Defense gaining confidence, offense trying to avoid complacency during last week of spring practices


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PROVO — Just one more practice remains for BYU (on Friday) in its spring practices after nearly five weeks, and keeping up the intensity in the final week has been a challenge for the offense. Wide receiver Mitch Mathews spoke to the media about players' performances this week.

“The offense the last couple days hasn’t been our best performance, so it’s something that has been put on my shoulders, and Taysom’s shoulders to make sure we don’t leave three days in a row not at our best ball,” Mathews said.

Mathews has been instrumental during spring as a part of an offense that has played exceptionally the last four weeks, and he believes that there is a “mindset” that creeps up this time of the year.

“Sometimes after the scrimmage you think that that was the cap off of spring, but you gotta realize that there’s still a week left,” Mathews said. “We need to come out with high intensity Friday and redeem ourselves.”

While the offense has had its challenges this week, the defense is gaining a lot of confidence, and stepping up. Safety Kai Nacua spoke to the media about how he has viewed the defense and their progression.

“The last two practices we’ve balled out. I feel like we’re getting our gel, our chemistry is finally kicking in, and the defense is, for sure, feeling together,” Nacua said. “All the new guys are coming out, trying to learn what they need to do, doing the assignment right and then trying to make plays off of what the coaches tell them to do.”

Head coach Bronco Mendenhall took over the defense this offseason, and Nacua talked about how former defensive coordinator Nick Howell has changed since Mendenhall has taken over.

“The difference I see is that he’s not as stressed, he’s not as uptight,” Nacua said. “He still is there and has his edge, and he wants us to be the best. So it’s all the same still, but just not as much stress.”

Both Nacua and Mathews emphasized the unity that has been prevalent with this year’s team, and how that has affected their play. Mathews, when asked about players' unity, said, “It’s been here more than it has the last four or five years. Coaches coach and the players create unity and that’s what we have this year.”

When asked about his views on the team’s unity, Nacua said, “Everyone is coming together, it’s been really fun to see everyone just jelling, and taking everyone for who they are. I love it. Everyone else loves it, too.”

Quarterbacks coach Jason Beck spoke with the media on how he has viewed the progression of the team in this year’s spring ball.

“We’ve gotten better with the cards that we’ve been dealt and the circumstances that we’ve been working with,” Beck said. “We did a pretty good job tailoring the practices to meet the needs of our team, for me specifically getting Taysom the work that he could do in the settings and situations to help him get better… I feel good about what we’ve accomplished these last five weeks.”

A continued emphasis for this spring has been on discipline. Last year’s team was criticized for being an undisciplined team, due to the high number of penalties and personal fouls received per game. Mathews talked about their desire to change that.

“The coaches haven’t let up. It hasn’t been something that we’ve just talked about. It’s been something that we’ve taken focus on. The coaches are trying to focus on that and break us, and that’s what we need right now,” Mathews said. “We were a very undisciplined team last year, so this year we hope to be known as a disciplined team, which is what we should be.”

The Cougars have their final practice on Friday, April 3, to conclude spring camp. Mathews talked about their mindset going into the summer and what they have to continue to do.

“Just keep rolling. There’s more steam built up in this spring camp than there has been for a long time, coaches have seen that, I’ve seen that and we’ve got to keep that going,” Mathews said. “It’s off the field leadership, on the field leadership and we have it. It’ll be fun to see player-run practices in the summer go better than they ever have because we’re ahead of where we’ve ever been.”

****NOTES*****

--QB Taysom Hill should be receiving full clearance in early May, and has been “on schedule or ahead,” according to Beck.

--QB Tanner Mangum gets back in early June from his LDS Church mission, and will report to campus shortly after being released.

--QB Beau Hodge will report with the rest of the freshmen in early August. The coaches have already sent him film, cut-ups, and playbook information.

--QB McCoy Hill remains out with a foot injury. His early timetable was set for a six-month recovery, but according to Beck, it’s “one of those where you just kinda have to see.”

--Colby Jorgensen switched in practice from TE to OLB. When Beck was asked about the switch, he said, “They’re trying it out. There’s probably five or six tight ends competing, and right now he’s not getting the bulk of the reps with the first group. I think it’s just, with his abilities, try him out at other spots, and see if he can have an impact.”

--Friday’s practice will include a scrimmage similar to last weekend’s scrimmage, and will be located at LaVell Edwards Stadium. According to Beck, it will be a “similar setting, similar format to let the guys compete in a game-like situation."

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