenhall's defense. Hadley and Eason could end up playing together on opposite sides of the field, which would mean either or both holding off veteran Robbie Buckner and promising redshirt freshman Jordan Johnson. RS Juco transfer DeQuan Everett is looking at quite a few bodies between himself and the playing field right now.

At safety, it could indeed be Sorensen and Uale, or Joe Sampson, Mike Hague and Jray Galea'i could combine to make things very interesting this month. There exist a few possible combinations inside, and I suspect that three of those five will see plenty of time regardless, since I wouldn't be surprised if nickel gets showcased more frequently this season.

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"Is Jordan Pendleton all the way back?"

After multiple surgeries (shoulder/knee) last year, Pendleton, his teammates, coaches and fans all hope he has made a full recovery to allow him one last season at full speed.

When healthy, this SLB is as ferocious and hard- hitting a player as there is in college football, but while he says all the right things about feeling good, we'll know it when we see him hit—or more appropriately, when we hear him hit.

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