Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
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It was two weeks ago today that BYU players reported for camp duty in Provo. Two weeks from tomorrow, the Washington Huskies roll into LaVell Edwards Stadium. At the halfway point of BYU's preseason preparation, the Cougars still haven't established a clear leader in the quarterback battle. Today, as has been the case on so many days during camp, both top contenders had their moments.
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BYU's first 11-on-11 segment on Day 11 of camp featured a two-minute drill. Jake Heaps took the field with the "ones" against the "ones" and led a nine-play drive; the last play a 52-yard deep ball to O'Neill Chambers on a 3rd and 19 with 24 seconds left on the game clock. Heaps on the drive: 5/8, for 83 yards and the score.
Riley Nelson got the "twos v. twos" series and ran a seven-play drive, featuring two designed QB draws. The drive ended with a Travis Uale interception on an overthrown ball deflected by intended receiver Austin Holt. It was Nelson's second interception of camp; he and heaps have both thrown two picks apiece. On Nelson's drive, he was 2/5 for 26 yards.
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In the practice-ending "team" session, there three series--
Series 1: Jake Heaps (ones v. ones)
Five plays; drive ending on an interception by Steven Thomas (ball thrown into double coverage).
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Series 2: Riley Nelson (twos v. twos)
13 plays; drive ending in 29 yard Mitch Payne FG.
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Series 3: Riley Nelson (ones v. ones)
Nine plays; drive ending with 17 yard TD pass to O'Neill Chambers. Key play was DiLuigi 29 yard catch-and-run.
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QB Stats--
Nelson: 10/14, 107 yds, TD, INT; 4 rushes, 11 yds
Heaps: 7/12, 91 yds, TD, INT
Rec stats--
Chambers: 3 rec, 73 yds, 2 TDs
DiLuigi: 4 rec, 54 yds (BYU reported 46 yds)
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DLs Thomas Bryson, Graham Rowley and Vic So'oto all had sacks today, with So'oto picking up two. I would have to think So'oto leads all players in camp "whistle" sacks.
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DiLuigi, in particular, looked good again today. I think he has been the best-looking offensive player in camp; he has been jumpy everyday, and his work in space has been exemplary.
"Juice" Quezada is coming on and could be the #2 carry guy for the Cougars. His one touch today in "team" was a 13-yard run.
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The day ended on a down note, as starting Kat safety Andrew Rich was hurt and remained down for a number of minutes as coaches and trainers huddled around him. Things looked bad, but the post-practice word from trainer Kevin Morris was that Rich suffered only a bruised right forearm after a lineman landed on the arm.
FB Algernon Brown sprained his left ankle in "skelly."
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Asked about his initial reaction to the Rich injury, head coach Bronco Mendenhall said "It is scary. I was thinking about, 'now what'?"
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I think it's been one of the most interesting position battles of camp, and it's been at inside linebacker. The last few days, freshman MLB Zac Stout has run with the "twos" and has looked good doing so; Aveni Leung-Wai has been the #1 BLB this week. Said Mendenhall about the ILB competition: "It's any man's ballgame right now. Now that Zac Stout has come back (from a concussion), that has been a real positive. He has emerged and showed up strongly the last two practices. Now that he's playing, we haven't had to look for him; he's making plays in the right spots, which earns him more reps. Aveni Leung-Wai is also playing well; (Shane) Hunter, (Brandon) Ogletree and (Austen) Jorgensen are going to have to battle. There's no clear favorite, but the newer players are starting to push and push hard."
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More from Mendenhall--
on the QB play today: " I think (both Heaps and Nelson) were fairly poised and composed. They were more composed, more confident and more efficient than they had for at least the last two or three days. I was impressed; I think they took a step forward today."
on playing Texas in 2013 and 2014: I'm excited about it."
Mendenhall talked about the new two-year deal to play Texas in 2013 and 2014. This comes after a single-game agreement that will see BYU play in Austin in 2011. having opposed most "two-for-ones" in the past, the coach says "from the outside it could look like two-to-one, and in reality that's what it ends up being, but it wasn't presented or agreed to in that context. I'm glad to play them."
on the difficulty in getting big-name (top five, top ten) teams to play in Provo, especially with BYU's TV distribution concerns (many schools don't want to play on Versus, CBSCS, the mtn.):
"They don't want to come. The teams of that caliber, 'two for one' is the only thing they'll consider, especially when you put the (TV) coverage into it."
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Today was the second to last day of two-a-days for the Cougars. This morning's "shells" (helmets/shoulder pads) practice will be followed by a light afternoon session. Monday will be the final double-session day of practice. Currently, BYU has another scrimmage set for tomorrow. Mendenhall says it may be the final scrimmage of camp, but there could "potentially" be one more scrimmage next Wednesday.
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The coach confirmed that his team floated the Provo River during Thursday afternoon's thunderstorm: "57 degrees, beating down rain, brutal wind. They came charging out of the bus like we were taking 'the hill'... I think I made it down in a little under an hour, swimming the whole time because it was so cold. Great time; one of the best times I've ever had, in a twisted way."
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Day 11 Depth Chart
OFFENSE
QB: Jake Heaps OR Riley Nelson
TB: J.J. DiLuigi, Josh Quezada
FB: Zed Mendenhall, Algernon Brown
Combo: Bryan Kariya, Mike Hague
TE: Devin Mahina OR Mike Muehlmann OR Richard Wilson OR Austin Holt OR Marcus Mathews
WR-H: McKay Jacobson, Matt Marshall
WR-Z: Luke Ashworth, Ross Apo OR Rhen Brown
WR-X: O'Neill Chambers, Cody Hoffman (DNP), Spencer Hafoka
LT: Matt Reynolds (also RT for Nelson), Jordan Black (also RT)
LG: Braden Hansen, Ryan Freeman
C: Terence Brown, Houston Reynolds
RG: Jason Speredon (also LG) OR Nick Alletto (also RT), Marco Thorson
RT: Braden Brown (also LT for Nelson), Walter Kahaiali'i
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DEFENSE
LE: Eathyn Manumaleuna, Matt Putnam, Graham Rowley
NT: Romney Fuga, Jordan Richardson
RE: Vic So'oto, Thomas Bryson
SLB: Jordan Pendleton (not "live"), Jameson Frazier (also WLB), Zeke Mendenhall
MLB: Shane Hunter, Zac Stout
BLB: Brandon Ogletree (DNP) OR Aveni Leung-Wai OR Austen Jorgensen
WLB: Jameson Frazier (also SLB), Kyle Van Noy, Alani Fua (Jordan Atkinson limited due to injury, DNP)
FC: Brian Logan, Robbie Buckner
BC: Brandon Bradley, Corby Eason
Kat: Andrew Rich, Jray Galea'i
FS: Steve Thomas, Travis Uale
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I hope you have all noticed the new look for "Cougar Tracks" and the new BYU Sports page: byu.ksl.com
Among the new features is the updated show page for "BYU Football with Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall," Presented by Ken Garff University Parkway Dealers.
On the page, you can request seats at the next "live" broadcast from the President's Loge at LaVell Edwards Stadium, pose e-mail questions for the coach, and even share what we're calling "Cougar Stories."
Click on the "BYU Football with Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall" link in the "BYU Sports Menu" to check it out.
Additional features of the new byu.ksl.com page include live scores and a BYU stats tab. You still get the BYU features to which you've already grown accustomed at ksl.com (including "Cougar Tracks"), but everything just looks better!
The NEW byu.ksl.com; bookmark it now!
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Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/gregwrubell
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