Camp Cougar, Day 5

(Images: BYU Photos)

There were no notable new injuries today, but the injury absences of some projected "two-deepers" created openings for some newcomers today.

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At the start of the week, one of the storylines was the play of corners Brandon Bradley and Robbie Buckner. Neither player participated in practice today, with Bradley nursing a sore knee and Buckner dealing with a tender hamstring. Buckner did dress out to do some light running, while Bradley showed up on the field in uniform at the end of practice.

In their absence, Lee Aguirre (boundary) and Corby Eason (field) took snaps with the ones—Eason passing up Brian Logan, who played with the second string. Landon Jaussi played second-string boundary corner behind Aguirre.

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The shoulder separation suffered by Grant Nelson created an opportunity for true freshman Richard Wilson, who slid behind Jordan Pendleton at second-string strongside linebacker.

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With the broken hand suffered by Matt Reynolds, Braden Hansen is the temporary first-string left tackle.

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There were no other notable depth chart shuffles, but Craig Bills once again ran a good number of snaps with the "ones" for a second straight day at free safety, with Scott Johnson alternating at second-string. As noted yesterday, Johnson has not been demoted; rather, Bronco Mendenhall wants to get Bills some high-level snaps, while allowing Johnson to tutor his fellow Timpview grad.

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Steven Thomas, who has seen action at both corner and safety this week, was kept out of all contact drills (sore knee).

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The following are the notable players on the current injury list (who, with the exception of Hooks and Matt Reynolds, all are day-to-day):

CB Brandon Bradley (knee)

CB Robbie Buckner (hamstring—dressed out and loosened up)

OL Matt Reynolds (broken hand--2 to 3 weeks)

OL Houston Reynolds (quad strain—dressed out and loosened up)

LB Terrance Hooks (hamstring--2 weeks)

LB Grant Nelson (shoulder—dressed out)

LB Dan Van Sweden (hip flexor—dressed out and loosened up)

DL Jordan Richardson (sick)

CB/S Steven Thomas (knee sprain)

Bronco Mendenhall says "up to 24 guys" have some kind of ailment that may affect their practice activities.

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During team session, QB Max Hall had his knee rolled into, but after a few held breaths, he was none the worse for wear.

Bronco addresses the anxious moment and much more in today's post-practice interview, which you can hear by clicking the audio link in the "Cougar Cuts" box to the upper right.

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Bronco confirmed my impression that the injury issues are more acute this season than in camps past--"almost double" from last year, says the coach (he notes the team has been practicing longer and harder this season). He had numerous injury updates for us, and besides the "day-to-day" players, the most pressing question surrounds the status of Matt Reynolds.

Reynolds had surgery on his broken hand this morning, and has been given a 2-3 week window before he is game ready--so there's a "good chance" he'll be available for the Oklahoma game, according to Mendenhall.

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As noted in the intro, today was the first day for full pads, and the team went "live" (with hitting and tackling) in the closing "Team" session of practice. The offense failed to get into the end zone in any of four complete series, with the first-string offense being turned back after a first-and-goal on their only sustained drive.

On the one long drive, Max Hall completed a touchdown pass to McKay Jacobson, but the play was brought back as the snap got off just a fraction of a second after the 40-second horn blew. A whistle-sack by Vic So'oto and Russell Tialavea followed, and Mitch Payne's field goal attempt was blocked by Matt Putnam inside.

Hall, Brenden Gaskins and Riley Nelson all each had a three-and-out series in "Team."

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RB Harvey Unga was not given any carries in the "live" portion of practice. Bronco says the plan is to give Unga "as much work as possible" on the non-contact days, and then give him "a break" in contact periods.

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"Faces in the Crowd"...

Lavell Edwards, Chad Lewis, Jake Heaps, Kyle Van Noy, and Marc Lyons (!). I didn't see him, but BYU Football Media Relations Director Brett Pyne told me Dave Rose was also by, with BYU Basketball Operations Director Tim LaComb.

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I interviewed safety Scott Johnson after practice, and talked with him a lot about his relationship with Craig Bills, who is learning the FS spot by watching Johnson, and lately by taking his first-team reps.

Johnson starts by informing me he and Bills are already sort of "related," as he explains.

You can also hear an interview with DE end Vic So'oto, who talks about his BYU transition from tight end, to linebacker, to defensive end.

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OL Jesse Taufi's academic issues will preclude him form attending camp, and he will not join the team until the start of classes.

