Mathews hopes to improve on 'by far the best' BYU spring session yet


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PROVO — When wide receiver Mitch Mathews says this year’s BYU squad is having a great spring practice session, he demands attention.

After all, it isn’t the first go-round for the senior approaching his fifth season at BYU.

“This is my fourth spring ball, and by far the best one, discipline-wise and athletically,” Mathews said following Monday’s workout. “Competitively, it’s by far the best spring ball we’ve had on both sides of the ball.”

Mathews, who had a breakout season in 2014 with 922 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 73 catches, has made it known to the coaching staff that he wants to be treated with more respect in his final year of Division I football. The native of Beaverton, Oregon, hopes to be held accountable for his own mistakes, as well as those of this year’s squad, he said.

“They are keeping me to a high standard, making sure that they don’t treat me like I’ve been here before just because I am a senior,” Mathews added. “I want to be treated like anyone else. Any weakness they see in my game, they point it out.”

There hasn’t been a lot to point out from the coaches. BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae praised his offense Monday morning for its high-speed, high-intensity workout.

“We’re throwing a lot of things schematically at the players, and this is the time to do it, in the spring,” Anae said. “That’s where we’re at.

“We are to the point offensively to press the envelope and ask guys to do more. We can take them out of their comfort zones. Offensively, that’s where we’re at, and they are doing the same thing on defense.”

BYU's Mitch Mathews celebrates a touchdown against Memphis during the Miami Beach Bowl on Monday, Dec. 22, 2014. (Ravell Call/Deseret News)
BYU's Mitch Mathews celebrates a touchdown against Memphis during the Miami Beach Bowl on Monday, Dec. 22, 2014. (Ravell Call/Deseret News)

Much of that intensity trickles down from the team’s senior leadership, which includes Mathews.

“We’re pushing the envelope as a group, and the players are,” Anae said. “It’s very obvious that they are invested (at) a very high level.”

Mathews has already seen that eager-to-learn mentality begin to pay off. The 6-foot-6 receiver entered camp having trouble rolling out on the sideline when going up for a deep pass from quarterback Taysom Hill. He’d often find himself squeezed on the sideline by opposing cornerbacks — but he’s found a way to make himself a more reachable target for Hill.

“It gives the quarterback plenty of room to drop the ball in and roll your shoulders outside so the DB can’t catch it,” said Mathews, who has worked specifically on his play inside the five-yard ‘no-go zone’ near the sideline. “I used to go up and try to catch it, but this helps you to roll out and keep running after the catch.”

Head coach Bronco Mendenhall has noticed Mathews’ work ethic, calling it the best spring practice he’s seen from a senior in 10 years at the helm.

But Mathews is taking such compliments in stride; after all, he played with record-breaking receiver Cody Hoffman for three years, and Mathews knows what a lofty standard has come before him with the Cougar wide outs.

“To be mentioned like that is an honor, but I wouldn’t put myself in that category yet,” he said. “I have a lot of work to do. I hope to be there, to be able to make that statement true. But to say that of myself, I can’t see it.”

The raised game of the offense is also elevating the defense, noted BYU linebacker Austin Heder.

“The offense is doing great, but we’ve got young guys stepping up and filling things out,” Heder said. “That’s what spring ball is all about. The last couple of days, we’ve stepped up. It’s been a battle; guys have made plays. Initially, the offense was more in motion, but that’s typically how spring ball goes. It’s nice to have guys like Taysom and Christian (Stewart, who is graduating in April) who have ran it for a while.”

BYU’s coaches admit the group hasn’t arrived, yet. But the offensive skill positions are climbing astronomically, Anae said.

“We are progressing way better than we did last year as a group,” he added. “We’re doing a lot of stuff with these guys, schematically. They’ve answered the bell to a good level.”

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