Bronco is still waiting for word on the status of FB Manase Tonga. Assuming all went well with his classes and exams, Tonga can be considered for admission early next week--previously, Bronco said as soon as Monday.

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With the pads on and hitting allowed today for the first time, there were a few noteworthy collisions.

Corby Eason laid good licks on Luke Ashworth and Dennis Pitta, who outweigh him by 20 and 70 pounds, respectively. I never would have thought a player of Eason's stature would be a bit of a headhunter out there, but he looked like it today.

Not surprisingly, safety Andrew Rich was enjoying the contact--his sideline tackle of Dennis Pitta eliciting cheers from the players in white.

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I asked Bronco about Tevita Hola, who was very active today, and saw some second- and first-string snaps today. "Most improved player on the team," said the coach.

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Bronco adds that the play of Hola and Romney Fuga gives BYU enough quality depth at nose to possibly allow Russell Tialavea to play some defensive end, giving BYU an end group consisting of Denney, Jorgensen, Putnam, So'oto and now Tialavea, if desired. Mendenhall says where depth was looking like a concern on the defensive line, now it appears to be a strength.

Speaking of nose tackles, Jordan Richardson has now missed consecutive days with a stomach sickness, and Bronco says it has to be driving Richardson nuts, since he loves to play and compete so much.

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No field goal work today, other than the one "live" attempt that I recall.

Work is being done on punt protect, with the "wall" having been introduced in the last couple of days. No change in the main punt return group, led by McKay Jacobson, and joined by O'Neill Chambers, J.D. Falslev, and Garrett Nicholson.

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Here's an updated depth chart, but note that many injuries are leading to daily fluidity:

(players moving up within the two-deep up are noted in bold.)

OFFENSE

LT: (Matt Reynolds--injured) Braden Hansen, Terrence Alletto

LG: Jason Speredon, Ryan Freeman (also backup center)

C: R.J. Willing, Marco Thorson (also at LG with "ones")

RG: Terence Brown, Tui Crichton (due to Houston Reynolds injury)

RT: Nick Alletto, Fono Vakalahi

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TE: Dennis Pitta, Andrew George, Braden Brown, Mike Muehlmann

WR (X): O'Neill Chambers, Spencer Hafoka, Rhen Brown, Mitch Mathews, Cody Hoffman

WR (Z): McKay Jacobson, Luke Ashworth, B.J. Peterson, J.D. Falslev, Brett Thompson

WR Notes: Outside receivers are to be able to play both X and Z. While the pattern run will depend on formation and play call, "X" receivers line up left, while "Z" receivers line up right. For example, a receiver could line up as an "X," but then motion could change formation strength and require the "X" to run the "Z" pattern, and vice versa. Basically, however, "X" lines up left and "Z" lines up right.

WR (H): Matt Marshall, Stephen Covey, Parker Mangum, Matt Edwards

TB: Harvey Unga, J.J. DiLuigi, Malosi Te'o, Mike Hague

FB: (note: Manase Tonga assumes the #1 spot if and when he arrives) Bryan Kariya, Braden Brown (also TE), Anthony Heimuli, Mike Hague

QB: Max Hall, Brenden Gaskins, Riley Nelson

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DEFENSE

LE: Brett Denney, Matt Putnam, Steven Fisher, Remington Peck

NT: Russell Tialavea, Romney Fuga, Tevita Hola, Jordan Richardson

RE: Jan Jorgensen, Vic So'oto, Matt Peterson, Mason Higham

SLB: (Grant Nelson--injured), Jordan Pendleton, Richard Wilson, Jameson Frazier, Chase Hansen

MLB: Matt Bauman, Brandon Ogletree, Shane Hunter

BLB: (Terrance Hooks--out, injury) Shawn Doman, Jeff Bell, (Dan Van Sweden-injured), Blake McKenzie

WLB: Coleby Clawson, Jordan Atkinson, Chase Hansen, Masi Tuitama, Jordan Winger

FC: (Robbie Buckner--injured), Corby Eason, Brian Logan, Garrett Nicholson

BC: (Brandon Bradley--injured), (Steven Thomas--injured), Lee Aguirre, Landon Jaussi, Trevor Bateman/Garrett Nicholson

Kat: Andrew Rich, Shiloah Te'o, Jray Galea'i, Carter Mees

Free: Scott Johnson, Craig Bills, Travis Uale, Zeke Mendenhall

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BYU's two Friday practices (10:00am and 5:00pm) are open to the public.

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